Boston Public Transportation - Useful Guide for Visitors

The "T"
Boston Subway

Boston Subway - the "T"

MTBA runs 5 Subway lines in Boston. Locals call it the "T" in Boston.

Below are 5 Boston T Lines:

1). Blue Line - Runs between Bowdoin and Wonderland plus connects to Airport and Downtown Boston

2). Green Line - Connects Lechmere and Government Center with multiple Sub-lines to

      - Boston College (B line),

      - Cleveland Circle - (C Line),

      - Riverside (D Line) - Major Stop Kenmore and Fenway Park and

      - Heath Street  (E Line) - Major stop Museum of Fine Arts

3). Orange Line - Runs between Forest Hills and Oak Grove with major stops Back Bay, Downtown Crossing, and State

4). Red Line (Ashmont–Mattapan High-Speed Line) - connects to major stops like JFK/UMass, South Station, MIT, and Harvard

5). Silver Line - Boston Silver line T are Buses with 5 Sub-lines or Routes in 2 Sections

      - SL1 -  runs between Logan Airport and South Station

      - SL2 -  runs between South Station and South Boston

      - SL3 -  runs between South Station and Chelsea

      - SL4 -  runs between Dudley Square and South Station

      - SL5 -  runs between Dudley Square and Boston Downtown Crossing

Boston T Silver line SL1 bus provides a good connection between Logan Airport and Red line T (Boston Subway).

Boston T map and fares information is available at MBTA Website

T lines in Boston operate according to a spoke-wheel design, with the lines running radially to and from central Boston.

MBTA Boston T lines do not consistently run in any given compass direction, so directions are referred as "inbound" or "outbound".

Inbound trains travel towards the four downtown transfer stations, and outbound trains travel away from these hub stations.

MBTA Commuter Rail Boston

MBTA Commuter Rail for Greater Boston area

Boston MBTA Commuter Rail system is run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's transportation (MBTA).

Boston Commuter Rail Trains originate at two major terminals in Boston -

- South Station and

-  North Station

Both Boston Stations are major transportation hubs offering connections to Amtrak, local bus, and subway lines.

The following MBTA Commuter Rail lines terminate at South Station:

• Greenbush Line (Gb)

• Old Colony Lines (Oc), consisting of:

• Kingston/Plymouth Line

• Middleborough/Lakeville Line

• Fairmount Line (Fa)

• Providence/Stoughton Line (Ps)

• Franklin Line (Fr)

• Needham Line (Ne)

• Framingham/Worcester Line (Fw)

The following MBTA Commuter Rail lines terminate at North Station:

• Fitchburg Line (Fb)

• Lowell Line (Lo)

• Haverhill Line (Ha)

• Newburyport/Rockport Line (Nr)

Public Bus in Boston

Boston Public Bus

The MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) also operates 178 bus routes in the Greater Boston area

Go to the MBTA bus numbers and route website for more information

MBTA Ferry in Boston

Boston MBTA Boat (Ferry)

The MBTA Boat system has 3 ferry routes via Boston Harbor.

- Hingham Shipyard - Rowes Wharf

- Hingham, Hull - Long Wharf, Boston via Logan Airport

- Long Wharf - Charlestown Navy Yard

One of these is an inner harbor service, linking the downtown waterfront with the Boston Navy Yard in Charlestown.

The other routes are commuter routes, linking downtown to Hingham, Hull, and Salem.

Some commuter services operate via Logan International Airport.

CharlieCard and CharlieTicket in Boston

Charlie Card and Charlie Ticket in Boston

The CharlieCard (Plastic Smart Card) and CharlieTicket (Paper Pass) are a reloadable Card used to pay for rides on the:

- Boston MBTA T (Subways),

- MBTA Commuter Trains (CharlieTicket Only)

- Boston Public Buses, and

- MBTA Ferry (CharlieTicket Only)

Please note MBTA Commuter rail and Ferry only accepts CharlieTicket and do not accept CharlieCard as it provides a discount on fares.

You may buy Paper Tickets/Pass (CharlieTickets) and store value cards (CharlieCards, ) for single or multiple rides in Boston.

You can purchase CharlieTicket (Paper Pass) and CharlieCard (Plastic Smart Card) at

1). Vending Machines at:

     - Boston T Stations on Red, Blue, Orange, and Green Line and

     - Lynn and Worcester/Union Commuter Rail stations

2). Ticket Booth at

     - MBTA Commuter Rail Station at South Station, North Station, and Back Bay station

     - Boston Harbor Cruises booths at Long Wharf, Rowes Wharf, Charlestown Navy Yard, and Hingham Shipyard

3). Convenience Stores in the Greater Boston Area

4). Online Mobile App - The MBTA mTicket App (For Commuter Rail and Ferry)

CharlieCards and CharlieTickets are a convenient and economical way to pay for MBTA fares on Buses and T ( Subway).

Please note that Cash is not accepted except on Buses in Boston.

Instead of paying each time use "store value" (put cash) on your CharlieTicket, or  CharlieCards in Boston for Public Transport.

Your fare will be deducted each time you ride the T, allowing you to pay as you go on the Boston subway and bus:

 - Note: Leftover CharlieCard value may not be redeemed for cash, check, or credit.

 - Stored-Value payments may incur a surcharge when purchased on a CharlieTicket.
   No surcharge is incurred when using a CharlieCard

 - Bus and Subway transfers are discounted when you use the CharlieCard in Boston.

 - With a CharlieTicket, the full fare, plus the surcharge will be deducted when you board the bus or subway.

 - Local Bus-to-Local Bus transfers are free when you use a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket.

Detailed information on the CharlieCard

Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley

Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley tours are convenient if you don't want to deal with public transportation.

The Go Boston Card by Smart Destinations includes The City View Trolley Tour which makes 9 stops.  

Stops are near most tourist sites and you can hop on and off anytime the service runs.


Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour - $47.25
from: Viator

Tips for riding Boston Public Transport

- Consider buying a CharlieTicket or  CharlieCard if staying in Boston for many days.

- Please note MBTA Commuter rail and Ferry only accepts CharlieTicket and do not accept CharlieCard.

- Another option for MBTA Commuter Rail and Ferry is Online Mobile App - The MBTA mTicket App - to pay for fare

- If you have limited time in Boston and do not want a hassle than go for Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tours