GoTourist
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

No. 72 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 1,055,981 visitors in 2025

Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston

Boston, United States · City guide: Boston

One of America's great encyclopaedic museums, with superb Impressionist, Japanese and American art.

Open in Maps Apple Maps

Photo: Payton Chung from DC, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is No. 72 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 1,055,981 visitors in 2025, up 7% on 2024. Founded in 1870, it moved to its building on Huntington Avenue in 1909.

Its collection spans the world, from ancient Egypt to contemporary art. The Art of the Americas wing, designed by Foster and Partners, opened in 2010.

Tenshin-en, the Japanese garden at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Tenshin-en, the Japanese garden at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photo: Daderot, CC0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and open late on Thursday and Friday evenings.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Art of the Americas

    American art from ancient times to the 20th century, including portraits by John Singleton Copley and John Singer Sargent.

  • 2

    Impressionists

    A large group of paintings by Monet, with works by Renoir, Degas and Van Gogh.

  • 3

    Gauguin

    Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

  • 4

    Japanese art

    One of the finest collections of Japanese art outside Japan.

  • 5

    Ancient Egypt and Nubia

    Sculpture and objects from excavations in Egypt and Sudan.

  • 6

    Tenshin-en

    A Japanese garden, open in the warmer months.

Getting there

The museum is at 465 Huntington Avenue. The Museum of Fine Arts stop on the Green Line (E branch) is outside, and Ruggles station (Orange Line) is about 10 minutes' walk away.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Buy tickets online in advance. Check the official website for prices and hours.
Time needed
Three hours or more.
Currency
US dollar (USD). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. Tipping is customary: around 18–20% in sit-down restaurants and a dollar or two per drink in bars.
Visa & entry
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (including the UK, most EU countries, Australia and Japan) need an approved ESTA before they travel; most other visitors need a visa. Canadian citizens generally need neither for a short visit. Apply only on the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov and check travel.state.gov for the current rules.

Official information: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

Open in Maps View larger map Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors