Boston Public Library Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Boston Public Library. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Boston Duck Boat Sightseeing City Tour with Cruise Along Charles River

• Boston City View Bicycle Tour: History and Landmarks

• Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 13 Stops

• Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay

• Guided Walking Tour of Copley Square to Downtown Boston Freedom Trail

While it’s free to visit the Boston Public Library on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you learn more about the library with an expert guide—and have some fun along the way. Walking tours that include time in the library start at around US$35, while private driving tours cost upwards of US$300. You can also book a more active bicycle tour that includes a library stop for around US$60.

Yes, the Boston Public Library is worth a visit, even if books aren't your thing. The library's McKim Building is an architectural landmark, with barrel-vaulted ceilings, grand staircases, and the iconic Bates Hall reading room. Rotating art exhibitions, historic John Singer Sargent murals, and a quiet inner courtyard round out the experience. Schedule a guided tour of Boston that includes the library for expert insight into the building and its place in the city's history.

Per one customer who booked the Boston: Votes for Women History Tour of Back Bay, "Our guide was so knowledgeable and loved questions. Maura told us and showed us about Boston's women's suffragist movement. Loved seeing buildings we have walked by numerous times in a different light, as important to the fight for the vote. This is a must-do for young people as well."

Yes, tourists can visit the Boston Public Library. The famed Copley Square location of the Boston public library system features in many sightseeing tours, from hop-on, hop-off trolley rides to self-guided walking tours. Beyond its ornate facade are marble sculptures, murals by John Singer Sargent, and a vaulted reading room.

No, you don't need a library card to visit the Boston Public Library. Staff-guided tours of the Central Library branch in Copley Square are free and open to all. Otherwise, you can explore on your own using booklets on the library's art and architecture that are free and available on-site.

Drinks and food are not allowed indoors at the Boston Public Library. One exception is within the Courtyard of the Central Library in Copley Square—it even has chairs and tables. You can also buy coffee at the Central Library's Newsfeed Café, accessible from Boylston Street and Exeter Street.

Many tours of Boston include the Central Library. It's a featured stop on many hop-on, hop-off trolley tours of the city—some amphibious duck tours even pass through Copley Square. Other options include bicycle and e-bike tours, guided walking tours, and self-guided audio tours that work well for travelers seeking flexibility.

Yes, there are restrooms at the Boston Public Library. If you enter the McKim Lobby from Dartmouth Street, toilets are to the left. You can find additional bathrooms on the lower level and second floor. Family restrooms are inside the Children's Library section on the second floor (Boylston Street side).

Hours at Boston Public Library vary. The iconic Central Library in Copley Square is open 9am–8pm Monday through Thursday and 9am–5pm on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, the library is open 11am–5pm. Departure times for hour-long tours of the Central Library's extraordinary art and architecture are on the website.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Boston Public Library. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Boston:

• Faneuil Hall Marketplace

• Boston Common

• Boston North End

• Quincy Market

• Granary Burying Ground

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Boston.