Navigating the MBTA
When people talk about "the T," this is what they are talking about. Composed of four color-coded lines — red, green, blue, and orange — the T can take you most places throughout downtown Boston.
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If the T trains don't go where you want to go, the buses most likely will. The basic bus fare is .90 cents for adults, half fare for children from five to eleven. Children under 5 ride free with an adult.
[ MBTA bus routes and schedules ]
The Silver Line
The Silver Line looks like a bus, but runs like the T. Useful for getting around downtown, the runs between Dudley Square and Downtown Crossing. Click for more information. Eventually, it will offer a quick trip to Logan Airport.
If you don't have a car, the commuter rail is your best bet for access to many places in the Greater Boston Area. Shown in purple on the T maps, commuter trains come into the city at North or South Station, and at the Back Bay Station stop on the Orange Line and the Porter Square stop on the Red Line in Cambridge. The commuter rail can take you as far north as Newburyport, as far west as Fitchburg and Worcester, as far east as Rockport and Plymouth and as far south as Providence.
Commuter rail map | MBTA commuter schedule and fares
Massachusetts isn't called the Bay State for nothing. Much of downtown Boston is accessible to the water, and the MBTA runs regular commuter ferries to key points along the waterfront.
The T uses a modified hub-and-spoke model, meaning there are only a few stations where you can switch from line to line. Getting to know these stations is well worth your time, especially if you plan on staying in the city for more than a weekend.
Park Street
Located on the northeast corner of the Boston Common, at the junction of Tremont, Park, and Winter streets, Park Street Station is at the heart of downtown Boston. The intersection of the Red and Green lines means that the station is the busiest in the city. Above ground, just outside the entrance, you'll find the Freedom Trail (it's a red line painted on the ground), as well as an information booth that offers maps, restrooms, and well-informed guides to answer your questions.
South Station
Located at the corner of Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue, at the edge of the Financial District, South Station plays a vital role in getting to, from, and around in Boston. It's a hub for trains and buses, as well as the southern half of all commuter rail lines, and it's one of the important stops on the Red Line.
Important links
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