Boston can be tough to navigate for anyone, whether it's a college freshmen or the most seasoned Southie native. Thankfully, questions like, “What’s the quickest way to get from the North End to the Seaport?” to, “Where’s the nearest cup of coffee?” can often be answered with the help of an app.
With dozens of transit, exercise, and food-related apps to pick from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We’ve rounded up the following apps to take out some of the guesswork and help you take advantage of this great city.
For getting where you need to go:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: Citymapper tracks subways, buses, and trains using real-time data, providing multiple route options and estimated travel times. It also proposes fare estimates for taxis and Uber, in addition to giving bike counts at nearby Hubway kiosks. If you’d rather walk or take a bike, Citymapper even shows how many calories you stand to burn.
For avoiding a parking ticket:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: Leave your quarters at home. ParkBoston lets drivers pay for metered parking for up to two hours by entering their credit card information, license plate number, and the zone number displayed on the ParkBoston street sign that identifies where they’re parked. Shopping on Newbury Street? The app also notifies you 10 minutes before your meter expires, letting you extend the time limit without rushing back to your car. ParkBoston is currently available in the Back Bay area, but the program will soon expand to other neighborhoods.
For when you inevitably get a parking ticket:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: If you own a car in Boston, you’re going to get a parking ticket at some point. Think of it as a right of passage. Rather than mail a check into City Hall, Boston PayTix lets you immediately pay your parking ticket by entering (or scanning) your ticket number and billing information. You can also look up any unpaid tickets you might have forgotten.
For when you’re hungry:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: There’s no better way to bond with co-workers then heading to the nearest food truck for lunch. But will your street be serving up Chicken & Rice Guys or Roxy’s Grilled Cheese? Street Food App gives up-to-the-minute locations for dozens of food trucks in Boston, in addition to providing truck schedules for the following week. The app also tells you which trucks take cash and credit, and gives users a brief description of the type of cuisine offered.
For finding something to do this weekend:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: Eventbrite shows you tons of cool events happening in Boston each month and tells you how much it will cost to go to them. If you find an event you want to attend, Eventbrite lets you purchase tickets with your phone. When it comes time to attend the beerfest, half marathon, or Great Gatsby-inspired party, just show your ticket on your phone to get in.
For your caffeine fix:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: Dunkin’ Donuts coffee reigns supreme in Boston, and the company’s latest application lets users pay right from the app with a virtual DD card that can be reloaded at any time. New Dunkin’ Donuts also shows the nearest Dunks’ locations and provides menu and nutrition information. The best part of the app is it helps you rack up DD Perks points, which quickly translate into free beverages and donuts. If you’re a regular, the app even has on-the-go ordering that lets you order up to 24 hours in advance and skip the line in the morning rush.
For your fitness needs:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: As one of the fittest cities in the nation, Boston is known for its bevy of runners that can be seen skirting the Charles River or Castle Island come rain or shine. Runkeeper helps you join them. The Boston-based app tracks running, walking, hiking, or cycling routes and shows training progress in real-time. This includes your distance, time, pace, and calories burned, as well as the path traveled on the map. Besides your daily routine, Runkeeper also lets you set long-term goals like a weight or pace. The best part of the app is that you can create running groups or join challenges to stay motivated.
For getting a pothole fixed:
Free
Android, iPhone
What it does: Have a broken street sign or unwanted graffiti on your street? BOS: 311 lets users report non-emergency service issues to the city via text or photo and check on the status of those requests. The app also shows requests submitted by other users so you can keep track of municipal trouble areas. Allston: we’re looking at you.
For when you missed the game:
Free
iPhone
What it does: Even if you’re not a Boston native, someone’s going to try and talk to you about the Patriots, Tom Brady, or Deflategate at some point. The official app of the New England Patriots gives users access to the team’s schedule, live game commentary, and individual and team stats so you can at least pretend to know what’s going on.
Did we forget your favorite local app? Email us via [email protected]