The 17 Best Museums in Boston (By a Local!)

I’m a Boston local and feel lucky to call it home. The city has a rich collection of museums that showcase Boston’s diverse history, culture, and artistic heritage. 

From the renowned Museum of Fine Arts to the Boston Children’s Museum, there’s something for every type of visitor. These museums are some of Boston’s top attractions!

Whether you’re interested in American history, contemporary art, or science, this list of Boston museums offers an enriching experience for all.

17 Museums in Boston

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

This world-renowned art museum is a must-visit! It’s Boston’s top attraction and largest art museum.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $27 Adults, $10 Youth Ages 7-17, Free for Children Ages 0-6 | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Sat-Mon and Wed, 10 am – 10 pm Thur and Fri, Closed Tue

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston is a top attraction and my favorite museum to lose myself in. It’s located in the Back Fens/Kenmore Square neighborhood. It houses over 100 galleries of art. 

As Boston’s oldest and largest museum, it may take several visits to see all of its treasures. Roam through the Asia, Europe, Ancient Egypt, and Africa exhibits. You’ll marvel at the collection of sculptures, paintings, instruments, artifacts, and much more. 

Refuel at one of the museum’s cafes. The New American Cafe offers tableside service enclosed in a glass courtyard. The Garden Cafeteria offers comfort food and snacks, which makes it a great option for families. For those looking for a quick pick me up, head to Taste. It’s a coffee and wine bar offering drinks, pastries, and desserts. 

Some featured artists at the museum include Claude Monet and John Singer Sargent. These heavy hitters draw in large crowds. I suggest you reserve your tickets online when planning your Boston itinerary!

👉 Looking for date ideas in Boston? The Museum of Fine Arts Boston offers an after-hours experience on select dates throughout the year.

Museum of Science

This iconic museum makes science accessible to all. Enjoy interactive exhibits with stellar views of the Charles River.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $33 Adults, $28 Children Ages 3-11, Free for Ages Under 3 | 🕕 Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wed-Mon, 9 am – 1 pm Tue

The Museum of Science is located between Boston and Cambridge on Science Park. The iconic institute overlooks the Charles River and takes pride in making science accessible for all. As soon as you enter the museum, you are greeted by Spot, the Boston Dynamics robot dog. 

The Museum of Science is a great place for families and science enthusiasts. It has over 700 exhibits on STEM learning, math, engineering, and biodiversity.

My daughter and I enjoy all of their interactive exhibits. We try to catch one of their live presentations offered throughout the day. These presentations are fun and informative with special guests like tortoises and snakes. 

After checking off some of our favorite exhibits, we take a lunch break at their Riverview Cafe to enjoy fresh food and panoramic views of the river. 

The Museum of Science gets very busy on the weekends and whenever children are out of school. Reserve tickets in advance and try visiting on a weekday.

Boston Children’s Museum

This busy museum offers children hands-on exhibits where play meets learning. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $24 Adults, $24 Children, Free for Infants Under 12 Months | 🕕 Hours: 9 am – 4 pm, Wed-Mon, Closed Tue

The Boston Children’s Museum is a great place for children to play and learn. This waterfront museum is located in the Fort Point neighborhood and offers exhibits that are playful and hands-on.

Families are greeted by an enclosed climbing chamber at the entrance. It is three stories tall! The museum has three floors of interactive exhibits. My daughter’s favorite is the Bubble Table exhibit on the first floor.

The Boston Children’s Museum does not have a cafe. However, there is a designated area for families to enjoy their packed lunch and snacks. This museum gets extremely busy on the weekends and when children are out of school. Reserve your tickets in advance. 

USS Constitution

Tour the oldest warship afloat at this free museum in the city. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: Free | 🕕 Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm, Daily | 🕕 Ship Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Wed-Sun

This free museum is located at the tail end of the Freedom Trail. You can tour the USS Constitution in the Navy Yard, Charlestown. It is the oldest warship afloat and still remains active!

This museum is a great place for families and history buffs. It educates visitors about the USS Constitution. Find out what life was like for a sailor two hundred years back. 

The museum is staffed by USN personnel. They are very knowledgeable and super friendly. You can also learn more with hands-on experiences. Entry to the USS Constitution is free. However, donations are encouraged. 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

This distinguished art museum features a Venetian-style courtyard. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $22 Adults, $20 Seniors 65+, $15 Students, Free for Ages 17 & Under | 🕕 Hours: 11 am – 5 pm, Mon, Wed, Fri, 11 am – 9 pm, Thurs, 10 am – 5 pm, Sat and Sun, Closed Tue

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a distinguished art museum located in the Back Fens/Kenmore neighborhood. It is known for its picturesque Venetian-style courtyard and private collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner, who was an American art collector and philanthropist. 

Gardner collected pieces from different eras, cultures, and rising artists. On display are paintings, drawings, letters, tapestries, furniture, and more. The best part? You can take in stunning views of the courtyard no matter which floor you are on. After roaming around the museum, I head to Cafe G for lunch, a glass of wine, and views of the garden.

The world-class art museum gets very crowded with tourists and students, especially on weekends. Reserve your tickets in advance.

Boston Tea Party Museum

Reenact the moment that started the American Revolution. Throw fake tea into the harbor at this waterfront museum.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $38 Adults, $26 Children | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Daily

This historic museum is located in the Fort Point Neighborhood. It reenacts the moment that started the American Revolution, The Boston Tea Party. Guides bring that moment in 1773 to life. They are dressed in full costume and interpret the events that took place during the American Revolution. The museum is informative, engaging, and entertaining.

The entire experience lasts about an hour and involves active participation of the audience. Visitors take part in the town meeting, explore the replica of the 18th-century ship, and throw fake tea into the harbor. 

After the exhibit, head to Abigail’s Tea Room for a spot of tea and skyline views over the water. You can also indulge in tasty treats such as cookies, scones, and muffins.

📚 Related Reading: My favorite Boston coffee shops

Institute of Contemporary Arts

Explore contemporary art at this intimate museum overlooking the water. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $20 Adults, Free for Ages 18 & Under | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Tue, Wed, Sat, and Sun, 10 am- 9 pm Thur and Fri

The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is a contemporary art museum that overlooks the water in the Seaport district. It has a great art program with frequently changing exhibits.

Although this waterfront museum is not for roaming around for hours on end, it is still worth the visit. Explore galleries of contemporary art on the fourth floor of the ICA. I got to see the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. It made a lasting impression. 

You can now enjoy light bites and natural wines at the new ICA Wine + Coffee Bar. Check out the ICA Store before you leave the museum. The award-winning store features design objects, art books, contemporary art, and more. 

Old State House

Explore this historic building and view artifacts from the Revolutionary War. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $15 Adults, $13 Seniors, $13 Students, $8 Children | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Daily

The Old State House is the oldest surviving public building in Boston. It was built in 1713 and has lived through a massacre, a revolution, and a fire. 

You can visit the Old State House and explore the building at your own pace or take a guided tour. The guided tours are led by fully-costumed Revolutionary characters. Either way, roam through historic period rooms filled with multi-sensory exhibits. 

This museum is filled with a collection of artifacts from the Revolutionary War. There are one-of-a-kind objects from the past on display. They include John Hancock’s Red Velvet Coat, ammunition from battles, and salvaged tea from the Boston Tea Party.

Museum of African American History

Discover the history of Boston’s African American Community from the 19th century. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $15 Adults, $8 Seniors, $8 for Ages 5-17, Free for Children Under 4 | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Tue-Sun

The Museum of African American History honors the heritage of Boston’s African American community in the 19th century. It’s located in Beacon Hill and is made up of two buildings. 

The first building is the Abiel Smith School which was built in 1835. It houses both permanent and rotating exhibits. The second building is the African Meeting House. It is an African Baptist Church and is known as the oldest Black Church still standing in this country. 

The museum’s guides are National Park Service Rangers. They take you through a tour that covers the life of the African American Community in the early years of Boston. 

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Visit Harvard University’s top museum. Discover nature exhibits pulled from the university’s collection.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $15 Adults, $13 Seniors, $10 for Ages 3-18, Free for Children Under 3 | 🕕 Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, Daily

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is a popular and busy destination in Cambridge. It is Harvard University’s top-visited museum and only an 8-minute walk from the iconic Harvard Square. 

All of the exhibits in the 150-year old brick building are pulled from Harvard University’s collection. You can easily spend hours roaming through the museum’s three floors. 

Look for your birthstone at the renovated mineral gallery. You will be mesmerized by the variety of colors, textures, shapes, and sizes in the stones. Don’t pass up on their collection of glass flowers, either. These crafted glass models of plants are a must-see. It is hard to tell the distinction between flowers made of glass and real flowers. 

MIT Museum

This engaging museum covers MIT’s history of innovation in science and technology.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $20 Adults, $15 Seniors, $10 for Ages 5-18, Free for Children Under 4 | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Daily

The MIT Museum features science, technology, and engineering exhibits. The museum is located in Cambridge. It’s a great place for the whole family to dive deep into scientific discoveries. 

The vibrant MIT Museum is perfect for all ages. It showcases the evolution of science and technology. You can easily spend over three hours taking in the kinetic sculptures, robots, design, artificial intelligence, and holograms. 

The museum is engaging with plenty of hands-on experiences. The interactive exhibits include robotics demonstrations, virtual reality experiences, and coding activities.

Museum of Ice Cream

Get carried away eating ice cream in every exhibit. It’s a Willy Wonka experience at the colorful Museum of Ice Cream.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: Ticket Prices Vary ($28-$73) | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 7:30 pm, Sat, Wed, Thur, and Fri, 10 am – 6:30 pm, Sun, 11 am – 6:30 pm Mon, Closed Tue

Eat unlimited ice cream at this new museum in the Seaport District. The Museum of Ice Cream is perfect for families and kids to make unforgettable memories.

You are greeted at the door with ice cream! Then, feel free to roam through magical spaces with interactive installations. There is ice cream in almost every room which makes it easy to get carried away and sugared up.

The Museum of Ice Cream provides somewhat of a Willy Wonka experience with bright, colorful, cheery, and fun elements. Eat cotton candy at Funway Park. Slide into sprinkles at their iconic Sprinkle Pool. Linger as long as you’d like.

The museum offers an inclusive environment with a diverse staff. It does get very busy on weekends, and there could be a wait to enter. Reserve your tickets in advance and complete their waiver online. This way, you can avoid filling it out in line if you visit during Boston’s winter months. 

WNDR Museum

This museum offers an immersive art experience for all visitors. Explore exhibits with interactive multimedia. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $28.99 General Admission, $24.99 Children Ages 3-12 | 🕕 Hours: 1 pm – 7 pm Mon & Thu, 12 pm – 8 pm Fri, 10 am – 8 pm Sat, 10 am – 6 pm Sun

The WNDR Museum is fairly new to Boston’s Downtown Crossing. This immersive art experience is great for kids, couples, and art enthusiasts. 

The museum is relatively small compared to the MFA. However, there are plenty of exhibits with interactive multimedia. For example, WNDR Museum showcases the Infinity Rooms by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. 

The museum can be very busy as it is still new, especially on the weekends. Try visiting on a weekday to avoid waiting in line to see exhibits.

Harvard Art Museums

This world-class art museum is one of Harvard’s oldest museums and features art from around the world. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: Free | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Tue-Sun

The Harvard Art Museums is one of Harvard’s oldest museums. The museum is located in the historic Harvard Square, Cambridge. The best part? It is free to the public. You’ll see world-class art from different centuries and cultures. There is a rich collection of European, American, and Asian art.

This family-friendly museum does an incredible job engaging kids. They assign kids with a scavenger hunt to find five works of art per floor. Parents get to enjoy the contemporary, modern, and digital arts without feeling pressured by a bored child. 

They always have rotating exhibits on display, which gives you an excuse to come back again. Fuel up at their cafe, right outside of their exhibits.

Museum of Illusions

This mind bending museum offers eye tricking installations for all ages to enjoy. 

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: $38 Adults, $36 Seniors, $33 Children Ages 5-12 | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 8 pm, Sun-Thur, 10 am – 9 pm, Fri-Sat

The Museum of Illusions offers eye-tricking experiences ideal for all ages. This mind-twisting attraction is located across from Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Discover exciting installations and dilemma games. Get your camera ready to take pictures and record videos of these unique illusions. 

The staff at the Museum of Illusions makes the entire experience memorable. They are friendly, informative, and help take the best pictures from the best angles. Buy your tickets in advance. This museum gets crowded due to its close proximity to Faneuil Hall.

Boston Fire Museum

This free museum is a great stop for families to learn about Boston’s firefighting history.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: Free | 🕕 Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Sat

The Boston Fire Museum is a small museum located in the Fort Point neighborhood. It highlights Boston’s firefighting history and is the second oldest existing station in Boston.

This museum is a great stop for families and is only a few minutes away from the Children’s Museum. Kids get to learn through hands-on projects. There are trucks (old and new), ladders to climb on, and more. Can you spot the firehouse Dalmatian?

This free museum is only open on Saturdays. Donations are encouraged.

Boston Public Library

This Boston gem isn’t technically a museum, but it houses books, history, art, and culture.

📍 Google Maps | Museum Website | 🎫 Cost: Free | 🕕 Hours: 9 am – 8 pm, Mon-Thur, 9 am – 5 pm, Fri and Sat, 11 am – 5 pm, Sun

The Boston Public Library is not *technically* a museum, but it’s still a hidden treasure. This historic building houses so much more than just books. The library is rich in history, art, and culture. It’s a popular free tourist spot and an iconic landmark in Copley Square.

There is so much to marvel at. From the Renaissance-style architecture to the Venetian-style courtyard and the marble stairs. Don’t miss the epic Bates Reading Room located on the second floor. 

You can have a cup of tea at their Map Room Tea Lounge. Or grab coffee to go at the Newsfeed Cafe.

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Boston is a vibrant cultural hub. The museums in Boston offer a captivating blend of history, art, and science. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these institutions provide unforgettable experiences. 

For more help planning your trip, see my guide to the best areas & hotels in Boston!