Is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum worth visiting?

Absolutely. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful and atmospheric museums in the world, featuring a four-story flowering courtyard and a collection that remains exactly as the founder left it in 1924.

When is the best time to see the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden in bloom?

The roses are typically at their peak in mid-to-late June. However, you can see various blooms from early June through September.

Is this walking route in Boston family-friendly?

Yes, it is very family-friendly. Children especially enjoy the open spaces of the Fens and the Swan Boats in the Public Garden, and the entire route is stroller-accessible.

Do I need to book tickets for the Swan Boats?

No, tickets for the Swan Boats are purchased at the dock on a first-come, first-served basis. They do not accept reservations.

What is the best walking tour Boston has for nature lovers?

This self-guided walk through the Emerald Necklace is ideal for nature lovers, as it connects several of the city's most significant green spaces, including the Fens and the Public Garden.

Can I walk this route in the winter?

While the paths are cleared, the Swan Boats and Rose Garden are seasonal. The Gardner Museum and the architecture of Commonwealth Avenue remain highlights year-round.

Are there places to eat along the walking route?

Yes, the Gardner Museum has an on-site cafe, and as you reach the end of the walk near the Public Garden, there are dozens of restaurants on Newbury Street and Boylston Street.

Zigway - The Guide Follows You

About This Tour

Discover the lush heart of Boston through a self-guided walk that traverses the 'Emerald Necklace,' a visionary chain of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. This route begins at the enchanting Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a Venetian-style palace known as much for its world-class art as for its mysterious 1990 heist. From there, you will explore the Back Bay Fens, a reclaimed marshland that showcases Olmsted’s genius in blending civil engineering with natural beauty. As you move through the Fens, the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden offers a fragrant, secluded retreat featuring thousands of blooms and elegant stone arches. Transitioning from the wilder greenery of the Fens into the structured elegance of the Back Bay neighborhood, this walking route takes you down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Often compared to a Parisian boulevard, this grand residential park is lined with Victorian brownstones and commemorative statues that tell the story of Boston’s elite history. The journey culminates in the iconic Public Garden, the first public botanical garden in the United States. Here, you can admire the famous Swan Boats gliding across the lagoon and the meticulously manicured floral displays that change with the seasons. This neighborhood stroll is perfect for those who appreciate the intersection of nature and architecture. Whether you are a photography enthusiast looking for the perfect shot of weeping willows or a history buff interested in urban planning, this audio walk provides a flexible way to see the city. Unlike a traditional walking tour Boston offers, this self-guided adventure allows you to linger as long as you like at the Gardner Museum or take a detour into the many cafes of Newbury Street. Explore the city’s greenest corridor at your own pace and see why the Emerald Necklace remains Boston's most enduring landscape legacy.

Highlights

The stunning Venetian courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The historic Victory Gardens and scenic bridges of the Back Bay Fens

Fragrant blooms at the hidden James P. Kelleher Rose Garden

Victorian architecture and statues along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall

The world-famous Swan Boats in America's first public botanical garden

Tour Stops (6)

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Welcome to one of the most unique art environments in the world. Isabella Stewart Gardner, a wealthy socialite and patron of the arts, built this Venetian-style palace to house her vast collection. She famously decreed that the layout of the museum must never be changed. As you explore, look for the empty frames on the walls—these mark the spots where 13 masterpieces, including works by Vermeer and Rembrandt, were stolen in 1990 in the world’s largest unsolved art heist. The central courtyard, always filled with seasonal flowers, is the heart of the home and reflects Isabella's passion for horticulture, setting the stage for the nature-filled route ahead.

Back Bay Fens

Step into the Back Bay Fens, a cornerstone of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. Before the 1880s, this area was a foul-smelling tidal marsh. Olmsted transformed it into a scenic urban park that also served as a sanitary engineering project. As you walk the paths, you’ll pass the Fenway Victory Gardens, the oldest continuously operating World War II 'victory gardens' in the United States. These community plots are a vibrant patchwork of vegetables and flowers, maintained by local residents. The Fens represents a shift in urban design, where nature was used to solve city problems while providing a peaceful escape for the public.

James P. Kelleher Rose Garden

Tucked away within the Fens is the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden. This 'secret garden' was designed in the 1930s as part of the public works projects during the Great Depression. It features over 200 varieties of roses and thousands of individual plants. The garden is designed in a formal style with gravel paths, statues, and climbing roses on wooden trellises. It is a favorite spot for photographers and locals seeking a quiet moment. If you are visiting between June and September, the fragrance here is incredible. It serves as a bridge between the wilder landscapes of the Fens and the formal gardens you will see later in the walk.

Commonwealth Avenue Mall

As you leave the Fens and enter the Back Bay neighborhood, you find yourself on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Designed in the French 'Grand Boulevard' style, this 32-acre park serves as the spine of the neighborhood. The Mall is lined with some of Boston’s most impressive Victorian brownstones, showcasing diverse architectural styles from Italianate to Queen Anne. As you walk, notice the statues of prominent Bostonians like Alexander Hamilton and William Lloyd Garrison. This stretch of the Emerald Necklace highlights the 19th-century vision of a 'residential park,' where the elite could live alongside grand green spaces.

Public Garden

You have arrived at the Public Garden, established in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in America. Unlike the neighboring Boston Common, which was originally used for cattle grazing and military drills, the Public Garden was designed specifically for ornamental beauty and leisure. The park is famous for its Victorian flower beds and its collection of native and exotic trees, including massive weeping willows that drape over the central lagoon. This is the ultimate destination for nature lovers in the city, offering a serene environment that feels worlds away from the surrounding skyscrapers.

Swan Boats

The final stop on this route is the Swan Boat landing. These iconic pedal-powered boats have been a Boston tradition since 1877, when Robert Paget was granted a license to operate them. The design was inspired by the opera Lohengrin, where a knight arrives in a boat pulled by a swan. To this day, the Paget family continues to operate the fleet. Taking a ride is a quintessential Boston experience, offering a slow-motion view of the Public Garden’s suspension bridge and the resident real-life swans. It is the perfect, peaceful conclusion to your journey through the Emerald Necklace.

Frequently Asked Questions

The walk itself takes about 60 to 90 minutes of moving time, but with stops at the museum and garden, you should plan for a half-day experience of roughly 3.5 to 4 hours. The distance is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km).