The MFA is the heavyweight of Boston museums. We're talking 100+ galleries packed with everything from ancient Egyptian artefacts to Van Gogh masterpieces.

Pro tip: Hit up the Art of the Americas Wing on the third floor first thing when they open. You'll find the largest collection of Monet paintings outside of Paris, including those dreamy "Water Lilies" without the crowds. 

Where? 

• 465 Huntington Ave – Just a 10-minute walk from The Bon 

• Nearest T stop: Museum of Fine Arts (Green Line – E branch) 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is pure magic. Picture a 15th-century Venetian palace dropped right in Boston, filled with Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Whistler pieces arranged exactly how Mrs. Gardner wanted them over 100 years ago. It's like exploring the world's most sophisticated private home. 

Insider secret: Most people miss the Blue Room on the third floor. It houses Whistler's "Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville" and gives you this incredibly personal viewing experience. Get there early to catch the courtyard garden in perfect morning light—total Instagram gold. 

Where? 

• 25 Evans Way – A quick 5-minute walk from The Bon 

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston is in the Seaport, but if you're serious about Boston's art scene, this is essential viewing. The building literally hangs over Boston Harbour, and the contemporary art inside is just as dramatic.

This isn't your traditional museum; it's all about pushing boundaries and challenging perspectives.

The views from the fourth floor are absolutely stunning, especially during sunset. Plus, the ICA's free admission for visitors under 17 and discounted rates for students make it super accessible.

Where?

• 25 Harbour Shore Dr – About 15 minutes via T from Fenway

• Take Green Line to Park Street, then Red Line to South Station

This is practically your neighbour! Free contemporary art museum run by the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Bold, experimental works and emerging artists that haven't hit the mainstream yet. Zero excuses not to check this out when it's literally next to The Bon. 

Where? 

• Right next door to The Bon 

• 621 Huntington Ave – Less than 2 minutes walking 

You get student and faculty exhibitions showcasing Boston's next generation of artists. SMFA showcases fresh perspectives and innovative work you won't see anywhere else. Perfect for discovering what's next in Boston's art scene. 

Where? 

• 230 The Fenway – About 8 minutes from The Bon 

• Multiple gallery spaces featuring rotating student and faculty shows     

Want to experience art without the crowds? MFA Boston late-night events are where it's at. Extended hours, special programming, curator talks, sometimes live music, it's like the museum's cool alter ego. Way more intimate, way more fun. 

Pro tip: These events often sell out, so grab tickets in advance. Perfect for when you want culture with a side of cocktails. 

Start your day at the Gardner Museum with coffee in the courtyard, hit the MFA for a specific exhibition, then wander the neighbourhood to discover street murals and pop-up galleries. You can find yourself at the: 

• Boston Symphony Hall – Okay, it's music, not visual art, but Symphony Hall is literally a short walk away and home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops. It's a cornerstone of Fenway's creative scene, so why not catch a show? 

• Fountain Street Gallery – Worth the afternoon trip to this contemporary artists' cooperative, where exhibitions change monthly. Fresh local talent and rotating shows. 

The Works on Paper gallery at the MFA rotates every few months with incredible drawings and prints that most people rush past. Then there's the rotating contemporary stuff at the Gardner that creates wild dialogues between old and new art. 

Where else to explore: 

• The Galleries at 500 Harrison Ave – Monthly First Friday open studios where you can meet actual working artists 

• Fenway Studios (30 Ipswich St) – Historic 1905 artist building with occasional studio visits 

• Street art along Boylston Street underpasses – Changes seasonally and showcases local talent