Top Tours to Take in Boston

There's so much to discover in Boston, and while we encourage exploring the city at your own pace, there are several guided tours, on wheels and by foot, that we recommend you take upon your arrival to Beantown.

1. The Boston Duck Tours: Hop aboard your DUCK, a WWII style amphibious landing vehicle, and cruise by all the places that make Boston the city of "firsts." Boston is home to the nation's oldest public park, the first public library, the first subway system, and the first public school. The Boston Duck Tours offer little known facts and insights about the city's history and architecture, and guide you along from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill and the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston Common and Copley Square to the Big Dig, and Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower. The tours then take you right into the Charles Rivers for a view of Boston like you've never seen.

2. Samuel Adams Brewery Tours: Another famous Bostonian was patriot and aspiring brewer, Samuel Adams. The Samuel Adams Brewery Tours, suitable for visitors 21+, take guests on a journey through the brewing process from start to finish. Learn all about the famous revolutionary, who ran a brewery for 20 years during the 1700s. Samuel Adams Brewery Tours feature tastings of Samuel Adams® award-winning malts and beers. Tours are open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. -3 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. -3 p.m.

3. Old Town Trolley Tours: Old Town Trolley Tours have been a Boston institution for more than 30 years. Providing visitors with sightseeing tours that highlight the best sights and attractions found in the city, Old Town Trolley tours cover major areas including Downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the Theater District and the Waterfront District. The tours make five exclusive stops: the Historic North End, North Station, Fenway Park, Boston Convention & Exposition Center and the Seaport District, each place offering a taste of Boston's past and present.

4. Boston By Foot Tours: Boston By Foot Tours are perfect for families and individuals who are on the move. Since 1976, these acclaimed guided walking tours have taken both visitors and residents on a foot exploration you can't get from riding on a bus or driving in a car. From the famous Freedom Trail to locations way off the beaten path, Boston By Foot Tours are led by volunteer guides who are knowledgeable and passionate about the city of Boston. Daily walking tours are scheduled from May through October, and private tours can be arranged year-round.

5. Boston's Historic Holiday Stroll: A prime time to cruise Boston's historic Freedom Trail is during the holiday season, when the streets are shining bright in sparkling lights, and the windows are full of elaborate gift displays. Led by costumed tour guides dressed in 19th century Dickensian garb, the Historic Holiday Strolls tell visitors how holiday traditions originated in Boston, and how they were observed during the American Revolution. With 16 official sites on the Freedom Trail, highlights include the Boston Common, the site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall and the Paul Revere House. Boston's Historic Holiday Strolls run Thursday through Sunday from November 11-January 30, and regular Freedom Trail Strolls are available throughout the year.