Boston Common
Boston Common is a 50-acre public park in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, and it is widely described as the oldest public park in the United States. Boston's colonists bought the land in 1634 as shared pasture, and over the centuries it has also been a militia training ground, a protest site and a place for skating and picnics. It is Site 1 of 16 on the Freedom Trail, so many Boston visits start here. This page covers where the Common is, how it began, what to do there, the park's hours and rules, and how a Boston Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus fits the park into a day of sightseeing.
Location
Boston Common sits in downtown Boston, bordered by Beacon Street to the north, Charles Street to the west, Boylston Street to the south and Tremont Street to the east, with Park Street meeting it at the northeast corner. The Beacon Hill neighborhood rises just across Beacon Street, which is why the Massachusetts State House faces the park.
Two T stations sit at the park's edges. Park Street, on the Red and Green Lines, is at the corner of Tremont and Park Streets, and Boylston, on the Green Line, is at the southern edge. Published histories describe them as the first subway stations in the United States.
By bus, Stop 4 on our Blue route is the Boston Common stop. Stop 3 (Downtown and Park Street) and Stop 8 (Massachusetts State House) are the nearest neighboring stops. We have not measured walking times between the stops and the park's entrances, so check the tour map before you plan the day.
History
The Common's story runs from a cattle pasture to a national stage, and the first question most visitors ask is about its age.
Is Boston Common The Oldest Public Park In The US?
Boston Common is widely described as the oldest public park in the United States. The City of Boston calls it America's oldest park, the National Park Service says it is considered the oldest public park in the country, and reference histories call it the oldest city park. All of these point back to the 1634 purchase.
How The Common Began
In 1634, Boston's Puritan colonists voted to tax each household and bought about 44 acres from William Blackstone (also spelled Blaxton), the area's first European settler. The land served as a shared pasture, so cows grazed here for almost two centuries. The town capped grazing at 70 cows in 1646 and banned cows altogether in 1830. The Common also hosted militia drills and public punishments, and hangings continued until 1817. In the early 1700s, a tree-lined mall was added along Tremont Street, and a famous old tree, the Great Elm, fell in a storm in 1876.
Revolution, Protests And Public Gatherings
British troops camped on the Common during the years of occupation before the Revolution, and the City of Boston dates the first encampment to 1768. Later, according to the National Park Service, the park hosted abolitionists, Civil War recruiting and suffrage rallies. On April 23, 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to about 22,000 people on the Common after a march from Roxbury, in a rally centered on civil rights, housing and education. Anti-Vietnam War rallies also took place here, and in 1979 Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass on the Common for roughly 400,000 people.
Activities
Most visitors walk, picnic and watch the crowds, but the Common also has a few fixed attractions, and some of them change with the seasons.
Walk The Freedom Trail
Boston Common is the first of 16 sites on the Freedom Trail. From here the red line leads to the Massachusetts State House and Park Street Church, then on through downtown Boston.
Frog Pond
The Frog Pond is the Common's main recreation spot. Ice skating is the winter draw, and the season is generally given as November to March. In warmer months the pond turns into a spray pool, and a carousel operates nearby. The sources we checked did not list exact opening dates, hours or prices, so confirm all three with the Frog Pond before you go.
Summer Events
Free Shakespeare on the Common runs each summer, and 2026 marked its 30th anniversary. The stage sits across from the Parkman Bandstand, facing Tremont Street. The bandstand itself has hosted one-off events, and Time Out reported a free outdoor movie screening there in August 2024. Schedules change every year, so check current listings, and see our guides to summer things to do in Boston and annual events in Boston for more.
Monuments And The Burying Ground
The Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, put up in 1897 and designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, is the best-known monument here. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands on Flag Staff Hill, and Brewer Fountain sits near the corner of Park and Tremont Streets. The Central Burying Ground lies along the Boylston Street side of the park.
Visiting Boston Common
The Common is a working city park, so its hours and rules come from the City of Boston rather than from a ticket office.
Hours And Park Rules
The City's park rules bar anyone from entering or staying in a public park between 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., so plan to leave by late evening. The same rules prohibit alcohol on the Common and require dogs to stay on a leash no longer than eight feet. Dogs are not allowed in designated Dog Free Zones. Rules can change, so check with Boston Parks and Recreation if you are bringing a group or planning an event.
Tickets And Admission
Boston Common is a public park, so you do not need a ticket to walk in. Tickets matter for separate things, such as skating at the Frog Pond or a Boston Sightseeing bus ride, which the tour planning section below explains.
Visitor Information And Time Needed
A visitor information center sits at 139 Tremont Street, on the Tremont Street side of the Common, and its website lists daily hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Hours can change, so confirm them before you go. For time, plan about 30 to 60 minutes for a walk across the main paths, and one to two hours if you add the Frog Pond or an event. That range is our estimate, not an official figure.
Nearby Attractions
Because the Common anchors the start of the Freedom Trail, several major sights are close enough to fit into the same outing.
The Boston Public Garden lies just across Charles Street, and its pond has the seasonal Swan Boats. Across Beacon Street, the Massachusetts State House is our Stop 8. Two more Freedom Trail sites sit close to the park's northeast corner:
- Park Street Church is Site 3 on the trail.
- The Granary Burying Ground is Site 4, next door.
Farther along the trail, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a longer walk or an easy bus ride. For other green spaces, see our list of the best parks to visit in Boston.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Boston Common?
It is a 50-acre public park in downtown Boston, bought by the town in 1634 as shared pasture. It is widely described as the oldest public park in the United States and is Site 1 on the Freedom Trail.
Is Boston Common the oldest public park in the US?
Yes, by most accounts. The City of Boston calls it America's oldest park, and the National Park Service says it is considered the oldest public park in the country. Reference histories use the phrase oldest city park.
Where is Boston Common located?
It is in downtown Boston, bordered by Beacon, Charles, Boylston and Tremont Streets. Park Street and Boylston stations on the T sit at its edges, and our Stop 4 is the Boston Common stop.
Do you need tickets for Boston Common?
No. It is a public park, so you can walk in without a ticket. You would pay only for separate activities, such as Frog Pond skating or a Boston Sightseeing bus ticket.
Is Boston Common open 24 hours?
No. The City's park rules bar anyone from entering or staying in a public park between 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Check with Boston Parks and Recreation for any special event hours.
Can you ice skate on Boston Common?
Yes. The Frog Pond has a winter skating rink, and the season is generally given as November to March. Check its site for opening dates, hours and prices, and see our winter things to do in Boston for more cold-weather ideas.
Is it Boston Common or Boston Commons?
The park's name is singular: Boston Common. The City of Boston and the National Park Service both use that form, although many visitors search for the plural.
Is there a visitor center at Boston Common?
Yes. The visitor information center is at 139 Tremont Street, on the Tremont Street side of the park, and its website lists daily hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Confirm before you go, since hours can change.
What is there to do near Boston Common?
The Public Garden, the Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church and the Granary Burying Ground are all close, and the Freedom Trail continues from here. The Nearby Attractions section above has the details.
How do I get to Boston Common on the Boston Sightseeing bus?
Get off at Stop 4, the Boston Common stop on the Blue route. Stop 3 and Stop 8 are the nearest neighbors. Every ticket that lets you hop off includes Stop 4, while the Single Ride Pass is one loop, so check its ticket page first.
Tour Planning with Double-Decker Bus Tour
Boston Common is Stop 4 on our Blue route. A simple plan is to board at any stop, ride to Stop 4, spend time on the paths or at the Frog Pond, and re-board for Stop 5 at Cheers on Beacon Street and the stops after it. The buses run roughly from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, about every 40 minutes, so confirm the current schedule before you book. You can compare every ticket on our tour packages page and see all the stops on the hop-on hop-off tour map.
Our Tour Packages
Single Ride Pass
$33.25
Explore Boston in 90 Minutes
Ride above the crowd and enjoy the panoramic view of Boston
- Boston City Tour Single Ride Pass
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour
- Charlestown Sightseeing Tour
Hop-On Hop-Off All Day
$41.55
Boston City Sightseeing Tour
Experience historic Boston with unlimited hop-on hop-off at your own pace.
- Stop-1 to Stop-8
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Blue Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- 90 Minutes tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Shuttle Bus Service
- Charlestown Tour
Hop-on Hop-off Boston & Charlestown Tour
$48.65
Boston & Charlestown Tour
Experience the charm of Boston & Charlestown with Boston Sightseeing at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$70.40
2 Days Boston & Charlestown Tour
Explore Boston & Charlestown with Boston's first double-decker bus at your own pace.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop-1 to Stop-11
- Hop-on Hop-off Charlestown Tour
- Blue & Orange Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 120 Minutes Tour
- 2 Days Validity
Cruise Terminal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
$52.00
200 Minutes Hop-on Hop-off
Get onboard from Boston Cruise terminal and explore the historic beantown with Boston Sightseeing double-decker bus.
- Hop-on Hop-off Boston Tour
- Stop 1-8, 12-15
- Blue & Purple Route Tour
- Double-Decker Bus Tour
- Shuttle Bus Tour
- 200 Minutes Tour
- 1 Day Validity
- Charlestown Tour
Boston & Cambridge City Tour
$63.00
Guided Photo & City Tour
A 3.5-hour guided shuttle tour featuring Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods, Cambridge highlights, waterfront views, and curated photo opportunities.
- Guided Boston & Cambridge sightseeing tour
- Approximately 3.5 hours
- Curated stops and photo opportunities
- Climate-controlled shuttle bus transportation
- Live local tour guide
- 45-minutes Quincy Market lunch break
- Same-day tour experience
- Double-Decker Bus Service
- Hop-on, hop-off service
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