Prudential Center Skywalk
800 Boylston Street
(between Gloucester and Exeter Streets)
50th Floor
(617) 859-0648
One of the best places in the
city to orient
yourself to Boston and all it has to offer is actually atop an
office building, the Prudential Center Skywalk. Every visitor’s
personal, birds-eye view, this observation deck is the perfect
vantage point from which to enjoy the city below.
Located on the 50th
floor of the Prudential Tower, the observatory affords
spectacular vistas of Boston, Cambridge, and the suburbs – on
clear days one can even see Cape Cod. Among the attractions atop
the Prudential are comfortable chairs for sitting, conversing
and enjoying a prolonged visit, and noisy interactive exhibits
on the city’s history – all easing the bite of the $4
admission ticket. Visible from the Skywalk are such famous
attractions as the John Hancock Building, the buildings in the
Christian Science complex, the Boston Public Library, Trinity
Church, Fenway Park, and many of the parks that make up Boston’s
Emerald Necklace.
Prudential Center, opened in
1965, reigned as the city’s tallest building at 52 stories
until the 60-story Hancock tower was completed eleven years
later. Comprised mostly of office space, it is also part of a
complex that includes almost 50 shops, including Lord &
Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue department stores. The "Pru"
is also home to numerous restaurants, including the Top of the
Hub on the top floor, several apartment buildings, and is
connected to the Hynes Convention Center and the Sheraton Boston
Hotel.
Note to visitors:
Visitors can walk 360 degrees around the Skywalk, but do your
best to ignore the decades-old décor and focus all your
attention on the huge windows, which are marked to help you
locate some of the city’s well-known features. The Skywalk is
completely indoors, so don’t expect to find an outdoor
balcony. Keep in mind, as with most urban observation decks
around the country, the busiest and most crowded times are
weekends, so allow plenty of time for this worthwhile
experience.
Address
800 Boylston Street
(between Gloucester and Exeter Streets)
50th Floor
(617) 859-0648
Hours
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Daily
Admission
:
Adults $4
Children and Seniors $3
MBTA Stop
: Prudential