Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Basics
Explore independently, hire an audio guide, or join a free in-house tour for a deeper understanding of the museum’s story. Highlights include Titian’sEuropa; works by John Singer Sargent, Botticelli, and Rembrandt; and the palazzo’s courtyard, a lush oasis framed by Venetian-style archways. Save money on your museum entry with a Go Boston Pass, which grants you discounted access to a long list of Boston attractions. Bike tours of Boston typically pass the museum.
Things to Know Before You Go
Allow 2-3 hours to explore inside and don’s miss the wing made entirely of glass.
The museum is stroller-friendly, and largely wheelchair accessible.
On-site amenities include restrooms, a gift shop, and a café.
How to Get There
The museum is situated in Boston’s Fenway area and is easily reached via the city’s T public transport network. Catch Green Line E trains to the Museum of Fine Arts stop—the closest station—or an Orange Line train to the Ruggles stop, also a short walk away. Otherwise, buses 8, 19, 39, 47, CT2, and CT3 all stop nearby. Local metered street parking is available though spaces are limited.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The museum is open year-round—apart from public holidays—from 9am-5pm on Wednesdays through Mondays; it closes at 9pm on Thursdays. The museum gets busy during summer and on rainy days, so if you want to explore in the quietest-possible environment, plan to arrive early.
Visit the Nearby Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)
If you’re keen to discover more of Boston’s art scene, visit the Museum of Fine Art (MFA), just a 10-minute walk away from Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Boston’s flagship gallery has a stunning roster of international works, including the world’s biggest collection by John Singer Sargent and the cherished Liberty Bowl—a 1768 bowl crafted by silversmith Paul Revere to mark a milestone in America’s fight for independence.
- Things to do in Massachusetts
- Things to do in Salem
- Things to do in Long Island
- Things to do in Brooklyn
- Things to do in New York City
- Things to do in Montreal
- Things to do in Philadelphia
- Things to do in Washington DC
- Things to do in Buffalo
- Things to do in Niagara Falls
- Things to do in Niagara Falls & Around
- Things to do in Toronto
- Things to do in Williamsburg
- Things to do in New York
- Things to do in Quebec