Guided Tours
From flowers and fragrance to fruits and textures, the Arnold Arboretum is a dynamic landscape throughout the year! Come for a tour and experience the Arboretum in a new light.
Free Walking Tours
Explore the collections on a free guided tour led by our knowledgeable docents. Tours are geared toward the general adult visitor and include Arboretum history and topics of seasonal interest.
Winter Wellness Walks
Great scenery and exercise, who could want more? Three brisk walks this winter will help you stay healthy and connected to the Arboretum at a time when the landscape is pared down to its beautiful bones. The emphasis is on fitness, with a healthy dose of information on seasonal plants and points of interest.
Walks are free, last 45 minutes and start at 1 pm on three Sundays: January 17, February 21 and March 21. Meet at the Hunnewell Visitor Center. No registration necessary. After the tour, warm up with a cup of tea or hot chocolate in the Visitor Center. For more information or possible weather cancellations, please call 617.384.5209.
Tour Schedule
The main tour season runs from April through November on:
- select Saturdays at 10:30am
- select Sundays at 1:00pm
- select Wednesdays at 12:15pm
- select Fridays at 6:00pm
See our News & Events page for specific tour dates and special theme tours.
Directions to the Arboretum.
Volunteer to become an Arboretum docent.
Scheduled Group Tours
Adult Groups
Our Visitor Education staff will work with you to provide a memorable experience, whether you are a group of avid gardeners seeking to gain horticultural knowledge or simply want a guided stroll through an historic landscape of remarkable beauty.
Please contact the Visitor Center at least three weeks in advance of your visit. Walking and bus tours are available (Groups must supply their own bus, and bus size restrictions apply.) For tour reservation information, please call 617.384.5209 or email arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu.
Youth GroupsSchool Groups, After-School Groups, Summer Youth Groups, and Student Clubs
Pre-school through 8th grade: contact Nancy Sableski, Manager of Children's Education, at 617.384.5239.
High school: contact the Visitor Center at 617.384.5209.
As part of its education mission, the Arboretum provides academic walking tours to high school, college and university groups studying relevant subjects. These are free of charge and led by Arboretum staff members whenever possible. To schedule an academic tour, course instructors or academic advisors should call 617.384.5209 or e-mail arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu. Please contact the Arboretum at least three weeks in advance; also describe the scope of the course or other specifics that would allow us to place you with the most appropriate staff member(s).