Together with the Boston Common, these two parks form the northern terminus of the Emerald Necklace, a long string of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. While the Common is primarily unstructured open space, the Public Garden contains a lake and a large series of formal plantings that are maintained by the city and others and vary from season to season. There are many spectacular specimans of majestic weeping willows set against the backdrop of towering sky scrapers.

During the warmer seasons, pay a visit to Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack, (the mallard ducklings of Make Way for Ducklings Fame).
Several statues are located throughout the Public Garden. Located at the Arlington Street gate is the equestrian statue of George Washington, which faces Commonwealth Avenue. A set of bronze statues based on the main characters from the children's story Make Way for Ducklings is located between the pond and the Charles and Beacon streets entrance. The Public Garden is also home to the world's smallest suspension bridge.

The Public Garden is easily accessible from the MBTA Green Line's Arlington Station. Other nearby subway stops include the Green Line's Boylston Station and the Red Line's Park Street Station. Public parking is located underneath Charles Street.