Copley Square

Copley Square

Copley Square
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking Areas
About
Copley Square, home to the Boston Public Library, is known for its upscale restaurants and trendy stores. Anchored by the modern John Hancock building and the stately Trinity Church, the square is more than just an entertainment hub in the Back Bay neighborhood. The architecture in the area is steeped in history and the plaza’s fountain and lawn are great spots to people-watch and unwind. Visit on market days for the farmers market—one of the biggest and busiest in Boston—and check out the activities calendar for cultural events held year-round at the square. – Tripadvisor
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Wander around this quintessential neighborhood in the heart of Boston for high-end shops, restaurants, and the feeling of city bustle. Its most identifiable skyscrapers, the Prudential Center and John Hancock Tower, are highlights of the city skyline. Visit Newbury street to explore unique and trendy boutiques – as well as every other kind of store imaginable – all housed in beautiful brownstone buildings. In nice weather, restaurant patio seating is packed with Bostonians and tourists alike soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the food. Commonwealth Ave offers a beautiful stroll down residential tree-lined streets. Keep walking towards the Charles River and enjoy a beautiful view by the water. In warmer months, people run and bike on paths running along the esplanade, and sail and kayak on the Charles River. Boylston street, also full of shops, bars, and restaurants, is the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Head towards Copley Square and check out the Boston Public Library, which is particularly beautiful from the Dartmouth street entrance.
How to get there
  • Copley • 2 min walk
  • Back Bay • 4 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles841 reviews
Excellent
407
Very good
351
Average
78
Poor
2
Terrible
3

Adriana P
Pembroke Pines, FL877 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
This is such a beautiful spot in downtown Boston, surrounded by incredible buildings including Trinity Church as well as nice sculptures and structures. Tons of restaurants and businesses around it too, such a great place to just walk around and relax.
I'm not giving it 5-starts because I did see questionable people walking around and parking was either very hard to find or very expensive.
Written April 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dustythoughts
Manchester, CT2,250 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
This lovely square is one of Boston's central meeting grounds, and for good reason. It's grounded in the city's history and is bounded by several important Boston institutions, like Trinity Church, the Hancock Tower, and the Boston Public Library. It's also a fabulous place to just meet and hang out and socialize, or have a picnic in warmer weather.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

J E
Fredericksburg, VA11,815 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
This part of Boston’s Back Bay is a large mixed use development loaded with lots of hi-end stores and amazing places to eat, as well as things to do. It’s also named after a famous Boston artist, John Singleton Copley. There are plenty of hotels here, mostly Marriott brands, with the Marriott Copley being a great place to stay. Plan to spend a day here and see/do it all!
Written November 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,494 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
The square is one of the premier public spaces of the Back Bay area, framed by Trinity Episcopal church, Old South Church, Boston Public Library and the John Hancock building. Currently, the square was under construction during our visit which detracted from the view of Trinity Church. However, it is a place that should be seen on any visit to Boston due to the importance of the buildings that surround it.
Written December 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

roaming_kiwi58
Christchurch, New Zealand2,801 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
Copley square is surrounded by interesting and historic buildings. We only had a brief stop here as part of a tour. Unfortunately a large part of the square was being dug up, so it was difficult to get around to see much in the short time we had. Need to go back!
Written November 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BeachStone2C
Helsinki, Finland2,594 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Copley Square is named after painter John Singleton Copley. There are several interesting historical sites in the immediate vicinity of the square. There is a metro station named Copley making public transportation to and from the area very convenient. The park itself is small but with its surroundings it’s a good place to visit.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

candycorn1
Philadelphia, PA367 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
This is a beautiful section of Boston. We stayed at a hotel on Boyleston Street and it was a nice respite to relax after walking and touring all day. Fountains and water pools, and grassy area for picnics or just people watching.
Written November 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TarJa
Salt Lake City, UT227 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
We stayed at the Fairmont, so everyday we walked out of the hotel, we passed by Copley Square. There was something happening here every single day. There was an informational exhibit one day, and the next was a Farmers Market.

It's a small square, but getting here lets you see so many other sites that are withing steps (Trinity Church, Newbury Street, The Library, etc).
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

seanworc
New York City, NY727 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
Copley Square is one of the central meeting places in Boston. It has seen hard times in the past, but it has been revitalized. Trinity Church faces east. The classic Copley Square Hotel faces south. The stunning Public Library, based on the palaces of Florence, is on the west. The north side opens onto to Boylston Street and shops. Tragically, the Boston Marathon bombing was right near the Public Library. The John Hancock building is just off the square. Great place for kids to run around.
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Camassia
Eugene, OR201 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Spending several days ambling around Boston, with some destinations but also random routes. Copley Square was a nice surprise on one of our routes. A little farmer's market was taking place, added color and interest and learned about John Copley. Explored the surrounding architecture and buildings, especially the Old South Church. Interesting history timeline.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Copley Square - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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