Get the app

Sight Beacon Hill, Downtown Boston & the Waterfront

Boston Common

A sight in Beacon Hill, Downtown Boston & the Waterfront, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: 7 p.m.

Open in Google Maps Apple Maps
Boston Common in Beacon Hill, Downtown Boston & the Waterfront
Photo: Daderot · CC0

Why go

The country's oldest public park, with the Frog Pond rink, where the First Night parade ends and fireworks go up at 7 p.m.

It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown Boston & the Waterfront, alongside 2 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. 4 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Boston Public Garden and Omni Parker House.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
Beacon Hill
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
7 p.m.

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Downtown Boston & the Waterfront. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Boston Public Garden

    Victorian garden with the swan boats and lagoon next to the Common.

    Outdoors · Boston · 0.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Omni Parker House

    Hotel on School Street since 1855, birthplace of Boston cream pie, a block from Boston Common.

    Stay · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    First Night Boston

    Free citywide New Year's Eve festival for 50 years, centered on City Hall Plaza with ice sculptures, music and food.

    Activity · 0.5 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Union Oyster House

    America's oldest operating restaurant (1826), serving oysters at a raw bar.

    Food · Boston · 0.6 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Union Oyster House

    Open since 1826, the country's oldest continuously operating restaurant, with a raw bar and chowder by Faneuil Hall.

    Food · 0.6 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Bell in Hand Tavern

    Tavern dating to 1795, one of the oldest in the country, with live music near Faneuil Hall.

    Drinks · 0.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Boston Common is a stop on our Boston New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More sights to see in Downtown Boston & the Waterfront

Another curated sight in Downtown Boston & the Waterfront. See the full Downtown Boston & the Waterfront guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Boston

Our climate figures for Downtown Boston & the Waterfront come from nearby Boston. Average daily highs in Boston run from 34°F in January to 82°F in July; October is usually the wettest month. For Boston Common itself, we suggest: 7 p.m.

Modelled monthly averages for Boston from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Boston weather by month (covers Downtown Boston & the Waterfront).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Boston Common, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
42.35500, -71.06556
Destination
Downtown Boston & the Waterfront, Massachusetts

Boston Common: quick answers

How much time do you need at Boston Common?

Plan on about an hour at Boston Common. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Boston Common?

Our pick: 7 p.m. Insider tip: Skate at the Frog Pond on Dec 30; on First Night 2025 the Skating Club of Boston performed there at 3 and 5:30 p.m.

Is Boston Common free?

Yes, we list Boston Common as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include Boston Common?

Boston Common appears on Boston New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Boston Common to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Boston & the Waterfront.

Get TripsCircle

Plan Downtown Boston & the Waterfront

Lists & regions

Also in Downtown Boston & the Waterfront

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.