The Best Views around Boston
Photo via Getty Images/lisegagne
Sure, climbing up hills can be pretty exhausting. But the upside is all the great views you can see once you’re up there.Whether you’re seeking an outlook for some prime leaf-peeping, a swoon-worthy date spot, or simply a place to gain some perspective, here are ten of Boston’s best views.
Note: For any parks, please make sure to check before leaving for any COVID-related closures.
1: Prospect Hill
How to get there: Buses are available from multiple train lines. Try the 91 from Central, the 91 or 86 from Sullivan, or the 87 from Lechmere, and get off in Union Square. Then walk down Somerville Avenue to Stone Avenue and climb up to the top of the tower.
What you can see: A gaze-worthy horizon punctuated by Boston’s skyline, and rolling hills of residential roads.
Perfect for: Cozying up with a date and a thermos of hot cider.
2: Corey Hill Outlook
How to get there: Take the Green Line C train to Fairbanks Street or the D train to Beaconsfield, and then walk up Lancaster Terrace to Summit Path until it runs into Summit Ave, heading up until you reach the crest. Or if you live on the B train’s path, just take the T to Warren and walk a block up Comm. Ave. until you can turn onto Summit Ave.
What you can see: Victorian homes, wild turkeys, and a sweeping vista that you can enjoy in the comfort of the park’s hammocks and lounge chairs.
Perfect for: Cooling down after a run up the steep incline of Summit Ave.
3: BU Bridge
How to get there: Take the Green Line B train to Boston University Central and walk straight up Comm. Ave. until you can turn right onto the bridge.
What you can see: Planes, trains (well, tracks), and automobiles. Bonus: boats! Get out early to spot college crew teams practicing as the sun rises over the Charles.
Perfect for: Taking a break from the constant buzz of Comm Ave.
4: Longfellow Bridge
How to get there: Take the Red Line to Charles/MGH, which will drop you off right at one end of the bridge.
What you can see: Gorgeous views of the Charles River’s lower basin, flanked by the picture-perfect cityscapes of the Back Bay and Cambridge.
Perfect for: Renting a Hubway and taking it for a spin past the bridge’s so-called “salt-and-pepper shaker” towers.
6: Peter’s Hill, Arnold Arboretum
How to get there: There are several bus options from the Orange Line’s Forrest Hills station. Take your pick from the 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, and 51 buses, then ride it to Washington St. at Archdale Rd. From there, turn onto Archdale Rd (which will turn into South St.), and then turn onto Peter’s Hill Road, the path surrounding the hill.
What you can see: Ample fodder for autumn Instagrams and a verdant treeline crested by the Pru.
Perfect for: Breaking in your Bean Boots with a trek through the carefully cultivated landscape.
7: Washington Tower, Mount Auburn Cemetery
How to get there: From the Harvard station, take the 71 or 73 bus to Mt. Auburn St. at Aberdeen Ave, or Mt. Auburn St. at Brattle St., respectively.
What you can see: A breathtaking bird’s-eye view (after a breathtaking climb up the 62-foot-tall tower) of our metropolis. Catch it at the right time, and an autumnal rainbow of trees will nearly eclipse the view of the city.
Perfect for: Gaining some perspective before heading back down to appreciate the arboretum, National Historic Landmark, and burial grounds for many of Boston’s Brahmins up close.
8: Bunker Hill Monument
How to get there: Take the Orange Line to Community College, then walk up Austin St. (which turns into Green St.), turn onto High St. until it runs into Monument Sq., and then follow the Freedom Trail to the monument.
What you can see: Sure, the windows may be tiny up top, but you can see it all from them. Just remember: It’s 294 steps to the peak.
Perfect for: Flexing your history muscle—the statue sits at the trailhead of the Freedom Trail and commemorates the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill.
9: LoPresti Park
How to get there: Take the Blue Line to Maverick, then walk a few blocks up Summer St. until you find the park at the water’s edge.
What you can see: A glistening Financial District to your left and a glowing Zakim bridge to your right.
Perfect for: Getting away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and watching the planes take off.
