If you are thinking about visiting the Charles River Esplanade and you are reading this, GO! Here’s why: 1. This is the perfect place for a first date, or a 100th date. I saw people sitting on benches holding each other and others having picturesque picnics. (Seriously with the basket and blanket and everything). Other activities include running, taking work calls, reading books, kids playing in the playground, and relaxing by the water. (Look at my photos to see what I’m talking about). 2. If you are on a leisurely walk it’s extremely relaxing. Something about walking along the water and watching life happen in so many different directions is humbling. This part of the city separates you from the city and you feel as though you are a 3rd person observer to it all. It forces you to slow down and be present. The docks and benches invite you to stop and watch a sailboat or the patterns in the water. 3. There are multiple access points to get onto the trail. I recommend parking close to one of the many bridge and walking to an access point. You can easily find them on google maps. I can add a marked up screenshot in my review. 4. It’s worth going. If you are thinking about it this is your sign. Just do it. Check out my photos to get a sense of the space.

Outstanding relaxed area to walk, run, bike, or just chill by the river. Beautiful sights. One of the best places to access is at the Red Line Charles/MGH station. a Once there, it's a short 5 min walk on some overpass ramp to get to the river. Would put it as a must do while visiting Boston.

This place is beautiful. If it's your first time in Boston, this walk is a must on a nice day. I was really close to not evening checking this place out but I'm so glad I did. I asked some locals for recommendations and they said you have to check this place out. I came in the early evening while the sun was going down (around 5PM in late September) and it was picturesque. I really enjoyed people watching along the walk with all the people with their dogs, doing water sports, all the gorgeous apartments along the river. Just perfect. I came by myself and didn't have a picnic or anything and still had a great time walking along the Charles River. It was also nice walking around the neighborhoods in this area. I felt super safe with lots of lovely homes to admire. The only thing was I didn't see any restrooms nor parking. I took public transportation to get here so I didn't have to worry about it. I was visiting from out of town so I'm not too familiar with the parking situation in this area.

This is a great place for a leisurely stroll post afternoon lunch. The place was calm and quiet when we visited and it was very relaxing. . There is a well maintained trail that runs along the river. We also spotted few birds. Although this place is located close to the heart of the city, once you are inside, you feel as if you are completely insulated from all the hustle and bustle outside. Car parking could be a problem. If you are lucky, you could get a parking spot on the streets nearby.

The place is peaceful, you can walk by the river or get little adventurous and kayak or sail. I spent a whole day here and enjoyed long walks, sunsets, local breweries, some history and amazing views of the nature and downtown.

Peaceful park for chilling, running, enjoying some nature in the middle of the city. Great views of Boston Skyline

Favorite place to bike ride in the city! Gorgeous views all around, and somehow despite being right off Storrow, you feel completely snug in a nature oasis. No better feeling than seeing the esplanade alive on the first nice day of spring! A must visit when you come to the city!

A great place to take a stroll or run. It was by the Charles River, with a nice view of both Boston’s and Cambridge’s skylines. Lots of canada goose along the esplanade but they were quite well-behaved. Recommend to go closer to sunset to enjoy the view 🌇

Absolutely the best place for a sunset which means you'll be sharing the view with lots of others. This adds to the overall vibe and everyone's enjoying themselves getting great selfies/ couples/ group shots. It's stunning. Really good children's playgrounds here, really good for the kids to burn off energy while you get your shots. No loos.

One of my favorite places for recreation in Boston! Great for picnics, walking alone or with friends, listening to various birds sounds, reading a book, relaxing on your hammock, kayaking, biking and many other activities. There is a swan nesting area, looking forward to see the cygnets ❤️

This is one place you can visit any number of times, at any hour of the day and still not get enough of. It's a good walk, run, sunrise and sunset spot for local residents and people like me who live in the suburbs but still don't mind a 20 min drive to get to the Esplanade. One thing that could have been better here is a dedicated parking lot. That way I wouldn't need to park my car way far away and then walk to the Esplanade.

My all time go to place whenever I need peaceful walk or running. This is one of the must visit in Boston. Summer, spring and fall is the best time to go there. Winter is good as well but be aware of the wind. Since it is not surrounded by buildings and it’s a river, it gets really cold! Overall a safe area in Boston. Beautiful views of sunrise and sunset!

A good place to have a picnic, walk or walk with your pet! There you have a fantastic view of the city and you could see the boats. We went here on July 4th to see the celebration and firework and was so beautiful! You have to arrive early if you want to take a good place to stay! The gate opens at 12:00 , the show started at 6pm and the fireworks 10:30. They sell drinks, foods and ice cream over there but usually there is a very long queue. I recommend!

Great place for biking or running. Indulging yourself in the river breeze while enjoying the scenic view of the bridges. Sit back & relax 😌

One of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in Boston. I visit here regularly during sunsets after work. It's calm, serene, peaceful, and refreshing to gaze at the Charles river. The colorful sails add to the beauty of the river and the sky.

A super cute outdoor spot in Boston to just hang out and view the Charles River! There were people dancing, having a picnic, and just sitting watching the scenes the offer had to offer. If you're visiting the city, definitely stop by and have a snack at the Esplanade!

Beautiful scenery

Gorgeous little park!! Very active binge party between the joggers and cyclists. We saw ducks, geese, and other creatures sharing the space and enjoying the views. Definitely gets a bit of wind off of the water but it's lovely

One of the places in Boston where the leaves turn to fall colors early. The Charles River and the sailboats floating on it on one side and, if you're lucky, various art festivals open to the public on the other... Or an ambiance where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll or a walk at any time of the day.

Visited Charles. But it was frozen🥶. In summer, the fun to visit Charles Esplanade is different but during winters it is just amazing.

So beautiful. Jogging path is the best part. Clear wind 🍃 clear water 💧 is pure bliss.

This is a wonderful place to spend time with those that you love or just stay by yourself. Definitely it was an amazing place!!! I loved it

Beautiful park along the bank of the Charles River, with stunning views of the city across the river. The park has a beautiful trail running along side the river, which is accessible for strollers, wheelchair, and bicycles. Has a small play areas for children, and a nice restaurant offering beer and quick snacks. Take the subway, and walk down to the park, instead of driving down, as parking alongside the street is tough to find.

A serenity place right next to the busy Boston commercial district, the Prudential Center. It offers visitors peaceful moment to step away from city life. It stretches several miles on the bank of Charles River starting from Boston University from the west to Longfellow Bridge in the east . There are long trails for running, walking, or cycling. There are rental for kayaking. A huge yoga deck by the river. Many benches along the Esplanade for visitors to sit down and enjoy.

This stretch of the Charles River is especially beautiful during the spring and fall seasons. In spring, there are willows Yiyi by the riverside, and clusters of pink cherry blossoms are dotted on the blue Charles River, which is particularly eye-catching! Walking, biking, skating, meditating, reading, taking pictures, running, a small children's playground, it is a good choice for people of any age! Only one thing is not ideal, there is no parking lot, you can only walk here.

I always love my walks along the esplanade. Beautiful views, nice trail, and the cherry blossoms are blooming right now!

Is a 17 mile stretch of land along the banks of the Charles River. To people living nearby, this is known as the Esplanade, especially near the Hatch Shell. Folks run, walk, ride a bike, or take a romantic walk along the riverbank. I took a 11 mile bike ride and headed west towards Alston from the Hatch Shell. ** Notice quite a few boat houses, no trash barrels for now, no water bubbles or bathrooms in that area, plus a DCR one foot deep pool about 5 miles away from Hatch Shell heading west. The MGH redline stop will let you off right by the Appleton Walkway Bridge, which on the other side is the community sailboat house, and only a few minutes walk away to the Hatch Shell. *** Two portable bathrooms behind the Hatch-Shell for winter season. Parking none. Again the best way is either MGH redline stop, or a longer walk from Science Park green-line stop or Arlington T-stop. Parking garages near by can be expensive and at least a 10 minute walk.

Calm, quiet and serene place to spend your entire day and also end up the day watching beautiful sunset here. You can pack your food and have a great picnic in this park. Its a long stretch where one can ride bicycle or simply stroll around. We came here all the way from natick and the place didnt disappoint us.

Very relaxing spot, especially on a hot sunny day! A nice picnic spot with friends, or a jogging/bike trail. The river had a nice breeze, and you can get lots of drinks and food closeby downtown.

One of my favorite parks in the city. Lots of paths and quiet spots to watch the boats sail from MIT and Harvard. Popular to watch the sunsets from multiple piers accessible by foot.

Beautiful park along the river where you can walk, picnic, use the playground, and enjoy the sunset

If your looking for a beautiful place to run, walk, ride bikes, or even relax and read or have a picnic! This is the Spot! Scenic, Clean, and worth the visit!!!!

Excellent place to have a good hike or run. Nice weather in may around 15-19 degree Celsius. Some do finishing and some do picnic. If you visit Boston this is a good spot to chill outdoors. You can spend some time having food in Newbury st. or Boylston st. and then a 15 min walk to Charles river. MIT building is visible from Boston side. Over the river is Cambridge city.

The Esplanade is beautiful and great for walking, biking, and just hanging out! I'm a wedding photographer and joined one of my couples here for their engagement session. We had such a good time and got some great photos, too.

My go-to place in Boston across all seasons. Go here for a walk, relax and take a seat to enjoy the sunset. I used to run the length of the esplanade starting from the BU overpass and end at the Longfellow bridge connection. You’ll find runners, cyclists, skaters all around the esplanade so be aware of your surroundings if you are walking.

Perhaps the best park in all of Boston. A lot of scenic walkways, beautiful views, and places to relax. I particularly like lounging in a chair on Fiedler Pier. A nice stroll from the Copley T station, too.

I have lived in Boston for over 25 years but have only just started going down to the esplanade. Love the fresh air and beautiful views. I walk all around to get my daily steps. Its sucha tranquil peaceful place to spend the day

Nice place to visit during evening.Can do kayaking also here at the Charles River . Nearby to main streets and accessible by public commute. Need to walk for 5-8 minutes if we take Green line .

Great area to get a nice view of the river, catch up with some friends, and chill.

A lovely dedicated outdoor recreation space along the Charles River. Quite in the morning and bustling with patron in the afternoon. A great place to sit and watch boats on the river.

A good place to hangout at night for anyone- couples/singles....just sit by the river on a deck and enjoy!

One of the best, most beautiful places in Boston. Awesome for a walk, run, or bike ride. Inspiring, powerful views and great community energy.

Clean, walkways are clean, the walking bridge is new and modern architecture. There were a lot of joggers, walkers, and dogs on leashes. A perfect utopia. We walked as the sim was setting on May 22. The night was cool enough for a jacket and the sunset was beautiful.

The Charles River Esplanade of Boston, Massachusetts, is a state-owned park situated in the Back Bay area of the city, on the south bank of the Charles River Basin.[1]The limited-access parkway Storrow Drive forms the southern boundary of the park, with the Charles River marking the northern edge. In the park are walkways, statuary, the Hatch Memorial Shell performance stage, playgrounds, ballfields, and Community Boating. The Esplanade comprises part of the Charles River Reservation state park. The Esplanade was designated as a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 2009.[2] (wiki)

Nice place for a walk and to catch views of the river and the other side of the city. Plenty of places to chill. Nice children's play area too. Parking and ride share situation is a bit challenging here.

Beautiful picturesque walk, run or ride by the side of Charles river… One of the best thing to do in Boston during a good weather…

Great view, love the flowers, all the green, the river view, it is free and open to the public, the only difficult thing is the parking, but after that, no complaints.

Beautiful scenic walk within a city

A beautiful place filled with peace and nature. A walk near the river gives an amazing healing experience. Should definitely visit the place. :)

Beautiful place to walk in the snow after dinner

Well maintained and specific trees are identified.

A beautiful park for a bike or walk, right along the river! The dock is a great place for pictures or to rest next to the river. The paths are nice and easy to ride with a bike, and the view of the river makes this a relaxing place.

Great place to walk and see lots of dogs, runners etc. Lots of history here. Charles River is cleaner now than was 40 years ago for sure. Was happy to finally walk over the Arthur Fiedler Foot Bridge which always seems to be closed when walking through the area.

Great place to go in the evening and enjoy the Boston skyline on the other end of the river. I visited this place the week of snow storm on December 16 when everything was covered in snow. The reflection of the lights from the buildings on the frozen river is something to cherish.

Beautiful

#funforkiddos

Just amazing.

Great place to walk, talk, frisbee, hammock, and enjoy the Charles.

A great place to run,bike ,walk or boat in the summer time.

Beautiful place to walk and get some fresh air, exercise and see great sights, from the skyline to the wildlife just lovely.

Best park in Boston! Riverfront trails for miles, awesome programs at the Hatch Shell and Fiedler Field, fun beer garden at the Owls Nest, the city’s best tree canopy with scores of beautiful gardens, and so much more!

No matter what is the weather, it's a pleasure to walk, run or ride here. The view on Boston is incredible. Try ones and you always want to get here again. Parking is limited but available.

Lovevly place for a stroll, the wifey and I love it here.

Beautiful for walks with a dear friend or group of friends, or a loved one. There are intermittent piers you can sit and picnic at. There's two playgrounds for any kids. Nice view of Cambridge, pretty during day, prettier during the night. There is one popular college kids hangout spot you may notice night, nearer the Mass Ave Bridge.

Nice place to chill out. Just sitting near the river and chatting. Also recommend biking alone the river.

Great spot for sunsets, a lot of open area but pretty popular spot so decent amount of foot traffic. Lot's of geese, ducks and even a few swans which are pretty to look at but you need to be careful when walking so you don't get your shoes dirty 😄

Grab a hot chocolate from L A Burdick on Clarendon St at Copley and walk by the Charles. That's how refreshment during my student life was. Oh you can spot leaves changing colors in fall..pretty nice view. The Esplanade often held outdoor movies and orchestra. You can see the Cambridge skyline including MIT, and people working out, studying, dating etc. Overall a very nice place.

(Translated by Google) A fun trip for the whole family (Original) טיול כייפי לכל המשפחה

Best place in Boston. Perfect area for running, relaxing and walking around

Absolutely beautiful location with loads of different things to get into from running/working out to biking and play areas for the kids!! Two to three blocks over is lots of eateries, a mall, Boston University, etc. Worth it to see and take it in!!

People can enjoy a really great view of Boston city and its tall buildings

Excelent place to bring kids, family, the person you love... Enjoy the sun, walking, running, bring a hammock, read a book or simply the air.

The sunset always looks magnificent...there's enough space for you and your friends/family to social distance and still enjoy a nice evening outside.

Sunny, 72 degrees 8 November, the most wonderful place in the world!

(Translated by Google) Beautiful sunset in Fall 2020 (Original) Hermoso atardecer en Otoño 2020

Very cold water

Always great to be here!

Beautiful place to walk

Great place for a walk...great viewd

Nice views great place for activities

A wonderful place with walking trail all around. With great views

Great views of Cambridge and the Charles River, right next to Back Bay.

Highly recommended

Great place to walk, run, or bike. Also, the sunsets are amazing!

This is my girlfriend's favorite place in Boston and I completely understand why! So beautiful and scenic

Lovely place but I wish there was coffeshops near it or kiosks