Boston Public Library
Green lamps on the tables of Boston Public Library
Green lamps on the tables of Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library Tours and Tickets

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Housed in a 19th-century building designed by architect Charles Follen McKim, the Boston Public Library was founded in the 19th century and serves millions of Bostonians annually. This sizable public library is the second largest in the US after the Library of Congress. The central library in Copley Square is spread across two buildings.

  • 700 Boylston St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02116

Tours and Tickets to Experience Boston Public Library

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People Also Ask
Q:Can tourists visit the Boston Public Library?
A:Yes, tourists can visit the Boston Public Library. The famed Copley Square location of the Boston public library system features in many sightseeing tours, from hop-on, hop-off trolley rides to self-guided walking tours. Beyond its ornate facade are marble sculptures, murals by John Singer Sargent, and a vaulted reading room.
Q:Do you need a library card to go to the Boston Public Library?
A:No, you don't need a library card to visit the Boston Public Library. Staff-guided tours of the Central Library branch in Copley Square are free and open to all. Otherwise, you can explore on your own using booklets on the library's art and architecture that are free and available onsite.
Q:Can you drink coffee in the Boston Public Library?
A:Drinks and food are not allowed indoors at the Boston Public Library. One exception is within the Courtyard of the Central Library in Copley Square—it even has chairs and tables. You can also buy coffee at the Central Library's Newsfeed Café, accessible from Boylston Street and Exeter Street.
Q:What tours can you do that include the Boston Public Library?
A:Many tours of Boston include the Central Library. It's a featured stop on many hop-on, hop-off trolley tours of the city—some amphibious duck tours even pass through Copley Square. Other options include bicycle and e-bike tours, guided walking tours, and self-guided audio tours that work well for travelers seeking flexibility.
Q:Are there restrooms in the Boston Public Library?
A:Yes, there are restrooms at the Boston Public Library. If you enter the McKim Lobby from Dartmouth Street, toilets are to the left. You can find additional bathrooms on the lower level and second floor. Family restrooms are inside the Children's Library section on the second floor (Boylston Street side).
Q:What is the best time to visit the Boston Public Library?
A:Hours at Boston Public Library vary. The iconic Central Library in Copley Square is open 9am–8pm Monday through Thursday and 9am–5pm on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, the library is open 11am–5pm. Departure times for hour-long tours of the Central Library's extraordinary art and architecture are on the website.