City trip to Boston

When is the best time to visit Boston?

September and October are the very best months for Boston. Temperatures are pleasant (18 to 24 degrees Celsius), the city is ablaze with fall foliage and there are fewer tourists than the summer peak. May and June are also excellent. July and August are lively but crowded and relatively expensive.

Avoid December through February: Boston can be icy with wind chill temperatures reaching -15 degrees Celsius. Those who want the cheapest flights and quietest museums should choose November or January, but bring serious winter clothing.

Top 5 things to do in Boston

• Freedom Trail (free) A free 4-kilometre walking route past 16 historical sites, marked by a red brick line through the city. From Boston Common, America's oldest public park, to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Only the Old State House ($14), Old South Meeting House ($14) and Paul Revere House ($6) charge admission; the exteriors of all 16 locations are free. Allow 3 to 4 hours.
• Harvard campus and MIT (free) A walk through the Harvard and MIT campuses in nearby Cambridge is completely free. Harvard Square buzzes with cafes, bookshops and students. The Harvard Art Museums (around $20) and Harvard Museum of Natural History (around $15) are worth the visit. Take the Red Line metro from downtown to Harvard station ($2.40).
• Museum of Fine Arts (around $27) One of the finest art museums on the East Coast, with an impressive collection of Monet and the Impressionists, Japanese art and a large Egyptian department. On Wednesday evenings admission is by voluntary contribution. Located in the Fenway neighbourhood next to Symphony Hall.
• Fenway Park tour ($25) America's oldest Major League Baseball stadium (opened 1912) is an icon. Daily behind-the-scenes tours for $25 per adult. On game day the atmosphere is electric: tickets cost $30 to $80 and a hot dog is a compulsory part of the experience.
• New England Aquarium (around $33) The waterfront aquarium features an impressive Giant Ocean Tank with sharks, rays and sea turtles around a coral reef. Daily dolphin shows on the Discovery Deck. Booking online in advance saves queuing and sometimes costs money.

Flights and transport from the Netherlands to Boston

KLM flies non-stop from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) with a flight time of approximately 8 hours outbound and approximately 7 hours return. Return tickets start at around 550 to 700 euros per person in the low season (November to January) when booked early.

In the summer peak expect to pay 900 to 1,400 euros. Book at least 2 to 3 months in advance. There are no direct transatlantic flights from Eindhoven; take the intercity train to Schiphol (approximately 1.5 hours).

From Logan Airport to the city centre: the MBTA Silver Line bus (SL1) runs free of charge from all terminals to South Station in downtown Boston; takes approximately 20 minutes.

Alternatively, take the MBTA Blue Line via Airport Station ($2.40 with CharlieCard) with a transfer at Downtown Crossing or Park Street. A day pass for the T-metro costs $13 and a weekly pass $25. An Uber or Lyft from Logan to the centre typically costs $30 to $50.

How much does a Boston city trip cost?

Hostels in Boston cost approximately $40 to $80 per night in a dormitory. Budget hotels start around $120 to $160 per night. Mid-range hotels in Back Bay or Beacon Hill cost $150 to $280 per night. Cambridge, near Harvard, offers comparable options for 10 to 20 per cent less than the city centre. Book far in advance during the summer peak and the Yale-Harvard football weekend in November.

Food: an authentic lobster roll in the North End costs $18 to $28. A bowl of clam chowder in a bread bowl at Legal Sea Foods or Quincy Market costs $12 to $16. The North End (Boston's Italian neighbourhood) offers excellent pasta for $16 to $22. Tip: the Boston CityPASS (around $66) gives access to the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science and other attractions with a saving of approximately 40 per cent.