DoBack Bay-Beacon Hill

Swan Boats

Located in the Lagoon, a 4-acre pond in the center of the Public Garden, the Swan Boats are one of the most famous and traditional icons of the city of Boston. Founded in 1877 by British immigrant and engineer Robert Paget, the boats have been preserved for over the years by the Paget family for tourist pleasure and enjoyment. Each of the six human powered boats is shaped like a white swan and carries around 20 adults. Enjoy a relaxing 15-minute trip around the pond and take in a beautiful tour of the Boston Public Garden.

Address: The Lagoon
Getting there: T: Arlington
Hours: Spring 10AM-4PM daily, Summer 10AM-5PM daily, Fall Mon-Fri noon-4PM, Sat Sun 10AM-4PM
Price: $3.50, seniors $3, children $2, toddlers free
Website: swanboats.com (opens in a new tab)

Directions Suggest a nearby place

Listing from Wikivoyage: Boston/Back Bay-Beacon Hill, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

SeeBack Bay-Beacon Hill
The Boston Public Garden
Established in 1837 by Horace Gray, the Boston Public Garden, formerly an enormous swampy salt marsh, is the largest and oldest botanical garden in the United States. The Garden features a plethora of diverse plant life, including a wide variety of native and foreign trees, and a rotating arrangement of flowers that change with the seasons. It also features numerous statues and fountains dedicated to Boston's heroes throughout the ages. The park is centered on a four acre pond, which is crossed by the world's smallest suspension bridge, and teems with wildlife during the warmer months. During this time the Swan Boats are also in operation, a famous Boston Tourist attraction since 1877. In the northeast corner of the park, tourists can view the wildly popular duckling statues, based on Robert McCloskey's famous children's book "Make Way For Ducklings.".
7AM-9PM dailyFree
DrinkBack Bay-Beacon Hill
Cheers
Bull & Finch Pub
After visiting this bar and chatting with bartender Eddie Doyle, Cheers producers decided to create a show based on this very pub. Trudge down the staircase of this iconic facade with the rest of the increasingly grey-haired crowd as you fondly remember when "everybody knows your name". Dated memorabilia lines the walls, and a can of something called "Norm's Nuts" is/are available for sale in the gift shop at this fantastically touristy location. Here only the exterior looks like TV, not the inside. If you want it the other way around head downtown to Faneuil Hall.
11AM-2AM daily, food is served until 11:45PM nightly
SeeBack Bay-Beacon Hill
Barbara Krakow Gallery
10 Newbury St
Tue-Sat 10AM-5:30PM
EatDowntown
Troquet
Considered one of the best wine bars in the country, Troquet serves a variety of half and full glasses along with bottles of wine paired with its French menu. The food is fabulous as its atmosphere.
4PM-1AM daily, dinner served 5-10PMStarters $16-32, mains $33-60, cocktails $11-22