1. Museum of Science

    1. Museum of Science

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    Boston, MA

    Museum of Science

    4.1 (870 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Austin G.

    People told us that the Museum of Science is among the best science centers in the country. After spending two hours there, there is a lot to see and experience. Here's our take on the Museum of Science visiting with our nine-year-old daughter. 1) Admission: Visiting from Washington, D.C. where many museums are free, it's always abrasive to pay so much for museums. For the three of us to visit with an IMAX ticket too, it was $120+. To their credit, they stamped our tickets so we could go back again within six months since we went two hours before closing. Staff were super helpful and kind. 2) Space: There are three floors well organized with clear signage. There are areas for smaller kids and some for older kids. My nine-year-old enjoyed the robot dog and the arctic experience. 3) IMAX: We paid for the 50-minute rescue dog movie. It was engaging and inspiring! It does bring up some disasters like terrorism and earthquakes so be prepared for that if your child has a big imagination.

    Melissa M.

    I was a little worried there wouldn't be enough for my 17 month old but there is truly so much there. We could have spent our whole 3 hours in the train exhibit! They have headphones for kids for the electricity show which is nice. It's easy to get to and to park if you drive in. Pretty pricey for parking, getting a membership may be worth it! They have a nice cafe which wasn't too pricey and has a nice view of the river

    Entrance on left
    Gail U.

    I've only been on part of their first floor. There is a Duck Tour office inside but you actually can buy tickets outside once the booth opens or on line. Those who purchased tickets catch the land and water vehicle by the big dinosaur to the far left of the building. I purchased hot beverages from their cafe and used the restroom before the tour. I saw stairs going down that said live animals. The exhibits I got a glimpse of were impressive. After our Duck Tour I spent a bundle at their gift shop. It wasn't open before 9:30 a.m. I saw a few families bringing their young kiddies to the museum.

    Meg M.

    Maybe if i came with a small group of friends and got to explore, rather than keeping an eye on 115 teens I would have enjoyed the museum more! It has a lot to offer but was really crowded, preventing the ability to slowly go through and enjoy each exhibit. A lot of the shows took place after we had to leave too. Not a bad spot, i guess i was just expecting a bit more. New York museums are just a little more extra than the ones in Boston!

    Mae-Lou Z.

    I've loved the Museum of Science since I was little. The last time I went, I was in a wheelchair due to foot surgery. I was delighted by how accessible the entire building is. The floors are flat and there was enough space in between displays for me to maneuver, even with my foot elevated.

    Green wall
    Shreya G.

    Such a fun museum! This was my first time at the museum of science here in Boston, and it was such a blast! I truly learned so much and I love how interactive the museum is. My favorite exhibit was probably the electricity/ lightning one. We didn't catch a show there but I wish we had, hopefully next time we'll go early enough to see it! You could easily spend all day here so I'd recommend going early. We went on a Sunday afternoon, so of course it was very crowded with families (as a science museum should be!) but this did mean that I got muscled out of some interactive exhibits by little kids. So if you are going without kids, I would recommend going sometime during the week as to avoid that. Otherwise it was such a fun experience and I definitely want to go back!

    Christina R.

    I hadn't planned to visit the Museum of Science, but I had purchased a CityPass and it was raining pretty bad on our first day in Boston. I had all outdoor activities planned so plan B was museums and other indoor activities. This museum is huge and it's got a plethora of interactive displays and exhibitions. I would say that it's more geared towards children than adults, but as two adults, we still had a great time. What I mean by it's geared toward children is that the interactive displays are very basic and a bit simplistic. You could use the word "hokey" maybe. There are a lot of elevators if you have strollers or mobility issues. The escalators were being worked on when we were there but it wasn't too big of an issue. I will say the best part of this museum is the presentations that they have. I'd highly suggest the electricity one with the Tesla coils. Super cool and really fun.

    Katherine V.

    Grew up going to MOS on field trips and family trips. Decades later I still go and I take my friends kids too! This place opens children and adults imagination to a world of scientific possibilities. It sparks creativity, curiosity, inclusivity, and promotes exploration. Exhibits are kept clean and up to date. Cafeteria is affordable and serves exceptional food. Bathrooms are kept clean.

    Lily G.

    Beautiful museum, it's even an art and architecture museum if you try! Hand painted murals, gorgeous sculptures, innovative light displays, and many wonders of the natural world! I love it. Will be back.

    Kenneth T.

    There's a good amount of interactive things to do for even toddlers that you could spend a whole day! Kids thoroughly enjoyed everything from the dinosaur exhibits, the live animals, the space ship, etc. The only negative thing is that for a museum of this size, there's only ONE elevator at the central building, and ONE food court/eating area.

    Science Behind Pixar August 2015
    Michelle C.

    Visited the museum on February break, and it actually was not as packed as I feared it would be. Since I haven't been here in a while, while there was a ton of new things to see and some of the old favorites. - 4D theater is always fun - live shows are great for the kids. It's located in the lower level - green wing (by the birds) - Scooters (5) are free and available first come first serve - lightning show is always a good one. Try seeing it from the back side. It's less crowded and you can get amazing views! - cafeteria food is not so great, but it has spectacular views of the Charles and Boston skyline - slime bar located in the museum store. $20/slime up to three types of slime - lockers available Make sure to get museum passes from the library for the discount!

    Jamie A.

    I enjoy the museum! 3 floors with different sections and many interactive sections that is also fun for adults. We kept entering at beginning shows where staff with red coats demonstrated experiments and animals. Kid friendly and adult friendly~ is it a big reason to come to Boston? No really, but this museum is a fun visit for locals who need something to do in very hot or cold days. A tourist shouldn't seek this is a main part of the trip because it will take up time and there are other spots more worth the trip for.

    Julie F.

    One of my favorite museums! I've been bringing my 5 year old since she was a baby. There's so much to see and I love the interactive exhibits. My 5 year old is really into reptiles, and she loved seeing the snakes and iguanas. There is something for everyone here! It is pricey, and I highly recommend getting a membership. You'll be back!

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    Great museum but the gift shop employees are bizarrely rude for no discernible reason

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    Ask the Community - Museum of Science

    How walkable is the Museum from the Green Line Science Station? I'd have my two year old with me. Too difficult to bring a stroller? Thanks!

    It's maybe one block. You cross the street and walk about 500 feet and you are there.

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    Review Highlights - Museum of Science

    The Lightning show was fun (get there a few minutes early for good seats), and the Halloween days were very cute.

    Mentioned in 54 reviews

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    Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum of Fine Arts

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    2.3 mi

    During a recent weekend trip to Boston, I reserved an entire day for the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)…read moreand it was the best decision I could have made. If I lived in Boston, I would become a member so that I could visit at will, even if only for few hours at a time. I am particularly interested in the impressionists, and John Singer Sargent, so I kept mostly to the 2nd floor. The museum is well organized, and there are staff floating around to answer any questions (one staffer even offered some tips to reduce the glare when taking a photo of a certain painting). I had checked out of my hotel so I had baggage with me (don't we all)...MFA has a convenient bag check. I also purchased a sizeable book from the bookshop and the staff put it in a box for me to keep it from being damaged during travel. I saw one temporary exhibit that was a nicely curated mix of multimedia art, and I also enjoyed seeing some of the rooms presented in a gallery style so that I could truly appreciate modern display methods. Six hours here went by in a flash, and I will definitely be back to see more of the MFA's vast collection. p.s. The equestrian sport of polo came from Persia?? Loved this fact! I also really enjoyed the time put into the object labels and the stories they told. "The most outrageous series of ferocious daubs that any slanderer of Venice could possibly imagine," a quote from a critic describing Renoir's Grand Canal, Venice, made me snort laugh out loud!

    The Boston Museum of Fine Arts features an impressive selection of art from around the world and…read moreacross different periods. We explored the Egyptian, Greek, European, Flemish and Dutch, Asian, Impressionist, and a small Jewish section. The exhibits are wonderful, and the museum is too large to explore in a single day. The gift shop has a nice selection of books, cards, and other typical museum knickknacks. Their Impressionist-themed puzzles were especially interesting. This is a progressive museum that strongly supports respective causes. If that bothers you, you may not enjoy your visit.

    Photos
    Miniature display, AKA: doll house for eccentric rich women "too old" for dolls --  aka: 19th century version of me minus "rich" -- haha!
    Miniature display, AKA: doll house for eccentric rich women "too old" for dolls -- aka: 19th century version of me minus "rich" -- haha!
    2 Rembrandts are better than one!
    2 Rembrandts are better than one!
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    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

    Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

    4.3
    (799 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    Going into this venture, I had no idea that Gardner was such close friends with John Singer…read moreSargent. He is one of my favorite artists so walking into this and being surprised by his work was a real thrill. She displayed his work in such a way that you really could see she appreciated him as a friend and also an artist. I will say...Gardner was really a collector...some of her pieces that she decided to hang are maybe a little questionable of their quality, but balanced by some truly brilliant pieces, it all works out in the end. This museum, like The Frick in Manhattan, is really quite special being that the setting is the home of the person who put all of these pieces on the walls themselves. To be able to walk through the grounds and see the rooms as the previous owner saw them is just surreal. I would say out of everything to see in this beautiful city, this is a must-do. Go see a game at Fenway, go get a lobster roll...sure, those are obvious spots to hit as a tourist, but this needs to be on your list of probably top 5 things to do while visiting Boston.

    A friend recommended this art collection in this beautiful space so I reserved tickets online for…read moretoday at 11 when it opened. You can buy your tickets in person as well. It's a separate entrance line than the preordered tickets. They do check your bags and tell you to leave your water bottles at the coatcheck on the 1st floor or downstairs at the lockers. We started upstairs on the 3rd floor, and worked our way down. Every room is specifically designed to highlight some theme by Isabella, from the brocade on the walls to the ceiling to the doors to the artwork/furniture everywhere. Because it's a three story mansion, it's decorated as such and has less of the feel of a gallery as a luxuriously decorated estate. Most of the artwork is not identified as it would be in a museum, but it can still be appreciated. There were a few signs along the way that explained the theme of the room according to Isabella. From the third floor especially, the live music in the central garden could be heard so well because of the magnificent acoustics. (There was music in honor of Juneteenth today). If it's your first time there, pay attention to the plaque by the elevator on the 1st floor that states it was the entrance that Isabella herself had used. Apparently that was the original entrance to the museum for a long time and the glass encased current entrance used to be greenhouses. We spent 1.5 hrs there and enjoyed exploring and appreciating the unique museum experience together. Highly recommend!!

    Photos
    Madame August Manet by Edouard Manet. Below is stolen artwork where the empty frame is.
    Madame August Manet by Edouard Manet. Below is stolen artwork where the empty frame is.
    At Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
    At Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
    Dutch Room.

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    Dutch Room.
    Museum of Bad Art

    Museum of Bad Art

    4.2
    (59 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    This is a cute concept, and since this is the reason I dropped by, I'll review this highlight…read moreinstead of the Dorchester Brewery. It is more like a collection of art around the brewery, but the signs are funny and it's interesting to note paintings that were donated vs. found in a thrift store vs. found in the garbage. It ranges from funny proportions to some truly bizarre. It's a great activity to giggle at with friends or make up fun commentary on a date. It's a fun little concept, free, and open late, so it's a funs stop in. The brewery features a full bar, arcade and board games and BBQ food as well. The owner even showed us an old cigarette dispensing machine now filled with chocolate packs. There's a lot going on and it is apparent a lot of thought and creativity went into the space. It's certainly not like a traditional "museum" but sometimes you need to see some bad art to really appreciate some good art elsewhere. You'll end up laughing at something.

    Okay, so museum may not be the exact right word. This is kind of like a gallery in a brewery. I had…read moreseen an ad for this place on Instagram, and filed it away in my brain. I pulled it out of the file and went to see bad art. We walked in and the guy at the bar was very nice and pointed out the "route" of the paintings. The art was so fun--some worse than others. I really did understand what some of what the artists were thinking, and in other cases I just laughed and scratched my head It's small and we weren't there more than 20 minutes, but it was fun. Btw--it's free!!!

    Photos
    "George and Jackie" Yes, this is a painting of George Washington and Jackie Kennedy lol
    "George and Jackie" Yes, this is a painting of George Washington and Jackie Kennedy lol
    Museum of Bad Art
    "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"

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    "Hot, Hot, Hot (Victoria's Real Secret)"
    The Mapparium

    The Mapparium

    4.5
    (21 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Came here by myself when I helped my daughter move into her college dorm 5 years ago, now today…read morebrought my husband, brother and sister-in-law, because a cool unique historical glass give of the world as known in 1935. When I came by myself, I spent over an hour reading all the exhibits and information about the history of Christian Science. Pretty interesting. Today we just did the 20 minute tour of the mapparium and appreciated the artistry, engineering, acoustics, and historicity of the globe as well as the two timepieces hanging in the main atrium. All the staff were very welcoming. Brad and Steve did a great job giving us the tour. They have gorgeous tile work even in the restrooms, and speak with pride about the every aspect of the design of the building. They offer a coat room so that you can safely store your bags and water bottles to avoid any chance of dropping anything inside the mapparium. Glad to come back again with family. Very memorable.

    As other reviewers have said, this is an interesting place to check out in Boston, but there's not…read moremuch to it. The building itself is historical and there are plenty of other religious artifacts and things to learn before you even get inside of the globe room. We didn't book tickets ahead of time so we only had to wait around 30 minutes for the next tour to be available to go inside the globe room. If you are big on history, then this is a must see, as this painstakingly-crafted globe represents the world in the 1930s. It was interesting to see the countries and borders that no longer exist and compare them with what we know today. The acoustics were amazing as well, as the smallest whisper could sound like a yell. Overall it was worth the $6 admission and it's something I would recommend to those who haven't done it, but I wouldn't feel the need to go back.

    Photos
    Vintage historic antique mail box with tube delivery system inside
    Vintage historic antique mail box with tube delivery system inside
    The Mapparium
    The Mapparium

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    Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

    Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

    3.6
    (442 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I rounded up to three stars, but if you are a non-MA tourist paying full price you would be hard…read morepressed to feel like you got any value for your museum money. This is a very small museum and everything in the museum gift shoppe is massively overpriced, considerably more than the typical museum store mark up around the world. When you walk up through Seaport, it is a really cool building from the exterior and it has great views of the water. It is also very close to the Levain, less than 5 minute walk. So far so good, but you have not even gotten indoors yet. Super cool installation in the lobby to welcome you in. So far so good, you haven't paid yet. How much is admission again? Take the elevator up to the 4th floor, there is no art on any of the other floors for you. It takes less than an hour to go through everything in the museum and that is if you go slow, take your time looking out the windows at the view of the water, hit the restroom, check your phone, and look at everything on the 4th floor again. It is a small museum. One review said she could do the entire 4th floor in 15 minutes, which is a real speed run, I at least read the placards and I was out in well under an hour. It is an interesting collection and art is subjective etc etc. If money is no object to you then great, pay the admission fee and the $85+ to get an unsigned, mass produced paper poster (no frame) as a souvenir in the gift shoppe on the way out. But anyone remotely cost conscious is going to feel like they did not get good value here for the full non-MA admission price.

    I don't think contemporary art is really for me, but we'd never been here and I was able to score…read morefree tickets for a Thursday which is my day off. Honestly, the building and location right by the water is beautiful. The portraits exhibit was lovely and interesting, but the rest of the exhibits kind of went over my head (how high the moon and doors). I also was not aware that we needed water shuttle tickets to go to the watershed exhibit which seemed more interesting, and the they had sold out for the day. The gift shop was worth a browse. We also were able to participate in their free event in which we made our own little displays with modeling clay of a place we want to protect. I thought this was really cute and it was mostly children and parents, but we spent a good chunk of time making our pieces and staff were friendly and helpful. I'm not sure I'd return, especially at full price, but I am interested in eventually coming back with water shuttle tickets next time.

    Photos
    A piece from AAMARP exhibition.
    A piece from AAMARP exhibition.
    Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston
    View from dock.  Designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

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    View from dock. Designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

    Museum of Science - museums - Updated July 2026

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