Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School
Plain directions from Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School, checked against the fall 2026 MBTA schedule.
Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School
- Orange Line
- Red Line
- Bus 70
- Take the Orange LineFrom Back Bay, toward Oak Grove3 stops, about 4 min
- Change at Downtown Crossing
- Take the Red LineToward Alewife4 stops, about 8 min
- Walk about 3 min to Green St @ Magazine StAfter you get off at Central
- Take bus 70Toward Market Place Dr5 stops, about 5 min
- Get off at Western Ave opp GenzymeThe stop after Western Ave @ Putnam Ave
- Walk about 5 min to Harvard Business School
Weekdays, fall 2026 schedule · First and last trips
Quick answer: Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Central, then bus 70 to Western Ave opp Genzyme, and walk about 5 min. The trip takes about 38 minutes (34-43 min depending on the connection). On weekdays bus 70 runs about every 15 min during the day.
Get the live route from Back Bay to Harvard Business School
Step by step
- At Back Bay, take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove.
- Ride 3 stops, about 4 min, through Tufts Medical Center and Chinatown, and get off at Downtown Crossing.
- At Downtown Crossing, change to the Red Line toward Alewife.
- Ride 4 stops, about 8 min, through Park Street, Charles/MGH and Kendall/MIT, and get off at Central.
- Walk about 3 min from Central to Green St @ Magazine St.
- At Green St @ Magazine St, change to bus 70 toward Market Place Dr.
- Ride 5 stops, about 5 min. Get off at Western Ave opp Genzyme, the stop after Western Ave @ Putnam Ave.
- Walk about 5 min to Harvard Business School.
Other ways to go
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 66 to N Harvard St @ Gate 2 Harvard Stadium, and walk about 5 min: about 40 min.
- Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Harvard, then bus 86 to N Harvard St @ Gate 2 Harvard Stadium, and walk about 5 min: about 39 min.
Which one is faster depends on when you leave. Cobblehop compares them with live times and gives you the one that gets you there first.
Times and frequency
| Day | First trip | Last trip | How often (daytime) | Trip time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Thursday | 4:50 am | 12:55 am | About every 15 min | About 38 min |
| Friday | 4:50 am | 1:59 am | About every 15 min | About 38 min |
| Saturday | 5:06 am | 2:00 am | About every 15 min | About 38 min |
| Sunday | 5:44 am | 12:54 am | About every 20 min | About 37 min |
First and last trip are when the first train of the trip leaves Back Bay, on the fall 2026 schedule. "How often" is for bus 70 (the least frequent part of the trip).
Late at night
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:55 am and gets to Harvard Business School around 1:36 am, using bus 39 and bus 66. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:59 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 2:00 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:54 am. Late at night, ask Cobblehop for the last trip. It checks live times and tells you when to leave.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get to the door after Western Ave @ Putnam Ave. The next stop is Western Ave opp Genzyme. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Changing at Downtown Crossing. You don't leave the station. Follow the signs for Red Line toward Alewife.
- Harvard Business School is in Allston, across the Larz Anderson Bridge from Harvard Square.
- Back Bay station has the Orange Line, Commuter Rail and Amtrak under one roof. It connects to Copley Place by an indoor passage.
Step-free access
MBTA data lists every station on this route (Back Bay, Downtown Crossing and Central) as accessible. Downtown Crossing has 6 elevators in MBTA data. Elevators do break, so check the MBTA's elevator alerts before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and bus. The subway is $2.40 one way, and a local bus is $1.70. Under an MBTA pilot that started September 1, 2026, you can change between bus and subway within 2 hours of your first tap and pay only the highest fare, if you use the same card or phone each time.
- How to pay. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, phone or watch at the fare gate or bus door, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
- Kids. Children 11 and under ride the MBTA free.
Fares as of October 2026. Check the MBTA's fares page before you ride.
Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School: common questions
How do I get from Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School by public transit?
Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Central, then bus 70 to Western Ave opp Genzyme, and walk about 5 min. The trip takes about 38 minutes (34-43 min depending on the connection).
How long does it take to get from Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School?
About 38 minutes on the main route, or 34-43 minutes depending on the connection.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, 2 times: at Downtown Crossing and Central. Take the Orange Line toward Oak Grove to Downtown Crossing, the Red Line toward Alewife to Central, then bus 70 to Western Ave opp Genzyme, and walk about 5 min.
How often does bus 70 run?
About every 15 min on weekdays during the day, about every 15 min on Saturdays and about every 20 min on Sundays, on the fall 2026 schedule.
What time is the last train from Back Bay Station to Harvard Business School?
On weekdays, the last trip that works leaves Back Bay at 12:55 am and gets to Harvard Business School around 1:36 am, using bus 39 and bus 66. On Friday nights it runs later: the last trip leaves at 1:59 am. On Saturday nights the last trip leaves at 2:00 am, and on Sunday nights at 12:54 am.
Related routes
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Stadium
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Square
- Boston Common to Harvard Business School
- Kendall Square to Harvard Business School
- Never miss your stop (guide)
More routes from Back Bay Station
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Art Museums
- Back Bay Station to Longfellow House
- Back Bay Station to Agganis Arena
- Back Bay Station to Mount Auburn Hospital
- Back Bay Station to Harvard Museum of Natural History
- All routes from Back Bay Station
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Schedules on this page come from MBTA/MassDOT public data. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MBTA: Orange Line
- MBTA: Red Line
- MBTA: bus 70
- MBTA: Back Bay station
- MBTA: Downtown Crossing station
- MBTA: Central station
- MBTA: fares
- MBTA: elevator and accessibility alerts
Published October 30, 2026. Times were computed from the fall 2026 MBTA schedule (2026-11-04 for weekdays). Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
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