Boston Common

The Basics

Walking paths crisscross the Common’s green space, which is dotted with monuments, including the Boston Massacre Monument, the Great Elm site, and the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. In winter, ice skaters head to Frog Pond, while summer draws theater lovers for Shakespeare on the Common. The Common is a stop on walking and driving tours of the Freedom Trail and on Boston bike tours. The hop-on hop-off trolley also stops at the park.

Things to Know Before You Go

• There is an on-site information kiosk with maps.

• The Common is a good spot for picnics.

• This is a family-friendly location with ballfields, a playground, a carousel, and a spray pool for kids to enjoy in the summer.

• The Common is close to other sights, such as the Central Burying Ground and the Boston Athenaeum.

How to Get There

Boston Common is on the south end of the Beacon Hill neighborhood. The MBTA subway, or the “T,” services the area with a number of stations. Bluebikes, from Boston's bike-share program, are available to rent around town. You can also take a hop-on hop-off trolley to the Common.

When to Get There

The Common hosts a number of activities throughout the year (especially in the summer). These range from free concerts to political rallies to seasonal festivals. The most popular time to visit Boston is during the summer, when the weather is warm, and in the early fall, when the trees change color.

Walking the Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a historic walking path that takes you past many of Boston’s landmarks. The 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) trail includes 16 locations that played a pivotal part in the American Revolution, such as the sites of the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, along with Faneuil Hall and Boston Common. Opt for a guided tour if you want to learn about the city’s history as you go.

Ways to explore

Visitors come to Boston Common to stroll, relax, and trace Boston’s pivotal role in events that provoked the 1775–1783 American Revolution. Freedom Trail tours follow the marked route through the common, pausing to view historical sites, such as the adjacent Granary Burying Ground. Book a standalone trail tour or a city sightseeing tour that combines the trail with other landmarks.

Alternatively, ride a Boston hop-on hop-off trolley that stops at Boston Common, or a duck boat that passes by it. You can also explore on bike tours or uncover the area’s dark past on evening ghost tours.

Accessibility

Boston Common is largely wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, and most paths are easy to navigate; however, there are steps in some areas. Travelers using wheelchairs can obtain free accessibility maps at the Boston Visitor Information Center. Wheelchairs are available for loan from the nearby Faneuil Hall Visitor Center.

Age limits

All ages are welcome, though some age restrictions may apply for leisure activities, such as winter ice skating at the Frog Pond.

What to pack

Refillable water bottle, picnic, camera, umbrella

What to wear

Comfortable shoes, sunscreen in summer, layers for Boston’s unpredictable weather

Not allowed

Smoking, alcohol, cycling, scooters, drones

Amenities

Restrooms, Wi-Fi, café, food carts, seasonal drinking fountains (spring and summer only)

Address 

Boston Common is in downtown Boston, framed by Park Street, Boylston Street, Charles Street, and Tremont Street. The easiest way to travel here is on foot, via public transit, on hop-on hop-off trolley tours, or with city sightseeing tours that include transportation.

Driving

If driving to Boston Common, head to the Boston Common Garage, which is accessible via Charles Street. There’s also metered parking in the surrounding streets, but securing a spot can be challenging at busy times. Using cabs or rideshares might be easier.

Public transportation

Ride the Red or Green subway line of the MBTA transit system—known as the T—to Park Street on Boston Common’s edge. Alternatively, take the Green line to stations near other areas of the common: Boylston Street and Arlington. MBTA buses 43, 44, and 47 all stop nearby.

Best times to visit

Boston Common is lovely in the early morning, before visitor numbers swell. It’s also pretty at dusk, when the streetlights illuminating its paths switch on.

Best days to visit

Weekdays are better for peaceful strolls as they’re typically less crowded than weekends. The same goes for the Freedom Trail, which is busier on Saturdays and Sundays, especially in summer.

Best months to visit

Swap hot and crowded July and August for the scenic, milder shoulder seasons: March to May sees tulips and magnolias in flower, while October marks the height of New England’s stunning fall foliage.

Special events

Boston Common typically celebrates May’s US Mother’s Day with its annual Duckling Day, featuring stalls and activities. Also popular is the Frog Pond ice skating, available from November to March.