Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: a practical visitor guide

More Museum of Fine Arts, Boston guides

• MFA in 2 hoursA 2-hour route through the MFA Boston: Egypt, Impressionism, Monet, Sargent, Copley and Japanese art, with timings, the best order and practical tips.
• Hours, tickets & free entryMFA Boston opening hours, ticket prices, free admission offers and discounts, and the best time to visit without crowds. Checked in 2026.
• Must-see artworksThe 12 key works at the MFA Boston with where to find them and why they matter: Monet, Gauguin, Sargent, Copley, Van Gogh and more.
• MFA with kidsHow to visit the MFA Boston with kids: a 75-minute route, looking games, youth prices, the Japanese garden and the quietest times to go.

Why the MFA is a must

The MFA Boston is one of America's great encyclopedic museums, with more than half a million works. It is known for Egyptian and ancient art, one of the best Impressionist collections outside France (Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin), New England art by Copley and Sargent, and Japanese art, the largest collection outside Japan. It's a big museum: pick a route.

How to plan your visit

• Buy a ticket online: every visitor needs one, including children with free admission.
• The Fenway Entrance is currently closed; check the official site for the entrance to use.
• Some galleries close temporarily without notice: check the Gallery Updates page.
• On Thursdays and Fridays the museum stays open until 10pm, the best evenings for a quiet visit.
• Use the AnyArt app to hear the story behind any work you see instead of renting an audio guide.

Combine it with the neighbourhood

A few minutes' walk away are the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Fenway area. A classic Boston art day pairs the MFA in the morning with the Gardner in the afternoon. If you have time, stroll through the Back Bay Fens next door.