Boston's public transportation is run by the MBTA, which everyone calls the T: four subway lines (Red, Orange, Blue and Green), the Silver Line buses, regular buses, Commuter Rail trains and harbor ferries. For a visitor the simplest way to ride is to tap a contactless bank card or phone at the subway gate or bus reader: a subway ride costs $2.40, a bus ride $1.70, transfers within two hours are free when you use the same card, and children 11 and under ride free.
Most service runs from about 5 a.m. to about 1 a.m., and there are no overnight trains. Below is how the lines connect the places visitors go, how to pay, whether a pass is worth it, and the few rules that trip up first-timers.
Which T lines do visitors use?
| Line | Useful stops for visitors | Connects with |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Park Street (Boston Common), Downtown Crossing, South Station, Charles/MGH, JFK/UMass | Green at Park Street; Orange at Downtown Crossing |
| Orange | Haymarket (Boston Public Market, North End), North Station (TD Garden), State, Back Bay | Green at Haymarket and North Station; Red at Downtown Crossing; Blue at State |
| Blue | Airport (Logan, by free shuttle), Aquarium, State, Government Center | Green at Government Center; Orange at State |
| Green | Park Street, Arlington (Public Garden), Copley, Prudential, Museum of Fine Arts | Red at Park Street; Orange at Haymarket and North Station; Blue at Government Center |
| Silver Line SL1 | Every Logan Airport terminal to South Station | Red Line and Commuter Rail at South Station |
The Green Line splits into four branches west of downtown, so check the letter on the front of the train: the E branch serves Prudential and the Museum of Fine Arts. When Green Line trains run at street level you must press the yellow or black tape by the windows to request your stop; underground, and on the Red, Orange and Blue lines, trains stop at every station.
How do you pay for the T?
- Tap your own card or phone. Contactless bank cards and phone or watch wallets work at gated subway stations, on buses and the Silver Line, on the Mattapan Trolley and on ferries. They do not work on the Commuter Rail and cannot hold passes.
- CharlieCard. A reusable plastic card you can load with cash value or a pass, available from fare machines and from MBTA staff at most subway stations. The MBTA lists it for the subway, buses and the Silver Line, not for the Commuter Rail or ferries.
- CharlieTicket. The paper ticket sold at every subway station's fare machines, which also take cash and cards. It can carry a 1-day or 7-day pass.
- mTicket app. For the Commuter Rail and ferries only.
Tap once when you enter a station or board a bus. There is no need to tap out, because subway and bus fares are flat. Since September 1, 2026 the MBTA is piloting unlimited transfers between subway, bus and ferry within two hours, paying only the highest fare, as long as you use the same payment method; cash and stored-value CharlieTickets do not get transfers.
Is a T pass worth it for a visitor?
| Fare | Price | Worth it if |
|---|---|---|
| Subway one way | $2.40 | You take one or two rides a day |
| Local bus one way | $1.70 | You ride buses |
| 1-day pass | $11.00 | You take about four or more rides in 24 hours |
| 7-day pass | $22.50 | You ride about nine or more times in a week |
| Commuter Rail weekend pass | $10.00 | You take a weekend day trip by train |
The MBTA's own rule of thumb is that the 1-day pass equals about four rides and the 7-day pass about nine. Because the center of Boston is compact and many visitors walk between neighboring sights, paying as you go with a tap is often cheaper than a pass. Passes on a CharlieCard start on first use; those bought on a CharlieTicket start when you buy them.
How do you get from Logan Airport to downtown on the T?
Two ways, and both start free. The Silver Line SL1 bus stops at every Logan terminal and runs to South Station, on the Red Line, and rides from the airport cost nothing. Or take the free Massport shuttle from your terminal to Airport station on the Blue Line, then pay the subway fare; the Blue Line reaches Aquarium and State stations downtown. Fare machines in the terminals, at Airport station and at South Station sell CharlieTickets and CharlieCards. For the whole trip into the city, see how to get to Boston and things to do near Logan Airport.
The Commuter Rail and the harbor ferries
Commuter Rail trains leave North Station and South Station for the suburbs and beyond, with fares from $2.40 to $13.25 depending on distance; on weekends the $10 pass covers unlimited trips on every line. That makes day trips cheap: see how to get to Salem from Boston. In the harbor, the Charlestown ferry runs year-round between Long Wharf and the Charlestown Navy Yard for $2.40, the same as a subway ride, and lands near the USS Constitution Museum.
Rules and habits worth knowing
- Let people off before you board, move into the car, and take your backpack off.
- Offer your seat to older riders and people with disabilities, especially in the priority seats.
- Non-folding bikes are not allowed on the subway from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and never on the Green Line.
- Trains and buses get crowded during big events, so leave extra time on game and concert days.
- Service alerts and planned closures are posted on the MBTA's alerts page; check it the morning you travel.
The fare card takes its name from Charlie, the rider stuck on the system in the 1949 song "M.T.A.", popularized by the Kingston Trio. For more planning basics, see things to know before visiting Boston.
Sources: MBTA visitor guide; MBTA fares; MBTA subway guide; CharlieCard; MBTA: Logan Airport; MBTA ferry fares; CommonWealth Beacon on the M.T.A. song. Checked October 1, 2026.