Know that you can get into the city from the surrounding towns. Even towns that are 30 miles outside of Boston have access to public transportation. From places like Framingham, Worcester and Franklin you can get into Boston's downtown via the commuter rail. Commuter rail schedules can be found online. Departure and arrival times aren't the same on the weekend as they are during the week. Parking can be limited at some stations, and it will cost you to park. Train ticket prices vary depending on how far away from the city you are. The farther the zone, the higher the fare. All commuter trains end at South Station in Boston.
Take a boat if you're out near Hingham, Hull or Quincy. Water taxis run through Boston Harbor and stop near the airport and in Charlestown, among other locations. Dock locations, fares and times are available online.
Purchase a Charlie Card to ride the subway, or the "T," as locals call it. With a Charlie Card, you can add money to pay for fares with a swipe of your card. Discounts are available for frequent riders, students, seniors and the disabled. Charlie Cards are available online or at stations.
Take the T all around the sites of Boston. The T has 5 lines, each represented by a color. The colored lines link with each other at different stations around the city. To get to Quincy Market, for example, you would take the Green Line to Government Center. You then can pick up the Blue Line at Government Center and ride it out to the New England Aquarium.
Remember that buses can also help you get to certain locales around the city. There are some places the buses go that the trains can't, and bus fare is less expensive than train fare. Bus schedules and stops are available online.
Investigate before you go if you have a disability. The MBTA system is older then many subways around the country. Unfortunately, this means that several of the stations aren't handicap accessible. Information for the disabled is available online on the MBTA website. For those who can't access the public transportation, door-to-door service is available through the MBTA's "The Ride" program. You must be approved and be able to afford the fee.
