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Museum of Fine ArtsvsIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Both are endorsed by those who travel for a living. On balance, Museum of Fine Arts is preferred by most professionals compared to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Museum of Fine Arts comes in at #1 in Boston with endorsements from 12 reviewers such as Michelin Guide, Where and Travel + Leisure.
Museum of Fine Arts
Fodor's
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Time Out
Not For Tourists
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Condé Nast Traveler
Where
The Telegraph Show All Reviews
465 Huntington Ave, Avenue of the Arts, Boston, MA 02115-5597
From $0/night
Fodor's "Count on staying a while if you have any hope of seeing what's here." Full review
Concierge "One of America's grandest art museums, the MFA holds American and European paintings from the 7th century to the present."
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"The Museum of Fine Arts holdings encompass all eras, from the ancient world to contemporary times, and all areas of the globe, making it truly encyclopedic in scope." Full review
Time Out "Founded in 1870, the MFA moved from Copley Square to its current home, a neoclassical granite building on Huntington Avenue—the so-called "Avenue of the Arts"—in 1909." Full review
Not For Tourists "Arguably one of the top museums in the country. Go for the Copleys."
Travel + Leisure "The sheer majesty of this world-renowned arts institution would be overwhelming if it weren’t so enchanting. I’ve been delightfully lost many times, wandering through labyrinthine halls." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"One of the country's leading museums, the Museum of Fine Arts contains a comprehensive collection of more than 350,000 artworks." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "There's a special focus on American masters from the 18th and 19th centuries: Copley, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassat, John Singer Sargent, and Gilbert Stuart." Full review
Where "The MFA’s encyclopedic collection culls some of the world’s finest treasures, including international and contemporary art, instruments, photographs and textiles." Full review
The Telegraph "Like a combination of the British Museum and the National Gallery, this collection spans the world, but highlights include European Old Masters, Impressionists and the Art of the Americas Wing." Full review
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Fodor's Concierge Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Time Out Condé Nast Traveler Not For Tourists Travel + Leisure Michelin Guide Where Show All Reviews
280 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115
From $0/night
Fodor's "Today, it's probably America's most idiosyncratic treasure house." Full review
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If you're looking for a light lunch after your tour, visit Cafe G near the gift shop.
Concierge "Isabella Stewart Gardner was an heiress and something of a black sheep of late-19th- and early-20th-century Boston society: She was a rabid Red Sox and horse-racing fan."
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"The Gardner is filled with almost 2000 priceless objects, primarily European, including outstanding tapestries and Italian Renaissance and 17th-century Dutch paintings." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This eclectic museum occupies a meticulous replica of a Venetian palazzo and showcases an unparalleled collection of old masters, Gothic tapestries, and Renaissance furniture." Full review
Time Out "The Gardner museum is a lavish reconstruction of a 15th-century Venetian palace, complete with a luxurious interior courtyard with a seasonally changing floral display." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Often over-shadowed by the Museum of Fine Arts next door, the museum is packed with more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries. The Palm Courtyard is one of the prettiest places in town." Full review
Not For Tourists "Eccentric collection highlighting the Renaissance and the pleasures of having money. A gem."
Travel + Leisure "Beyond the charming garden courtyard visitors can wander through works from ancient Rome all the way up to the belle époque." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"Isabella Stewart Gardner built Fenway Court, which resembles a 15C Venetian-style palace, to showcase her magnificent art collection in an intimate setting." Full review
Where "Isabella Stewart Gardner’s vast collection of more than 2,500 fine and decorative art objects, paintings, tapestries and furnishings and includes a venue for contemporary artists and concerts." Full review
