Here you'll find a cluster of handsome historic buildings, including the ornate French-Romanesque Trinity Church, the masterwork of architect HH Richardson. Across the street, the classic Boston Public Library was America's first municipal library. Pick up a self-guided tour brochure and wander around, noting gems such as the murals by John Singer Sargent and sculpture by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Marcio Silva / 500px
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Fenway Park
1.11 MILES
Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…
Harvard University
2.65 MILES
America's oldest college, Harvard University is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It was originally founded in Harvard Yard in 1636 by…
Museum of Science
1.24 MILES
The educational playground that is the Museum of Science has more than 600 interactive exhibits. Favorites include the world’s largest lightning-bolt…
Institute of Contemporary Art
1.72 MILES
Boston has become a focal point for contemporary art in the 21st century, with the Institute of Contemporary Art leading the way. The building is a work…
Boston Public Library
0.07 MILES
Founded in 1852, the esteemed Boston Public Library lends credence to Boston’s reputation as the 'Athens of America.' The old McKim building is notable…
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1.09 MILES
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a different perspective on academia. MIT has a proud history of pushing the boundaries, from its…
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
1.4 MILES
Once home to Isabella Stewart Gardner, this splendid palazzo now houses her exquisite collection of art. The museum includes thousands of artistic objects…
Public Garden
0.51 MILES
Adjoining Boston Common, the Public Garden is a 24-acre botanical oasis of Victorian flower beds, verdant grass and weeping willow trees shading a…
Nearby Back Bay attractions
1. Trinity Church
0.04 MILES
A masterpiece of American architecture, Trinity Church is the country's ultimate example of Richardsonian Romanesque. The granite exterior, with a massive…
2. New Old South Church
0.06 MILES
This magnificent puddingstone Venetian Gothic church on Copley Square is called the ‘new’ Old South because up until 1875 the congregation worshipped in…
3. Boston Public Library
0.07 MILES
Founded in 1852, the esteemed Boston Public Library lends credence to Boston’s reputation as the 'Athens of America.' The old McKim building is notable…
4. John Hancock Tower
0.07 MILES
Constructed with more than 10,000 panels of mirrored glass, the 62-story John Hancock Tower was designed in 1976 by Henry Cobb. It is the tallest and most…
5. Copley Society of Art
0.11 MILES
Dating to 1879, CoSo is the country's oldest nonprofit art association, with more than 500 members. The showings in the three exhibit spaces are rich and…
6. Guild of Boston Artists
0.11 MILES
This is a long-standing artistic cooperative, dating to 1914. Due to its emphasis on representational painting and sculpture, it's a bit stodgy compared…
7. Gallery Naga
0.2 MILES
Inside the Gothic digs of the Church of the Covenant, Gallery Naga exhibits contemporary painters, featuring many highly regarded local and regional…
8. Krakow Witkin Gallery
0.3 MILES
After years of fruitful cooperation, Barbara Krakow and Andrew Witkin finally renamed their venerable gallery – previously the Barbara Krakow Gallery – to…