Recently SSBT has gone & expanded more on the property in terms of more gates so now Greyhound/Flixbus/Plymouth & Brockton has its own gates & Peter Pan/Concord Coach/Dartmouth/Boston Express has theirs (deeming Greyhound & few other ones don't interlink you must know) & this makes more passengers/buses set especially for the holidays & if another Government shutdown/airline ground happens again (if you get my drift). read more

South Station Bus Terminal - Now you see this & hopefully it'll help with new assignments - Bus Stations Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

If prices were more outrageous or service was unreliable (consistently late/cancelled) or if I felt unsafe here, this rating would be lower. Reviews complaining about cleanliness or out-of-date decor simply make no sense to me; I'm positive that by European standards, this bus station is the stuff of nightmares, but by American standards? The South Station Bus Terminal is somewhere I would feel comfortable being at nearly any time of day as a young woman who often travels alone. The service I've experienced taking the Concord Coach specifically is always professional, timely, and doesn't leave me feeling unsafe, which are my priorities compared to having a beautiful-looking terminal or countless options for food vendors. Although the northeast is typically the exception, finding public transport in the US that has these qualities is rare. South Station is a repeated haunt of mine and has a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a cheap, reliable, and safe way to get out of Boston, this is the way! read more

Going to Boston from New York City is easy. I slept on a bus for over 5 hours then woke up again in Boston. A bit haunted but it was ok, my friend and I had so much fun time to fix it out were to go. read more

South Station Bus Terminal - Bus Stations Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Conveniently located behind the South Station train terminal, just a few minutes walk. I was happy that it was so easy to find with great signage. Just take the escalator to the top level where there are a few places to eat, bathrooms and where the gates for the buses are. The elevator is roomy and helpful if you have a ton of luggage (I don't, I was only carrying a backpack). Clean, modern, and so easy to navigate. read more

I usually don't trust Amrican public transportation, since I am from a country with great public transportation, Japan. Unexpectedly I found that this bus terminal is organized well. The destination and gate are in the display like airport. The bus I took was departure time at 8 p.m, and the gate opened at 7:50 p.m. The bus driver announced stop points etc very professionally. read more

Leaves a LOT to be desired. Signage is clear and some of the ticketing booths are well-staffed, which is why I'm giving it 2 stars. You can buy tickets here for Greyhound buses and Boston Express (up to southern New Hampshire). Bathrooms are kind of maintained which is a plus. But overall, this place is very out-of-date, not clean, and has virtually no food options (only McDonalds). It pales compared to the train station next door (separate building, need to walk outside to go between them), which has more seating and far more food options. South Station Bus Terminal does its job but it's certainly not a highlight. read more

South Station Bus Terminal - Bus Stations Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This review is only for the bus terminal portion - for an afternoon trip, mid-week. I only have port authority and NYC boltbus stops to compare this to. The orange line has a T stop right across from the station, though ride sharing may be more convenient depending on where you're coming from. Very organized and clean. Just follow the signs. Not sure how convenient the foods and bathrooms are but other reviews say that bathrooms are closer to the train station side. read more

Give yourself plenty of time to walk to the bus terminal. I made the mistake of thinking that it's inside the South Station, but it isn't. I sprinted out of the South Station, ran through Track One, and then followed the signs that led to the bus terminal. I made it to the gate at a nick of time. read more

South Station Bus Terminal - Bus Stations Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I like this bus terminal because it's indoors!! It can use a little upgrade such as some lights to brighten it up, art and cute design acne it's kind of boring looking! Also they should have the slop on both side for those traveling with luggage! It is a bus terminal! Come early because traffic is always crazy!! There are a few food choices and China town is up the block so have fun! read more

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Unfortunately, a lot of photos of this place are the wrong station. This is the bus terminal, while it is attached (kind of) the train station, they are not the same building. To get to the bus terminal from the station, go down the rightmost track. At the end of it, you will see a ramp that will take you to a nearby building where the bus station is located. You go up one floor, and then one floor more to get to where the buses leave from. The terminal is not too large, so you probably won't get lost inside. It seems complicated, but it's pretty self-explanatory. There is ample signage inside the bus terminal, and screens will guide you to the right "pier" However, the train station could definitely use more signage to point people to the bus terminal. There are some dining options, but very few, there is a McDonald's, a tiny convenience store, and another eatery (can't remember which). There are many more options inside the train station, get some grub there if you need. Restrooms are of a good size, and are kept pretty clean, especially for a busy station. Speaking of which, the station itself is kept pretty clean. There are some counters where you can get tickets, but they are not staffed 24/7 - Depends on bus line though. Station was some seating, I would say it could use a little more, but many people do not get to bus/train stations as early as airports, therefore there is not a need to have as much seating as an airport. read more

Megabus south station gate 25 to New York City 7th and 27th st. Get there early if you don't know your way around read more

This place is pretty big and a little confusing if it's your first time. But if you ask around, people are willing to help! The food court area with Pinkberry, Starbucks, etcetera is all near the big clock center. If you need to get to the bus platforms, you need to head pass the train platforms towards the elevators, and then go up the stairs. From there on, it's pretty self explanatory! There are some seating areas, so feel free to sit around! But if you still have a while, hang out elsewhere because there isn't much here except a few ticket booths. Tips/Observations: You can show your ticket on your phone! Just make sure the barcode is visible. Overall, it gets easier each time you need to pass by here! read more

South Station Bus station is a small but very busy place. - Get there early (at least 30 mins) before your bus is scheduled to leave. You will be surprised how fast and how long the lines. The bathrooms are on the 2nd level and are kept up pretty well given the amount of people going in and out. There are a few places to grab a bite to eat but just a quick sandwich and drink nothing fancy or great. If you want more to pick from than you will need to walk to South Station's Train/T Subway (5-10 min walk). You can walk to the eatery and train station by going down stairs (elevator, escalator, or stairs) down to the street. At the bottom of the stairs take 2 immediate rights to take the internal walkway which will keep you out of the rain but it is still "outside". For drop off and pick up I would follow the bus route to the top of South Station's parking lot. You can park there for free for 15 mins which gets you off the street and out of traffic. Just take the elevator down to "the bus" level. You would need to come out and then take a separate elevator to get to the "street" level. There are terminal police security around if you need any help. The seats are not comfortable and hard as a rock. Most people are standing in line so they don't loose their space. You are not allowed out on the platform where the buses park until the driver calls for you (which usually takes about 5 mins). They park check the lines, open up the under storage compartments and get situated before they let the line through so don't get too excited when the bus rolls in. For bigger cities there can sometimes be two buses because of the amount of people traveling and the drivers will tell you which bus is going where and when. Be sure to check the signs and stand in the correct line for the correct bus. I've seen many stand for a while to hear the bus they want being called at a different gate and now they are at the back of the line :( Happy Trails! read more

I actually don't mind this place that much. Perhaps that's because everything is relative and Port Authority (the bus terminal to which I compare all others) is actually Hell on Earth. Either way, I don't dread coming here. The bathrooms are not completely filthy, it's easy to navigate, and everything seems to work just fine. The downsides are mainly that the food options are abysmal, the staff is unsurprisingly disinterested, and if you're here, it means you're taking a fucking bus. read more

Overall, I thought the building and terminal area were nice. Getting around is fine, but they could use some better signage to help with pointing people on where they should go. The place is very clean and there are a ton of options for buying food (fast food and casual/sit-down dinning). The place is big so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to figure-out exactly where you need to be. There's the main hall, a separate train area and separate bus area. read more

I passed through the hallowed halls of the South Station Bus Terminal many, many times. Sometimes I strolled in with plenty of time to spare, other times I ran in full sprint to catch a bus. Either way, this is where you go to get a bus in Boston. It is not very big, so you will not get lost, but do take note that it is next door to the South Station where the trains depart, so you should allow for some transfer time. Also, the food options in the bus terminal are pretty meager, so get yourself something in the train station first. read more

What I like about this station is that the buses are all close together, so making connections is great. The bathrooms are good, all things considered. What's weird is that the entry into the station is quite modern, but the hall with all the buses itself is rather grimy. The lack of seating is another annoying quirk. Lastly, the food options are minimal, so be sure to check out the train station for food. read more

I'm unsure how to only review the bus terminal at South Station considering there is also a subway station and an Amtrak station here... This place is huge! And it all comes together! Wait...So yes, this terminal brings together three methods of transit. We took the Bolt Bus here for a mini-trip to Boston. Luckily we had a friend who had been here before and was able to get us to the subway without the need to read any signs. But from the signs I DID read, everything was clearly marked. Buses here, Amtrak there, subway downstairs. There is also a pretty large food court by the Amtrak portion of the terminal. Lots of options and places to grab something quick to take on the ride back with you. The displays are also large and brightly-lit so you won't have any difficulty finding the gate where your bus is or the track your train is arriving on. The bus terminal is very clean (a huge difference from Port Authority!) and organized. There are three lines for the Bolt Bus. Group A, Group B, and Group C. Better than lining up against a wall on 34th street. The buses seem to run mostly on time, which is appreciated when it's 8:15 PM and you have a 4-hour bus ride ahead of you to return home. I wish more bus terminals were like this one. read more

This is a bus terminal, not a casino. It's here to serve a purpose...transport people to and from cities on a daily basis. I've never had a problem at the South Station bus terminal. Signs are clearly posted and employees are knowledgeable about points of interest, gates, public transportation, e.t.c. Restrooms are okay, and restaurants are typical fast food joints. Always have a state issued identification card/license with you when you are purchasing tickets as ticket agents may not sell you a ticket. read more

I have been to South Station probably over 25 times and I've never had an issue except for the fact that it is freaking COLD AS A MOTHER in this terminal (think November - February time). Bring your jacket and a blanket or two... or three. And no, I'm not hypothyroid, because my TSH and T4 levels are normal (: Other than chilling temperatures, South Station is my fav - great food court and easy to navigate your way around! read more

South station bus terminal is seriously such a shithole. I hate this place. It always smells like McDonald's and depression. It is always overcrowded and everyone just seems like they are always mad at each other. I am thinking that might actually be the case due to the fact that all these bus companies are such pricks and half the people in there probably got screwed out of a bus ride or suckered into paying a higher fee than expected for one. The train station area of South station is actually pretty nice and has a ton of good food options, a shoe shiner, and people with smiles on their faces. However, it is almost as if the city of Boston took a metaphorical shit on the bus station section. You have to walk to a completely separate staging area and all they offer are two crappy fast food chains and a bathroom that you will almost certainly contract a disease in. The reason for 2 stars is only due to the fact that you can at least access the train terminal floor and purchase from those vendors. I truly think I am going to book a train to take me back on Sunday just to avoid the pure sight of SSBT. read more

This is the main bus terminal that services the city of Boston. It's in a separate building right next to the classic old building that services Amtrak. That makes it very convenient for those who want to take a local bus to Boston and then a train or bus to NYC or other far away locations. The building itself is not beautiful but it is highly utilitarian. It's a public bus station in a major US city. Use your imagination. If you are planning to eat, I would suggest going to the Amtrak terminal next door, or you can stop by Boston's Chinatown, nearby. To its credit, they do keep the bus station reasonably clean considering the thousands of people who pass through here daily. read more

South Station Bus Terminal is super easy to navigate and relatively clean. Naturally, it can be a bit stressful when around the holidays or busy weekends, but in general, I've always had great experiences with the facilities and staff at South Station Bus Terminal. read more

Got here at 4:20am for 5am train and doors were locked. Had to stand out in the snow for 15 minutes before they opened doors. So don't be too early for your train! Other than that, it's a nice place. read more

South Station Bus Terminal - Bus Stations Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Bigger and cleaner than what I expected. The station is actually really clean and nice. I was surprised that they had shops and some restaurants so you can actually chill while waiting for the buses, red line, silver line and what not. read more

I was gonna go with 2 stars and downgraded after contemplation. This place gets the hammer for many reasons: 1) Its hard to find from the T station if you've never been here before. (Those little signs are invisible to strangers) 2) LACK of use of a public speaker system for announcing the inevitable and endless delays that accomplish bus travel in this area. 3) NO WORKING Water fountains 4) HORRIBLE BATHROOM FACILITIES. 5) ALL decent services are back along the tracks to the train station. Here's the thing: one of the main reasons I yelp, is because in this fair land of ours, unlike many other developed and UN developed countries, we suffer from a serious and pervasive lack of functional public toilets. If you have ever been out of your home for longer than 15 minutes with children or elders, you are probably going to be looking for a bathroom. Even as a grow adult with good physical functions, when you travel all day, you are going to need a bathroom. 5 broke down stalls for thousands of women is not ok for a world class transit center. One cruddy trailer is not ok for thousands of guys. I KNOW there is a tariff to the facility built into every ticket. This is shameful and unacceptable, Boston. read more

If you're from California you would think that the South Station Bus Terminal is just like the movies. Everyone hustlin' and bustlin' from one point to another. The train station with its subway system underneath is all connected at one central location. It's truly amazing. I was never a true traveler until I moved from California to Maine. After finding deals with Megabus.com I was able to take a round-trip bus ride from Portland, Maine to Boston's South Station for less than $3. I was intimidated when I had first arrived at the bus terminal but after a couple more trips, I was comfortable. I was part of that "hustlin' and bustlin'" that everyone seemed to be a part of. The place is not confusing after getting used to it. If you're lost, ask! There are a lot of people who are friendly and would point you to the right direction. Again, the train and subway stations are connected to the bus terminal. So if you're planning on traveling around Boston be sure to take the "T." Overall: LOVE THIS PLACE! :) read more

I recommend parking at the lot on top of South Station's bus terminal on Atlantic Ave. The lot there is only $24 a day if you arrive after 9am and less ($19) if you arrive earlier. Weekend pricing is $8 a day! The pricing here is probably the best in the area. Unfortuntely, they do run out of space sometimes. They also offer valet parking and I have never had a problem there. The attendants are actually quite nice to me as well. Recently, I parked my car here and left it overnight when I took a trip to NYC. I paid $8 for parking on Sunday and the full rate of $24 for Monday. Not too bad, I thought. read more

Thank god it's not New York Penn Station or Port Authority. This place is clean, well planned out and not in the least bit confusing. Great food options in the terminal...so don't worry if you are running late and need to grab something before jumping on your bus. read more

Let us use the "hierarchy of coffee" to determine just what sort of place the South Station Bus Terminal is. If you go outside to One Financial Center (office tower), you can get Starbucks. Next door at the South Station train terminal, it's Au Bon Pain. Here at the bus terminal, you're stuck with Honeydew Donuts and McDonald's. When I'm forced to buy my food at these places, I feel like I'm being told what kind of person I am and I'm not sure I like it. Simply put, the bus station lacks good food options and comfy places to sit. As usual, the strategy of encouraging homeless people to move along just means everybody is inconvenienced. Still, this place beats the pants off Port Authority in New York. Speaking of New York, at least here in Boston you don't have to wait outside for some bus companies (Bolt). The boarding process in Boston can be somewhat disorganized, but at least there are clear and accurate signs here -- "departures" and "arrivals" displays, with up-to-date information, just like in an airport! It's DIGITAL! Not ANALOG! Well done, South Station. read more

Yelp has reminded me I have checked in here 93 times ... In the past 3 - 4 yelp years. For a budget traveler like me, bus travels are a must. 4 hours to Manhattan, 2 hours to Portland, 5 hours to New Jersey, 7 hours to Montreal ... Megabus, Greyhound, Boltbus, Peter Pan, all operates from this location. Over the years, the food court choices and quality of the South Station (adjacent to the bus terminal on the other side of the train tracks) has improved drastically. However, the food court adjacent to the bus docking stations in the terminal stayed constant, McD for late nights, D'Angelos and Honey Dew for earlier travels. The busses themselves are on-time about half the time. Depending on who is operating the line, I find Megabus slightly more comfortable and better operated (informs you when things are late), Boltbus rewards are most handy (8 paid trips for a free one-way), Chinatown bus the cheapest, although people often question the safety of it all (whether it's a real concern or political), and Greyhounds are the worst (leaves you hanging for hours without telling you why, overbook the busses by more than a margin) - sadly, they are the only bus operator which crosses the border of US and Canada. I waited for 4 years for someone to challenge that position, but to no avail. The best part about South Station Bus Terminal is that it faces the front gate to Chinatown which gives access to a lot of the downtown area adjacent to that and a lot of delicious food options given time. read more

A civilized, well-maintained, and far less frightening bus terminal than what NYC has to offer, I have to give a good rating to this place. Aside from not being the filthy, disgusting dungeon that is Port Authority, it also: -is a breeze to get in and out of -is easy to get on and off the highway from here -is a breeze to get on the T -isn't filled with miscreants -has decent food options Although this isn't a place I'd want to spend a lot of time in, I also wouldn't hate my life if I was stuck here waiting for a bus. I can't say that for a lot of other stations. Also, I did notice that Fung Wah finally joined civilization and got a counter in here, that surprised me. read more

It's easy to get to but the long lines of people stretching into the lobby area is a bit confusing. No idea which lines are for which gate. They need to have more organized line management. In any case, there are a few food areas including McDonald's. There are well-marked bathrooms also they are often full during peak hours. The pick up area is not much of one because it's effectively just the street. No dedicated pullover spot. read more

This is an interesting station. Let's start with the bus terminal. While one side (arrivals/departures) is all shiny and modern, the other side (food/entrance to subway access) looks run down and in need of a face lift. There are extremely limited food options (I counted 3...), and the gate area can get very crowded (though not unlike ANY airport). The bathrooms were relatively clean, especially considering this is a bus station. Then we have the main terminal. This building, which is closer to the rail lines, is really quite beautiful! There were TONS of food options to be had, as well as little stores to explore while waiting. Unfortunately, there is a good bit of distance between the two terminals. If you're short on time, you're stuck with what's offered with the buses. Best part about this station is that it's located right near Boston's T line! A quick transfer and you're off to your destination! read more

As far as bus stations go South Station is probably one of the better ones I've been in. It's not that seedy looking and it's in a relatively decent part of town. You also board the bus inside which is a huge plus because if the weather is bad it doesn't matter. I do wish that there was an indoor connection from here to the T. You actually have to go outside and cut through the train station to get to the Red line stop for this place. The train station has a small food court and that's definitely the best place to grab food before jumping on the bus. There's more selection there than in the bus terminal. The bathrooms in the train section of South Station are also pretty clean. read more

Some helpful tips to navigate the South Station Bus Terminal: 1. If you're riding Lucky Star or Fung Wah, do NOT go straight to the gate. They no longer sell tickets at the gate, and haven't for a while. You must first purchase your ticket at their counters located in the rotunda..Is that a rotunda? The circular area where you come up the escalators. 2. That wicked long line that you see meandering its way all the way back to the rotunda? Unless it's Christmas or another major holiday, that line undoubtedly belongs to Mega Bus. With Mega Bus, you are not always going to catch the bus you paid for. That enormous line is there every day, at every hour of operation. 3. If you DON'T have a ticket for Bolt Bus, you can hang out in the Stand By Line. You may have to ask the crowd to find where it is. Typically on a regular day you'll see 5-10 stand by passengers board a bus. So, using that number, if you see 20 people in line, you could expect to possibly get on the third bus from when you get in line. The stand by line is a flat $20, and you don't get preferential treatment if you just missed your bus. You'll have to get in the same line as someone else who may not have purchased a ticket online. Thems the breaks! 4. If possible, leave your bags with a friend when you're heading for the smallest convenience store/nook in America. The convenience store is designed specifically to make it a hilariously impossible task to navigate luggage around the store. I think I've heard the clerk chuckle as people struggle into this tiny space. I've written letters to the Guinness Book of Records in hopes of nominating this space as the Tiniest Convenience Nook In North America, perhaps the universe. 5. I never understood why anyone takes Peter Pan to New York City. Between Lucky Star, Mega Bus, Fung Wah, and Bolt Bus, there are many cheaper options that get you to much more appealing areas. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the last place you want to arrive at after 5 hours cramped on a bus. read more

The South Station Bus Terminal and I go way back. Growing up in Maine I came through South Station every once in a while in order to take day trips to "the big city", then continued to use its services in order to visit friends on occasion during college. However, it wasn't until I graduated college and found a job in Cambridge that South Station and I entered into the medium-term relationship that I've come to look back on with fondness - much like that terrible roommate who you start to tell funny stories about a few years after you get over how they always used to drink your milk and wear your scarves without asking (this refers more to my horrible commute than the South Station itself). I spent 4 long months of my life commuting between Portland, ME and Boston probably spent at least 5 hours of my life every week hanging out in South Station. While the snack options in the bus terminal are not great (and result in way too many McDonald's cheeseburgers in a very small space on the bus), you can easily grab a water or coffee, and the bathrooms - while not what I would dare call "pleasant" - seem to be a notch above most other public transit facilities that I've seen. Overall, I have always found South Station to be well-organized and well-run. Signs noting bus departure and arrival times are well-placed and easy to read, announcements are (usually) clear enough to actually understand, and the wide open hall means that even when there are long lines you can still navigate the area fairly well and tell which line is which. read more

Very mediocre bus terminal only food option is mcdonalds and the bus platforms are on 3rd floor pretty lousy place NY port authority is way better read more

South Station isn't all that bad. The place itself is clean and it's easy enough to find your way around since its not too large. I wish there was more organization when it comes to forming lines, a clearer announcement system if a bus is running late*, more seating, but hey what can ya do. Whenever I am travelling to Bostons, I always end up here because Amtrak is too damn expensive. (Amtrak goes here too.) I end up taking MegaBus, who we kidding? All in all, this place does the job. It helps me get from point A to point B and definitely is a step up from places like Port Authority. I'm a happy camper most of the time. __________________________________ *Luckily enough, I was by the front of the line. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have known my original bus broke down and I'd have to wait for another hour till the next one. Yelling bus-man, you need to be a little bit clearer next time for the peeps in the back. read more

It's a place where you can get on a bus (lots of choices too) and get outta Boston. Hey, it's my kind of place =) I have only taken the Fung Wah because I like being dropped off in Chinatown ...no I'm not being sarcastic - I REALLY DO LIKE BEING DROPPED OFF IN CHINATOWN. South Station Bus Terminal is very well laid out and there is a Honey Dew Coffee place for some decent coffee. The bathrooms are not too bad and there are elevators available. Also, it is right near Boston's Chinatown. So hey, it's awesome read more