South Boston, "Southie" to locals, is triple-deckers, corner bars and a long sweep of beaches ending at Castle Island. Geographically it also includes the Seaport, but the two feel like different cities: the Seaport has more than a dozen hotels, covered in our Seaport hotel guide, while the residential neighborhood has very few. This page is about those few, three hotels on the Red Line between Broadway station and Andrew Square, and about what a stay here offers: lower parking costs, quick trains to South Station and the shore within reach.
We mapped the three and measured the walk from each to the nearest Red Line station and to Seaport Boulevard on the street network. Parking, pet and shuttle terms come from the hotels' official pages unless marked otherwise.
Where to stay in South Boston: 3 hotels compared
Tap the map to open it full size. The gold pin is at Broadway station, on the edge of the residential streets. The blue pins are on Boston Street by Andrew Square, next to the South Bay shopping area on the border with Dorchester, rather than in the traditional heart of Southie.
The Red Line does the work here. The Cambria is a minute from Broadway station, one stop from South Station, and about 19 minutes on foot from Seaport Boulevard at World Trade Center station. The Courtyard and the Holiday Inn Express are 8 or 9 minutes from Andrew station, two stops from South Station, but about 43 minutes' walk from that point in the Seaport: take the Red Line to South Station and change to the Silver Line, or a taxi.
| Hotel | To the Red Line | Rooms and facilities | Parking a night | Pets | Airport shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown-Seaport | 1 min to Broadway | 159 rooms, 14th-floor rooftop, no pool listed | Valet $59 | No | None; taxi or rideshare |
| Courtyard Boston-South Boston | 8 min to Andrew | 164 rooms* | Self $20 (one car a room) | No | $10 one way, $20 round trip |
| Holiday Inn Express Boston | 9 min to Andrew | Free breakfast | $20 | No | Advertised at $10 a person each way; confirm |
Checked October 19, 2026, on the official pages of Choice Hotels, Marriott and IHG; an asterisk marks a figure from a travel-site listing. Walking times are rounded estimates on OpenStreetMap's street network at 80 meters a minute, to the nearest Red Line station entrance and to Seaport Boulevard at World Trade Center station, not to every part of the Seaport.
Which South Boston hotel should you choose?
- For the T and the neighborhood: the Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown-Seaport, on West Broadway, opened in September 2019 as the brand's first hotel in Massachusetts. Broadway station is at the door, and the 14th floor has a rooftop terrace with skyline views; the bar there is seasonal, so check it is open before you count on it.
- For drivers: the Courtyard Boston-South Boston, at 63R Boston Street behind the South Bay shopping center, and the Holiday Inn Express Boston, next door at 69 Boston Street, charge $20 a night for parking, a fraction of downtown rates; the Courtyard charges $25 for a second car. The Holiday Inn Express includes breakfast.
- For the airport: the Courtyard runs a shuttle to Logan at $10 one way or $20 round trip, according to Marriott; contact the hotel to schedule it. The Cambria has no airport shuttle. The Holiday Inn Express advertises transfers at $10 a person each way, free for children under 12, but one of its own pages says the service is not available, so confirm before you rely on it.
- For pets: none of the three accepts them. Look at the South End or the Seaport instead.
Castle Island and the beaches
The shore is the reason to stay in Southie. Castle Island, at the end of Day Boulevard, is a park joined to the mainland and open from sunrise to sunset, with free parking in the lot near Fort Independence; some beachside street parking is metered. The granite fort, completed in the mid-19th century, opens for free tours run by the Castle Island Association: on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 pm from Memorial Day weekend through August, then on Sundays after Labor Day, weather permitting. The paved loop around Pleasure Bay is a favorite walk and run, and M Street, L Street and Carson beaches line the shore toward Dorchester.
From Broadway station, MBTA bus 9 runs along East Broadway to City Point, and bus 11 takes the numbered streets; from City Point, Castle Island is a further walk of 10 to 15 minutes. Neither stops at the fort itself.
Getting around
Broadway and Andrew stations are on the Red Line, one and two stops from South Station, where you can change for the Silver Line to the Seaport and Logan Airport, or for Amtrak and the commuter rail. Downtown Crossing and Park Street, for Boston Common and the Freedom Trail, are a few stops further. West Broadway, by the Cambria, has the neighborhood's densest run of restaurants and bars.
Who South Boston suits
South Boston suits drivers who want to avoid downtown parking prices, travelers on a budget who are happy to ride the Red Line, and anyone who wants a morning walk by the water. It is less suited to those who want to walk to the main sights, which are a train ride away, or who need a pet-friendly hotel.
Compare nearby areas: From South Boston, the Seaport is a short walk north, Dorchester is next door with more hotels by the Red Line, and East Boston is the place for early flights.
Frequently asked questions about staying in South Boston
Is South Boston a good area to stay in for visitors?
Yes, if you value cheaper parking, a residential feel and quick Red Line access. There are only a few hotels in the residential part of the neighborhood; the Seaport, technically part of South Boston, has many more.
How far is South Boston from downtown Boston?
One stop on the Red Line from Broadway station to South Station, or two from Andrew. Downtown Crossing and Park Street are a few stops further.
Which South Boston hotel is closest to the T?
The Cambria Hotel Boston Downtown-Seaport, about a minute from Broadway station. The Courtyard and the Holiday Inn Express on Boston Street are 8 to 9 minutes from Andrew station.
Do South Boston hotels have parking?
Yes. The Courtyard and the Holiday Inn Express charge $20 a night, and the Cambria offers valet parking at $59 a night.
Is Castle Island free to visit?
Yes. The park is open from sunrise to sunset with free parking near Fort Independence, and the fort's tours are free, on summer weekends and on Sundays after Labor Day, weather permitting.