Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is the main library of the BPL system and one of the best free stops in Copley Square. The Central Library at 700 Boylston Street includes the 1895 McKim Building, a Renaissance Revival landmark with a marble staircase, a courtyard and a reading room that visitors can walk into without a ticket. The BPL was established in 1848 and opened to the public on March 20, 1854. This page covers where the library is, what to see inside, how tours work and which Boston sights are close by. It also shows how the library fits into a Boston Sightseeing day, since Stop 6 on the Blue Route sits right at Copley.
Location
The Boston Public Library's Central Library is at 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. It sits on Copley Square in Back Bay, the neighborhood known for its Victorian brownstones, Newbury Street shops and Trinity Church. The Central Library has two connected parts: the historic McKim Building from 1895 and the newer Johnson Building from 1972.
Copley Square puts the library in the middle of a walkable stretch of Back Bay. Trinity Church is on the same square, Newbury Street is one block south of Boylston Street, and the Prudential Center is a short walk away. That makes the library an easy stop to combine with a Back Bay morning, since you can see the building and its art, then walk to the church and the shops without crossing the city.
On a Boston Sightseeing tour, Stop 6, Boston Public Library, is on the Blue Route. Stop 7 at Trinity Church is the next stop on the same route, so getting off at Stop 6 and back on at Stop 7 covers both landmarks with very little walking. The Back Bay Station page explains how that part of the neighborhood connects to the rest of the city.
The library's own location page gives no parking details and links to a separate parking page, so check there before you drive. Most visitors find public transit or the bus easier in Back Bay.
History
The Boston Public Library was established in 1848 and opened its doors on March 20, 1854. The library describes itself as the first large free municipal library in the United States, and its mission was open access to books for all residents. Some pages give 1852, the year of the city ordinance and Joshua Bates's donation that led to the library, but that is not the opening date. The BPL dates its founding to 1848 and its public opening to March 20, 1854.
The library moved to Copley Square in the 1890s. Charles Follen McKim of McKim, Mead & White designed the building, which opened in 1895 and is now called the McKim Building. It stands on Copley Square near Trinity Church, and the design is usually described as Renaissance Revival. Inside, look for the grand marble staircase, the arched Bates Hall reading room and the quiet inner courtyard.
The Johnson Building, also called the Boylston Street Building, was designed by Philip Johnson and opened in 1972. It adds modern space for the general collection, the children's library and public programs. The two buildings together make up the Central Library. The BPL system also runs neighborhood branches across Boston, which is why this main building is called the Central Library.
Activities Nearby
Most things to do at the Boston Public Library happen inside the building itself. You can look at the McKim Building's art and architecture, join a guided tour or use the audio guide, and plan your visit around the library's opening hours and visitor services.
Art And Architecture Inside The Library
You can spend an hour in the McKim Building without opening a book. The grand staircase carries murals by Puvis de Chavannes, upstairs are John Singer Sargent's murals, and Edwin Austin Abbey painted the Quest for the Holy Grail series. Daniel Chester French designed the bronze entrance doors. Ask at the information desk which rooms are open on the day you visit, since some spaces close for events.
Guided Tours And The Audio Guide
The library offers public guided tours of the Central Library, and its tour page lists no fee. Its tour page says tours run weekly and that advance registration is required, with sign-ups open up to one month ahead. The slots listed in October 2026 ran for one hour. The BPL also has a digital visitor guide that includes an audio tour, available online or through the Bloomberg Connects app. Check the library's tour page for current times before you plan around a tour.
Opening Hours
As of October 2026, the library lists these hours for the main library:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Hours can change for holidays and special events, so confirm on the Central Library page the day you go.
Services For Visitors
The library offers free Wi-Fi, public computers, printing, exhibitions, author talks and workshops. You do not need a library card to walk into the public spaces. Events vary by week, so check the calendar.
Nearby Attractions
Copley Square puts several Back Bay sights within a few minutes of the library. The Copley Square page covers the plaza itself.
- Trinity Church: H.H. Richardson's Richardsonian Romanesque church on Copley Square, built in the 1870s and a National Historic Landmark.
- Prudential Center and Prudential Tower: A short walk away, with shops, restaurants and a view of the city from the tower. Check View Boston's website for current observatory access before you plan around it.
- Newbury Street: Boston's best-known shopping street runs parallel to Boylston, one block south.
- John Hancock Tower: The glass tower beside Trinity Church is listed with Stop 6 on the Boston Sightseeing tour map.
The library is not on the Freedom Trail. The trail begins at Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States, which is Stop 4 on the Boston Sightseeing Blue Route. If you want to connect the two, ride the bus from Stop 4 to Stop 6. The Freedom Trail page lists the 16 historic sites along the route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Boston Public Library free to visit?
Yes. It is a public library, so you can walk into the McKim Building without a ticket. Guided tours require advance registration, and the tour page lists no fee.
Where is the Boston Public Library?
The Central Library is at 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, on Copley Square in Back Bay.
Which T stop is closest to the Boston Public Library?
Copley on the Green Line is the closest. Back Bay Station, served by the Orange Line and Commuter Rail, is also within walking distance.
What are the Boston Public Library's hours?
As of October 2026, the main library is open Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Confirm on the library's site before you go.
Does the Boston Public Library offer tours?
Yes. The library offers public guided tours of the Central Library weekly, and advance registration is required. Its digital visitor guide also includes an audio tour.
When was the Boston Public Library built?
The BPL was established in 1848 and opened on March 20, 1854. The McKim Building at Copley Square opened in 1895, and the Johnson Building opened in 1972.
Is the Boston Public Library on the Freedom Trail?
No. The Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common, which is Stop 4 on the Boston Sightseeing Blue Route. The library is a good Back Bay stop to pair with a Boston Sightseeing ride.
How do I get from the library to other Boston sights?
Use the Boston Sightseeing Blue Route. Stop 6 is the Boston Public Library and Stop 7 is Trinity Church. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8.
Planning Your Tour
Boston Sightseeing runs a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus around the city. Stop 6, Boston Public Library, and Stop 7, Trinity Church, are back to back on the Blue Route, so Copley is an easy place to get off and spend a morning. Stop 5 is Cheers Pub on Beacon Hill, and Stop 8 is the Massachusetts State House.
A simple plan: ride the Blue Route from Stop 1 at the New England Aquarium and Faneuil Hall, get off at Stop 6 for the library, then walk to Trinity Church and Newbury Street before you catch the next bus. The All Day ticket covers Stops 1 to 8. The Boston and Charlestown ticket covers Stops 1 to 11, and the Cruise Terminal ticket also includes Stops 12 to 15. See the ticket cards below for current options, and the hop-on hop-off tour map for every stop and route.
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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