Boston’s Best Museums: Where to Find Art, Science, and Inspiration
Whether it is a scenic seascape in a range of oils or hand-blown glass made to look like a decaying strawberry, Boston’s Best Museums highlight the beauty in pretty much everything. From world-class art collections to immersive science exhibits, the Boston area offers a museum landscape that rewards curiosity and repeat visits. Here is where to wander for inspiration and appreciation across Boston’s Best Museums.
Institute of Contemporary Art
Sweeping waterfront views add to the artistic experience at this contemporary art museum. Whether it is a film, a performance, or traditional visual media, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) engages the senses in unique and unexpected ways. Past exhibits have even included two-story slides.
One of America’s oldest contemporary art museums, the ICA pays homage to influential figures such as Gauguin, Picasso, and Warhol. Among its recent highlights is Yayoi Kusama’s immersive exhibit “LOVE IS CALLING,” a kaleidoscope of polka-dotted tentacles that drew enormous demand for timed-entry tickets.
Harvard Museum of Natural History
The Harvard Museum of Natural History reminds visitors that nature is the original masterpiece. Exhibition cases are packed with zoological specimens ranging from tiny hummingbirds and deer mice to a rare Indian rhinoceros and one of the largest Amazonian pirarucu ever caught.
Fossils and skeletons are displayed alongside extraordinary minerals, including a 1,600-pound amethyst geode. The famed Glass Flowers collection offers a creative take on botany, featuring more than 4,300 hand-blown glass plant models. Exhibits like Fruits in Decay explore disease through strikingly detailed glass strawberries, peaches, and other flora.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
With nearly 500,000 works of art, the Museum of Fine Arts stands as one of Boston’s Best Museums for sheer scope. The collection spans ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary works, including gilded icons of the Italian Renaissance and one of the largest Monet collections outside Paris.
Recent exhibitions such as Ancient Nubia Now showcase statues, jewelry, and architecture from temples and pyramids. Beyond the galleries, visitors can dine at the 465 Bar and Restaurant or participate in Namaste Saturdays, which bring morning yoga into the dramatic glass Shapiro Family Courtyard.
Peabody Essex Museum
America’s oldest continuously operating museum continues to set the standard with the Peabody Essex Museum’s expansive 40,000-square-foot addition. The new wing features three gallery floors, a light-filled atrium, and a 5,000-square-foot garden.
In addition to its well-known collections, PEM houses one of the nation’s finest maritime exhibits and a standout Fashion and Design gallery showcasing everything from luxury footwear to Asian moon beds. A large-scale wall installation by graffiti artist Vanessa Platacis adds a contemporary edge to the historic institution.
Museum of Science
The Museum of Science delivers a vibrant, hands-on approach to learning with more than 700 interactive exhibits, rotating displays, live presentations, IMAX films, and planetarium shows. Traveling exhibitions like BODY WORLDS & The Cycle of Life draw global attention, while seasonal programming introduces train-themed experiences and immersive 4-D films.
The Charles Hayden Planetarium also hosts adult-focused shows, blending music and astronomy for evening programming that expands the museum’s appeal well beyond daytime visits.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Situated on 10 acres overlooking the sea, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is housed in a striking I.M. Pei–designed building. Inside, visitors will find theaters, digital archives, dramatic multimedia displays, and a recreation of Kennedy’s Oval Office.
Exhibitions range from space exploration, including the Freedom 7 Space Capsule, to literary history with Ernest Hemingway: A Life Inspired. The museum’s ongoing forum series explores topics from civil rights to American culture through author talks and panel discussions.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is instantly recognizable for its Venetian palace setting and its hauntingly empty frames, remnants of the infamous 1990 art heist. What remains is still extraordinary, with more than 16,000 objects by artists such as Rembrandt, Botticelli, Raphael, and Matisse.
The interior courtyard offers a peaceful setting for lunch, sketching, or reflection, while seasonal concerts take place in the Tapestry Room. It is a museum experience that blends art, mystery, and atmosphere like no other in Boston.
From contemporary waterfront galleries to historic collections housed in architectural landmarks, Boston’s Best Museums offer something for every interest. Whether you are drawn to fine art, science, history, or immersive experiences, these institutions collectively define Boston as one of the country’s most rewarding cultural destinations.
Looking for a way to explore as many museums as possible? Consider an all-inclusive pass from GoCity! (We earn a commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase through the link!)
