The Boston Public Garden is America’s first public botanical garden, a 24-acre park in downtown Boston adjoining Boston Common. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. The Garden’s Swan Boats are currently running for their 2026 season, through 7 September, and are included free with the Go City Boston pass; rides operate weather permitting, so they don’t run in rain, high wind, or extreme heat.
Established in 1837, the Public Garden was designed to showcase ornamental planting, in contrast to the more practical, pastoral Boston Common next door, which dates to 1634. The nonprofit Friends of the Public Garden, formed in 1970, works with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to preserve and enhance both spaces.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, 6:30am–11pm; pedestrian access 24 hours |
| Ticket prices | Free to enter; Swan Boat rides $3.25–$4.75 |
| Address | 4 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02116 |
| Nearest transport/parking | MBTA Green Line to Arlington; Boston Common Garage nearby |
| Typical time needed | 30–60 minutes, longer with a Swan Boat ride |
The Boston Public Garden opening hours
The Public Garden is free and open to visitors 365 days a year. The park opens at 6:30am and closes at 11pm, though pedestrian access continues 24 hours a 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 Boston Public Garden ticket prices
There is no admission fee to enter the Public Garden.
The Swan Boats, a fleet of pedal-powered pontoon boats that have operated on the Garden’s lagoon since 1877, run daily from 18 April through 7 September 2026. Rides cost $4.75 for adults, $4.25 for seniors aged 65 and over, and $3.25 for children aged 2 to 15; children under 2 ride free, and tickets are bought at the dock rather than in advance.
Swan Boat rides are included free with the Go City Boston pass. Beyond this specific inclusion, the wider Garden isn’t part of paid citywide passes such as Go City Boston or Boston CityPASS, since it’s a free public park.
Opening hours and Swan Boat prices were checked on the official Boston Public Garden page and the Swan Boats website, and last updated in July 2026.
Why book the Go City Boston Pass?
- 🏛️ 45+ Top Attractions: Enjoy admission to Boston’s most iconic sites, including the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, and the View Boston observation deck.
- 🚌 CityView Trolley Tour: Get your bearings and travel between major landmarks with an included hop-on hop-off trolley ticket that covers the city’s historic districts.
- 👣 Freedom Trail & History: Step back into the American Revolution with guided walking tours of the Freedom Trail and entry to the Paul Revere House and Old State House.
- 💰 Exceptional Value: Save up to 50% compared to purchasing individual gate tickets, making it the most cost-effective way to see the city’s premier highlights.
- 📱 Total Digital Convenience: Simply scan your pass from your smartphone for entry and use the included digital guidebook to plan your custom itinerary on the go.
How to get to the Boston Public Garden
The Public Garden is in downtown Boston, bounded by Charles Street, Beacon Street, Arlington Street, and Boylston Street.
By subway, take the MBTA Green Line to Arlington station; from the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets, it’s about a four-minute walk to the Swan Boat dock.
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 Boston Public Garden
The Boston Common Garage on Charles Street is the closest parking garage. Metered street parking, with a two-hour maximum, is available on surrounding streets, and meters are free on Sundays.
How long to spend at the Boston Public Garden
Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour walking through the Public Garden. A Swan Boat ride adds another 10 to 15 minutes, though queues can build quickly on summer weekends.
Accessibility at the Boston Public Garden
The Public Garden’s paths are level and paved throughout, suiting wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility.
Transferring from a wheelchair to a Swan Boat is possible with staff assistance, and a non-motorized wheelchair can be placed on the front row of most boats; wheelchairs are stored on the dock during the ride, and staff can assist with the transfer at boarding and disembarking.
Inside the Boston Public Garden: what to see
The Swan Boats and lagoon are the Garden’s best-known feature, still run by descendants of the Paget family who started the ride in 1877.
The Make Way for Ducklings statues, near the Beacon Street entrance, depict the duck family from Robert McCloskey’s classic children’s book.
An equestrian statue of George Washington is located at the Garden’s Arlington Street entrance, one of several monuments scattered throughout the park.
Victorian-style floral displays fill the Garden each season, using more than 80 species of plants grown in the city’s own greenhouses.
A small suspension footbridge crosses the lagoon and remains one of the park’s most photographed spots.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter stroll before Swan Boat queues build. |
| Crowds | Summer weekends see the longest waits for Swan Boat rides. |
| Layout | Enter from Arlington Street for the Swan Boats and lagoon, or from Charles Street to continue into Boston Common. |
| Entry process | There’s no ticket for the Garden itself; buy Swan Boat tickets at the dock by cash or card. |
| On-site logistics | Check the weather before planning a Swan Boat ride, since they don’t operate in rain, high wind, or extreme heat. |
Frequently asked questions about the Boston Public Garden
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Boston Public Garden free to visit? | Yes, the park is free and open every day of the year. |
| Do you need to book Swan Boat tickets in advance? | No, tickets are bought at the dock; groups of 20 or more should book ahead. |
| Is the Boston Public Garden open on Sundays? | Yes, it’s open daily, and parking meters around the park are free on Sundays. |
| Is the Boston Public Garden wheelchair accessible? | Yes, the paths are level and paved throughout. |
| How old are the Swan Boats? | They’ve operated since 1877 and are still run by the Paget family’s descendants. |
Things to do near the Boston Public Garden
Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, is directly adjacent.
Beacon Hill, a historic neighbourhood of cobblestone streets, is a short walk away.
Newbury Street, a shopping and dining strip in Back Bay, is a short walk away.
The Cheers Beacon Hill pub, the exterior used in the television show, is a short walk away.
The Charles River Esplanade, a riverside park with walking and biking paths, is about a 10-minute walk away.
What to visit tomorrow
The Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, an Olmsted-designed collection of trees and shrubs, is about 20 minutes away.
Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, with extensive formal and woodland gardens, is about 1 hour away.
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford, Connecticut, one of the oldest municipal rose gardens in the US, is about 2 hours away.
The Alexandra Botanic Garden at Wellesley College is about 30 minutes away.
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence, Rhode Island, is about 1 hour away.
More Boston travel
Other Boston travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Tackle the key sites on the Freedom Trail: The Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, Paul Revere House and the Old North Church.
- Use the Boston CityPass to visit the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Franklin Park Zoo and View Boston observation deck.
- Go back in time at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.
- What you need to know about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
- Exploring the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, JFK Birthplace and Olmsted Park in Brookline.
