🇺🇸 Getting Around Boston

America's oldest subway system meets colonial charm. The T, commuter rail, and harbour ferries connect historic neighbourhoods with academic hubs.

Main Transport Options

The T (MBTA Subway)

America's oldest subway — 4 colour-coded lines serving Greater Boston

$2.40 per ride (CharlieCard)

•Red Line: Harvard, MIT, South Boston
•Green Line: Fenway, Back Bay, Boston College
•Blue Line: Airport to Bowdoin
•Orange Line: Back Bay, Chinatown, Malden

Pro Tip: The Red Line from Harvard to Park Street is the quintessential Boston ride — universities, history, and the Common!

MBTA Buses

170+ bus routes covering Boston and surrounding communities

$1.70 per ride (CharlieCard)

•Silver Line: Free from airport to South Station
•170+ routes across Greater Boston
•Key Bus Routes run every 10 minutes
•Late-night service until 1 AM

Pro Tip: The Silver Line SL1 from Logan Airport is completely free inbound — don't pay for a taxi!

Commuter Rail

12 lines radiating from Boston to suburbs, Cape Cod, and Providence

$2.40–$13.25 (zone-based)

•North Station and South Station hubs
•Service to Salem, Plymouth, Providence
•Weekend Cape Cod service in summer
•mTicket app for mobile purchasing

Pro Tip: Take the commuter rail to Salem for a day trip — 30 minutes and you're in witch-trial country!

Bluebikes

Boston's bike-share system with 4,000+ bikes across Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline

$2.95 unlock + $0.10/min

•400+ stations across 4 municipalities
•Classic and e-bikes available
•Charles River Esplanade path
•Perfect for Cambridge-Boston hops

Pro Tip: Ride along the Charles River Esplanade — MIT and Back Bay skyline on either side, pure magic!

Passes & Tickets

CharlieCard

Reloadable plastic card for the lowest T and bus fares

Best for: Everyone — saves money vs. paper tickets

✓$2.40 subway / $1.70 bus
✓Free transfers bus-to-subway
✓Available at select stations

1-Day LinkPass

Unlimited T and bus rides for 24 hours

Best for: Heavy sightseeing days

✓$11 for 24 hours unlimited
✓All subway and bus routes
✓Valid from first tap

7-Day LinkPass

A full week of unlimited MBTA rides

Best for: Week-long stays

✓$22.50 for 7 days
✓All subway lines and buses
✓Incredible value for daily riders

Navigation Apps & Tools

MBTA App

Official T app with real-time tracking and service alerts

Transit App

Excellent real-time predictions for T, bus, and commuter rail

Google Maps

Reliable routing across Boston's complex transit network

Bluebikes App

Find stations, unlock bikes, and manage rides

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

Green Line through Back Bay

Historic streetcar rolling past Victorian brownstones

Blue Line to Aquarium

Step out to Boston Harbour with skyline views

Commuter rail to Salem

Coastal New England scenery en route to witch country

Bluebike on Charles River

Cambridge and Boston skylines reflected in the river

Park Street Station

America's oldest subway station — history underfoot

Insider Tips

1Get a CharlieCard (plastic) not a CharlieTicket (paper) — it's cheaper per ride
2The Silver Line from Logan Airport is free inbound — walk out of the terminal and hop on
3The Green Line is actually a streetcar — it's slow but incredibly scenic through Back Bay
4The 7-day LinkPass for $22.50 is absurd value — less than $3.25/day for unlimited rides
5Boston is very walkable — the Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles and you don't need transit at all
6Commuter rail to Salem is a perfect half-day trip — 30 minutes each way