On October 28, the MBTA extended four seasonal ferry routes through December 31, 2026: East Boston on weekdays and weekends, and Lynn, Winthrop and Quincy on weekdays. The baseline is easy to find. In 2024, the East Boston boat ran through November 30 and Winthrop and Quincy weekday service ended November 29. That same release called Lynn's run to November 29 an extension beyond its "typical seasonal schedule." This year's routes go a month further, into the weeks when the Downtown Waterfront is busiest with the holidays.
Most of the extension, though, covers weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the year, only two MBTA ferries serve the Downtown Waterfront, East Boston and Charlestown, and both leave from Long Wharf. Central Wharf and Rowes Wharf keep weekday schedules. For a weekend trip across the water this winter, the boats board at the foot of State Street.
Four landings, two of them open on weekends
The MBTA's own release lays out the split. In the words of Interim Secretary and General Manager Phillip Eng, "Thousands of riders enjoy taking the ferry for their travels, and the MBTA is pleased to be able to extend this ferry season."
| Downtown landing | Route | Weekdays | Weekends | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Wharf (North) | East Boston F3 | Yes | Yes | Through Dec. 31 |
| Long Wharf (North) | Lynn F5 | Yes | No | Through Dec. 31 |
| Long Wharf (South) | Charlestown F4 | Yes | Yes | Year-round |
| Central Wharf (Aquarium) | Harbor Loop | Yes | No | Year-round |
| Central Wharf (Aquarium) | Winthrop F6, Quincy F7 | Yes | No | Through Dec. 31 |
| Rowes Wharf | Hingham F1 | Yes | No | Year-round |
Fares depend on distance. A one-way inner-harbor trip, which covers East Boston and Charlestown, costs $2.40, or $1.10 at the reduced fare. Lynn costs $7. Winthrop or Quincy costs $6.50 between those terminals and the inner harbor. The timetables in effect are dated August 17, 2026. The MBTA notes that weather and unsafe sea conditions can disrupt service, and no route runs on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
The East Boston boat has a three-hour gap on weekends
Of the two weekend routes, the East Boston ferry is the one the extension saved. The F3 runs between Long Wharf (North) and a landing the MBTA calls East Boston (Lewis Mall), and the crossing takes ten minutes. On weekends it runs every 30 minutes, but not all day. A Saturday or Sunday looks like this:
- The first boat leaves East Boston at 9:00 a.m. The first Long Wharf departure is 9:15 a.m.
- The last midday boat from East Boston leaves Lewis Mall at 12:00 p.m. The last one from Long Wharf leaves at 12:15 p.m. and reaches Lewis Mall at 12:25 p.m.
- Long Wharf departures resume at 3:15 p.m. Service from East Boston resumes at 3:30 p.m.
- Boats then run every half hour into the evening, with an 8:45 p.m. departure from Long Wharf.
If you take the 11:45 a.m. boat over, the noon boat is your only quick way back. Miss it and the next departure from East Boston is 3:30 p.m. A late-afternoon crossing gives you dinner on the far side and boats back every half hour. On weekdays the F3 runs roughly every 30 minutes with a midday break: after the 12:15 p.m. sailing from Long Wharf, the next downtown departure is 2:15 p.m., and boats from East Boston start again at 2:30 p.m.
At the other end, the newest name on the water is La Tavernetta at 45 Lewis Street. Boston Magazine previewed it in April as a new waterfront restaurant with hearty food suited to colder weather, and NBC Boston reported it open by April 14, 2026. The restaurant says it takes both walk-ins and reservations. Nearby, ReelHouse at 6 New Street says it's open seven days a week, with brunch and dinner on weekends. Weekend brunch lines up with the F3's morning boats, and the 3:15 p.m. restart covers an early dinner.
Charlestown keeps a shorter weekend day and runs all year
The second weekend route leaves from the other side of the same pier. The Charlestown F4 runs from Long Wharf (South) to the Charlestown Navy Yard all year, on weekdays and weekends. On weekends it has no midday gap. Boats leave every 30 minutes, the first at 10:00 a.m. from Long Wharf and 10:10 a.m. from the Navy Yard, and the last at 6:00 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. On weekdays it starts at 6:30 a.m. from Long Wharf and makes its last departure at 8:00 p.m.
The MBTA boat matters more in Charlestown because the private option has stopped for the year. Pier 6 at 1 8th Street lists its boat shuttle as closed for the season, which runs April through October. The restaurant itself lists hours of Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight. So the F4 is now the only boat on that run, and its last weekend sailing back from the Navy Yard is 6:10 p.m.
The USS Constitution Museum lists daily hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ship itself is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and at 2 p.m. on December 24. With weekend boats starting at 10:00 a.m., there's time for the museum and the ship and a 4:40 p.m. boat home from the Navy Yard with sailings to spare.
Central Wharf and Rowes Wharf run on weekday schedules
The other landings keep commuter hours. The Harbor Loop, a year-round weekday route, stops at Lovejoy Wharf (North Station), Central Wharf (Aquarium), Seaport (Commonwealth Pier) and Logan Airport. Its Central Wharf calls run from 6:25 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. For a weekday flight, that puts a boat to Logan at the end of the Aquarium's plaza. The extended Winthrop and Quincy routes also call at Central Wharf, Seaport (Fan Pier) and Logan, roughly every 75 minutes with a midday pause, through December 31.
At Central Wharf, the New England Aquarium has taken its Atlantic harbor seals temporarily off exhibit while their habitat is improved. Those seals are usually the free view from the plaza for anyone waiting on the dock.
Rowes Wharf serves the Hingham F1, a weekday-only route with no posted weekend timetable. Its Rowes Wharf departures run from 6:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Lynn boat follows a similar commuter pattern from Long Wharf (North), with five sailings each way, all in the morning and evening.
Since October 8, waiting at any of these docks no longer means guessing. The MBTA added live ferry tracking, with boat locations and departure predictions, to the MBTA Go app, MBTA.com and the digital signs near Aquarium station. In December, that tells you whether to leave a warm lobby on Atlantic Avenue or wait another ten minutes.
Long Wharf's calendar through December 31
The weekend boats depend on one pier, and that pier is also on the city's agenda. The October 15 meeting agenda of the Boston Planning & Development Agency included a request to award ACK Marine and General Contracting a contract for the Long Wharf North Boardwalk Replacement Project. The amount is $460,410 plus a 20% contingency, or $552,492 in total. Long Wharf North is where the East Boston and Lynn boats board. Other dates near the docks:
- Tuesday, November 10, 3 to 7 p.m. Boston Harbor Distillery is on the Greenway calendar a few blocks from the wharves.
- Monday, November 23, 5 to 6 p.m. The trellis lighting at Christopher Columbus Park, 110 Atlantic Avenue. The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park list a countdown, holiday sing-alongs, Santa, cookies, hot chocolate and clam chowder.
- Thursday, November 26. Thanksgiving. No MBTA ferries on any route.
- Thursday, December 24. The USS Constitution Museum closes at 2 p.m.
- Friday, December 25. Christmas. No MBTA ferries on any route.
- Thursday, December 31. Last scheduled day for the extended East Boston, Lynn, Winthrop and Quincy routes. After that, Charlestown is the only weekend boat from the Downtown Waterfront.
How far a residence is from Long Wharf, Central Wharf or Rowes Wharf shapes daily life on the harbor more than most listing sheets show. David Mackie keeps track of what that walk to the dock is worth on the Waterfront. If a short walk to Long Wharf is on your list for a next home, ask to receive exclusive off-market listings near the wharves.
