There are 5 ways to get from Back Bay to Harvard Square by subway, bus, taxi, foot, or tram
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Subway
best- Take the subway from Kendall/MIT to Harvardsubway Red Line
8 min$3Line 1 bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Massachusetts Ave @ Beacon St to Massachusetts Ave opp Holyoke Stbus 1
20 min$1–5Taxi
- Take the taxi from Back Bay to Harvard Squaretaxi 2.9 mi
8 min$11–14Walk
- Take the walk from Back Bay to Harvard Squarewalk 2.9 mi
56 minTram, subway
- Take the tram from Copley to Park Streettram E / ...
- Take the subway from Park Street to Harvardsubway Red Line
23 min$5
Back Bay to Harvard Square by subway and foot
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Back Bay to Harvard Square is to subway which costs $3 and takes 8 min.
The fastest way to get from Back Bay to Harvard Square is to taxi which takes 8 min and costs $11 - $14.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Massachusetts Ave @ Beacon St and arriving at Massachusetts Ave opp Holyoke St. Services depart every 15 minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 18 min.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Kendall/MIT and arriving at Harvard. Services depart every 10 minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6 min.
The distance between Back Bay and Harvard Square is 2 miles.
The best way to get from Back Bay to Harvard Square without a car is to subway which takes 8 min and costs $3.
The subway from Kendall/MIT to Harvard takes 6 min including transfers and departs every 10 minutes.
Back Bay to Harvard Square bus services, operated by MBTA, depart from Massachusetts Ave @ Beacon St station.
Back Bay to Harvard Square train services, operated by MBTA, depart from Kendall/MIT station.
Back Bay to Harvard Square bus services, operated by MBTA, arrive at Massachusetts Ave opp Holyoke St station.
What companies run services between Back Bay, MA, USA and Harvard Square, Middlesex County, MA, USA?
MBTA operates a subway from Kendall/MIT to Harvard every 10 minutes. Tickets cost $3 and the journey takes 6 min. Alternatively, MBTA operates a bus from Massachusetts Ave @ Beacon St to Massachusetts Ave opp Holyoke St every 15 minutes. Tickets cost $1–5 and the journey takes 18 min.
Subway from Kendall/MIT to Harvard
- Ave. Duration
- 6 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3
- Website
- MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Schedules at
- Subway Schedules
- Adult
- $3
Tram from Copley to Park Street
- Ave. Duration
- 7 min
- Frequency
- Every 5 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3
- Website
- MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Schedules at
- Subway Schedules
- Adult
- $3
Subway from Park Street to Harvard
- Ave. Duration
- 10 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- $3
- Website
- MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Schedules at
- Subway Schedules
- Adult
- $3
Bus from Massachusetts Ave @ Beacon St to Massachusetts Ave opp Holyoke St
- Ave. Duration
- 18 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–5
- Website
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Website
- MBTA: World Cup 2026
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
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Booking & Getting There
Back Bay to Harvard Square train services, operated by MBTA, arrive at Harvard station.
There are 1801+ hotels available in Harvard Square.

