Best Views of Boston

On campus and looking for something to do in the last days of spring break? Want to be an aspiring photographer or looking for a great way to get acquainted with the Hub? Boston is a beautiful city, with more than three centuries of architecture and a spectacular natural setting. Here are some of the best views of the city:

Airplane

By Vimal S. Konduri

This view is easily the most dramatic of Boston, but also requires the greatest degree of luck, because there are multiple runways and approaches that pilots can take flying into Logan Airport, and you have to be sitting on the correct side of the plane to get a view (which side of the plane that is depends on the approach). Still, if you are lucky enough to be on the correct side of the plane, you can get what is arguably the best view of Boston.

Boston Common
1311 Tremont Street, Boston

By Vimal S. Konduri

The United States’s oldest park and the start of the Boston Freedom Trail, Boston Common is situated in the heart of Boston, nestled between some of Beantown’s most famous neighborhoods - Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Chinatown, and Downtown Crossing. This large, grassy expanse offers a great place to go for a walk, play frisbee, or just read in this oasis of tranquility. It also offers great views of the Boston skyline and the Massachusetts State House, which is located just across Beacon Street.

Nearest T stop: Park Street (Red Line)

Charles River Esplanade
47 David G Mugar Way, Boston

By Vimal S. Konduri

Located along the banks of the Charles River in the Back Bay and West End neighborhoods of Boston, the Charles River Esplanade is a wonderful park to go jogging and to take in views of the Back Bay skyline (Back Bay is home to Boston’s two tallest buildings - the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center). It is also home to the Hatch Memorial Shell, which is an outdoor concert venue. The best spot to get a skyline view is just south of the Longfellow Bridge, while the part north of the Longfellow Bridge offers great views of Kendall Square and the bridge itself.

Nearest T stops: Charles/MGH, Park Street (Red Line)

Memorial Drive
575 Memorial Dr, Cambridge

By Vimal S. Konduri

Memorial Drive parallels the Charles River throughout most of Cambridge, but the best spots to get a classic view of the Boston skyline are located on and around the campus of MIT. The area in front of the Hyatt Regency Cambridge offers a view of Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Downtown, as well as the Citgo sign in Kenmore Square and the Harvard Bridge (which is ironically on MIT’s campus). Travelling further east, the views continue as far east as the Museum of Science. The Charles River Path, which follows Memorial Drive, is also a great place to go for a run, jog, or walk. Crossing the Harvard Bridge (which carries Massachusetts Avenue across the Charles River) also offers a unique perspective of both the Boston and Cambridge skylines along with the iconic Zakim Bridge.

Nearest T stops: Kendall/MIT (Red Line)

Piers Park
95 Marginal St, Boston

By Vimal S. Konduri

Located in East Boston just north of Logan Airport, Piers Park is a wonderful place to get a view of Boston Harbor and the Downtown Boston skyline. This angle looks very different than the skyline of Back Bay, as city’s skyline appears to be much more dense from this angle.

Nearest T Stop: Maverick (Blue Line)

Robbins Farm Park
61 Eastern Ave, Arlington 02476

By Vimal S. Konduri

Perched atop a hill in Arlington (located just northwest of Cambridge), Robbins Farm Park offers an expansive view of the entire Boston skyline, including Back Bay, Downtown, the Zakim Bridge, and the Bunker Hill Monument. You can also see a few Harvard buildings in the foreground when looking from this park. It is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood, near a school and a subdivision, and also has a children’s playground.

Nearest T Stop: Alewife (Red Line), from which you need to take a bus; however, the fastest way to get there is to take the 77 Bus to Massachusetts Ave. & Prentiss Rd.

Skywalk Observatory
800 Boylston St, Boston

By Vimal S. Konduri

Located on the 50th floor of the Prudential Center (Boston’s second-tallest building), the Skywalk Observatory offers a 360-degree view of Boston as well as neighboring cities such as Cambridge. The Skywalk also has exhibits related to the history and culture of Boston, making it a great place to get acquainted with the city. Two floors above the Skywalk is an expensive restaurant called “Top of the Hub”, but much less expensive food options abound at The Shops at the Prudential Center (which is also one of Boston’s largest shopping centers) and in the surrounding Back Bay neighborhood.

Nearest T Stops: Prudential (Green Line)

South Boston Waterfront/Seaport District
1 Seaport Lane, Boston

By Vimal S. Konduri

Located south of Downtown Boston, the South Boston Waterfront is home to a number of restaurants, hotels, convention centers, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. It also has a portion of the Boston Harborwalk, which offers views of the Downtown Boston skyline and Boston Harbor.

Nearest T Stops: South Station (Red Line), from which you can take the Silver Line to a number of destinations in the South Boston Waterfront/Seaport District.