I love well planned green spaces in the central areas of big cities, some of the most famous of which are Central Park in NYC and of course, Boston Commons. Tonight after our dinner we enjoyed walking through here and Boston Public Gardens for a good 1.5 hrs catching up with our daughter. There was a growing crowd of happy people (families and children too) cheering the Iraq World Cup team who will play their first match tomorrow against Norway here in Boston. About a dozen Boston police were watching from the sidelines on their motorbikes and I prayed all would stay peaceful. Meanwhile, pedestrians, dog walkers, families were enjoying the fresh cool evening amidst the grandiose trees, lawns, ducks, fountains, and historic statues. If you're in the area, definitely stop by, and also check out the Boston Public Gardens, which are even more landscaped and welcoming! read more

Boston Common - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Common, which opened in 1634, is the oldest city park in the United States. It is 50 acres, and is bounded by Beacon Street, Park Street, Tremont Street, Boylston Street, and Charles Street. The nearest subway stations are Park Street Station and Boylston Station. To the west is Boston Public Garden, and to the North, on Beacon Street, is the Massachusetts State House and the start of the Freedom Trail. We walked through Boston Common a couple of times on our trip and saw The Embrace sculpture; Central Burying Ground; Parkman Plaza with the three bronze statues representing Learning, Industry, and Religion; and many, many grey squirrels. Boston Common is one of the top tourist attractions in Boston, and it's clear why! [Yelp collections: Boston, MA 2025; Parks and Gardens] read more

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This review is separate from the Boston Public Gardens which is just across the street and pretty much connected. Boston Commons is a normal urban park in some ways with a playground for kids, a pond, park benches, a carousel, baseball stadium, and food vendors. It's also part historic park with monuments including one of the 54th Civil War all black regiment, a plaque saying this is the oldest park in America and others. It's also a part of the Freedom Trail. There's also a small cemetery in the park. The park is both busy and relaxing. It's smaller than I expected but that may just be because it felt like I went through it quickly. Time flies when you are having fun so maybe distance does too. Boston Commons is a must stop on any trip to Boston. read more

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Beautiful summer day at beautiful park. Lots of benches to sit and enjoy your day as well a large splash park to dip your feet in to cool off. read more

Boston Common - Beautiful day at a beautiful park - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Had a great experience at Boston Common during a recent work trip. I decided to get up early and go for a walk, and it turned out to be one of the best parts of my visit. The park has a really relaxing vibe in the morning. Plenty of space, nice paths, and just a great atmosphere to clear your head. It's perfect whether you're looking to go for a run or just take a casual stroll. Definitely a spot I'd recommend if you're in Boston and want a peaceful way to start your day. read more

Boston Common - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Boston common is a gorgeous green space that I have had the pleasure of visiting multiple times now. That's a good thing too because there is so much space and so much to see here that it can definitely take more than one visit to appreciate its beauty and all that it has to offer. It's known as the oldest public park in the United States and I personally love the way that it's laid out. I wish they still made parks like this. There are wide open lawns with winding paths, people sitting on benches or enjoying picnics on the grass with their dogs. I have seen large events here and even performers as well as family barbecues and groups of people just gathering to spend time together outside. It's nice to just be in this beautiful green space surrounded by the city skyline and historic buildings. I can really sit here and appreciate that I'm in an important City but also feel like I have this little bubble of an oasis surrounding me and keeping everything calm. It's just a nice place to exist and enjoy nature for a bit and it also connects to the Boston public garden which is another gorgeous space for just enjoying nature. It's unfortunate that I have never been able to stop here when I have had my dog with me on a trip through the city because I know she would love visiting this park. Who wouldn't? read more

Boston Common - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I loved Boston Common. Since it's in the middle of everything, I visited it 3 times during my stay. It has a T stop near by- named after it- Park, a great Visitor Center, and this is where the Freedom Trail starts! Boston Common is the oldest public park in the USA. It has a very European look, and I'd say it's one of the prettiest in the country! It's hard to believe it used to be a cow pasture! Now the city spreads all around it and it's a nice refuge from its hustle and bustle. Boston Common is a nice mix of everything: nice sculptures and monuments, they have events here - plays, outdoors screening, street fair, a Chinese parade while I was in town (Chinatown is next by) with dragons- fun! People have small gatherings, walk, sightsee. But there are many peaceful spots where you can relax, have a snack, read a book. Lots of seating on the grass, lots of benches - people are friendly here, greet you - at least in my case! There's a cute carousel and restrooms (at the Visitor center also) - just follow the signs! Nice vegetation, cute oasis in the middle of the city. Lots of historic sites: Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Boston Massacre Memorial. You can see the Dome of the Massachusetts State House from here! I loved Boston Common, I'd come here often if I would live in Boston! Lots of activities, people watching, you are in the middle of everything, but far away too. Great views of the city! read more

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Boston is an awesome city! I love how much history and green space is preserved. The statues and historical plaques are found all over this town. The Boston Common is one such place where you can stretch your legs, people watch and then grab a delicious coffee or bite to eat in a nearby cafe. The squirrels and birds at this park are very accustomed to humans to the point of coming up to you. That was different. The squirrels were huge. We also saw a lot of off leash dogs which was fine with us but if you are apprehensive about dogs you might want to keep that in mind. I would definitely recommend this place! read more

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The famous boston common. Another small little park located near/in the north shore. Plenty of room to move around, and a small little escape from the city. read more

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I enjoyed visiting Boston Common. The history is interesting and you can do a lot here with that in mind. You can also just stroll through the park, enjoying the late summer sunshine. This park isn't as big as I thought it would be and it's a super easy stroll. There are a lot of sites/artwork to look at as you make your way through. It's also a very nice detour if your hotel is on the other side. There seem to be a lot of event that happen here and there was even a food truck court sponsored by a college that was open to the public. Very cool. We didn't do the carousel or any of that. We just looked at art and took a stroll. We also found some benches to sit at and people watched for a minute. Although this was nice, I will say that if you want to sit, take a minute walk across the street to Boston Public Garden. It's a bit cuter, sorry to say. read more

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Sorry, but it is overrated, compared to most European parks in big cities like London or Paris. Ugly grass, tons of rats and pigeons, terrible musicians, noise, dirty because people leave their trash. Not worth visiting if you are a tourist. read more

Beautiful park! Lovely green space with art and plenty of places to sit and relax. Every summer there is a free Shakespeare show performed. My friend is in it and it's "As You Like It, performing thru August 10. There are food trucks concessions too. read more

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Beautiful historical park. We met here to go on the freedom trail tour. It was beautiful. read more

Boston Common - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Essentially, this is a really large historical park in Boston. It's beautiful and in close proximity to a lot of historical buildings and businesses. It's such a pretty walk during the day and evenings, but once it begins to get later, like past 9pm, the usual odd characters within large cities come out and it gets a little less safe feeling. Other than after 9pm, it generally feels safe during the day. It's a nice place to get fresh air in the big city. read more

The park is just soo big and beautiful and historic. It like an open air free museum with fall trees, the frog pond, the freedom monument, a gazebo, little food carts and so much more. The frog pond however eluded me. I put it on GPS and as soon as I reached the gazebo it said that I had reached my destination. I went around in circles for quite some time then gave up so I could see the rest of the huge park and enjoy the only red tree I had come across which was picture proper .. lol. There were a lot of evening walkers including the last of the walking trip group. The sun gave out the perfect lighting for photos. I was warned about keeping my jewelry away. Now, was that just a passing concern, or a real threat, I will never know, but that made me very hesitant to go exploring a little further where there were hardly any people. That might be why I missed the frog pond too. I profusely apologize to the great artist who made the unification embrace sculpture, no offense please.... but two beautiful hands joined together, but ONLY hands, they kept reminding me of gory mutilated bodies out of brutal crime series.... it kind of freaked me out !!! I wanted to get away from it as far as I can as soon as possible, but people who know it would be aware how big it is so it kept falling into my line of vision and making me uneasy.... . read more

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Beautiful and historic park. Well, actually the oldest public city park in America. It suffers a bit from being so famous, it's busy, crowded and there are maybe too many people and a bit too much litter. Still, a must see, must experience for visitors. read more

This is the big park area near the north end. There are plenty of sidewalks and brick walking paths. Plenty of grass for kids and dogs . A large "frog" pond in the middle that was drained for the season when we visited. There is a massive garage system under the park and the small building are elevators to get to and from. Bathrooms were a mobile trailer with an attendant sometimes to let those with mobility issues into the handicap bathroom. If he is not there then you are out of luck. read more

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Well, of course it's America's oldest city park. Where else would it be but Boston? Founded in 1634, it's only fifty acres, but the park is still twice as large as the adjoining Boston Public Garden (review: https://yelp.to/shmOSjmJUr). What also struck us was that it wasn't as bucolic or manicured either. It's more of a historical green space with ballfields, statues, and the Frog Pond which operates as a skating rink in the winter. The most arresting sight is 'The Embrace', an art piece of intertwined arms by Hank Willis Thomas, a tribute to the love between MLK and Coretta Scott King (photo: https://yelp.to/3ckU6IbAcz). However, we came here to begin the Freedom Trail. RELATED - Exploring Boston? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3XtfnFc read more

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A massive park, also America's oldest park, where the Freedom Trail starts. It's surrounded by historical landmarks on all sides. If you're not here for history, then a stroll through this park is still worth it for the scenery. read more

A must see while walking around Boston. Safe and well decorated during the holidays. Plenty of entrances/exits. read more

Boston Common - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great park. Plenty of space to walk, picnic, read a book, lay under a tree in the shade, take the kids to the playground. We had a wonderful afternoon here and appreciated that they had restrooms. Well kept park and facility read more

Funny story about the first time going to the Boston Common. We walked through on 4/20 at 4:10 pm amazed at how vast the park was. We didn't realize after seeing a group of people and smelling something skunky; there was a countdown to 4:20 pm, then loud cheering, and a cloud of smoke. Apparently there was a 4/20 marijuana celebration. We walked out of there pretty fast since we had our children with us. A funny and memorable story to share going forward LOL. This land is 50 acres and established as a public park in the 1830s. At one point, they held public executions there. Central Burying ground is also located on the property. We also walked by a very busy playground. This is a great open space for the people of Boston; also a solemn reminder of those who used to walk these grounds. read more

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Another great park. There is a lot of history as you walk through the park. The old WW1 mines used in the North Sea for one. This is also the start of the Freedom Trail. This is another great place to take your time and walk through. Unfortunately, the carousel was closed. It looked like it would be fun to ride. read more

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I stayed pretty close to Boston Common during my most recent trip to the city, and frequently passed it when walking downtown. Honestly, it's hard to miss - you may need to cut through it or walk around it to get from one side of downtown to the other. What it Boston Common? Essentially it's a public park, and in fact is the oldest park in the United States. In addition to the multitude of green, there are also statues, a pond, sports fields, a carousel, and the Granary Burying Ground which is one of the oldest cemeteries in the city. I cut through the Common while walking downtown and it was a welcome change to the relative congestion on the streets. A few reviews here compare it to Central Park - I can see the comparison but I think each of them hold their own (I'm partial to CP since I'm a New Yorker). In any case, the Common is a clean, well-maintained park and something to definitely check out if you're in the area. read more

Boston Common - Embrace - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Very great park lots of history Greenery everywhere Good visit wish there was a really big Walmart, 20 mile parking lot, and a 6 lane highway running straight through it tho read more

Pokémon Go had a major sponsored event for the Go Wild Area 2024, officially sponsored by the local Ambassadors for the game. The weather was horrible. But, I'm hardcore. Good thing the Public Garden was included because I had a far better experience over there. read more

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Overall I thought it was a pretty boring park. There were a few nice monuments. The location was good near a lot of popular restaurants and mass. State house read more

5 Stars for a stellar green space among Boston's busy city landscape. I had the pleasure of roaming Boston Common over a few days and really grew to love it. There are meandering pathways for walking, plenty of benches, artists and musicians along the way performing, food stalls, green space for picnicking or just reading a book under the shade of a tree, ponds, etc. As far as gathering spaces and an iconic park, Boston Commons definitely delivers. As others have mentioned, it also provides excellent views of the city and offers a great pathway to get from one place to another without sticking to the busy city streets. I read on the city's website that there's free WiFi, but note that the connection is definitely weak and it didn't work well for me to work from the park. But maybe that's a good thing. Maybe spaces like this aren't meant for working, but rather for wandering and enjoying a break from urban life. Overall, a gem in Boston and one I'll visit anytime I'm in the area. read more

Review #1301 For the oldest city park in the United States? Sure, 5 stars! Lots of histories and sights associated with this Boston Common. The most recent is The Embrace statue honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Good for a walk for locals and tourists. Then get lunch/dinner at nearby Chinatown! Boston Commons? Boston Common! read more

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Boston Common is a great place to take a morning or afternoon walk. It's tree lined and can give you some really nice shade on a hot day. When I was in town a couple of weeks ago, I walked it in the early morning hours. It's well kept and clean. There are statues and small monuments commemorating famous Bostonians along the way. It stretches from Massachusetts Avenue to the Public Gardens. The surrounding neighborhood reminds me of Park Slope in Brooklyn with the attached buildings and townhouses. The architecture is amazing. It's very enjoyable. read more

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This park is amazing . A great open space to see all of Boston . You can even bring your furry friend. They always have some activity going on . It's always fun and the people are great . I just park in the garage. Street parking is stressful and difficult. read more

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A must visit if in Boston. The lovely park of today will help you understand the significance of Boston's (and the US national) history and growth. Begin your historic tours of Boston here! Take a run or a walk! Let your pup romp and play where others have since the mid 1634! Enjoy the gorgeous early morning solitude or learn why Boston was so important as you move along the Freedom Trail! There are facilities available, so you won't have to find a chamber pot or a bush as those did almost 400 years ago. There are refreshments available so you won't have to draw water from a well or milk an animal as the early folks did in this park. The locals will try to ignore the tourists as they enjoy their park. It really is a beautiful park! The small merry-go-round is worth getting up close to as it is quite beautiful even when not running. A fan of Make Way for Ducklings? The children's picture book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey has a delightful sculpture here. Are you a football fan? THIS IS A MUST visit. Here was where the first American organized football club, Oneida, took on all who dared from 1862-1865. Boston, thank you for sharing your Common! read more

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Spacious & Grand! I walked through this park & was amazed how nice it was to just walk in a park! There was a monument, an art display, a children play area, a carousel and a rink. (Water play in the summer, skating rink in the winter) I liked how it can be a great place for exercising cause it's so huge! read more

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While visiting the Back Bay area of Boston we learned a little about the history of Boston Common and that it's the oldest city park in the US. We like Central Park and how it's a quiet escape from city life, so we wanted to see if Boston Common was the same and it's very similar. It's not as elaborate nor huge as Central Park, but it's beautiful and has a lake with nice bridges as well as paved trails and even ice skating in the winter. It's worth coming to visit and spending time walking through! read more

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Boston's answer to Central Park or Golden Gate Park, it's enormous, with plenty of things to do and see. Shakespeare in the park, fountains, lots of statues, etc. Multiple entrances to the T, and right next to the Public Garden and shopping district. Excellent for a nice jog or bike ride, or even picnics. It does seem busier than the Public Garden though. Would definitely love to go back and spend more time here! read more

Boston Common - Cow - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Common was founded in 1634 and has a lot of historical monuments and structures. Definitely a pleasant place to visit if you feel like being outdoors and it's just across the street from the Boston Public Garden. Plenty of people taking walks and playing with their dogs when I last visited. Definitely check it out if you're in the area! read more

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The oldest city public park in the United States, Boston Common is a large community park in the middle of downtown Boston. It's a very large park, with a lot trees providing shade. It was relatively empty on the weekend morning, but got crowded as the sun got higher in the sky. There are a lot of walking paths criss crossing the park (many of them wide enough for two cars, filled with various food vendors). The large parking garage is below the park, with strategic entrances throughout the park. The car entrances into the garages are easy to get to, the garage is large and modern, and is only $17 for the entire weekend day. There is a visitor center in the park, near the huge Embrace metal sculpture. Its a good place to start, if looking for things to do. read more

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11/24/22 Happy Thanksgiving After our dim sum breakfast in Chinatown we were told by our hotel receptionist to walk through Boston Commons to get to our next destination. Great suggestion because this huge sprawling park had the most activity we saw ALL day, So much love in that park, enough to fill you with happiness just people watching: *pups and dogs of all sizes and breeds *fathers watching their bundled up hooded toddlers *couples walking hand in hand or sitting on a bench *an elderly man playing his stringed instrument non/stop *families taking a walk in the park But the most enjoyable made me understand why decades ago our daughters rather watch the squirrels rather than go on a swan boat or get enthused by the Make Way For Ducklings statues. The squirrels are big time adorable. So many were scampering across the lawn. One came up to hubs not even afraid. Another came right up to my footwear and looked me in the eye. I started making clicking noises with my tongue and a whole bunch of squirrels came running in my directions. Just call me Gail,Squirrel Whisperer. read more

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I love the open space here! You'll see people running or just enjoying the park. I walked through here a couple of times to get from one part of town to the other and by that I mean to get to the Cheers bar and back to Chinatown. During my visit the lake was empty and that part of the park was being remoddled. read more

This park is beautiful and I enjoyed walking around and seeing the sculptures, follies, and various other small vinigettes inside. It's a large, green park in the center of Boston and as soon, many things fan out from it. I visited on a crisp fall afternoon but the park was busy, lots of tours meet up and start here so I saw plenty of men in colonial garb leading groups around, leaves were changing and everything was gorgeous and teeming with life. This is a great place to suggest a meet-up or come to go for a walk or jog. I loved the Unity sculpture and the gazebos and viewing the architecture of the grand old hotels nearby. read more