Boston Common and the Public Garden sit side by side in the middle of the city, separated only by Charles Street. They look like one big park, but they are very different: the Common is an open, rolling space with nearly four centuries of history; the Public Garden is a formal Victorian garden of flowerbeds, statues and a lagoon. Together they are the city's front lawn, and most visitors cross them at least once.

Boston Common

The Common was set aside in 1634, just four years after Boston was founded, making it the oldest public park in the United States. For two centuries residents grazed their cows here. British troops camped on it before the Revolution; public hangings took place under its great elm until the early nineteenth century; protests and rallies have gathered here ever since, from anti-slavery meetings to civil rights marches.

Today it is a place for picnics, ball games and walks. Look for:

  • The Frog Pond, a wading pool in summer and an ice-skating rink in winter.
  • The Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, a bronze relief by Augustus Saint-Gaudens honoring one of the first Black regiments of the Union army, opposite the State House.
  • The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Flagstaff Hill, the Common's highest point.
  • The Central Burying Ground, a small eighteenth-century cemetery on the Boylston Street side.
  • The visitor center, where the Freedom Trail begins.

The Public Garden

Established in 1837 on reclaimed marshland, the Public Garden was the first public botanical garden in the country. It is laid out in the English style, with winding paths, specimen trees, seasonal flowerbeds and a lagoon crossed by a small suspension bridge, once said to be the smallest of its kind in the world.

  • The Swan Boats: pedal-powered boats with large white swans at the back, gliding slowly around the lagoon. They have been run by the same family since 1877 and operate from spring to early fall.
  • "Make Way for Ducklings": bronze statues of Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, from Robert McCloskey's 1941 children's book set in the garden. Children sit on them all day long.
  • The equestrian statue of George Washington at the Arlington Street gate, facing Commonwealth Avenue.
  • The flowerbeds, replanted through the seasons, with tulips in spring the most famous display.

When to go

Spring brings tulips, magnolias and the first Swan Boats; summer brings picnics and free outdoor performances on the Common; fall turns the trees gold and red; winter brings skating at the Frog Pond and holiday lights strung through the trees. Early morning, the gardens are quiet and full of dog walkers.

A walk through both

Start at the State House at the top of the Common, walk down past the Frog Pond to Charles Street, cross into the Public Garden, circle the lagoon, and leave by the Arlington Street gate for Commonwealth Avenue and Back Bay. Or turn north from the Common into the brick lanes of Beacon Hill. Allow an hour at an easy pace.

Practical notes

  • Several subway stations surround the parks, including Park Street, Boylston and Arlington.
  • Public restrooms are at the visitor center and near the Frog Pond.
  • Paths are paved and step-free, good for strollers and wheelchairs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Common and the Public Garden?

The Common is an open public park dating from 1634; the Public Garden is a formal botanical garden from 1837, across Charles Street.

When do the Swan Boats run?

From spring to early fall, weather permitting. Check the current season before you go.

Can I skate on the Frog Pond?

Yes, in winter, when it becomes a rink with skate rental.