6 hours in Boston

You could take a ferry from Logan to Long Wharf or Rowes Wharf and walk to the Atheneum or just about anywhere else you might want to visit. https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/getting-to-logan/water-transportation. Might be fun and less stressful than the T. Oops, maybe not. Not sure it runs on the weekends.

Thanks, good idea. It looks like Water Taxi will be running, but yes MBTA Hingham/ Hull—Logan Airport—Long Wharf Ferry appears weekdays only.

I didn't know the T was stressful... Yikes

The Gardner Museum is close to the MFA. If you are not museumed out after the MFA, I suggest visiting the Gardner museum.

Or you can wander around the North End, see Paul Revere’s house, get a pastry from Mike’s/Modern/Bova’s Bakery.

https://www.bostonhiddengems.com/self-guided-tours/north-end

https://bostonbyfoot.org/tours/Walking-Tours/Boston-Neighborhood-Tours/intro/

You have received some good advice. The MFA is really big, so (once you’ve paid the admission fee) make the most of it by seeing it all, rather than trying to fit in another museum. That, and a leisurely meal, will take up most of your six hours (although it’s not entirely clear whether your six hours includes the transport time to and from the airport area). Agree that a walk round the north end or the Faneuil Hall area would more than fill up any time remaining.

Thank you so much every, appreciate the insights & knowledge....
If anyone has thoughts about whether the Gardner Museum would be more enjoyable/manageable than MFA, I would be eager to hear. Otherwise I will try to hit MFA first and see if there's time for Gardner Museum. Salutations...

I think that’s a good plan. The Gardner is worth seeing if you have time but honestly I found it a bit fossilized. Everything hung as it was in the 19th century and so on.

I found it a bit fossilized

The Gardner museum is not your typical museum. Isabella curated, designed, and arranged the museum by herself.

Her will stipulated that her museum’s collection and galleries remain exactly as she left them, prohibiting any permanent changes, redecoration, or rearrangement of art to ensure that her "specific vision of curation" remains. Her instructions that nothing "be moved or sold, and no additional artworks could be added, or else the entire collection would be dispersed” was intended to preserve her home as a "permanent, unchanging, and unique educational experience for the public."

I love both the Gardner and MFA, but if I had to choose just one to recommend to someone, it would be the former. The courtyard gardens are lovely, and the works are so eclectic and interesting -- it's fun to see the way they are arranged, and there are lots of gems. Also, the staff at the library are very well informed and fun to engage with. It's a lovely, quirky place and to me, not as exhausting as the MFA.

What milgreen said!

Not sure about trotters pov on the T... it served me well thru 3 years of grad school and work...

I'd put Boston T in between New York subways (intense) and the Wash D C mass transit (lovely)

I think all of the choices you were given are great, Fanieul hall is pretty quintessentially Boston

Thank you all !! I was in Boston last Sunday.

Went to MFA and took the scheduled tour - which broke things down a little, though I wasn't thrilled with all the art objects chosen/highlighted, still worthwhile. Also wandered a bit on my own afterward.

Prior to leaving home, I watched a few videos about the Isabella Gardner Museum and became slightly enamored. My energy levels and ambitions were modest though, so hopefully another time. It actually made me sadder than I would have expected, to hear more context about the heist. How Ms. Gardner's stipulation/wish was that things would stay as they were, and that the pieces are surrounded by empty frames.

Thank you for additional subway context. Shamefully I did end up using rideshare. As a side bonus, I enjoyed the Pavement Coffee place, for the brief time I was there. Walking on the streets you just feel.... younger.

blackcat: I'm glad you had an enjoyable visit. There's a Netflix "documentary" on the Gardner Museum robbery entitled "This is a Robbery". If your name happens to be Isabella entrance to the museum is free.

My comment about the T has more to do with the hassle of taking the bus and then the subway into Boston from Logan while dodging luggage. Probably not too bad if you don't have any luggage yourself but you would still need to watch out for roller bags, backpacks and stressed out people.