Keys to the City
Facts & Fundamentals
Boston proper's almost 50 square miles are home to a diverse population of approximately 610,000. More than 20% of the youthful city falls into the 25-34 age group, and the median age is 31.
Boston is home to a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, technology, and education. In the past decade, the area has become a hotbed for biotech companies too (more than 280 are located here).
Also strong are educational institutions – including Harvard, MIT, and university-related medical centers – and financial corporations, including John Hancock Financial Services and Bank of America.
Holidays & Business Hours
On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses are closed. The following holidays are observed by many Boston businesses:
| January 1 |
New Year's Day |
| Third Monday in January |
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday |
| Third Monday in February |
Presidents Day |
| Date changes |
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday |
| Last Monday in May |
Memorial Day |
| July 4 |
Independence Day |
| First Monday in September |
Labor Day |
| Second Monday in October |
Columbus Day |
| November 11 |
Veterans Day |
| Fourth Thursday in November |
Thanksgiving |
| December 25 |
Christmas |
|
Coming & Going
Boston is home to Logan International Airport, just 5 miles east of downtown. Logan is served by all major national and international carriers and transports more than 20 million passengers per year through its five terminals.
Because traffic can often get thorny (although it's gotten better with the new tunnel), it's often easiest and cheapest to take the T to and from the airport, especially if you don't have a lot of luggage. Take the Blue line to the Airport stop, where a free shuttle bus picks you up for a 10-minute ride to airport terminals. Fare is $1.70.
A taxi ride takes 20 minutes and costs anywhere from $25 to $40 with fees.
Making Your Way
Pedestrian-friendly streets and a compact size make walking the best way to take in the city's sights, neighborhoods, architecture, and local color.
Also, every attraction is easily accessible from a T stop, and some attractions outside the city offer free shuttles from T stops. Fare is $1.70 one-way. The T, and the buses operated by the Transit Authority, begin service at 5am and shut down at 12:30am, so if it's going to be a late night, you'll want to grab a cab.
Driving is not recommended. Major construction, massive traffic jams, narrow, twisting streets, and a dearth of parking – along with high rates for parking if you do find it – make walking, the T, a bus, or a cab better choices.
News & Views
To find out what's happening in and around Boston, you can't do better than the venerable Boston Globe, the largest daily newspaper in New England. Its main competitor is the daily Boston Herald, a full-color, tabloid-style publication with news and features. Find out about concerts and other leisure activities (as well as a different take on issues) in the free Boston Phoenix, an alternative weekly. Improper Bostonian offers a humorous look at local culture, and Boston magazine showcases homes, restaurants, and events.
Quirks & Curiosities
The Big Dig, a highway project that cost $14.6 billion, disrupted traffic in and around Boston for over 15 years. However, since construction was completed, crowds and traffic jams have eased somewhat. The Big Dig razed an elevated expressway – known as the Green Monster – that traversed downtown and created a new highway that tunnels beneath the city.
If you must drive, be aware that some neighborhoods have resident-only parking and just a few metered spaces, which are closely monitored.
Getting Your Bearings
For all the brochures, maps, and personal assistance you could want, visit the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is easily found at Two Copley Place, Suite 105, in the Back Bay. (Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm, 1-888-SEE BOSTON).
In addition, Boston Common offers a Visitors Information Center, just outside the Park Street T station.
Necessities - Post Offices
Numerous post offices are located throughout Boston, including a 24-hour post office in the airport. A few that are convenient for travelers include:
Main Post Office – Downtown
25 Dorchester Ave.
Daily 24 hours
Back Bay
390 Stuart St.
Or in the Prudential Center
Kenmore Square
11 Deerfield St.
Main Post Office – Cambridge
770 Massachusetts Ave.
Common Courtesies
Although tipping is generally a personal matter, some guidelines prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.
Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).
Weather
Boston has four distinct seasons and often endures extreme heat and humidity in the summer (highs of 80s F) and frigid cold during the winter (averages of 30s F).
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
