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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

See all things to do
See all things to do
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
4.5
3,241
#33 of 439 things to do in Boston
Gardens • Art Museums
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Monday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
A Venetian palace in the middle of Boston, Gardner's home is now a museum displaying her impressive, eclectic collection of European, American and Asian art, including sculpture, paintings, furniture, ceramics and textiles. Visitors can stroll or rest in a spectacular skylit courtyard filled with plants and flowers.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Longwood
How to get there
  • Museum of Fine Arts • 4 min walk
  • Fenwood Road • 7 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,407 within 3 miles
The Gardner Cafe
187
43 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Sweet Cheeks Q
676
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Barbecue • Gluten Free Options
New American Cafe
177
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Garden Cafeteria at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
75
0.2 mi$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Tasty Burger
384
0.4 mi$ • American • Fast Food
Cafe G
37
96 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
The Squealing Pig
86
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
Thaitation
53
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
El Pelon Taqueria
94
0.3 mi$ • Quick Bites • Mexican • Latin
Wahlburgers
659
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
584 within 6 miles
Boston Latin School
45
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Museum of Fine Arts
8,255
0.3 miArt Museums
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1
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17,112
0.6 miArenas & Stadiums
The Boston Pops
433
0.8 miSymphonies
Freedom Trail
17,682
2.2 miHistoric Walking Areas
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21
0.3 miParks • Gardens
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,241 reviews
Excellent
2,175
Very good
657
Average
257
Poor
100
Terrible
52
Roddy P
Johannesburg, South Africa868 contributions
A must when visiting Boston
Aug 2022
What a treasure box of delights. You pay $20.00 unless you book via the 1st thursday of the month when it is free. Its is an unbelivable collection of the most remarkable artifacts, art, carvings, collected over many years with love and LOTS and LOTS of money.

In someways it represents the stripping of europe of its artifacts - on the other the collection is open to everyone and is cared for and protected.

I was compeletly bowled over with the place
Written August 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Traveller Kate 88
Copenhagen, Denmark226 contributions
Crowded mid-size museum with excellent café
Jul 2022
The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum gives you a window into one female collector's eclectic taste, presented in a building she constructed to display the collection. Bring your phone, as you will need it to get titles and backgrounds on the paintings. The Gardner doesn't do plaques.

On the day we visited - a weekday in summer - the museum was crowded from its opening minutes. Booking tickets online in advance is a must. We would have enjoyed the museum more with half the number of patrons.

Café G on the premises had very good lunch for a reasonable price with experienced, professional servers. There is a very good museum gift shop as well.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
afinetraveler
Washington DC, DC863 contributions
nice experience
Jan 2022 • Couples
We enjoyed this museum, showcasing the art work collected by Isabella Stewart Gardner and her husband. It was honestly a nice surprise. And it was also interesting to watch the movie which introduced the museum and the life of Isabella Stewart.

The cost to enter was $20/person, and we spent about an hour exploring.
Written January 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alicia L
2 contributions
Horrible waste of money
Nov 2022 • Solo
This museum is a mess. The displays are not well thought out, many areas look like a storage room, chairs are roped off and it really is a disaster aesthetically. For the enormous sum of $20.00 I would expect a much more beautiful museum. The staff are rude and I was shouted at for sipping from a water bottle “NO WATER! NO WATER” very apt timing as I was looking at Jesus carrying the cross. They also don’t want you carrying your small jacket but allow backpacks which is ridiculous. They allow photos but make such a huge deal about being robbed over 30 years ago!! They keep the empty frames up on the wall which is pathetic. This should be a free museum as it is very far from being worth the entry fee. The garden featured a wilting and/or dead chrysanthemum exhibit. Very sad. I recommend anywhere but this dump.
Written November 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Travelgirl85858
Somerville, MA24 contributions
Idiotic Museum rules
Nov 2021 • Family
While the art inside is truly wonderful, the rules set forth at the museum are horrific and the staff is cold and remarkably unfeeling. First, the only way to gain entry to the museum you need to sign up as a member and then buy tickets electronically before even going through the front door. This, even though we were literally standing outside the museum and the woman would not allow us to simply purchase tickets at the front desk a few feet away. Second, one of the museum workers would not allow us to hold our jackets and insisted we wear them while visiting. I wore mine for about 20 minutes and then took it off so as to not pass out from the heat. It was hot inside! A man came running over and forcibly insisted I put the coat on, even though I didn’t feel well, once again because it was so hot inside. Had they simply greeted people at the entrance to ask guests to check their jackets, it would make things much better for everyone. I implore the management here to find a better way to do things, as it is not working. We stayed at the museum just 30 minutes as we could not wear our coats any longer. I will not visit again until these asinine rules change.
Written November 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
thrifty1977
Newnan, GA35 contributions
Don't show up without a ticket
Nov 2021
We were visiting Boston from out of state and had researched various options for spending our weekend. This museum sounded delightful. After taking public transportation about 45 minutes from our hotel to this museum, we we informed that online ticket purchases are required, and they were completely sold out for the day! I had seen that online tickets were an option on their website, but I didn't realize they were a must. Given that we were navigating Boston's public transportation system for the first time and weren't sure when we would arrive, we chose not to purchase advance tickets. The employee at the door was not helpful or pleasant. We ended up making the fairly short walk to the Museum of Fine Arts and enjoyed a lovely afternoon there. It would have been helpful if their website indicated that advance ticket purchases are required.
Written November 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
drichrx
Brooklyn, NY1,213 contributions
Amateur Hour
Apr 2022
The bad experience started with the uncoordinated admission process where staff gave conflicting instructions and had a different process. The staff could not adapt to the situation. There was a long line to get in, yet they insisted on gathering personal information (email addresses, etc.) to enter while people waited and waited. They seemed more concerned about their process (as uncoordinated and inefficient as it was) than the satisfaction of the customers. It took over 45 minutes just to get in because it – creating a sour note from the beginning. The museum itself had some nice pieces, but it desperately needs a good curator. Many rooms were dark and the paintings in need of restoration to lighten up. The rooms were filled with a mix of unrelated and unlabeled art so you never knew who the creator was (e.g., a religious painting, next to a watercolor of Venice. Asian art mixed with Renaissance art from Italy – all unlabeled). Would not recommend.
Written April 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kojf
Daytona Beach, FL6 contributions
Avoid visit during heat wave. You will wait outside.
Jun 2021 • Couples
Bought tickets for 1:30 entry. Arrived at 11:50AM anticipating relaxed lunch at Cafe G. Visited during time of record heat wave. Museum still following strict Covid protocols late June 2021. Told that we could not enter restaurant until 1PM and then we would have to wait in line. Had to wait outside on the street in oppressive heat(96°). Eventually decided to 'cut our losses' by calling an Uber an forfeiting our tickets. Survival was paramount. Very uncivilized experience. I would recommend not going to the museum during inclement, hot, difficult weather unless you time it proximate to your ticket time. Do Not Go expecting a relaxing lunch at Cafe G prior to your timed ticket.
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jackie m
1 contribution
DON'T GO HERE
Dec 2022
Just got back from this museum and I will never go to this museum again. DO NOT bring older adults to this museum. It is difficult for them to get around. The museum makes you check everything, water, backpacks, coats. The curators standing guard in each room enjoy talking down to you and telling you what you CANNOT do in the museum and there's a lot that you cannot do.
I would not recommend this museum to my dog.
Written December 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michelle T
New York City, NY604 contributions
Cool Museum
Jul 2021
The simplest way that I can describe the museum - a rich hoarder's house. No, I'm serious! The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum comprises of all the artwork and famous knickknacks that Isabelle Stewart Gardner owned in her lifetime.

In the museum, you'll see Greek and Roman sculptures, autographs from famous actors and actresses, original publications from published poets and authors, Japanese Screen Panels, and Renaissance artwork. She had several Botticelli's and even a Manet.

It was really cool seeing all the artwork - and the art heist history is super interesting.

They're currently doing timed tickets, so make sure you buy your tickets in advance. While we were waiting in line to get in, they turned away several parties who did not know they had to buy tickets in advance.
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is open:
  • Wed - Wed 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Thu - Thu 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
  • Fri - Mon 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 5 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum tours on Tripadvisor
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