View Boston Observation Deck Entry Ticket

The Prudential Tower and Prudential Center

View Boston occupies the top three floors of the Prudential Tower, a landmark of the Back Bay skyline that opened in the 1960s. The observation deck was reimagined into a modern visitor attraction, so a visit is as much an exhibition as a viewpoint. The attraction sits inside the Prudential Center, connected to shops and a subway station, which makes it easy to fit into any day in Boston.

Your ticket is for a fixed time, and the entrance is at the View Boston Ticketing Centre, where you choose your time and go up. Many people ask how to get to View Boston: the Green Line or Orange Line, and the walking connection from Copley Square or Back Bay station, brings you to the Prudential Center in minutes.

The viewing decks and the skyline

On the top floors you walk around a 360-degree circle of glass, with views over the Charles River, the harbor, Fenway Park and the Blue Hills on a clear day. Virtual viewers help identify what you are looking at, including Boston's old and new landmarks, while elevated platforms make photos easier.

A section of the open-air terrace lets you feel the breeze and take unobstructed photos. For the best time to visit, many travellers choose late afternoon into evening, when you can see the city change from daylight to lights. Clear, cold days often give the sharpest views, so check the weather before you choose your slot.

Boston 365 and Open Doors

Boston 365 is a large 3D model of the city with projection mapping that shows the seasons, celebrations and events over the course of a year. It is a quick way to understand the layout of neighbourhoods before you explore them on foot. It especially helps first-time visitors who are working out how the city fits together.

Open Doors is a theatre with a 270-degree film that takes you through street-level views of neighbourhoods and behind-the-scenes places at some of Boston's most loved attractions. Together they add hands-on content to what could otherwise be a short look at the view, so this attraction is often rated as worth it for families.

Planning your visit

Allow about an hour and a half, and choose a time slot that suits your day. Skip-the-line timed entry keeps queues short, though weekends and school holidays are busiest, so book ahead. An interactive tool called Explore Boston helps you create a digital itinerary of attractions and restaurants to use during the rest of your stay.

Food and drinks are not allowed inside the attraction, and large bags, pets other than assistance dogs, bikes, and bare feet are not permitted. Because you are high above the city, dress for the weather outdoors. Opening hours change by season, so check the times shown in the booking panel.