The Boston Harbor Islands are magical...a whole different universe made up of 32 islands and 2 peninsulas. 

A short 15-minute ferry ride takes you to the closest Harbor Island, located less than 4 miles from your departure wharf in downtown Boston - the perfect day trip for when you want to be in a completely different place without traveling more than a few minutes. 

All of the Islands are within 10 miles of Boston.

The islands dot the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, and even extend a bit into Massachusetts Bay, where the tiny eastern-most island called The Graves boasts the tallest lighthouse in Boston Harbor.

What else can you see and do on the Islands? 

Well, more historic lighthouses, sandy beaches, hiking trails, and great spots for picnics, photographs, and bird-watching...plus guided tours conducted by Park Rangers.

We explore 5 popular ways see and explore Boston's Harbor Islands - everything from ferry cruises to a whale watch. 

Whichever you choose, you're sure to have a memorable adventure!

Did you know . . .most of the 34 Harbor Islands (and peninsulas), except for Castle Island and Spinnaker Island, make up the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, which also includes two additional peninsulas, Web Memorial Park and World's End. 

 

Nineteen of the Harbor Islands, including The Graves, are officially part of the City of Boston. 

Top photo: Boston Harbor Islands at sunset

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5 Ways to Explore the Boston Harbor Islands

1.  Hop on a Harbor Islands Ferry Cruise

Boston Harbor Islands Ticket Kiosk on the Rose Kennedy Greenway
Boston Harbor Islands Ticket Kiosk on the Rose Kennedy Greenway

You can't beat the convenience of the Harbor Island ferry cruises.  

Ferries to Georges Island and Spectacle Island depart from Boston's Long Wharf North between May (check the May Events Calendar for exact start date) and Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in October. 

In as little as 15 minutes, you'll be stepping ashore on Spectacle Island or Georges Island.

Spectacle Island's 121 acres boast two sandy beaches, a welcoming Visitors Center complete with rocking chairs on the veranda, a cafe, a marina, and lifeguards, showers, and changing areas - so bring your swimsuit and a towel.

Or explore the island's five miles of hiking trails and enjoy spectacular city skyline views.

By contrast, Georges Island's 39-acres (53 at low tide) mainly contains Fort Warren, built in 1845, decommissioned in 1947, and now a National Historic Landmark. 

Although the fort served as a prison during the American Civil War and gained recognition for its relatively humane treatment of Confederate soldiers, it's best known in Boston for its ghost legend, "The Lady in Black." 

Park Rangers conduct free activities such plays, historic shows, and musical performances on many weekends. 

The whole island is fortified, so if you're not interested in forts, you may want to either skip Georges Island or stop here only long enough to catch a water shuttle to Lovells Island, Peddocks Island, Grape Island, and Bumpkin Island.

These smaller islands are far more rustic than Spectacle Island and Georges Island.   Although they offer picnic areas, hiking trails, and beach areas, swimming is at your own risk - no lifeguards.

Ferry Ticket Information

Pick up your tickets at the Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion on the Greenway across from the Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel and hop on the comfortable 200-person catamaran at nearby Long Wharf.

Ticket Prices:  Round trip tickets:   $25 adults, $18 children (ages 3-11), $23 seniors 65+, children under 3 free
Advance ticket purchase recommended.  Available at:  Boston Harbor Islands website - y
You can also buy your tickets at Long Wharf ticket booth

To view (but not visit) the islands off-season between November through April, ride the comfortable heated Harbor Express ferry (part of the MBTA commuter boat system) between Boston, Hull, and Hingham.  This ride lets you see the Boston Harbor Islands and beautiful city skyline views. 

Purchase tickets and depart at Long Wharf next to the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel, or check the MBTA website for more information.

More about Boston Harbor Island Ferries

Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, seen during a whale watch cruise
Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, seen during a whale watch cruise

Nearest T station: Blue Line/Aquarium
Nearest parking:  Boston Harbor Garage is the closest.  Check Boston garages near North End attractions for prices, discounts, and other less pricey options


More Ways to Cruise Boston Harbor


2.  See the Harbor Islands & Boston Light during a Whale Watching Cruise

Look for breaching whales during your cruise - always a special sight!
Look for breaching whales during your cruise - always a special sight! - Photo credit:  istock.com/Kellie Summers

Whales, dolphins, and other sea life may be the stars of these cruises, but your ride out and back takes you past numerous Harbor Islands and lighthouses.  It's like getting a bonus island tour as part of the whale cruise.

More about whale watch options from the Downtown Waterfront

Find Whale Watch booking information


3.  Sail to the Harbor Islands

Sailboat and Boston Harbor Islands
Boston Harbor Islands at sunset

Exploring the Boston's Harbor Islands by sailboat gives you the ultimate freedom, allowing you to go to many more islands than you can reach by ferry. 

Several islands - Spectacle, Georges, Gallops, and Peddocks Island (Portuguese Cove) - offer moorings, and you can also anchor off the islands. 

Anchor your boat, and hike up to the top of the 100 foot bluffs on Great Brewster Island where you can see 4 lighthouses across the Harbor.  Explore the tidal pools and rocky shores of Grape Island.  Photograph the abundant wildflowers on Rainsford Island. 


4.  Explore Castle Island

Boston Harbor Islands:  View of Long Island and Spectacle Island from Castle Island
Boston Harbor Islands:  View of Long Island and Spectacle Island from Castle Island

Castle Island has it all - cool breezes on hot summer days, great views of the USS Constitution turnaround cruise each July, a historic fort, and grassy slopes for frisbee games and picnics.  Plus, you'll even see other Boston Harbor Islands in the distance.

Best of all, you can walk or bike there from South Boston.

More about why you'll love visiting Castle Island


5.   Camp on Boston's Harbor Islands

Camping is available on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells Islands for a small fee.  You must make advance reservations, as each island has only 6 - 10 individual campsites and 2 group campsites. 

Campsites have composting toilets and picnic tables - but there's no fresh water, electricity, food, or phone service - so you need to plan carefully.

To reserve a campsite, call this toll-free number:  1-877-422-6762.  You'll be assigned a specific campsite by an Island park ranger when you check in. 

The easiest way to purchase Harbor Islands ferry tickets is on-line.  Go to the Boston Harbor Islands website for ticket purchase, schedules, and more information (note: service is limited during non-summer months). 

Be sure to also check out the off-season specialty cruises between November through April. 

Additional contact information:  Park Rangers: 617-223-8666

Especially on summer weekends, advance ticket purchase on-line or in person at the Pavilion is strongly recommended. 

Boston Insider Tip:  What to Bring on Your Harbor Island Trip

  • Sun block
  • Light jacket (offshore temperatures are cooler than you'd expect)
  • Water bottle
  • Swimsuit and towel if you plan to swim
  • Camera, binoculars
  • Picnic lunch (although you can buy snacks on Spectacle Island)

More Ways to See the Boston Harbor Islands

If you just want to see the Harbor Islands instead of exploring them, try one of these:


Boston Harbor Islands Map

Map of Boston Harbor Islands, courtesy of the National Fisheries Service
Map of Boston Harbor Islands - Credit: National Fisheries Service, public domain

Trivia Quiz: Name the Boston Harbor Islands

Through the years, some former Harbor Islands have become connected to the mainland, especially around Boston Logan Airport, while landfill has turned others into peninsulas. 

In case you're curious (or ever play Trivia), here's a complete list of the 34 current islands and peninsulas:

  • Bumpkin Island
  • Button Island
  • Calf Island
  • Castle Island
  • Deer Island
  • Gallops Island
  • Georges Island
  • Grape Island
  • Great Brewster Island
  • Green Island
  • Hangman Island
  • Langlee Island
  • Little Brewster Island
  • Little Calf Island
  • Long Island
  • Lovells Island
  • Middle Brewster Island
  • Moon Island
  • Nixes Mate
  • Noddle's Island
  • Outer Brewster Island
  • Peddocks Island
  • Raccoon Island
  • Ragged Island
  • Rainsford Island
  • Sarah Island
  • Shag Rocks
  • Sheep Island
  • Slate Island
  • Snake Island
  • Spectacle Island
  • Spinnaker Island
  • The Graves
  • Thompson Island

More about the Most Reachable Harbor Islands

Spectacle Island

Spectacle Island from the air, with Thompson Island behind it
Spectacle Island from the air, with Thompson Island behind it
Photo courtesy of Doc Searls

Boston Harbor Islands ferries stop first at Spectacle Island

This 121-acre island opened to the public only in 2006 after a rather infamous previous life as a City of Boston garbage dump followed by a stint as a Big Dig landfill.  

Now that the almost 4 million cubic tons of Central Artery / Tunnel debris dumped there have been capped, 2 beaches created, and 28,000 trees, shrubs, and vines installed, Spectacle Island is the new "gateway" to the Boston Harbor Islands.

However, you can still see traces of Spectacle Islands history in the beautiful bits of sea glass and pottery scattered across the sandy beach.

If you haven't visited this island before, get off the ferry and explore.  You'll find a new solar-powered Visitors Center complete with rocking chairs on the veranda, cafe, marina, a gorgeous beach with lifeguards, showers, and changing areas - so bring your swimsuit and a towel!

Spectacle Island also has 5 miles of hiking trails going up to the island's highest point, where you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Boston skyline and waterfront. 

On Sunday afternoons from June through August, you can also enjoy free jazz concerts at the Visitors Center.


Georges Island

Georges Island in front, Gallops Island to the left, and Brewster Islands
Georges Island in front, Gallops Island to the left, and Brewster Islands at the back - Photo credit: Doc Searls

After stopping at Spectacle Island, the Long Wharf ferries continue on to Georges Island, which is also where you can catch the water shuttles to other islands.  Ferry service between Spectacle and Georges Islands is included in the basic fare that you pay at Long Wharf.

This 39-acre island (53 acres at low tide) contains Fort Warren, built in 1845, decommissioned in 1947, and now a National Historic Landmark. 

In fact, the whole island is fortified, so if you're not interested in forts, you may want to either skip Georges Island or stop here only long enough to catch the water shuttle to the smaller islands.

Although the fort was used as a prison during the American Civil War and renowned for its humane treatment of Confederate soldiers, it's best known locally for its ghost legend, "The Lady in Black." 

What to learn more about this ghost?  Go on one of the free guided tours of the fort given by Park Rangers.

You can also hike around Georges Island on your own.  There's a gravel beach, a large dock, and paved walkways. 

You can also enjoy lots of other free activities here.  Although programming varies each year, typical events are plays, historic shows, and musical performances. 


Lovells Island, Peddocks Island, Grape Island, Bumpkin Island

Grape Island - Photo credit: MBTafan2011 via Wikimedia Commons, cc by3.0 license

Grape Island - Photo credit: MBTafan2011 via Wikimedia Commons, cc by 3.0 license

Lovells Island, Peddocks Island, Grape Island, and Bumpkin Island are more rustic than Spectacle Island and Georges Island. 

They offer picnic areas, walking and hiking, plus free Park Service Ranger tours.  Although you can swim, it's at your own risk - no lifeguards are here.

You can take the water shuttle from one of these islands to another. 

You may feel like you're the first person to explore some of these places - but that's far from true. 

Native Americans and Colonists used them as places to grow crops, so you're actually following in the footsteps of history.  Grape Island, for example, got its name from Colonists who found lots of wild grapes growing on it.

Camping is available on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells Islands for a small fee (confirm the amount when you make reservations). 

You must make advance reservations, as each island has only 6 - 10 individual campsites and 2 group campsites. 

Campsites have composting toilets and picnic tables.  There's no fresh water, electricity, food (although you can take the inter-island shuttle over to Spectacle Island and visit the cafe), or phone service. 

You need to plan very carefully, bring everything you need, and take all of your trash with you when you leave.

To reserve a campsite, call this toll-free number:  1-877-422-6762.  You'll be assigned a specific campsite by an Island park ranger when you check in. 


Whale Watching Cruise Tickets

Whale watching cruise
Tail of a humpback whale, seen on a whale watching cruise - Photo credit: iStock.com/stephenalien75

Join one of the exciting 3-hour Whale Watching Cruises departing from the Downtown Boston Waterfront, and experience the thrill of spotting whales off the coast of Boston. 

You'll see magnificent creatures such as Humpback and Finback whales close-up from the deck of your ship, and spot White-Sided Dolphins frolicking in the waters.

These cruises sell out quickly, so don't wait to get your tickets now for this iconic Boston experience!



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