View Boston – Prudential Center Observation Deck with 360° Views of Boston

🏙️ What Is View Boston?

View Boston is the city’s latest observation deck experience, located atop the iconic Prudential Tower in the Back Bay. Offering 360-degree views of Boston from 750 feet up, it’s an immersive, interactive way to see the city from above - perfect for locals and visitors alike.

📍 Where Is It? Getting to View Boston

You’ll find View Boston on the 50th–52nd floors of the Prudential Tower at 800 Boylston Street. The entrance is located within the Prudential Center’s indoor mall.

Getting there:

• Public Transit: Green Line E train to Prudential Station or Orange Line to Back Bay.

• Driving: Parking is available in the Prudential Center garage (paid).

• Walking: Centrally located and stroller-friendly.
  
  

🔭 What You’ll See: Highlights of the Experience

• Indoor panoramic observatory with 360° views of landmarks like Fenway Park, Boston Common, the Charles River, and Logan Airport.

• “The Lookout” — glass walls and interactive telescopes for identifying key landmarks.

• “Boston 365” immersive theater showcasing the city through all four seasons.

• Touch-screen ViewPrint stations for customizing your Boston itinerary.
  
  

photo credit: BostonCentral

🕒 Best Times to Visit

• Sunset hours offer the best light for photos.

• Weekday mornings are generally less crowded.

• After 9 p.m. on weekdays, ticket prices are reduced, making it a great budget-friendly visit for night owls or families with teens.
  
  

Quick Guide to Visiting View Boston

View Boston is a 360° observation deck offering breathtaking views of Boston atop Prudential Center, one of the tallest buildings in New England.  Whether your are new to the area or a seasoned local, you'll enjoy discovering historic venues from a brand new birds-eye vantage point. 

• The 52nd floor: Upon arrival at View Boston’s entrance inside the Prudential Center mall, visitors will take dedicated elevators up to an indoor observatory on the top floor with panoramic views.
• The 51st floor: One floor down is a wraparound outdoor roof deck, plus an indoor/outdoor cocktail bar with drinks and small plates.
• The 50th floor: The final stop includes an array of interactive exhibits, including a projection-mapped 3D model of Boston and an “immersive theater” with a 270-degree screen.

View Boston's three story 360 degree observation deck offers spectacular views from high above the heart of Boston at Prudential Center. The venue, that opened to the public June 15, 2023, occupies the 50th, 51st, and 52nd floors of the iconic skyscraper.

Once home to 'the Skywalk' and 'Top of the Hub', the redesigned space includes impressive 360 degree Boston views, photo ops, interactive exhibits, video presentations, a rooftop bar, outdoor seating, and a restaurant serving new American cuisine.

 

The Experience

Once you get your ticket and pass through security you will walk through a series of queues and escalators to an elevator bank where you will be transported to the top of the Pru for your View Boston Experience to begin. 

You are free to stroll around the deck taking in views of the four main vistas of the city.  

Can you locate Fenway Park?  Boston Harbor?  The South End? Boston University? The airport!?

There's a lot to observe and take in - so take your time - take lots of pictures and enjoy the view! 

Boston is a pretty incredible city with many unique neighborhoods and things to do.

The Observation Deck

As pictured above, the 360 degree observation deck leads to an elevated platform known as The Lookout.  This area features Virtual Viewers that will zoom in on specific neighborhoods in Boston to provide additional info about each area.

View Boston Prudential Center Views Rooftop

View Boston designed the statues of landmarks like MIT, Trinity Church, and Fenway Park in collaboration with Perkins School for the Blind, allowing visually impaired visitors to touch and explore these iconic sites.  

Cloud Terrace

Featuring a 360-degree open air roof deck on the 52nd floor, the Cloud Terrace definitely features plenty of photo opportunities.  However, as you can see below, cloudy days aren't the best, but you can still see the sights. 

selfie credit: BostonCentral / Stacey Sao

360 Degree Boston Views 

Clearer days provide some pretty amazing views of many parts of the city.  It's fun to see how many popular venues you can identify from this high up.  Below you can see Longfellow Bridge and Community Boating, along with the Museum of Science.

This side of the cloud terrace shows off good ol' Fenway Park.   Go Sox!  These Prudential Center views are well worth a visit for both locals and tourists alike.  

It's particularly interesting to to see how the city blocks are laid out in the various neighborhoods.  You can spend lots of time just figuring out where places are from this very different vantage point - a "bird's eye view" as they say.  We found ourselves saying "wait, now what's that over there!?" a number of times.   It's kind of like a big scavenger hunt in the sky!

Stratus Rooftop Cocktail Lounge 

Stratus is an indoor/outdoor cocktail lounge adjacent to the Cloud Terrace, offering seasonal drink menus, signature cocktails, local beers, and shareable small plates.

*Please note: Beacon Bistro and Stratus rooftop bar will close on April 21, 2026, as View Boston transitions the space to private events.

 
In the Stratus bar area, you'll find an area with indoor/outdoor seating and inviting couches where you can sit back and relax as you take in the breathtaking views. (When it's not socked in with fog as shown here).

The City: Interactive Level

After visiting, the Cloud Terrace and Stratus, head down 1 flight to the 50th floor, known as The City, which includes a hub of interactive exhibits, including:

• Boston 365, a 3-dimensional model of the city
  
  
• Explore Boston, an interactive neighborhood discovery tool that lets guests find attractions tailored to their personal interests
  
  
• An immersive theater with a 270-degree screen that plays a short film offering behind-the-scenes perspectives of the city

In Boston 365, visitors will enjoy a huge 3D model of Boston created in minute detail stands on display.  In addition to an engaging display of 'sunrise to night lighting' over the model city.  It's a really cool display that you may want to watch more than once.

In addition, a rotation of videos featuring events like the Boston Marathon and memorable sports moments play in the background, while various landmarks light up.  It's pretty cool and can certainly sweep you up in the Boston spirit whether you are from here or not. 

The immersive theatre plays on a continuous loop highlighting some of Boston's most iconic scenes and venues.  Visitors can stand or take a seat on the carpeted floor. 

In the attraction’s final room, Explore Boston (especially nifty for tourists), is an interactive neighborhood discovery tool that lets guests find attractions tailored to your personal interests.  You can learn about activities that you might be interested in checking out. 

Simply scan your ticket; enter the length of your stay in Boston; and a screen will compile all the sites you’ve scanned creating a personalized itinerary for you for when you return to street level.

Of course, no attraction would be complete without a gift shop.  Yes, you can buy stuff up here to commemorate your pricey visit in the sky.  You can also grab a cold beverage from the vending.

The Beacon Restaurant

Featuring The Beacon, a restaurant on the 50th floor; the bistro features 33 miles of breathtaking views, a 22-seat window facing bar and seasonal beverages and bites.  Certain ticket packages include this dining experience.  (Otherwise, separate paid admissions are required to access the restaurant for a la carte dining). 

Seriously - Choose your Weather Day Wisely

Overall, View Boston offers some pretty spectacular views of the city.  On clear days you can see as far as the airport, and the Boston Harbor Islands. 

However, not all days are great for spectacular views.... 

Insider Tip:  Be sure to check the weather for clear skies!  We've visited several times, once with brilliant blue skies, and another when an unfortunate fog bank blew in (see photo below).  I'm here to tell you that a clear forecast is the way to go, as there are no refunds. 

In a nutshell, cloudy and foggy days are to be avoided.  As you can see above - there is nothing to see but white when The Pru is enshrouded in clouds. Do your best to visit on  a clear day (as seen below) and your views will be spectacular. 

👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-Friendly Features & Family Tips

• Fully accessible with elevators and stroller-friendly paths.

• Interactive exhibits and touchscreen maps keep kids engaged.

• Bathrooms with changing stations available on-site.

• Kids under 5 enter free.
  
  

❓ FAQs About Visiting View Boston

• Can I buy tickets in advance? Yes, online booking is recommended.

• Is it stroller-friendly? Yes.

• How long does the visit take? Plan for 60–90 minutes.

• Are food and drink allowed? No outside food, but food is available on-site.

• Is there a souvenir shop? Yes, on the 52nd floor.
  
  

photo credit: BostonCentral

💡 Pro Tips for Your Visit

• Buy tickets online to avoid lines.

• Arrive before sunset to see the skyline shift from day to night.

• Bring a jacket — it can be cool on the open-air deck.

• Use the ViewPrint system to map your next family adventure around Boston.

 

Admission & Pricing

The View Boston entrance is located inside the Prudential Center near Eataly & the South Garden.   Visitors can purchase timed-tickets in advance online or at the ticket booth. 

Tickets start at around $30 for general admission, but can range up to $150 for a window table reservation, food and drink. They can be purchased online or in-person at the Pru.  

For tourists, and first-timer locals alike, the View Boston ticket prices are a bit steep in our opinion - but perhaps it's worth it for a one-time memorable experience.  

photo credit: BostonCentral

View Boston at Prudential Center
800 Boylston Street
Boston MA 02199
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

More Things to Do!

Our things to do on the Boston Greenway is another great resource if you are in this area. From gardens and open green spaces to fountains and rotating art installations, you'll find all sorts of things to enjoy along the Greenway.

There are so many more fun things to do in Boston - check out our Boston Events Calendar or subscribe to this week's events newsletter for ideas on specific events, or if you are looking for a deal, check out our popular article about free things to do in Boston!  

And on the occasion of a rainy day in Boston - here are some ideas for indoor things to do until the sun returns. You can find many more things to do in Boston with kids in our handy guide for families looking for fun things to do all year round.

For more ideas about things to do in Boston, visit our insider guides and our Boston events calendar to stay in the know.   Another option for great views of the city is the Marriott Customs House over near the Rose Kennedy Greenway about a block from the Aquarium.

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Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 25 years.  She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring places to visit in the Greater Boston area.