Getting to Boston
By air
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is the region's major airport, located about 3 miles (5 km) east of downtown Boston and roughly 4 miles (6.5 km) from the MIT campus in Cambridge. It has direct connections to most major hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia, making it the most common way for international and long-distance attendees to arrive.
By train
Boston is well served by Amtrak, with most trains arriving at Boston South Station in downtown Boston. South Station has direct high-speed Acela and regional Northeast Corridor service from New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and other Northeast cities, as well as connections from further afield. From South Station, it's a quick Red Line subway ride to the venue (see "Getting to the venue" below).
By car
If you're driving, MIT and Kendall Square are just off I-93 and Storrow Drive/Memorial Drive, on the Cambridge side of the Charles River. Note that parking in Kendall Square is limited and expensive — most nearby hotels and public garages charge daily rates, and given how walkable the area is and how easy the T (Boston's public transit system) is, driving is generally not necessary once you're in Boston.
By bus
Regional bus lines including Greyhound, Megabus, and FlixBus connect Boston to many Northeast US and Canadian cities, with most stops at or near South Station, from which you can continue to the venue via the Red Line.
Getting to the venue
The workshop will be held at MIT Building E28, 4th Floor, 314 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, in the heart of Kendall Square. The nearest subway stop is Kendall/MIT on the MBTA Red Line, about a 5-minute walk from the venue.
From Logan Airport:
- Subway (recommended): Follow signs inside the terminal for the free Silver Line (SL1) bus, which runs from all terminals to South Station. At South Station, transfer to the Red Line (direction Alewife) and ride to Kendall/MIT — about 4 stops. Total travel time is roughly 30–35 minutes, and the fare is about $2.40 (the Silver Line leg from the airport is free).
- Taxi / rideshare (Uber, Lyft): About 15–25 minutes depending on traffic, typically $30–45.
From South Station (Amtrak/bus arrivals): Take the Red Line (direction Alewife) directly to Kendall/MIT — about 4 stops, 10–15 minutes.
Public transport
Boston and Cambridge are served by the MBTA ("the T"), which includes subway (Red, Orange, Blue, Green Lines), buses, and the Silver Line rapid bus. For getting around during the workshop, the Red Line is what you'll use most, since it runs directly through Kendall/MIT and Central Square.
- CharlieCard: A reusable, tappable fare card, the cheapest way to ride. Subway fares are around $2.40 per ride. CharlieCards can be picked up for free at subway stations with a CharlieCard machine, or you can use the mTicket / Charlie app on your phone.
- Contactless payment: Many Red Line stations now also accept tap-to-pay with a contactless credit/debit card or phone at the fare gates.
- Walking and biking: Kendall Square, MIT, and Central Square are compact and very walkable. Cambridge is also flat and bike-friendly, and the city's Bluebikes bike-share system has docking stations all around campus — day passes can be purchased directly at the kiosks or via the Bluebikes app.
Accommodation
Kendall Square has a good range of hotels within easy walking distance of the venue, and Central Square and Harvard Square (both one Red Line stop or a short ride away) offer some more budget-friendly options. As with previous workshops, the recommendations below are not an endorsement or affiliation — just places that are convenient and well-regarded. Rooms in Kendall Square can book up and get pricier close to the workshop dates (late October is also a busy season in Boston, with fall foliage tourism), so early booking is recommended.
Recommended hotels: Kendall Hotel, Boston Marriott Cambridge, Residence Inn Boston Cambridge, The Royal Sonesta Boston, Le Méridien Boston Cambridge.
Around MIT and Cambridge
Kendall Square has grown into one of the densest biotech and tech hubs in the world, but it's also become a genuinely good food and culture neighborhood in its own right — and Central Square, MIT's other neighboring square, has a livelier, more eclectic scene worth the 15-minute walk or one-stop T ride.
Coffee and food near the venue:
- Tatte Bakery & Café (a Boston phenomenon), Blue Bottle Coffee, Flour Bakery + Café, Bakey (good babka), Toscanini's Ice Cream
- Eastern Edge Food Hall — many quick bite options right next to the venue
- Quick bites: CAVA, NAYA, Life Alive
- Area Four (pizza), Cafe Luna, Shy Bird, Cicada, Pepper Sky's, MuLan Taiwanese Restaurant
Things to do:
- MIT Museum — hands-on science and technology exhibits, a short walk from the venue.
- Charles River Esplanade — a pleasant walk or run along the river, connecting Cambridge and Boston, with views of the Boston skyline.
- Harvard Square — about 25 minutes on foot or a short bus ride from MIT, with Harvard's historic campus, bookshops, and its own dense restaurant scene.
- Museum of Science — large interactive science museum, easily reached via public transit.
- Freedom Trail and downtown Boston — the historic core of Boston, about 20–30 minutes away by subway, covering sites from the American Revolution.
Late October in Boston also means fall foliage season — if you have extra time, a short trip out to New England's countryside is a popular add-on for visiting researchers.