The Subway

Subway Routes & Transfer Stops
The five subway lines—Red, Green, Blue, Orange, and Silver—meet at six transfer stops in downtown Boston: Park Street, Government Center, Downtown Crossing, South Station, Boylston Street and State Street. The Red Line runs closest to the GSD. Its terminus stations are Alewife Station (northwest), Ashmont (south, Dorchester) and Braintree (southeast). It transfers to the Green Line at Park Street, the Orange and Silver Line at Downtown Crossing.

Inbound/Outbound & Terminus References
One source of confusion when first navigating the T is the inbound and outbound signs. In general, if you’re traveling toward one of the main transfer stops in downtown Boston, you’re going inbound and if you’re traveling away, you’re going outbound. On the Red Line, Downtown Crossing is “the center.” But it’s actually much easier to just use the terminus station as a reference, since those aren’t dependent on where you’re starting. If you want to go southeast on the Red Line, you’ll take an Ashmont/Braintree train (branches after JFK/U Mass); to go northwest, you’ll take an Alewife train.

The Bus

To get around within Cambridge & Somerville, the bus system is often more direct than the subway. You must pay with a fare card or have exact change to pay in cash. Visit the MBTA website for all routes, with maps and schedules.

Taxis & RideShares

In the Boston and Cambridge area, taxis charge a minimum base fare plus a per-mile rate, and passengers are responsible for any tolls and tipping. Some cabs—especially for trips under $10—may not accept credit cards, so ask before you get in. The area is also well-served by app-based rideshare services like Lyft and Uber, and many local cab companies can be booked through apps such as Curb, Arro, or their own company apps.

Blue Bikes

BlueBikes is the Boston and Cambridge-area bike share system and a convenient way to get around without worrying about locking or parking a bike. You can pick up a bike at any dock and return it to any other, including the dock located right outside Gund Hall. The system has coverage in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, and many nearby towns, offers e-bikes for an additional fee, frequently runs back-to-school or other free trial promotions, and provides income eligible reduced prices.

Car Rentals

Zipcar

A Zipcar is convenient for quick trips to the grocery store or Home Depot and is also great for day trips. Plus, the ZipCar founder is a Loeb Fellow! For overnight and long-distance trips, a  standard rental car may be cheaper. An annual membership fee allows you access the self-service car-sharing club. As a Harvard student, you get a discount on the membership fee. Zipcars are parked at locations throughout Boston and Cambridge. Simply make a reservation online (or on the app), use your Zipcard to unlock the car at its location, and return it to the same location when finished.

Rental Discounts

Some rental car companies offer student discounts. To explore rental car discount options, check out Travel Services for information.

Owning a Car

There are many advantages to owning a car in Cambridge: grocery shopping, moving studio supplies around and adventurous trips to the Cape or Mass MoCA. Living without a car, however, has its own advantages, too.

Challenges of car ownership

Parking in Cambridge can be challenging, so look for apartments with off-street parking. If you don’t park on the street, you can keep your car registered in your home state. If you do park on the street, get a local permit and pay close attention to street cleaning days and snow emergency routes, as cars left out during these times will be ticketed and towed. Cars registered in MA must pass an annual inspection and emissions check at local garages; vehicles with MA plates and an expired inspection sticker may be impounded.

On-Campus Parking

The lottery for student parking permits is competitive. Even if you do get a parking spot, it will probably be at the Business School lot across the river, a 20-minute walk from Gund. More information is available from the Harvard Parking Office.

Getting a Resident Parking Permit

Unless you have an off-street parking spot, you’re going to want a permit to park on the street. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to get Massachusetts insurance (the highest rates in the country) to get a local parking sticker. You generally need to show some proof of residency (e.g. bank statement, utility bill, lease, etc.). Check the most up-to-date specifics for your city:

• Cambridge Resident Parking Permit application
• Somerville Resident Parking Department
• Boston Resident Parking Permit Information

Towing

If your car is towed, you may need to contact the police to find out where it’s been taken. Have your license plate number ready. In Cambridge you can also use or use the online Towed Vehicle Lookup.

Getting a Massachusetts Driver’s License

To get a new driver’s license in Massachusetts, you will need to complete both a written and a driving test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. For the driving test, you will need to have access to a car. If you only need to transfer an out-of-state license, you just have to bring them some paperwork and pay a fee. It can be a long wait at the RMV, so before you go check and double check that you’re bringing the right documents.

See this dedicated page for more information on Massachusetts ID cards.

International Students: Getting a Massachusetts ID Card

Massachusetts has a minimum drinking age of 21, and waiters and bar door staff will check your ID. To avoid carrying your passport around, you might want to get a Massachusetts Driver’s License or Liquor ID Card from the RMV.

Insider Tips

Parking Near the GSD 

Good luck! There are meters on Oxford, Cambridge and Kirkland. Bring quarters, though some meters can now be paid through an app. Meters have a two-hour maximum. For loading and unloading, you can often park in front of Gund on Quincy in the turnabout.

Winter Driving

If you’ve never driven in the snow, take it easy and check out the Massachusetts Safe Winter Driving Tips in snow and icy conditions.

Boston Drivers

Massachusetts drivers consistently rank among the worst in the country, according to the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test. The roads here are narrow, windy and often one-way, making navigation tricky. Top that off with hard-to-find parking and snowy winters, and you’re in for a real mess.

Trains & Buses Out of the City

Buses

Most regional bus trips leave from the South Station bus terminal From the South Station MBTA stop, follow the signs to direct you from the T Station through the main hall of the Amtrak terminal and across to the South Station Bus Terminal. The walk is a good 10 minutes, so factor this into your schedule. Most buses have wi-fi and power outlets, but they don’t always work. Greyhound and Peter Pan drop off at Port Authority, NYC’s main bust station. Bolt Bus’s street-side drop-off and pick-up point in NYC is far more convenient than Mega Bus’s.

Go Bus is another great bus option for trips to NYC. It leaves from Alewife Station (the northern terminus of the Red Line and only a few stops from Harvard) in Cambridge and drops off close to Penn Station in NYC.

Trains

Amtrak from South Station

Amtrak tickets can be expensive, but you can often find deals – look under the “Savings and Promotions” area of the Amtrak website and pay attention to packages for museum trips or Broadway shows. Amtrak trains depart from South Station and make a second pick-up at Back Bay Station. There are two types of trains: Acela and Regional. The Acela is about half an hour faster and is more comfortable, but costs significantly more.

Amtrak from North Station

In addition to the commuter rail, North Station also provides rail service to the New Hampshire and Maine coastline. The Downeaster offers great deals for tickets up to Portland, ME.

MBTA Commuter Rail

From Providence to Rockport, the commuter rail (the Purple Line on T maps) connects outlying towns to the city.  Commuter trains leave from two stations: North Station (trains headed north) and South Station (trains headed south or west). Schedules change seasonally. Download the MBTA mTicket app and buy a ticket ahead of time or once you’re on the train.

Planes

Boston Logan Airport

There are many ways to get to Logan Airport — taxis, cars, vans, or by T:

Taking the T

Take the Red Line to South Station (six stops from Harvard), and transfer to the Silver Line 1 to Logan Airport. The bus will stop at all airport terminals. You should expect the trip to take about an hour, but at peak times, the Silver Line (which is an express bus, not a subway) can be crowded and chaotic. The Silver Line is free when boarding at the airport.

Note: If you live closer to a Green Line station, head to Gov’t Center, transfer to Blue, and at the ‘Airport’ stop board a quick shuttle bus to the terminals. It takes about the same time (but with at least an additional transfer) as the Red/Silver route.

Taking a Taxi

You may find that dragging your bags all over Boston on the T is exhausting or time-consuming. For about $40, plus tip and tolls, a taxi or rideshare service will take you to Logan from the Harvard Square area. Students often split cab rides to the airport around holiday and break times.

By Car

Driving to Logan only takes about 20 minutes from Cambridge, when traffic is good (budget twice that if it’s rush hour). Take the Mass Pike towards Boston and follow the signs for the airport. If you are in Somerville, take Washington Street to McGrath Highway at Union Square, get onto 93 South, and follow signs to the airport. Have a friend drive you – you’ll pay much more in airport parking fees than you would spend on a taxi.

Traveling Abroad

International Students: Always check with HIO

The Harvard International Office (HIO) recommends international students check with their office before making any travel plans. This goes for when you’re considering which traveling options studios to rank highly, too. Every country has its own visa rules and timelines for travelers of various nationalities.

Students should only travel outside the US if all of their documents related to US immigration status are in order. Make sure you are aware of any potential travel impacts from special circumstances, such as a leave of absence or travel after your official date of graduation. If you have any questions or doubts, check with HIO before you leave the country.

Traveling for a GSD Studio or Course

Many GSD students will take an option studio or research seminar that involves international travel. Please read carefully the Travel Warnings and Consular Info provided by the US State Department for the country or countries you plan to travel to and through.

Emergency Assistance

Harvard University Global Support Services has a program called Harvard Travel Assist to provide 24-hour worldwide emergency medical and evacuation assistance for Harvard affiliates traveling abroad on University business.

During a medical or security incident abroad, you can call Harvard Travel Assist at +1-617-998-0000 for immediate support. If you can’t call, email Travel Assist with “Urgent” at the start of your subject line if it’s an emergency. The phone line is answered immediately; an email response may take four hours for urgent requests and 24 hours for non-urgent requests.

To expedite assistance, it’s crucial that your itinerary is entered in the Harvard Travel Registry.

Harvard Travel Registry

All students traveling abroad are required to register with the Harvard Travel Registry for all trips funded or arranged by Harvard or for which they will receive Harvard credit. It has been created so the University can locate you quickly and provide assistance in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Register your itinerary and contact info online and be sure to update it if they change during the course of your trip. The Travel Tools website also contains useful info for planning a safe trip, including links to important resources such as visa services vendors, which can provide assistance with visa and passport requirements and applications.

International Students

If you are an international student and traveling outside the US, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with all the DHS regulations and that you have the proper documents for travel and re-entry into the US. Please remember to bring your passport (with a valid visa stamp), I-20, DS/2019 and all other visa documents. To avoid confusion, use your full legal name as it appears on your passport for all transactions, such as airline tickets. If you have any questions, consult the Harvard International Office (HIO).

Travel Tips

If you want to go off on your own while on a group trip, make sure the trip leader knows where you’re going, when you’ll be back and how to reach you.

Write down all of your important info (passport, credit card numbers, emergency contacts), and store it at home or with a reliable person in case of theft.