Top Boston Cultural Tours

Go behind the scenes of Boston’s iconic seafood scene with a local guide on a tour that helps you explore the city like a local. Explore the oldest working fish pier in the US, visit family-run seafood shacks, and enjoy tastings of lobster rolls and clam chowder. Plus, learn about sustainable practices and Boston Harbor’s remarkable transformation.

Don’t waste time looking for the ideal place to eat as you walk the cobblestone streets of Boston’s North End. Join other passionate foodies to snack your way through the neighborhood’s hidden gems. Your guide directs you to a hidden Italian bakery, an authentic Italian salumeria, and a family-run pastry shop. Visit the Old North Church (or equivalent alternative) and enjoy a rich cappuccino or bold espresso with a pastry.

Hop into a duck boat—s renovated World War II amphibious vehicle—for a comprehensive city sightseeing tour of Boston. Pass Boston Common, Quincy Market, the Celtics' home turf at TD Garden, and much more. Then splashdown into the Charles River for a view of the city by boat. Learn all about Boston's history and landmarks as you go.

See some of the top attractions in Boston from the waterfront on this narrated sightseeing cruise. Explore the world-famous Boston Harbor and see the city’s historic sites while listening to live commentary on board, from tales of the Revolutionary War to local legends. While you cruise, enjoy views of the city skyline as well as the Boston Harbor Islands, USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Walk the Freedom Trail with a guide in historic costume on a tour from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, a 1.2-mile route that covers important sites in the heart of Boston. This tour's shorter distance lets you follow in the footsteps of the founding fathers and American revolutionaries without making the more strenuous trek all the way across the Charles River, finishing in a spot that’s convenient to top Boston attractions.

Discover some of Boston’s deepest, darkest secrets that lots of tourists miss out on by joining this “frightseeing” tour aboard the Trolley of the Doomed, which roams around the haunted streets and burial grounds of Boston. Your costumed host provides illuminating insights into the history of the city's spookiest sights, such as Copp’s Hill Burying Ground.

Experience the best of New England’s marine wildlife on this guided whale-watching cruise around the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Hop on a high-speed boat in Boston that gets to and from the whales in the least amount of time possible. Look out for humpback and fin whales, plus Atlantic white-sided dolphins, with the help of a naturalist guide. The on-board galley offers food and beverages for purchase during the trip.

Channel your inner Sherlock Holmes in this mystery scavenger hunt around Boston! In "Murder by Boston Common," you are transported back to the year 1895. As a rookie detective, you must investigate a dismembered body found in a pond in Boston Public Gardens. It’s now up to you to solve the crime and find the culprit! After purchasing, go to the designated pickup point to collect your mystery package, which contains everything you’ll need to solve the case. Once you have it, you are free to begin at your convenience. Enjoy the flexibility of starting and stopping whenever you like. This exciting and challenging activity is perfect for you and your family, friends, or colleagues to tackle together. You must have a minimum of 2 people to purchase. Tip: We recommend groups of 2-4 participants. If your group is larger than 4, you can buy multiple mystery packages and compete against each other. The winner is the group that solves the mystery the fastest. (Note: Available in English only.)

When tracing the roots of American independence, the city of Boston is one of the most important epicenters in the country’s history. The Freedom Trail runs through downtown to Charlestown, taking you on a literal walk through the events that inspired and instigated the American Revolution. Join a local guide for a tour of the entire 2.8 mile (4km) trail which includes visits to Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution so you can hear the full historical tale.

Relive one of the most important events leading up to the American Revolution and learn about a side of the story most tourists miss on this guided tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Explore authentically restored tea ships with the help of a guide as you get their insights into this pivotal event, and throw some of your own tea into Boston Harbor. It's an ideal experience for American history buffs, tourists, and locals alike.

Explore Boston’s vibrant and culturally rich Chinatown—and taste a number of popular neighborhood dishes—on this immersive walking tour. With a maximum group size of just 12 people, you’re ensured a personal way of exploring. Meet your guide prior to lunchtime, and set off on foot. Over the next few hours, you’ll learn all about Boston Chinatown’s history and culture, will visit several local eateries, and will sample dishes that reflect traditional Chinese cuisine as well as modern fusion bites.

Travel back in time to colonial New England on a historic walking tour. Your costumed and in-character guide gives you an immersive understanding of life during America’s infancy. Hear exclusive stories about the country’s Founding Fathers and discover iconic historical sites on this tour that covers approximately 1.2 miles (two kilometers).

Learn about Boston’s revolutionary history on a walking tour that emphasizes good storytelling. Enjoy personalized attention from your guide in your small group as you walk a curated route that includes the Freedom Trail. Visit well-known sites as well as more local places and develop an understanding of modern Boston along with its history.

See Boston from a whole new angle aboard a Boston Harbor evening cruise. Watch the sunset from the water, and glide out to the Old North Church and Historic Site, the Charlestown Navy Yard, the USS Cassin Young, and more. As a bonus, listen to the cannon fire of the USS Constitution, which marks the sunset each night, and sip a cocktail (own expense) from the onboard bar as you relax and enjoy the views.

Explore the best of Boston at your own pace on a hop-on hop-off trolley tour of the city. Choose from a 1- or 2-day pass and see Boston’s top attractions, including the USS Constitution, the original bar from TV show “Cheers,” and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, to name a few. The pass includes discounted admission to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, to enjoy during or after the tour.

Discover Boston’s rich past and vibrant present on this small-group (or private) walking tour—a relaxed and informative way to get your bearings if visiting the city for the first time. Gain valuable insight from local guide as you explore spots such as Boston Harbor, Faneuil Hall, Beacon Hill, and the Public Garden. As you wander, learn about the city’s Revolutionary roots, architectural gems, and cultural evolution—and get an understanding of what life is like for modern-day residents.

Take a deep dive into the history of the American Revolution on this walking tour of Boston. Your historian guide will focus on the years between 1760 and 1775, a tumultuous time with plenty to talk about. Stroll the Freedom Trail and ask your guide questions along the way to learn things most tourists miss.

Cover the highlights of the Freedom Trail on this walking tour of Downtown Boston. A shorter route leading between Boston Common and Faneuil Hall Marketplace is ideal for travelers who don’t have the time or inclination to cover the full extended route. A costumed guide adds a theatrical touch to the experience.

Discover the stories behind historic Boston sites on a self-guided tour of downtown, and enjoy the flexibility to experience the city on your own schedule. Booking this tour means access to audio guides that never expire, so you can explore as much—or as little—as you want at a time. The included GPS-enabled app gives turn-by-turn directions as expert tour guides narrate revolutionary history and more.

Discover Boston's pivotal role in the fight for women's suffrage on a guided walking tour through the Back Bay neighborhood. Explore iconic landmarks like Boston Common, the Public Garden, Newbury Street, and Copley Square while delving into the transformative years of 1870 to 1920. Led by local guides, this small-group experience offers insights into the activists and events that shaped women's rights history.

Combine two attractions Boston has to offer—delicious food and rich history—on this walking tour that starts in the popular North End and continues along the Freedom Trail. Taste fresh bread, pizza, and a classic Italian deli sandwich at local stops in this historic Italian neighborhood. Then, walk the Freedom Trail to learn about the American Revolution, all while enjoying scenic views of Boston Harbor and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Explore the charming architecture of Beacon Hill and experience the city's blend of old and new.

Travel back in time, to the early years of the United States of America, during this guided walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail and beyond. Relive the events of the American Revolution as you pass Faneuil Hall, see the Old and New State Houses, and visit the setting of the infamous Boston Massacre. Then head downtown past Boston Common and the modern John Hancock Tower, finishing in Copley Square.

Boston is heaven for seafood lovers, thanks to iconic dishes such as lobster roll and clam chowder. On this walking tour, dive into the city's seafood delights punctuated with peeks at its colonial and revolutionary history—all with a guide for foodie insights and tips. Enjoy lobster roll and chowder, see Freedom Trail sites, roam the harborfront, and finish with a sweet treat in the North End.