Getting around Boston

The oldest subway in America. Locals call it the T.

MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) · official site

Network map

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Red Line
Orange Line
Blue Line
Green Line
Airport station

Alewife

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From the airport, on your first night

BOS

Boston Logan International

1Follow signs from baggage claim to the Silver Line SL1 bus stop, right outside every terminal.
2Board the SL1 towards South Station — it is free in this direction, no ticket needed.
3Ride to South Station, about 20 minutes.
4Change to the Red Line for Cambridge, MIT and Harvard, or walk to the commuter rail.

Journey time: 25–40 minutes to central Boston
Cost: Free inbound from the airport

Read this first: The SL1 stops running around 1am. Later than that, take a taxi or rideshare — roughly $30–45 into the city.

Fares and how to pay

Single ride: $2.40 subway · $1.70 bus
Day pass: $11.00 (1-day) · $22.50 (7-day)
Monthly: $90.00 LinkPass

Student discount

University students are generally not eligible for the MBTA's reduced fare (that is for ages 18 and under, seniors and riders with disabilities). Many universities do sell a discounted semester pass through the student portal — check yours, the saving is real.

How to pay

Tap a contactless bank card or phone straight on the gate or farebox — no ticket needed, and it automatically caps at the daily maximum.
Or get a plastic CharlieCard free at any staffed station and top it up at machines.
Fares are cheaper with a CharlieCard than paying cash on board.

Transfers

Free transfers between subway lines inside the gates. Bus-to-subway and subway-to-bus transfers are free within two hours when you use the same card.

Buses worth knowing

Rail gets the attention, but most students live on the bus network.

Silver Line SL1Every 8–15 min
Logan Airport terminals to South Station. Free from the airport into town.
Route 1Every 8–12 min
Harvard Square ↔ Dudley via Massachusetts Ave and MIT.
Route 66Every 10–15 min
Harvard ↔ Dudley via Allston and Brookline.
Route 77Every 10–15 min
Harvard ↔ Arlington Heights along Massachusetts Ave.
Route 39Every 8–12 min
Forest Hills ↔ Back Bay via Huntington Ave.

Apps to install on day one

MBTA Go
The MBTA's official app, with live arrivals.
Transit
The app most locals actually use. Excellent live countdowns.
Google Maps
Reliable trip planning across subway, bus and commuter rail.

What your advisor would tell you

Contactless bank cards work directly on the gates. You do not need to buy anything before your first ride.
The Green Line is a tram that runs on the street west of Kenmore — it is much slower than it looks on the map. Budget extra time.
The T stops running around 12:30–1:00am, earlier than most cities students come from. Plan your way home before you go out.
Winter matters here. A commute that is fine in September is a different proposition in February — check that your stop is a short, gritted walk from your door.
Allston, Brighton and Mission Hill are the classic student rental areas. All are on or near the Green and Orange lines.

A map only gets you so far on your first night

Reading about the Boston system at 2am after a 20-hour flight, with two suitcases and no US phone number, is a different thing entirely. Plan it with your advisor before you fly, and message them if anything goes wrong on the way.

Get an advisor