Attraction
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
A collector's house museum built to evoke a Venetian palace, with a glass-roofed garden courtyard, paintings by Titian, Rembrandt and Sargent, and the empty frames left…
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston's encyclopaedic art museum on Huntington Avenue in the Fenway, with collections ranging from ancient Nubia and Japan to American art and late evening opening on Thursdays and Fridays.
At a glance
- Type
- Art museum
- Area
- Fenway, Boston, United States
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday)
- Official site
- mfa.org
Good to know
- Free coat check
- Fully wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair and gallery stool loans
- Café
- Late opening Thursday and Friday
Why we recommend it
The Museum of Fine Arts, usually shortened to the MFA, is Boston's main encyclopaedic art museum. It was founded in 1870 and moved to its present Huntington Avenue building, designed by Guy Lowell, in 1909. The Art of the Americas Wing by Foster and Partners was added in 2010, and Cyrus Dallin's bronze horseman, Appeal to the Great Spirit, stands outside the main entrance.
The collection is broad enough that it pays to choose a few areas before you arrive. The Asian holdings are a particular strength, with a Japanese collection described as the largest outside Japan and Chinese paintings such as the thirteenth-century Nine Dragons handscroll. The museum is also known for its Nubian art, Dutch Golden Age painting and the American galleries in the Art of the Americas Wing. Special exhibitions change through the year, and galleries can close temporarily, so check the gallery updates page on the day.
The museum is open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, and from 10am to 10pm on Thursday and Friday. It is closed on Tuesday and on several holidays, including Patriots' Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The Thursday and Friday evenings are useful if you want to fit the museum around a day of sightseeing elsewhere.
Everyone needs a ticket, including children aged six and under, who go free. Young people aged 7 to 17 pay a reduced rate. Use the Huntington Avenue entrance, as the Fenway entrance is currently closed. Coat check is free, and the museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs and folding gallery stools available to borrow on a first-come basis. Allow at least three hours, or a full day if you plan to see a special exhibition as well.
The New American Cafe in the Shapiro Family Courtyard is the easiest place for lunch without leaving the building. The museum suits families, art lovers and anyone looking for an indoor option in bad weather.
The Museum of Fine Arts stop on the Green Line E branch is right outside on Huntington Avenue. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a few minutes away on foot, on Evans Way, which makes it easy to pair the two in one day.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston FAQs
When is the MFA open?
10am to 5pm on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, and 10am to 10pm on Thursday and Friday. It is closed on Tuesday.
Which entrance should you use?
Use the Huntington Avenue entrance. The Fenway entrance is currently closed.
Do children need a ticket?
Yes. Everyone needs a ticket, but children aged six and under go free and those aged 7 to 17 pay a reduced rate.
When is last entry?
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible and lends wheelchairs and gallery stools on a first-come basis.
Is there somewhere to eat?
Yes. The New American Cafe is in the Shapiro Family Courtyard.
How do you get there by public transport?
Take the Green Line E branch to the Museum of Fine Arts stop on Huntington Avenue.
How long should you allow?
At least three hours, and a full day if you add a special exhibition.
What is nearby?
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on Evans Way is a few minutes' walk away.