Directions to Beacon Hill
By Foot
Beacon Hill is in downtown Boston and is easy to reach by foot from any other downtown location. It is bordered on the north by Cambridge Street, on the west by the Charles River, on the south by Beacon Street, and on the east by Bowdoin Street. If you are in the Boston Common or the Public Garden, Beacon Hill lies across Beacon Street, which borders those two parks. If you’re coming from City Hall, Fanueil Hall or other parts near Government Center, you should find Cambridge Street and by walking in the direction of the Charles River, you’ll soon find Beacon Hill rising on your left. The Freedom Trail crosses the southeast corner of Beacon Hill at the State House, which is the highest point of Beacon Hill. From the Back Bay, head diagonally through the Public Garden toward the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets, where Beacon Hill’s shopping district begins.
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Beacon Hill is in downtown Boston and is easy to reach by foot from any other downtown location. It is bordered on the north by Cambridge Street, on the west by the Charles River, on the south by Beacon Street, and on the east by Bowdoin Street. If you are in the Boston Common or the Public Garden, Beacon Hill lies across Beacon Street, which borders those two parks. If you’re coming from City Hall, Fanueil Hall or other parts near Government Center, you should find Cambridge Street and by walking in the direction of the Charles River, you’ll soon find Beacon Hill rising on your left. The Freedom Trail crosses the southeast corner of Beacon Hill at the State House, which is the highest point of Beacon Hill. From the Back Bay, head diagonally through the Public Garden toward the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets, where Beacon Hill’s shopping district begins.
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By "T"
Beacon Hill is an easy walk from a number of T stops ("T" refers to Boston’s subway system). On the Red Line, the Charles/MGH stop will let you off at one end of Charles Street. The Government Center stop on both the Blue and Green Lines is near the top of the Hill. Walk away from City Hall and head to your right down Cambridge Street and then up any side street on your left; or go to your left up Cambridge Street to Beacon Street and up Beacon to the State House. Take Beacon Street or any of the smaller side streets downhill and you will eventually come to Charles Street. The Park Street stop is on both the Red and Green Lines and is across the Common from the State House. Head toward the large golden dome. It’s hard to miss. The Arlington stop on the Green Line lets you out at the southwest corner of the Public Garden. Walk diagonally through the garden toward the northeast. You will end up at the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets. at one end of Beacon Hill’s shopping district.
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Beacon Hill is an easy walk from a number of T stops ("T" refers to Boston’s subway system). On the Red Line, the Charles/MGH stop will let you off at one end of Charles Street. The Government Center stop on both the Blue and Green Lines is near the top of the Hill. Walk away from City Hall and head to your right down Cambridge Street and then up any side street on your left; or go to your left up Cambridge Street to Beacon Street and up Beacon to the State House. Take Beacon Street or any of the smaller side streets downhill and you will eventually come to Charles Street. The Park Street stop is on both the Red and Green Lines and is across the Common from the State House. Head toward the large golden dome. It’s hard to miss. The Arlington stop on the Green Line lets you out at the southwest corner of the Public Garden. Walk diagonally through the garden toward the northeast. You will end up at the corner of Beacon and Charles Streets. at one end of Beacon Hill’s shopping district.
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By Car
There are few places for visitors to park on Beacon Hill. The best way to get to Beacon Hill by car is to park somewhere else and take the T. If you must take a car, leave it in one of the parking garages that lie on the perimeter of the Hill. Center Plaza Garage has entrances on Somerset Street and Cambridge/Tremont Streets, 617-742-7807, and The Boston Common Garage is on Charles Street, 617-954-2096.
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There are few places for visitors to park on Beacon Hill. The best way to get to Beacon Hill by car is to park somewhere else and take the T. If you must take a car, leave it in one of the parking garages that lie on the perimeter of the Hill. Center Plaza Garage has entrances on Somerset Street and Cambridge/Tremont Streets, 617-742-7807, and The Boston Common Garage is on Charles Street, 617-954-2096.
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From the Airport
Taxi cabs are readily available at the airport, with a dispatcher on hand to call them when needed. A ride from Logan International to Beacon Hill will run between $15 and $20, maybe more, depending on traffic. If you have little luggage, a cheap option (only one dollar) is the T, Boston’s public transportation system. A complimentary bus will pick you up at your arrival terminal and drop you off at the Airport T station, which is on the Blue Line. Take it inbound to Government Center, where you can transfer to the Green Line, which will take you to Park Street. From there you can cross the Common and get to one side of Beacon Hill, or you can change to the Red Line, go one stop to Charles/MGH station, and get to the other side of Beacon Hill. The most scenic way to greet Boston is by water. Take the complimentary bus (#66) from your arrival terminal to the docks. A water shuttle will take you across the harbor to Rowes Wharf on weekdays from 7 am to 6:10 pm. It runs every 20 minutes and costs $10 one way. Another water option is the water taxi, which comes within five minutes when you call it at 617-422-0392. It lets you off Rowes Wharf or the Long Wharf Marriott. That too is $10 one-way. From the waterfront it is only a five-minute taxi ride, a15-minute subway ride or a 15 minute walk to Beacon Hill. Do not rent a car to come to Beacon Hill. You’ll have difficulty finding parking, and you’ll find that you have to walk anyway to see most of the sights.
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Taxi cabs are readily available at the airport, with a dispatcher on hand to call them when needed. A ride from Logan International to Beacon Hill will run between $15 and $20, maybe more, depending on traffic. If you have little luggage, a cheap option (only one dollar) is the T, Boston’s public transportation system. A complimentary bus will pick you up at your arrival terminal and drop you off at the Airport T station, which is on the Blue Line. Take it inbound to Government Center, where you can transfer to the Green Line, which will take you to Park Street. From there you can cross the Common and get to one side of Beacon Hill, or you can change to the Red Line, go one stop to Charles/MGH station, and get to the other side of Beacon Hill. The most scenic way to greet Boston is by water. Take the complimentary bus (#66) from your arrival terminal to the docks. A water shuttle will take you across the harbor to Rowes Wharf on weekdays from 7 am to 6:10 pm. It runs every 20 minutes and costs $10 one way. Another water option is the water taxi, which comes within five minutes when you call it at 617-422-0392. It lets you off Rowes Wharf or the Long Wharf Marriott. That too is $10 one-way. From the waterfront it is only a five-minute taxi ride, a15-minute subway ride or a 15 minute walk to Beacon Hill. Do not rent a car to come to Beacon Hill. You’ll have difficulty finding parking, and you’ll find that you have to walk anyway to see most of the sights.
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From the Train and Bus Stations
If you have taken a train from points south or a bus from anywhere into Boston, you will arrive at South Station. Take the Red Line to either Park Street or Charles/MGH. Trains from Maine arrive at North Station, which is about a 10 minute walk from Beacon Hill. Taxi cabs are available at both train stations.
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If you have taken a train from points south or a bus from anywhere into Boston, you will arrive at South Station. Take the Red Line to either Park Street or Charles/MGH. Trains from Maine arrive at North Station, which is about a 10 minute walk from Beacon Hill. Taxi cabs are available at both train stations.
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