Boston Logan International Airport — Attraction in Winthrop

Boston Logan International Airport sits dramatically across the harbor from downtown, offering travelers one of the most convenient major airport locations in America. The water-bound setting, with Boston's skyline as backdrop, provides a fitting introduction to New England's largest transportation hub.

The airport's newest architectural statement, Terminal E's expansion by Spanish architect Luis Vidal and AECOM, captures your attention immediately. Its swooping red roof—painted in a custom-developed prismatic "Boston Red" that shifts hue with changing light—recalls the boldness of mid-century jet-age optimism while housing thoroughly modern amenities. This chromatic celebration of Boston references the city's brick buildings and the crimson of its educational institutions, creating a landmark visible from both air and across the harbor.

Within this striking shell, Vidal has prioritized passenger comfort through intuitive wayfinding and abundant natural light. The terminal exemplifies a growing trend in airport design: dramatic exteriors paired with calming interiors. Transit architecture rarely balances these elements successfully, yet Logan's newest addition manages both visual interest and practical functionality.

Logan's architectural ambitions extend beyond terminals. The Central Parking garage expansion features a kinetic wall composed of 48,000 curved aluminum panels that ripple with the wind—a nod to the fundamental element of aviation. This subtle artistic touch elevates what could have been merely utilitarian infrastructure.

The airport's proximity to downtown remains its greatest asset. Free shuttle buses, equipped with modern conveniences like low floors and luggage racks, run every 5-6 minutes, whisking visitors to Boston's center. For those requiring personal transportation, the LEED Gold-certified Rental Car Center consolidates all agencies under one sustainable roof, complete with solar panels that offset energy usage.

Logan's history reflects both aviation progress and urban tension. Founded in 1923 as a military airfield, it expanded through successive landfill projects that converted Boston Harbor islands into runways and terminals. This growth came with controversy, most notably when Wood Island Park, designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, was cleared in 1967 for expansion—prompting community protests like the "Maverick Street Mothers" demonstrations in 1968. These conflicts between transportation infrastructure and neighborhood preservation continue to shape the airport's relationship with East Boston.

Aviation milestones punctuate Logan's timeline: becoming America's first airport with rapid transit access in 1952 when the Blue Line's Airport station opened, and serving as one of the nation's earliest transatlantic hubs when American Overseas Airlines launched Boston-Shannon-London service in 1946. A somber note in this history: two flights involved in the September 11 attacks originated here, marked by memorial flags at gates B32 and C19.

For first-time visitors, Logan impresses with its cleanliness, navigability, and efficient services—particularly TSA PreCheck—earning it a solid 4.1/5 rating from nearly 22,000 reviewers. While crowding can occur during peak times, recent expansions have improved passenger flow.

Logan exemplifies how transportation infrastructure can balance utility with architectural expression—merging historical significance, community context, and forward-looking design. Whether approaching by water taxi across the harbor, spotting the red terminal roof from the air, or experiencing the kinetic wall's silent choreography, Boston's airport offers more than mere transit—it provides a proper introduction to a city that values both innovation...

This is a great airport! We flew in to terminal B from Nashville on our way to Iceland (terminal E). We had a 5 hour layover and were considering grabbing a lobster roll outside the airport somewhere but realized the airline we were flying to Iceland does not participate in TSA Precheck and we didn't want the hassle coming back in so we stayed and ate at Legal Seafood (there's one in each terminal). It was delicious albeit expensive. The walk down to terminal E from B took a while (about 24 minutes) but we passed lots of super comfortable seats and private sitting areas. I was amazed at all the comfy seating everywhere. Even the standard seating was great because there were charging ports that worked (ahemm...Nashville). Lots of shopping and restaurant options. Also noticed 2 playgrounds for young children. Arrival from Iceland was delayed and we entered the airport at just after 9.30pm. We were sitting in seat 9 on the plane and used Mobile Passport to go through customs. We were through and near the exit of the airport booking a hotel for the evening within 20 minutes. I cannot remember if we would have had to go back through security had we made our connecting domestic flight but I believe so. We were going to try to grab an earlier flight on Southwest (leaving 45 minutes after scheduled landing) if we were about to make it time (as it turns out, we didn't even make our planned flight) but I think it would have been super tight, especially considering the gate closes 10 minutes prior and we'd have had to check to see if there was room at the gate (we did not check luggage). Anyway, the only room for improvement I can see is putting some of those Ride Share sign down in arrivals. It's great to see them in departures but why are they there?? Fyi, you have to go upstairs and follow the purple signage (it's a long journey). There is also a Hilton hotel near Ride Share pickup area but I had already booked and it was nonrefundable. Looked like it would have been $300 for 3 hours of sleep, not worth it. Lol Although maybe I'd have gotten 4 hours in the time it took us to get to ours. We arrived at 3.38am the next morning. TSA Precheck didn't even open until 3.45am so we waited until 3.48am when they finally opened (our flight was at 5.05am). We were through security at 3.53am, after they checked out my bread to make sure I wasn't smuggling...

Oh my God never ever ever get a layover at Boston international airport. They make you go through check-in twice, and they make you take a bus to the other terminals instead of there being a tram or a simple people walkway/mover system. The bus is slow. It drives through regular street traffic along with taxis and other people dropping off and picking up. It is cramped, and extremely unorganized. There NOT very good, clear signage. There are NOT people available to provide information at the bus stop. You literally have to exit the airport, even though you’ve gone through customs and security at your original airport, find some bus to some terminal somewhere and start all over again, at a different terminal, which again, requires waiting for what feels like a city bus to drive you, in the middle of what feels like downtown traffic. Once I asked enough maintenance people enough questions I finally figured out that I had to go out to the curb and find a bus. Once I got to the curb, I spent a lot of time just trying to figure out where the precious few, very small, very limited “signs” were and what they meant and literally with suitcases all over me running around from bus to us trying to read their label to see if that might be the bus I’m looking for. Which almost wouldn’t have been too bad if the signs were on the side of the bus, but they are only on the front so you have to go all the way to the front row and start reading from there. It’s a disaster.

And again, they make you go through check-in lines again, even though you just finished going through check-in at the last airport. This is a layover.

Then once I finally figured how to get to my terminal and gate, (which literally took an hour because of how slow that bus is, IN CITY TRAFFIC, and how pitiful the signage is, and the fact that I had to go through check-in lines AGAIN) frustrated I tried to sit down and have a beer only to pay $10 for a lousy Samuel Adams.

Look Boston. I expect beers to be expensive at the airport but 10 bucks is ridiculous.

Seriously folks, a big rich city like Boston can definitely afford a tram system. Until they do,...