Your first week in Boston becomes easier once four basics are under control: how you move, how you pay, where you buy everyday essentials, and which tasks need an appointment or permit.
Start with transportation. The subway and bus network is called the MBTA, while most locals simply call it the T. A subway ride costs $2.40 and a local bus ride costs $1.70. You can tap a contactless bank card, phone, or watch, or use a CharlieCard or CharlieTicket. A seven-day LinkPass costs $22.50 and becomes useful when orientation, apartment shopping, and campus errands have you riding several times a day.
Learn the lines by destination rather than memorizing the whole map. The Green Line reaches Boston University, Fenway, Northeastern-area stops, and several western neighborhoods through different branches. The Red Line connects Cambridge, Downtown Crossing, South Boston, and Dorchester. The Orange Line connects areas including Jamaica Plain, downtown, and North Station. The Blue Line links East Boston and Logan’s Airport Station with downtown.
Airport arrival has its own shortcut. Massport lists the Silver Line and Blue Line as the main public-transit connections to Logan. The Silver Line SL1 is free from the airport to South Station. The Blue Line requires a free airport shuttle to Airport Station, followed by the standard subway fare.
Next, build a small city toolkit on your phone. You need a real-time transit app, a map app, your bank or payment app, your university app, and a method for storing digital copies of essential documents. Add the City of Boston website to your bookmarks for moving permits, parking rules, city services, and public notices.
For move-in, check the date and appointment window issued by your school or building. Boston University, for example, lists August 24 and 25 for undergraduate orientation move-in and August 28 through 31 for continuing students in 2026. Off-campus students using a moving truck may need to reserve curb space. Boston requires online applications at least 15 days before the move, while in-person applications can be submitted at least three days ahead.
Buy the basics after measuring your room. Boston apartments and dorms can have narrow staircases, small elevators, and limited storage. A folding tape measure, power strip, compact laundry bag, basic toolkit, reusable bottle, and weather layer usually earn their space. Large furniture purchases can wait until you know the room dimensions and delivery access.
Keep a first-week budget separate from monthly spending. It should cover transit, groceries, household supplies, deposits or fees already agreed in writing, and a small emergency margin. Boston gives you endless ways to spend money during orientation week, so a daily cap helps.
The final step is to walk your routine once before classes begin. Travel from home to campus, find the nearest grocery store and pharmacy, locate a late study spot, and identify the station entrance you will use at night. The city starts feeling manageable as soon as your personal map becomes familiar.
