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The Boston Park Plaza Hotel, now the Hilton Boston Park Plaza at 50 Park Plaza, sits in Park Square on the eastern edge of the Back Bay, and the hotel puts the Public Garden, Boston Common, Beacon Hill and the Theatre District all less than a mile away. That makes it an easy base for walking: the Public Garden and the start of the Freedom Trail on the Common, Newbury Street's shops, shows at the Boch Center, and dinner at Davio's in Park Square. Arlington station on the Green Line is the nearest T stop, with a direct ride to Copley and Kenmore for the library and Fenway Park.
Here is what is nearby, grouped by what you want to do.
Near the Boston Park Plaza at a glance
| Place | What it is | Getting there from the hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Public Garden | First public botanical garden in America, 1837; Swan Boats in season | On foot, less than a mile |
| Boston Common | America's oldest park; Freedom Trail visitor center at 139 Tremont Street | On foot, less than a mile |
| Newbury Street | Back Bay shopping street, starting at Arlington Street | On foot |
| Boch Center: Wang and Shubert theatres | Touring shows, concerts and comedy on Tremont Street | On foot, Theatre District less than a mile |
| Boston Public Library, Central Library | Free landmark library in Copley Square | Green Line from Arlington to Copley |
| View Boston | Observation deck on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower | Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street |
| Fenway Park | Home of the Red Sox; tours daily | Green Line from Arlington toward Kenmore |
The Public Garden and Boston Common
The Public Garden, established in 1837 as the first public botanical garden in America, is the closest green space to the hotel. Walk its winding paths to the lagoon, where the Swan Boats run 10- to 15-minute rides from mid-April to early September, and find the Make Way for Ducklings statue at the corner of Beacon and Charles streets. From May to September, the Friends of the Public Garden lead free one-hour tours from the Ducklings.
Boston Common is across Charles Street. Its visitor information center at 139 Tremont Street is where most people start the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red line to 16 historic sites. The first stop, the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, gives free tours on weekdays. Near the Public Garden, Cheers Beacon Hill at 84 Beacon Street is the pub that inspired the TV show; seating is first come, first served.
Newbury Street and the Back Bay
Newbury Street begins at Arlington Street, where The Newbury Boston hotel faces the Public Garden; its rooftop restaurant, Contessa, looks over the garden and serves from breakfast to late. Along the street, Shreve, Crump & Low is at 39 Newbury, and Trident Booksellers & Cafe and Newbury Comics are further along at Nos. 338 and 348. For the rest of the neighborhood, see things to do in Back Bay.
On a wet day, take the Green Line one stop to Copley for the Central Library, free to enter, with John Singer Sargent murals and a quiet courtyard in its McKim Building, then continue to View Boston at the top of the Prudential Tower, open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with general admission from $32.
The Theatre District and an evening out
The hotel is less than a mile from the Theatre District. The Boch Center runs the Wang Theatre at 270 Tremont Street and the Shubert Theatre, with touring shows, concerts and comedy through the fall. For dinner first, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse at 75 Arlington Street, in Park Square, serves a pre-theater menu every night. Inside the hotel, Off the Common, the lobby bar and restaurant, serves New England standards such as lobster rolls and clam chowder.
For a steakhouse in the Back Bay, Grill 23 & Bar is at 161 Berkeley Street. For dim sum and hot pot, see things to do in Chinatown.
Fenway Park and the museums by Green Line
From Arlington station, the Green Line runs direct to Kenmore, the stop for Fenway Park. Ballpark tours run every day of the year, and on game days the last tour leaves three hours before the first pitch. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are on the Green Line E branch. The Fenway Park tour can be booked ahead on Viator.
Practical notes for hotel guests
Hilton Boston Park Plaza opened on March 10, 1927, as The Statler Hotel and has 1,060 rooms and suites. It charges a mandatory daily destination charge of $35, which includes internet, a daily food and drink credit and access to its Lynx Fitness Club. Self-parking is $42 and valet $70, so if you are arriving by car, the walkable location is the main reason to leave it parked. For a romantic stay, see romantic things to do in Boston.
Sources: Hilton Boston Park Plaza; hotel info; City of Boston: Public Garden; Swan Boats; Freedom Trail Foundation; Boch Center; View Boston; Fenway Park tours. Checked October 1, 2026.