Welcome to Boston! The MBTA makes it easy for people to get all around the city. Here are the basics of the ‘T’ (as the locals call it):

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There are multiple subway lines and a robust bus system across the city. Using Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze and selecting the public transport method will 1) show you real-time buses and trains close to you and 2) provide the fastest method to get to your destination. 

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Fares/Passes

There are several options for buying fares and passes while you’re in town. If you don’t anticipate using the T very much while you’re here (because you’ll have a car or won’t be here very long), the best option is loading money on a CharlieCard to pay for individual fares. The fare breakdown is as follows:

• Subway One-way: $2.40

• Bus One-way: $1.70

• Transfers:

  • Subway to bus OR bus to subway: one transfer within two hours, pay the highest fare once (total of $2.40 one way)

  • Bus to bus: one free transfer within two hours to another bus line (excludes the same line, either going the same way or going the other way)

  • Subway to subway: transfers between subway lines are free within fare gates (you do not need to exit the gates to transfer to another line, but if you do exit the gates, you will need to pay a full fare to re-enter)

If you anticipate using the T frequently, the best values are through the passes, where you pay a flat fee for unlimited rides. You can get a 1-day pass or a 7-day pass, and the fares are as follows:

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• 1-Day Pass: $11.00 for unlimited Subway, Bus, and Silver Line travel

• 7-Day Pass: $22.50 for unlimited Subway, Bus, and Silver Line travel

To put in perspective, with the 1-day pass you would need to use the subway just 5 times in one day to save money. If you will be here more than 2 days, the 7-day pass is the best deal. 

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Where to Purchase Fares/Passes

You can buy passes and load CharlieCards at several places in the city. The best places are at fare vending machines, located at every subway station on the Red line, Orange line, and Blue line; machines are also located at downtown Green line stations (from Kenmore to Union Square). You can pay with card at all machines, and some machines have a cash option. Just follow the on-screen prompts to purchase your desire pass or load your CharlieCard.

You can also purchase passes and CharlieCards at several stores around the city, including Star Market and 7-Eleven. Talk to people at the front/customer service counters for help.

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Commuter Rail

If you plan on using the Commuter Rail (Purple line) to leave the city and visit places like Concord or Salem, you will need to purchase a separate pass. You cannot use CharlieCards or MBTA passes on the commuter rail. The cheapest option is to buy the $10.00 weekend pass for unlimited travel on any commuter rail line on Saturdays and Sundays (one way fares to Concord/Salem are usually $8-10).

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General Tips

Pay attention to signs that point to the line you need and the direction you want to go. To get on the bus, tap the card reader at the front of the bus by the driver to pay your fare. To get on the subway, tap the card readers at the entrance gates to pay your fare. 

The Green line has 4 different branches (B, C, D, and E), so pay attention to the specific branch you need to take; many of the branches come together and travel the same route in downtown Boston, so it may not matter as much depending on where you're traveling. The different branches also go above ground the farther it travels from downtown.

The closest subway station to the Stake Center (65 Binney St, Cambridge) is Kendall/MIT on the Red line OR Lechmere on the Green Line (E)

The closest subway station to the Longfellow Park Building (2 Longfellow Park, Cambridge) is Harvard on the Red line.

If you want to learn more about the MBTA, go to https://www.mbta.com/ for schedules, trip planner, alerts, and pass information.