Swan Boats

A few years ago I was on a flight and just happen to sit next to Lyn Paget, owner of the Swan Boats. Lyn and her family have maintained these historic boats for generations and ensure your experience is always top notch! My wife and I have made it a tradition to take sail on the Swan Boats as a way of welcoming Spring to Boston for many years. If you are in Boston it’s a great way to relax and see the Public Gardens from an amazing perspective.

My daughter loved it! We went twice! My daughter liked taking photos from the boat. I was happy 😊 because my daughter was happy! I found the short ride relaxing and scenic. We went under the footbridge, where we saw pigeons, around Duck 🦆 Island, where we also noticed turtles, and back again. My daughter liked the stuffed animals they had for purchase. Very reasonable prices for going on the boat. Friendly staff. The boats are pedal powered. Our "engine" said it is like pedalling uphill. I recommend a ride if you visit Boston Public gardens!

If you have read the children’s book Make Way for the Ducklings, then you know you have to ride the swan boats in the Public Gardens. If you haven’t read the book, you should read it and then ride the swan boats. They were a lot of fun. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We went on a busy Saturday afternoon and only waited for about 10 minutes. The ride maybe takes 15 minutes.

This was the first place we went to during our stay in Boston and a “must do” when visiting the Public Gardens. A very relaxing, fun, and inexpensive ride. Loved seeing all the places referenced in the children’s book, “Make Way for Ducklings.”

This is a lovely and relaxing attraction. The swan boats provide a very nice ride through the pond and around Duck island. The wildlife present in the pond is remarkable, and often quite close to the boat, with even baby ducks being present. Going around Duck island was particularly exiting, due to the sheer amount of waterbirds on and around the island. The boats themselves are very cool, with many of the boats being around 100 years old, with the one I was in being 97. The only downside was the line, even visiting on a weekday can lead to long lines, though the line moves relatively fast. Another minor downside is the inability to buy tickets online, though that can be easily looked past. Even though these minor downsides, I can wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone. (Date of Visit: July 26)