Travel tips · Boston · United States
Boston travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Boston is proud of its role in the American Revolution, its universities and its sports teams, and its Irish and Italian heritage still shapes neighbourhoods such as South Boston and the North End. Students make up a large share of the population, so the city's mood changes with the academic year. Bostonians can seem brusque at first but are usually helpful once asked.
Key facts
- Language
- English
- Currency
- USD
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and widely praised for its quality.
- Emergency
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Things to know
- On the T's escalators, stand on the right and let people pass on the left.
- Sports loyalty runs deep; wearing New York Yankees gear to Fenway invites heckling.
- On Beacon Hill and in the North End, remember that many photogenic streets are private residences; keep noise down and don't block doorways.
- Tipping is expected in restaurants, bars, taxis and hotels; it makes up much of service workers' pay.
- Give way to pedestrians at crossings, and look both ways even on one-way streets; Boston drivers have a reputation for impatience.
- Book Fenway Park ahead: Popular games sell out; buy through the Red Sox's official ticketing rather than street resellers.
- Book Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ahead: Entry is by timed ticket; book online for weekends.
- The Freedom Trail, Boston Common, the Public Garden, the Boston Public Library, Harvard Yard, the Arnold Arboretum and USS Constitution are all free.
Tipping
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wicked | Very (as in 'wicked good') |
| The T | The MBTA subway, bus and ferry system |
| Packie | A liquor shop (package store) |
| Bubbler | A drinking fountain |
| Jimmies | Chocolate sprinkles on ice cream |
| Rotary | A roundabout |
What to wear
Dress is casual and practical. Bring layers in every season, waterproof shoes for winter slush, and comfortable footwear for brick pavements and the Freedom Trail's cobbles.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink and widely praised for its quality.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is available at Logan Airport, public libraries and many cafés; US prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
- Time zone
- America/New York
Boston's central neighbourhoods are generally comfortable for visitors; usual city precautions apply around busy stations such as Downtown Crossing late at night. In winter, nor'easter storms can bring heavy snow and flight disruption, and in summer the sea stays cold, so swim only at guarded beaches.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check United States's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Boston?
Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
+Can you drink the tap water in Boston?
Tap water is safe to drink and widely praised for its quality.
+What plugs are used in Boston?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Boston?
English.