Explore independently, hire an audio guide, or join a free in-house tour for a deeper understanding of the museum’s story. Highlights include Titian’s Europa; works by John Singer Sargent, Botticelli, and Rembrandt; and the palazzo’s courtyard, a lush oasis framed by Venetian-style archways.
Save money on your museum entry with a Go Boston Pass, which grants you discounted access to a long list of Boston attractions. Bike tours of Boston typically pass by the museum. Museum members also have access to special teacher-led Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum tours of exhibitions.
Allow 2-3 hours to explore inside and don't miss the wing made entirely of glass.
The museum is stroller-friendly, and largely wheelchair accessible.
On-site amenities include restrooms, a gift shop, and a café.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum tickets may not be available at the door, particularly during popular days of the week and times of day; buying timed entry tickets in advance is recommended.
The museum is situated in Boston’s Fenway area and is easily reached via the city’s T public transport network. Catch Green Line E trains to the Museum of Fine Arts stop—the closest station—or an Orange Line train to the Ruggles stop, also a short walk away. Otherwise, buses 8, 19, 39, 47, CT2, and CT3 all stop nearby. Local metered street parking is available though spaces are limited.
The museum is open year-round—apart from public holidays—from 9am-5pm on Wednesdays through Mondays; it closes at 9pm on Thursdays. The museum gets busy during summer and on rainy days, so if you want to explore in the quietest-possible environment, plan to arrive early.
If you’re keen to discover more of Boston’s art scene, visit the Museum of Fine Art (MFA), just a 10-minute walk away from Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Boston’s flagship gallery has a stunning roster of international works of art, including the world’s biggest collection by John Singer Sargent and the cherished Liberty Bowl—a 1768 bowl crafted by silversmith Paul Revere to mark a milestone in America’s fight for independence.
