View Boston Observation Deck
Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston St., Boston, MA, 02199
Perched on the top floors of Prudential Tower, View Boston is the only observation deck in the city, offering 360-degree, panoramic views of the surrounding skyline. Visitors can take in the sights from indoor and outdoor areas and marvel at the immersive screen that displays street-level perspectives of neighborhoods and behind-the-scenes shots of popular attractions. An open-air deck also serves up cocktails and small bites.
The basics
Visit View Boston by choosing from different ticketing packages, with perks such as priority lane entry and flexible arrival times. Once you ascend to the top of the Prudential Tower, you can take in expansive views of Boston from both indoor and outdoor spaces. You can also learn about the city’s landmarks and attractions through elevated viewing platforms and interactive displays.
On the 51st floor, step out onto the 360-degree open-air roof deck, known as the Cloud Terrace, and grab a drink at cocktail bar Stratus. Also, stop to check out Boston 365, a 3D model that uses projection mapping to show how the city looks at different times of the year.
Things to know before you go
Great for first-time visitors, an on-site interactive tool allows you to explore Boston neighborhoods and locate attractions, restaurants, and landmarks based on your interests.
Visitors need to purchase tickets to View Boston to access both dining options: The Beacon and Stratus.
Disability assistance gear such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and medical scooters are permitted here.
Metal sculptures of famous Boston landmarks designed in partnership with the Perkins School for the Blind allow those with visual impairments to experience landmarks like the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hatch Shell, and Trinity Church.
How to get there
Located on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, View Boston is within walking distance of popular attractions such as Boston Common. It is also easily accessible via public transit including the city’s subway lines (Green and Orange), commuter rail lines, and buses. The Green Line’s “E” train stops at the Prudential Center and exits into the building.
When to get there
View Boston is usually open daily, from 10am to 10pm, with the last entry admitted one hour before closing. Note that the cocktail bar and bistro operate different schedules from the observation deck. Like many observation decks, sunset is a popular time to visit this attraction, so expect larger crowds then, as well as on the weekends and during the summer months when more tourists travel to Boston.
Build your itinerary at View Boston
Throughout View Boston, stop at digital kiosks to learn about the neighborhoods you’re seeing and build an itinerary of additional attractions you want to check out based on what you saw. This feature makes View Boston a great stop for first-time and returning travelers looking for an updated must-visit list. Visitors can also scan the barcode on their entry tickets to have info on attractions sent to their inbox.
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