Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system for estimating transit times. During operation, the system selects one or more transit time thresholds that fall within a transit time preference for a user. Next, the system obtains one or more isochrones representing the one or more transit time thresholds for a starting point associated with the user and a mode of transportation. The system then compares locations of a set of entities to the one or more isochrones to calculate transit times between the starting point and the set of entities. Finally, the system outputs, based on the transit times, one or more recommendations comprising one or more entities in the set of entities that meet the transit time preference.