The best spots in Boston for Photography
Boston is a big city, with a lot of diverse locations. It would take years to photograph every cool spot in the city, and most of us don’t have that. Maybe you’re just visiting and only have a few days to get some cool shots in, or you’re just starting out with photography and need some locations where frankly, the view does a lot of the work for you. I’ve laid out eight of my favorite spots in the city (as well as a few tips on each one) to get you started on taking photos in Boston.
Fan Pier Park
Fan Pier is one of my favorite spots in the city to shoot. Located in the Seaport, this little park is situated right on the waterfront and offers spectacular views of downtown Boston. While this spot can get a little crowded on the weekend, especially in recent years as the Seaport has exploded in popularity, on a weeknight it can be pretty quiet. All along the boardwalk you can get great views of downtown, and given it’s orientation, you can practice with different focal lengths the further back you want to walk along it. If you have a good longer lens (70mm or higher) there’s a great elevated pavilion at the back where you can shoot, but my favorite spot is about halfway down.
Bonus Tip: Come here just after sunset. As seen in the above photo, the harbor lights up pretty early and gives you a view of Boston you won’t want to miss. Great opportunity to practice your night photography and long exposure technique.
Getting Here: Sure, you could probably drive here and spend a fortune in parking. But the easiest way is to take the Red Line to South Station and make the 15 minute walk over. You’ll find some great photo spots along the way such as murals, photogenic lobster shacks, and the Boston Tea Party tours.
2. Mt. Auburn Cemetery
If you’re looking to escape the feeling that you’re in a city, Mt. Auburn Cemetery is where to go. Located about halfway between Cambridge and Watertown, this sprawling 174-acre cemetery offers a great chance to shoot flowers, wildlife, and even features a great view of downtown Boston. Take the time to explore here for a few hours, making sure to make your way to Washington Tower which from the top, offers possibly the best view of downtown Boston from just outside the city. This spot is very popular among bird photographers as well.
Bonus Tip: While Washington Tower might be the most photographed location (and rightly so), both the little lakes you can find in the cemetery are inhabited by blue herons. If you’re quiet, or have a good telephoto lens, you can get some really great shots of their striking blue and orange hues.
Getting Here: The 73 bus line runs right along the entrance, but this is one of the few spots in Boston it’s safe to bring your car. Parking is free, and if you’re not able to walk long distances (or are feeling a bit lazy) you can drive around almost the entire cemetery. Just watch the hours, as the cemetery does close a bit on the early side.
3. North Point Park
Right next to the Museum of Science, North Point Park offers possibly the best views of the Leonard P Zakim bridge. The entire park is right along the Charles river, giving you the opportunity to play with mixing water into your shots (making for some really cool reflection opportunities), as well as opportunities to practice your leading lines with the rails along the water.
Bonus Tip: Show up at sunrise. I get this might be impossibly early (5am in the summer) for some people, but on a clear day, you can catch the sun rising over the Zakim Bridge for a great shot.
Getting Here: You can take the T to North Station and walk about 10 minutes, but what I most often do is just park at the Museum of Science Parking Garage (free if you’re under an hour) and walk across the street. The garage is open 5am-midnight.
4. Museum of Science Parking Garage
This one is a bit of a hidden gem. While many people (tourists and locals) have hit up the Museum of Science at one point or another, not a lot of people realize the roof of the garage features some of the best views of the Charles and the Boston skyline you’ll find. The garage is affordable (at least for Boston’s standards) and the roof is almost always empty. You can get shots of the Zakim bridge on one side, but looking South will get you some pretty spectacular views. I love coming here at sunset and capturing how the sun changes colors as the sun disappears.
Bonus Tip: Don’t just park on the one view. Take the time to visit each side of the rooftop and you’ll find some interesting views of the city and Museum of Science itself.
Getting Here: If you don’t have a car, you can take the T to North Station and walk over. If you have a car, it’s a no-brainer. The garage is free if you stay under an hour, and even if you spend more than an hour (I usually do), it’s only $19.
5. Hyatt Regency Harborwalk
Near the airport in East Boston, the Hyatt Regency Harborwalk offers some amazing views of the Boston skyline. Ships come in and out throughout the day, but this is another location you’ll want to show up at sunset. For good chunks of the year, the sun sets right over the buildings giving you some amazing colors right at golden hour. This is also a great location to practice some long exposure shots an hour or so past sunset, as the water here can be a bit choppy at times and the building lights up pretty early.
Bonus Tip: The buoys and structures in the water allow to better frame your shots. Walk along the boardwalk to find different ways to frame the city as you shoot.
Getting Here: Unless you want to take the dreaded Silver Line, you’re probably best off parking at the hotel parking lot. While this can get pricey very quick ($48 for anything over an hour), you can have a drink at the hotel bar and they’ll validate your parking. I wish I had known this tip sooner, but even one drink at an overpriced hotel bar will save you from parking hell.
6. Arnold Arboretum
No visit to Boston is complete without taking some time to explore the Arnold Arboretum. And the best part, it’s completely free. Like Mt Auburn Cemetery from above, this is one of the few places in Boston that lets you escape the city a bit and lets you feel like you’re in a different world. Great foliage, well-kept flowers, and some great birding highlight the arboretum. On a nice day, you could easily spend hours exploring the 280+ acres available.
Bonus Tip: Make it a point to climb to the top of Bussey Hill. It’s right in the center of the arboretum and offers some great views of the entire space as well as the city in the distance.
Getting Here: The orange line comes pretty close to the entrance, but this is another spot where as long as you don’t show up on a Saturday at noon, you’ll find plenty of street parking along the Arborway.
7. Christian Science Plaza
Near Northeastern University, the Christian Science Plaza offers quite a few unique shots. The building above is a great opportunity to practice some more wide-angle photography (good luck getting far enough away to get the whole thing on anything more than a 26mm lens). The reflecting pool also offers some great shot opportunities, reflecting not just the building above, but the nearby skyscrapers.
Bonus Tip: The best part about the Christian Science Plaza, is how close it is to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. You can easily knock out all three and come away with some great shots (the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a MUST for anyone new to the city or just visiting).
Getting Here: This is one of the areas of Boston where you’re just not going to be able to drive to. I’m sure there is parking somewhere nearby, but honestly, hop on the Green Line, get off at Symphony, and you’re right here. No point in spending an arm and a leg on parking around here.
8. Castle Island
Located in South Boston, Castle Island is a great way to spend a few hours. The proximity to the airport gives you the opportunity to get some planes into your shots, and the inlet has some great photo spots to mix in water and structures into your photos. It’s worth walking around the entire place, as you’ll find some diverse photo locations including statues, Fort Independence, and a path that takes you along some great oceanfront views.
Bonus Tip: Along Fort Independence you’ll find some really high-contrast colors in nearby shipping crates. This is a great opportunity to mix some color into your shots, especially if you came on a cloudy day.
Getting Here: Just drive. I’m sure there a bus line somewhere nearby, but this place has plenty of free parking!
These are just eight of my favorite spots in Boston to take photos. There are plenty more you’ll want to check out (The Esplanade, Fenway, Acorn Street), but the ones I’ve listed are a good way to get out there and take photos. Let me know if you have any favorite spots I didn’t cover or want to share your shots from any of these locations!