How to Take the T Around Greater Boston

Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Greater Boston’s subway system, colloquially known as “the T,” is one way to more easily get around America’s walking city. The T is made up of 5 separate lines comprised of 153 underground and above-ground stations that service light rail, heavy rail, and buses. Navigating the T is fairly easy but can seem overwhelming at first if you’re not familiar with it. Here’s what you need to know to get around. 

 

Purchasing and Using Tickets

There are a few ways you can purchase tickets for the T. You can find ticket kiosks in most stations throughout the system. These kiosks accept cards and cash and can dispense several types of tickets. Which ticket type is best for you will likely depend on the amount of time you’re spending in Greater Boston, and how much you plan on using the T. 

Fare prices can change over time, so be sure to check MBTA.com for the latest fare information. 

One-way fares can be used for one trip on any subway or bus line. If purchasing a one-way fare through a kiosk, you’ll be given a small paper ticket that you can insert into a small slot at the front of a faregate, or when immediately entering a bus or train. 

You may also buy passes. A one-day pass will give you unlimited access to the subway and bus system for 24 hours. Seven-day passes work the same way. They offer unlimited travel on the subway and bus systems for a full week. Finally, a monthly pass will grant unlimited access to bus and subway stations for the rest of the calendar month (so, if you buy a monthly pass on, say, January 15, it will work until January 31 – not a full 30 days). Passes come in the form of paper tickets that work just like one-way fares – just insert them into the small slot and gate will read your ticket and give it back to you. 

The T also recently started accepting contactless pay through cards and mobile services. Some buses, subway cars, and faregates are equipped with a contactless payment reader that you can simply hold up your credit card, debit card, or mobile device to when boarding. The fare will be automatically charged to your form of payment. 

If you’re staying in Greater Boston for an extended period of time and plan to use the T system frequently, you may want a CharlieCard – a plastic electronic farecard about the size and weight of a credit card that is accepted at all subway stations and on all buses. CharlieCards can be loaded with value at kiosks using cash and cards, on buses, or online. Just tap your CharlieCard at the faregate or when entering the bus or train and the fare value will be automatically deducted from the card. If your card does not have enough value on it for the trip, a message saying so will appear on the screen. 

Most T stations, especially those in central Boston, will have an MBTA representative available to help answer questions, provide directions, or advise you on routes and ticket types. They wear red shirts and jackets with the T logo on the back.

 

Entering, Transferring, and Exiting 

Trains travel in 2 directions: Inbound, heading towards the center of Boston, and Outbound, traveling away from the city. You can get an inbound or an outbound train through most entrances, but some only serve one or the other. Make sure you’re using the correct entrance before entering the station and the train – ask an MBTA representative if you need help. In most stations, there will be an open area before the faregate where you can purchase tickets, if you need to.

Many stations service more than one subway line. Transferring between subway lines is free unless you exit a station through the faregate. You can transfer from the subway to a local or express bus up to 2 times in one ride and pay only the cost of the highest-priced service. 

When exiting, simply walk up to the faregate. The doors should automatically open – you do not need to present your ticket again when exiting. 

The Red Line 

The Red Line travels north to south through downtown Boston, consisting of 22 stations from North Cambridge and Somerville in the North to Braintree and Dorchester in the South. The Red Line splits at the JFK/UMass station – one line traveling to Braintree, and the other traveling to the Ashmont neighborhood of Dorchester. Trains will be announced as an “Ashmont” or “Braintree” train throughout the Red Line. Unless you are traveling to a destination south of the split, either line will get you to where you need to go. 

At Ashmont station, you can also connect to the Mattapan Line (a trolley that appears on maps as part of the Red Line), which services Dorchester, Milton, and parts of Boston. 

Highlights along the Red Line include:  

– Davis Square in Somerville, a quaint shopping and restaurant area and the closest station to Tufts University;

– Harvard, the site of Harvard University (America’s oldest college) and the free Harvard Art and Natural History museums; 

– Kendall/MIT, the closest station to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a neighborhood that is often considered to be the city’s hub for start-up businesses; 

– Charles/MGH, the closest station to Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood; 

– Park Street, which sits within the Boston Common near the Massachusetts State House;  

– South Station, where you can take the Silver Line to Logan Airport or pick up an Amtrak or Commuter Rail train; 

– The neighborhood of South Boston, serviced by 2 stations: Broadway and Andrew;

– JFK/UMass, the closest station to – you guessed it – the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate, and the University of Massachusetts – Boston campus;

– The neighborhood of Dorchester, known for its vibrant community art, active commercial centers, and diverse cuisine, serviced by 4 stations; and

– The towns of Quincy and Braintree, serviced by 5 stations. Don’t miss Quincy Adams National Historical Park.

Between the Kendall and Charles/MGH stations, you’ll pass over the Charles River above ground on the Longfellow Bridge. This brief but memorable leg of the Red Line provides amazing views of Boston, Cambridge, and the Charles River in between. It’s especially great in the Summer, when boaters and kayakers flock to the river for exercise and recreation. The Longfellow Bridge was originally built in 1900. Locals sometimes call it the ‘salt and pepper bridge’ because of the shape of its towers. 

The Red Line got its color from Harvard University’s famous Crimson. 

 

The Orange Line

The Orange Line travels north to south through downtown Boston, with 20 stations starting in Malden and continuing through Somerville and the Boston neighborhoods of Charlestown, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain. 

Highlights on the Orange Line include: 

– Assembly, where you exit directly into a chic outdoor shopping mall in Somerville with stores, restaurants, a movie theater, a brewery, even a Lego Discovery Center;  

– Community College, the best station to access the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the historic neighborhood of Charlestown;  

– North Station, where you can visit the TD Garden (a large concert venue that is also home to the Boston Bruins and the 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics);

– State, where you can enter the subway through the iconic Old State House;

– Chinatown, an epicenter of Asian-American life in New England, home to many renowned shops, markets, and restaurants;

– Haymarket, the closest station to the Boston Public Market and Boston’s historic North End neighborhood, home to some of the best and most authentic Italian cooking in the United States; 

– Back Bay, home of Newbury Street (perfect for a shopping spree or just a nice walk) and some of Boston’s tallest skyscrapers;

– Massachusetts Ave, the closest station to Boston’s picturesque South End neighborhood – a great place to experience fine dining, classic architecture, and some of Boston’s best public parks;

– The neighborhood of Roxbury, serviced by 3 stations: Ruggles, Roxbury Crossing, and Jackson Square. Be sure to check out Nubian Square, which is full of one-of-a-kind art, shops, and restaurants, as well as the Museum of the National Center for African American Artists; and

– The neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, serviced by 3 stations: Stony Brook, Green Street, and Forest Hills. Don’t miss the area’s outdoor spaces, including the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, and Olmsted Park.

 

The Blue Line

The Blue line starts in downtown Boston and terminates on the North Shore in Revere. It is one of two lines that services Logan Airport, which can be a convenient alternative to driving if you’re trying to escape Boston traffic on the way to your flight. The Blue Line has a total of 12 stations. Highlights along the Blue Line include: 

– Revere Beach, a historic 3-mile-long public beach just north of Boston, home to one of the largest and most renowned sandcastle sculpting festivals in the world; 

– Wood Island, a large and active business- and recreation-focused section of East Boston; 

– Airport, where you can easily catch a shuttle to any Logan Airport terminal and the rental car center; and 

– Aquarium, the closest station to the Boston Aquarium and Boston’s waterfront district. 

The Blue Line was so named because it runs along the ocean. 

 

The Green Line

Boston’s oldest and most complicated subway line is the Green Line. It consists of 70 streetcar stations across 4 branches, traveling largely between East and West. Each branch starts and ends in a specific location, so it is important to know which branch you need – often, only one of the four branches will service the station you’re traveling to.  

In stations where more than one branch operates, be sure to consult an MBTA transit map or ask an MBTA employee to make sure you’re getting on the right train. Announcements within the station will often say what branch an incoming train is and where it is ending, or you can look at the front of the first train car – an electronic sign will detail the specific branch and where it will stop. 

Each Green Line Branch will service: 

– Government Center, where you can see Boston’s iconic City Hall building (a love-it-or-hate-it example of brutalist architecture), and take a quick walk to Faneuil Hall, a historic collection of shops and restaurants; 

– Park Street, the oldest still-operating subway station in the country, and the best place to exit for Boston Common and the Massachusetts State House;

– Boylston and Arlington stations, the closest stops to Emerson College, the Boston Public Garden, and Boston’s Theater District; 

– Copley; the best exit for the Boston Public Library (the first public library in the United States) and the Boston Marathon Finish Line;

And every Branch except for the E Branch services: 

– Hynes Convention Center, an active and popular meeting space that sits within the Prudential Center mall; and  

– Kenmore, the best place to get off for Fenway Park. Don’t be fooled by the “Fenway” station on the D Branch! This station was named for the Fenway neighborhood, not Fenway Park. You can certainly get to Fenway Park from the Fenway station, but Kenmore is the quicker and easier option

 

The Green Line B Branch

The B branch operates entirely within Boston’s city limits, running from Government Center downtown out to Boston College in the westernmost part of the city, through Boston University and the neighborhoods of Allston and Brighton. Through the B Branch you can explore: 

– Boston University – Serviced by Blandford Street, Boston University East, Boston University Central, and Amory Street stations; 

– Allston – A Boston neighborhood that skews younger than the rest of the city due to its proximity to colleges, serviced by Babcock Street, Packard’s Corner, Harvard Avenue, Griggs Street, and Allston Street stations; and 

– Brighton – A suburban Boston neighborhood serviced by seven stations including Washington Street, Chiswick Road, Chestnut Hill Avenue, and Boston College.

 

The Green Line C Branch

The Green Line C Branch starts in the neighborhoods of Brookline and Brighton and ends at Government Center. Use the C Branch to get to: 

– Brookline – Most of the C Branch services Brookline, a quaint suburb of Boston that is largely pedestrian-friendly. Neighborhoods to check out include Coolidge Corner and Washington Square, and attractions include two National Park Service sites – John F. Kennedy’s birthplace and Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site; and

– Brighton – Serviced by Cleveland Circle, a residential and commercial town center popular among Boston College students.

 

The Green Line D Branch

The Green Line D Branch begins North of Boston, in Somerville, and travels through the Brookline neighborhood out to the town of Newton. The D Branch will take you to: 

– Union Square – One of the newer stations within the MBTA, part of the recent Green Line extension project that brought the D Branch North. Union Square is the oldest and one of the largest commercial areas in Somerville, full of both Revolutionary- and Civil War-era history;

– Fenway – Like baseball’s Fenway Park, the Fenway station was actually named for the surrounding Fenway neighborhood and “The Fens,” a large public park nearby. You can get to Fenway Park the stadium by taking the train to Fenway station, but it is a shorter walk and generally an easier trip to exit at Kenmore station; 

– Brookline – Serviced by 5 stations including Longwood, Brookline Village, and Brookline Hills. Brookline is a largely residential town with some shops and restaurants, particularly along the Green Line tracks. Neighborhoods to check out include Coolidge Corner, Washington Square, and attractions include John F. Kennedy’s birthplace and Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site; and

– Newton – Another mostly residential town near Boston, Newton is serviced by 7 stops along the D Branch, including Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Highlands, Riverside. In Newton you can try running up the infamous Heartbreak Hill, a notoriously challenging stretch of the Boston Marathon.

 

The Green Line E Branch

The Green Line E Branch begins in Medford, traveling through Somerville, East Cambridge, and the Fenway, Longwood, and Mission Hill neighborhoods of Boston. Must-sees on the E Branch include: 

– Medford – A residential area just north of the Mystic River, serviced by the Medford/Tufts and Ball Square stations 

– Somerville – Cambridge’s hip neighbor just north of Boston is serviced by the Magoun Square, Gilman Square, and East Somerville stations; 

– Symphony – The nearby Symphony Hall is the home of the Boston Pops and the Boston Symphony Orchestra; 

– Museum of Fine Arts – At this stop you’ll find world-class fine art not just the MFA, but also the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum;

– Longwood Medical Area – This is the best place to access Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital, but also the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the MassArt Museum; and

– Mission Hill – a mostly residential neighborhood with some hospitals and universities, serviced by 5 stops on the E Branch.

The Green Line was named for the green scenery of the Emerald Necklace – a stretch of public parks that it passes through. 

 

The Silver Line

While it operates within the ‘T’ subway system, the Silver Line is actually a special bus line that runs underground and above ground, mostly in its own dedicated lanes and roadways outside of normal car traffic – just like a subway train would. Buses switch seamlessly between electric and diesel fuel along the routes. 

The Silver line consists of 5 routes. Routes 1-3 are the best way to get around Boston’s burgeoning Seaport district, while routes 4 and 5 service areas of Roxbury, the South End, and Chinatown that other subway lines don’t easily reach. 

Like in the Green Line, multiple Silver Line stations service more than one route – make sure you’re getting on the correct bus for your final destination. The Line and terminating destination will always be announced and displayed on the front of the bus. 

– SL1

The SL1 Route is your ticket to Logan Airport. It picks up at South Station and throughout the Seaport, and will make stops at each airport terminal. If you’re boarding the bus at Logan Airport, you don’t need a ticket – your ride is free. Tickets are required when boarding the bus anywhere else along the route. 

– SL2

The SL2 also services South Station and runs further into the Seaport than the SL1, extending all the way to the Design Center, a mostly business-oriented area that has design shops and some restaurants. 

– SL3

The SL3 can be picked up at South Station and the Seaport, and goes north to Chelsea, one of the smallest cities in Massachusetts. 

– SL4 & SL5

Downtown Boston is served by the SL4 and SL5 routes. Both start in Roxbury and serve the South End and Chinatown neighborhoods. The SL4 goes to South Station, where you can transfer to the Commuter Rail, the Red Line, or the SL1, SL2, and SL3 Silver Line routes; and the SL5 runs to Downtown Crossing and Boylston Stations, where you can transfer to the Green, Orange, and Red Lines.

TOPICS: Allston, Back Bay, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, Greater Boston, Jamaica Plain, MBTA, Medford, Newton, Quincy, Roxbury, Somerville