Updated in September 2026, this Museum of Fine Arts, Boston guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is a major art museum in the Fenway area of Boston, Massachusetts. As of September 2026, adult admission is $30, and the Fenway Entrance remains closed, so all visitors now enter through the Huntington Avenue Entrance. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the museum’s official website in September 2026, when this guide was last updated.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Sun, Mon, Wed, Sat 10am–5pm; Thu, Fri 10am–10pm; closed Tuesdays |
| Ticket prices | Adults $30; youths 7–17 $14; children 0–6 free; members free |
| Address | 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 |
| Nearest transport/parking | Green Line E train (Museum of Fine Arts stop); Museum Road Garage from $12 |
| Typical time needed | 2–4 hours |
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston opening hours
The museum opens Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Thursday and Friday from 10am to 10pm. It closes all day on Tuesdays.
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The museum also closes on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
5 great Boston experiences to book
- ⚾ See why Boston has America’s most beloved baseball ground on a Fenway Park tour.
- 🚶 Get a history crash course on a small group walking tour along the Freedom Trail.
- 🌅 See the skyline from the water on a sunset harbour cruise.
- 🎓 Hear the stories behind America’s oldest university on a campus walking tour of Harvard University.
- 🍩 Indulge in Boston’s best donuts on a sweet treats walking tour.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ticket prices
Adult tickets cost $30, and youths aged 7 to 17 pay $14. Children aged 6 and under enter free, as do museum members.
The museum is included in the Boston CityPASS, where visitors choose four attractions from a list of seven, including the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Franklin Park Zoo and Harvard Museum of Natural History. It also appears on the Go City Boston Pass, alongside Fenway Park tours, the Salem Witch Museum and the House of the Seven Gables.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. Book online.
Why book the Boston CityPASS?
- Saves on key attractions: Visit top Boston sights with bundled entry at a reduced price compared with buying individual tickets.
- Flexible sightseeing: CityPASS offers timed entry at major options, helping you plan your itinerary over multiple days.
- Must-see included spots: Explore favourites such as the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science and more, depending on the pass you choose.
- Ideal for first-time visitors: Great way to check off a range of iconic Boston museums and experiences without worrying about separate bookings.
- Mobile ticket convenience: Your pass is delivered digitally for easy scanning at each attraction, with no need to print vouchers.
How to get to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The museum stands on Huntington Avenue in Boston’s Fenway neighbourhood, close to Ruggles and the Back Bay.
By public transport, take the Green Line E train to the Museum of Fine Arts stop, or the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to Ruggles. Bus routes 39, 8, 19, 47 and CT2 also stop nearby. Drivers should follow signs for Museum Road, which holds the museum’s parking facilities.
Why book the Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour?
- 🚋 18 Strategic Stops: Explore the city at your own pace with a route that covers over 100 points of interest, including Faneuil Hall, the North End, and the Back Bay.
- 🎤 Entertaining Live Narration: Enjoy “transportainment” from expert conductors who bring Boston’s history to life with fascinating stories of the American Revolution and local lore.
- ⛪ Old North Church Admission: Your ticket includes entry to this iconic landmark, famous for the “one if by land, two if by sea” signal that launched Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
- 🚢 USS Constitution & Navy Yard: Get easy access to the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and the historic Charlestown Navy Yard without worrying about city parking.
- 🕒 Total Sightseeing Flexibility: Save your feet and your time by hopping off to explore specific neighborhoods, then simply catch the next trolley whenever you’re ready to move on.
Parking at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Three self-parking areas serve the museum: the Huntington Lot, the Fenway Lot and the Museum Road Garage, all reached from Museum Road.
Rates start at $12 for up to one hour and rise to $48 for six hours or more; members pay less at each tier. An evening rate of $20 applies after 5:30pm. All three facilities have accessible spaces, and payment is by card or cash at automated exit stations.
How long to spend at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Most visitors spend between two and four hours at the museum, depending on how many special exhibitions they see.
A ticket stays valid until closing time, so visitors can leave one gallery and return to another later in the day. Those with only an hour can follow the self-guided highlights tour on MFA Mobile, a free app with audio content covering the museum’s global collection.
Accessibility at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with ramps and power-assist doors at the main Huntington Avenue Entrance.
Free wheelchairs and gallery stools are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum also offers sensory kits, EnChroma glasses for colour blindness and assistive listening devices for tours, and it welcomes service dogs. Visitors who need a level entrance can use the Linde Family Wing Entrance instead.
Inside the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The ancient world galleries include Egyptian, Nubian and Near Eastern art, among them a dedicated mummies gallery. Adjoining rooms display art of ancient Greece, Rome and the Byzantine Empire.
European painting galleries hold a dedicated Monet room and a French Salon gallery, alongside Dutch, Flemish and Italian Renaissance collections. The rotunda ceiling features murals by John Singer Sargent.
Art of the Americas galleries span the 18th to 20th centuries and include further Sargent works and a Native North American art gallery.
Asian collections cover Korean, Japanese, and South and Southeast Asian art, plus a Japanese garden, Tenshin-en. Separate galleries hold Judaica and arts of Islamic cultures.
Contemporary art appears across several spaces, including the Ebb and Flow and Counter History galleries, alongside twentieth-century sculpture.
Practical visitor tips
| Focus | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Weekday mornings, especially Wednesdays, tend to be quieter than weekend afternoons. |
| Crowds | Thursday and Friday evening hours, until 10pm, offer a quieter alternative to daytime visits. |
| Layout | The museum spans four levels across two wings, so choosing two or three galleries in advance helps avoid backtracking. |
| Entry process | Staff check tickets outside the Huntington Avenue Entrance, so a ready digital ticket speeds up entry. |
| On-site logistics | Free coat check at the Huntington Avenue Entrance handles bags larger than 11 x 15 inches. |
Frequently asked questions about the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston suitable for children? | Yes. Children aged 6 and under enter free, and the museum offers family programmes and a self-guided app tour. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? | Booking is not required but is recommended, particularly for weekends and special exhibitions. |
| Is the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston open on Sundays? | Yes. Sunday hours run from 10am to 5pm. |
| Are bags allowed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? | Small bags under 11 x 15 inches are allowed. Larger bags must be checked at the free coat check. |
| Is parking available at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? | Yes. Three self-parking areas are on Museum Road, with rates starting at $12. |
Things to do near the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum — directly across the Fenway from the MFA, this museum displays European, Asian and American art inside a recreated Venetian palazzo.
- Museum of Science — around 2 miles north, with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and an IMAX theatre.
- Fenway Park — home of the Boston Red Sox, roughly a 10-minute walk away, with tours on non-game days.
- Symphony Hall — home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, about a 10-minute walk from the museum.
- The Back Bay Fens — part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace park system, bordering the museum grounds.
Alternative attractions
- Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA — about an hour’s drive west, with a collection spanning ancient to contemporary art.
- RISD Museum, Providence, RI — about an hour south, part of the Rhode Island School of Design, with strong design and textile holdings.
- Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT — roughly two hours southwest, one of the oldest public art museums in the United States.
- Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH — about an hour north, with a compact European and American collection.
- Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA — about two hours west, a teaching museum with a varied permanent collection.
More Boston travel
Other Boston travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum visitor guide: With prices, times and advice.
- Exploring the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, JFK Birthplace and Olmsted Park in Brookline.
- Boston South End attraction guides: The Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
- Boston’s coastal parks and beaches: Castle Island, Winthrop Beach and Revere Beach.
- Boston Public Garden visitor guide.
