I just found out that you can take the "T" from Logan Airport to Boston proper. I was looking at the MBTA map, and it looks like I can go from the airport--part of the Silver Line to the Green Line. But it looks a bit complicated. Can someone help me figure out if I need to do 2 transfers? Also, would it be worthwhile getting a card for the couple of days I will be using the MBTA? Thanks.

Lil

It depends exactly where you want to go in Boston "proper". The silver line is somewhat new & I'm not sure exactly where it goes, but I do know that the blue line goes from Logan to the Fanueil Hall/Quincy Market/Aquarium areas to name a few of the "touristy" areas. I have seen the silver line in the South End section of Boston, but I don't know where it goes to/from. Transferring from 1 line to another is not difficult. Of course if you have luggage & are travelling at peak commuter hours it will be very crowded & more a pain, but not difficult to get to where you are going. Hopefully this helps.

Silver line from airport to South Station, then redline inbound to Park Street (2 stops) then you can transfer to the Green line, I believe you can do that with one token. I would suggest getting a card, it is just more convenient.

That's good to know. According to the MBTA map, in order to transfer from the Silver line, I will have to hop on the Blue Line for a few stops, then transfer onto the Green Line.

I will be coming in on the Sat. of Memorial Day weekend--I figured it won't be too congested, and I was planning to pack light...

BTW, a friend of mine mentioned that sometimes, there's a parade on Memorial Day weekend. Is that usually the case?

Lil

Sorry, not Blue but Red...I was thinking of doing:

Silver Line to South Station, then Red Line to Downtown Crossing, then Green Line.

But TKT's suggestion might be the easier one to do...

Just want to say that despite its name the "Silver Line" is not a subway, but a bus. It works the same way - get you to the subway station and you can do transfer - but don't look for a train at the airport.

So, it may be just as convenient to use the old shuttle #22, 33 or 55 to the Aiport Station on the Blue Line, then switch to Green Line at Government Center.

The Silver Line was created primarily to provide access between the airport and hte Red Line. If your destination is on the Green line, you're much better-off doing as rkkwan just suggested: taking the on-airport shuttle bus loop to the Airport subway station, on the Blue Line, take it to Government center and switch to the Green Line (just follow the crowd).

The web site for maps and the trip planner is
www.mbta.com

The MBTA subway system is currently undergoing a complicated and bewildering ransition from the antique token-based fare system to one of machine-read cards. Read the info on mbta.com just before you come and do your own cost-benefit analysis based on your own individual itinerary; in general, the tourist passes aren't a good investment.

By the way, Logan Airport is virtually within "Boston proper;" you'll be astonished at how close the city is.

"Will he ever return.....and his fate is still unknown. He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston. He's the man who never returned!" Say hello to poor old Charlie should you run across him on the MBTA !

The new transit passes are named in his honor: Charlie Cards!

Really, as I'm not a local, I didn't know that! I just wonder how many people under the age of 55 would make that connection.... not many, would be my guess.

Where do you want to go in Boston "proper?" Knowing that will help us, help you.

Apparently plenty of people in Boston know about Charlie: A fancy advertising agency came up with all sorts of possible names, some sort of poll or contest was conducted, and Charlie won in a landslide -- as a write-in candidate! The fancy agency had come up with awkward names that were sorta linked to Boston, but not unique to Boston, with names like Liberty and Freedom. Charlie was so obvious to everybody else; perhaps it was some out-of-town outfit.

The redline connects to the Green Line at Park Street-no reason to stop and switch at Downtown Crossing. What is your final destination?

Hey - under 55 here and a Boston native and the charlie song known to us!! Actually, used to be one of those you sang when you were partying in college in Boston and walking/t'ing it home , so I think more people know about it than you think - plus - who cut the record? kingston trio? someone like that.

As mentioned, the Silver Line is an express bus with pickups at the airline terminals directly to South Station (commuter rail-Amtrak station and "T" station) where you would transfer to the "T".
Alternatively, as you exit on the ground (arrivals) level, there will be a Massport bus that takes you to the Blue Line station at the end of the airport. You get on the T there and inbound to transfer to other lines. One token is all you need.
As far as getting a pass. Boston is very walkable and unless you are going lots of places, you probably don't need the pass but "pay as you go".
Bostons T system basically works like a spoke and wheel with Park Street/Downtown Crossing/Government Center the hub. You connect in that area and go outbound. There are no lines that connect the spokes, so to go from one end to the other you have to come back to the middle somewhere.

re: the Kingston Trio song about Charlie and the MTA, I hope I don't end up like Charlie! (and I'm not 55 nor from Boston!)

Actually, I was thinking of doing 1 or 2 daytrips out to Lowell< Plymouth and maybe Gloucester from Boston to check out the historical museums there. Travel inside Boston: to and from Logan, and going to Fenway, and Quincy Market. I'll probably be based around the Copley Square area, so I can theoretically walk around the sites inside Boston. So I was wondering if it would be cheaper and more convenient if I got a pass...

Lil

There's no MBTA pass that would be cost-effective for that itinerary.

If you're based in Copley Square, the d least expensive way of getting there from the airport is to do this:

1. Take the airport shuttle to the Blue Line.

2. At the Government Center station stop, walk upstairs and take the Green Line. Get off at the Copley Station stop.