Museum of Fine Arts Boston

The city of Boston has plenty of attractions for tourists. One highly recommended is the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses some of the most extensive and detailed collections of art from all over the world.

From ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to contemporary art, this museum doesn't miss a chapter in art history. On your next visit to Boston, be sure to stop by this extraordinary museum for an unparalleled cultural experience.

Tickets to this museum have an average price of.....

• 26 euros: (adults)
• 10 euros: (children and young people between 7 and 17 years old)
• Free: for children from 0 to 6 years old. Massachusetts residents are also entitled to free admission on certain holidays throughout the year.

Special exhibits cost approximately 7 euros in addition to the general admission price (a general admission ticket is required to enter a special exhibit).

You can buy tickets directly from the ticket office at the main entrance to the museum, but be aware that tickets are subject to availability, and if they sell out, you'll have to say goodbye to your visit to the museum...at least for the day.

To avoid surprises, I recommend you purchase your tickets in advance, either on their website or by phone at 1-800-440-6975 (the latter, with an additional fee of approximately 6 euros for processing).

General admission does not include entrance to special exhibitions, so if you want to enter any of them, you must include these tickets in your reservation. Be careful! Special exhibitions have fixed schedules that you must check before booking.

Yes, the Go Boston Card is an option. When you purchase this tourist card, you will get free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts and its special exhibitions.

In addition, this card includes admission to nearly 30 other attractions throughout the city, such as the Boston Aquarium, Franklin Park Zoo and the Peabody Essex Museum.

Yes, admission to the museum's general exhibitions costs approximately 10 euros for children and young people aged 7 to 17... and for the youngest children (0 to 6 years), admission is free.

Inside the museum there are guided tours and visits that are regularly scheduled and free of charge (unless otherwise specified). I recommend you check their website for the options available.

Are they worth it? I would say yes. In such a large museum and with limited time in the city, it's always useful to have someone to guide you. As I said, these tours are usually free of charge, plus you can join the group whenever you want. Why not give it a try?

The museum has also taken the initiative to use technology to reach out to more people. It has developed an application for mobile phones where you can take tours on your own, accompanied by an audio description of the history and a few curiosities behind each piece.

At the moment it is only in English, but regardless of your language level, I recommend you install it because the maps and tours it includes can be very useful.

And continuing with its technological incursion, the museum offers other forms of tourist tours on the other side of the screen, including demonstrations of musical instruments, conversations with art curators, courses and other digital resources.

One of the most convenient ways to get to the Museum of Fine Arts is by underground or bus. Here are the lines and stations:

• Underground: If you take the Green Line E, get off at the Museum of Fine Arts station, which is just steps away from the main entrance of the museum. You can also get there by taking the Orange Line and get off at Ruggles station. This stop is less than four blocks from the museum.
• Bus: You can take the 39 to Huntington Avenue to the Ruggles Street or Louis Prang Street stops. Alternatively, take the 8, 19, 47 and CT2 to the Huntington Avenue stop on Ruggles Street. Any of these stations is less than two blocks away from the museum.

The various galleries of the Museum of Fine Arts are grouped into general departments according to the region of origin of the art on display. I'll tell you more about some of the 'gems' that I recommend you shouldn't miss from each of these regions.

Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East

In the Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East section you will find one of the most outstanding exhibits in the museum and one that fascinates children in particular: the Egyptian mummies. Five very well preserved and detailed coffins located in one of the first galleries of the museum, an incredible welcome, don't you think?

Mummies and more than 60,000 other objects dedicated only to this culture of the Nile. Sculpture, jewellery, weapons...I'm telling you straight: this museum houses the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian art outside of Cairo.

Although to a lesser extent, you'll also find art from the coveted Nubia and the Near East (Mesopotamia, Persia, Anatolia, etc.). And you're just getting started.

Ancient Greece and Rome

Ancient cultures also extend to the first floor of the museum, such as the Ancient Greek and Roman art department , which spans from the Bronze Age to early Byzantine.

Be prepared for another huge collection, featuring coins, sculptures, gems and portraits. You can take a closer look at one of the most visited spaces in this department here.

Africa and Oceania

What about the Africa and Oceania art department ? Works from the 16th to the 21st centuries spanning these fascinating continents are on display here. Here you can take a look at the highlights that await you on the first floor of the building.

Asia

Around 15,000 objects from China, Korea, Japan, South and Southeast Asia and the Islamic world are on display in the Art of Asia. From huge Buddhist sculptures and fine ceramics from the Tang or Song dynasty, paintings, calligraphy, ritual objects and even a stone gate can be found here.

Europe

European art is the most represented among the icons of the Museum of Fine Arts. Artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, Gauguin, Degas, Van Gogh are represented here. What more could you ask for so far?

America

Coming to the New World...the art department of America. On practically every level of the museum, you will find spaces dedicated to this huge continent. The collection includes a large number of objects from the ancient civilisations of Mesoamerica to the modern art born in metropolises such as New York or Mexico City.

By the historical line they cover, these works show different contexts such as war, migration, politics and cultural exchange, freedom, slavery...a collection as diverse as America itself. Check out some outstanding examples in Native American art at this link or this one for pictorial works, with John Singer Sargent, Jackson Pollock and Frida Kahlo among a few exponents.

Contemporary art

And last but not least, although it has nothing to do precisely with geographical regions**: Contemporary art**. As you already know, it is the art of our time, the art that has been created since the middle of the 20th century and which is as diverse and changing as the times. They are galleries that are constantly growing and updating... you must find some surprises.

There is definitely a lot of information in this museum. But with what I have summarised here and with a map in hand, you will be able to get an idea of the route of the exhibitions and which ones to spend more or less time on.

The Museum of Fine Arts, like other huge museums of its kind, is not designed to be seen in a day...let alone a few hours.

For this reason, if possible, many people choose to visit it several times (and even then, there will always be something to see). This, of course, will also depend on your own energy, not so much because of how much you walk around, but because it is too much information to process.

Don't worry! A short visit can always be rewarding and wonderful, and is very common among visitors as well. If you set aside at least 4 hours for your visit, it will be perfect. Besides, you will always have a reason to come back to the city... or not?

The Museum of Fine Arts is open 5 days a week: Thursday to Monday. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The opening time is 10 am and closes at 5 pm except on Fridays, when it closes until 10 pm. Last access is allowed 30 minutes before closing.Closed on public holidays: 1 January, 18 April, 4 July, 24 November and 25 December.

More than a tip, the following is a requirement of the museum. The museum has codes of conduct and dress that must be followed by all visitors and which you will have seen in many other museums. You can see them here but here are a few more:

• Covered, non-provocative clothing.
• Do not use mobile phones for telephone conversations.
• No flash photography and no equipment such as tripods and selfie sticks.
• No eating and drinking inside the galleries.
• No smoking, running, shouting... I don't think I need to say them one by one.

And, for visitors especially with children:

• Do not carry children on your shoulder, on your back or in baby carriers.
• Parents and carers are requested to keep a watchful and well-behaved eye on their children. Although there are for this purpose, this is not a "touch-and-feel" museum.
• It is recommended to bring a special plan to visit in the company of the little ones. For example, play a game of "clues" (colours, size, shapes, elements) and see who can guess an object chosen from an exhibit. Creativity can lead them to try to imitate the poses or gestures of sculptures and portraits, or to wonder what those characters were thinking or feeling. At the museum, you'll also have help...just look for the "For families" labels in spaces like the Shapiro Family Courtyard with tips on how children can better connect with art. With a little creativity and imagination, you can have a more enjoyable time with the kids.
• I suggest getting to the museum first thing in the morning. This time is usually the least crowded and can be enjoyed more quietly. Another advantage of being punctual is that, not until you are there, you will know how much time you need for your tour in the museum. I mean, maybe you estimated 4 hours for your visit, but then you realise that you need more and if it is already closing time, you will have no choice but to leave with your inspiration cut off.
• And as a last recommendation, the one I always give in monumental museums like this one: check beforehand on their website the available exhibitions and possible routes along with a general review of the map of the building. It will help you a lot!

In this museum, there are not one but three shops selling all sorts of little things that look like just another exhibition. And that's not counting the museum's online shop which you can see here. In this shop, I especially recommend the prints on demand...

In these shops you will find a lot of books on art, photography, music, architecture and children's books. Also, decorative objects, jewellery and fashion accessories, prints and toys. Set aside an hour or two to wander around these shops and take something unique from this museum home with you.

Inside the museum there are several dining options, from a quick snack to more elaborate dishes to suit all tastes and budgets.

If these options don't quite convince you, or the food is a pretext to explore the surrounding area, here are a few options located less than 1 km away:

• For American food: Milkweed and Audubon Boston.
• For Asian cuisine: You'll be surprised at the number of options around here. Like: M&J Teriyaki, Sushi Kappo or SOJUba.
• Mediterranean and seafood food in general, also gives off aromas in the area. Some options are: Boston shawarmama, Eventide Fenway and , Sufra Mediterranean Food.

There are many other options. In this link you can see more.