Boston Private City Tour
Badge of Excellence
Boston, USA
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the best of Boston, without the rush of a large group, and see the sights that interest you most on this private tour. Board your vehicle along with your group and explore key landmarks in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. See Harvard University, Fenway Park, the Boston Public Library, Beacon Hill, and much more while listening to commentary from your driver about Boston’s history.
- Avoid the headache of crowded tourist buses
- Customize the tour to your group's interests
- Explore Boston at your own pace in a luxury vehicle
- A private driver means a personalized experience
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Private transportation
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional driver-guide providing live sightseeing commentary.
- Complimentary pickup and drop-off in listed areas, including Logan Airport and Flynn Cruiseport.
- Fuel, tolls, and standard parking fees are included in the tour price.
- Attraction, museum, stadium, and performance tickets are not included.
- Food, beverages, and restaurant purchases are not included.
- Optional driver-guide gratuities are not included
- Additional time beyond six hours is available for an extra fee based on group size
- Child seats are available for $30 per seat and are not included in the tour price.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available from locations included in the listed pickup zones, as well as Boston Logan International Airport and Flynn Cruiseport. The six-hour tour begins at the scheduled pickup time, so passenger loading, traffic, and travel from the pickup location are included in the total tour duration. Please be ready 15 minutes before departure. Exact pickup instructions will be confirmed before the tour. Pickup outside the listed zones requires advance approval. Drop-off may be at a different approved location within the listed service area, including a hotel, restaurant, Boston Logan International Airport, or Flynn Cruiseport. The six-hour tour ends at the confirmed drop-off location.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
View tour option
Itinerary
Boston (Pass By)
1
Freedom Trail
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Boston Common
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Copley Square
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Fenway Park
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Harvard Square
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
USS Constitution
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
North End
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Quincy Market
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Seaport District / South Boston Waterfront
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Chinatown (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Folding wheelchairs and walkers may be accommodated with advance notice, subject to vehicle space. Travelers must be able to transfer from the mobility device into a vehicle seat. The vehicles do not have wheelchair lifts. Some historic locations may have uneven surfaces, curbs, or stairs
- Rear-facing infant seats, forward-facing child seats, and booster seats are available for $30 per seat. Advance request is required and availability must be confirmed.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 70 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Preety_K, Feb 2026
Sam is hands-down the best guide we’ve ever had. He went completely out of his way to make sure we had a great time, even adjusting the itinerary on the fly to suit our interests. He knows all the 'hidden gems' away from the tourist crowds and felt more like a local friend than a tour guide. Our trip wouldn't have been the same without him!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
It was a great pleasure to have you! Look forward to the next time.
Wendy_M, Oct 2025
Wonderful tour of the city. Great informative tour with a leisurely vibe. Our driver was friendly, professional and informative. Exceptional tour!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you!
Sandy_U, Oct 2025
Josh was fantastic and very friendly. Extremely knowledgeable about Boston history. We all had fun and enjoyed his company. We where very glad that we booked this trip.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you!
Kristin_M, Oct 2025
There were six of us in the van and my son, and I sat the back row. When the A/C was on, we could not hear anything the tour guide, Curtis was saying, and we mentioned it multiple times and it seemed like he was unfamiliar with the vehicle because he couldn’t figure out how to turn down the A/C to a point at which we could hear so then he would turn it off and then we would get too hot and then turn it back on and then we couldn’t hear again and his voice never really got any louder so it was difficult to know what we were seeing. We told him that we liked history, but I didn’t expect him to go as in depth as he did, which maybe would’ve been better for a lecture hall than a city tour highlighting sites of historical significance, with a brief synopsis. Curtis was an incredibly nice gentleman, but it got rather frustrating to circle a block multiple times on several occasions & not have a clue why. A vehicle needs some sort of microphone system so that his voice projects all the way to the back.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback and for joining us on your recent tour. We truly appreciate you taking the time to provide such thoughtful insights. We're so glad to hear that you found Curtis to be kind and knowledgeable—he genuinely enjoys sharing history with our guests.
We also want to sincerely apologize for the audio and A/C issues you experienced in the back row. Your comfort and ability to hear and enjoy the commentary are incredibly important to us. We’re currently reviewing our vehicle setup and guide training to ensure that future tours include better sound projection throughout the vehicle. Your note about the need for a proper microphone system is well taken and already under review.
Your input about the pacing and depth of historical content is equally valuable, and we’re taking that into consideration as we fine-tune our tour experience to better match guest expectations and preferences.
Thank you again for riding with us—we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future for an even more seamless and enjoyable experience!
Warm regards,
Rashmi_S, Sep 2025
Great experience. Very informative and knowledgeable driver. We highly recommend him. Also very friendly.
jay_g, Sep 2025
Private driver is your guide to the city and sights. He will take you wherever you want to go, it’s your time. Sam was our driver for our party of four, and his experience and knowledge throughout Boston ride was terrific.
Giselle_P, Aug 2025
The driver was on time and takes good pictures. He parks as close to the different sites as possible and recommends the must see places.
Ingrid_D, Aug 2025
My husband and I traveled to Boston via train with our sisters the weekend of August 22. One of our activities was a four hour private tour of Boston. We had a fantastic time with our guide/driver, Sam! Sam was very professional and knowledgeable and arrived at our hotel at the designated time. He also allowed us to get out of the vehicle to take photos numerous times. I definitely recommend this particular tour of beautiful Boston, MA! It’s an experience we’ll never forget. Thanks again, Sam!
jaya_s, Aug 2025
It was very pleasant and comfortable especially for elderly family members
It helped that our tour guide was a Boston local for 35 years and knew the city very well
Roni_i, Jun 2025
Our guide Sam was personable, knowledgeable and very accommodating for our large group, plus luggage. We had six passengers and 7 carry on size bags as well as 7 backpacks/underseat duffels. We had more than enough room for everything. Sam took us all over Boston/copley square, commons, beacon hill, back bay, bunker hill, uss constitution, Harvard, Boston university, Cambridge, theater district, financial district, harbor and more. He had a multitude of historical and current facts to share. Sam recommended a great place for lunch. We couldn’t have asked for anything better to fill our time between cruise disembarking and our late flight. We will use Sam again when we come back to Boston.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you! Hope to see you again next time you are in Boston!
Srdjan_B, Nov 2024
Family of four - driving tour was a great way to see the city in cold weather and Sam was a fantastic host. He was very knowledgeable on each area of town and the girls especially appreciated seeing the famous schools and learning about the history of the sites. Thank you!!
Keith_B, Nov 2024
Seeing sights such as Harvard and MIT plus the shopping area around Prudential Centre was enjoyable. Boston is an attractive city that is well kept. Driver though an affable individual had little knowledge to impart on the city.
ann_t, Oct 2024
The driver was a driver. He g as be very information on Boston’s historic sites. We looked up the info on Google. He was a driver not a tour guide.
Dennis, Sep 2024
The driver arrived on schedule, was helpful with the luggage into vehicle. Was personable, very knowledgeable of the city, took great effort to show us as much as possible, Harvard and other important highlights. I would recommend him to friends or future visits to the city.
Lauralee_B, Sep 2024
Loved hearing about the history of the city while relaxing in comfort. Got to see many different places and could stop and get out whenever we wanted.
Jonathan_M, Aug 2024
Great tour! The driver was amazing and super knowledgeable about the history of the city. He was also patient - my mom is disabled and he was patient and careful.
Annie_H, Jul 2024
Our tour with Sam was terrific; he cheerfully accommodated our desire to personalize our tour. He is an excellent driver and had a cooler of water to keep us chill on a hot 4th of July.He kept our group (aged 8 to 80) entertained with historical facts and anecdotes.
My grandson and his parents wanted to visit MIT so Sam dropped them off there, took the rest of us to Harvard Square then swung around to pick up the MIT group. At our request he added a stop at Fenway Park and Bunker Hill to the itinerary. Finally, at our request, he dropped us off at the Union Oyster House for a late lunch (but don't go there unless you have a reservation)! Bottom line - Sam rocks!
John_V, May 2024
Henry gave us a flexible and interesting introduction to the various sections of the
City. We were already somewhat familiar and still enjoyed his introduction
niyati_p, Apr 2024
Sam Soares, our guide and driver was very friendly, courteous, professional, knowledgeable. He was very mindful of our time and comfort. We had forgotten our water bottle with was special to our friend in the car, he took the time from his personal family time to come back to our hotel to return it back to us. This was very much appreciated by our friend who left the water bottle in the car. Thank you so much Sam!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you very much. The pleasure was ours.
CARLOS_M, Apr 2024
Our guide was very knowledgeable and our tour was very enjoyable. He adapted the tour great to our interests and the weather. We drove the end of the freedom trail, visited the USS Constitution, Charlestown, MIT, Harvard and even Fenway Park. Very smooth and perfect
Janice_J, Oct 2023
We chose this over the much cheaper Boston Hop-On Hop-Off trolley tours thinking we would enjoy the more personal experience and all the details & info that would be shared with us while touring Boston for the first time. We were so disappointed with our tour guide, Henry. He spoke in a whisper that we could barely hear, especially those seated in the second row of the vehicle. While he did take us around town, he omitted some of the very things we had hoped to see such as Chinatown gates. We saw the infamous Mike's Pastry shop only from the corner as he turned in the opposite direction. He mentioned Paul Revere's house as we were almost completely past it. No historical details were given or a chance for a photo. He talked more about the age of the buildings we passed and the much-needed repair of Boston streets more than anything else. We only made stops at Harvard and at the USS Constitution. Otherwise, everything was a quick pass-by. Some were mentioned too late to even photograph. Very little historical info was shared along the way. We had to ask. His Mercedes SUV was comfortable and clean. The tour company itself may be a good one, but Henry was definitely not the tour guide we had hoped for. We learned more about Boston from our Uber drivers than from Henry. Very disappointing, especially after paying $634 for the private tour. So when booking this expensive private tour, be sure Henry is not your guide.
lois1112, Aug 2023
I was in Boston for a very short ti;me and this was my time to see the city
it was worth every dime.
loved it
JoseEduardo_M, May 2023
Tour was really good and our driver/tour guide was knowledgeable and did an excellent job. The only reason we can’t rate 5 stars is our tour was late.
Had confirmation for 10:00 am, after 15 minutes we had to contact Viator and they asked us to contact the provider. The latter said they had an “issue with their system”. Nevertheless, provider arranged to have our tour at 11:00 am. It wasn’t what we wanted but the tour was good and met our expectations. Of course, we had to rearrange our lunch reservations but as a whole would recommend the tour.
Response from Host, May 2023
I am so sorry for the glitch. I am happy we were still able to work around and provide you with a good guide after all.
Thank you for the feedback
Laura_P, May 2023
Is was an Ok tour. Driver was super nice but no personality or enthusiasm when giving us the history of Boston. We had kids ages 9-18 and they were bored. As adults we became bored after the repetition of ‘ this building is … “.
We would of rather hit the highlights and been able to walk around and eat or take pics !
Not what I expected!
Response from Host, May 2023
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent tour experience. We appreciate your honest review and would like to address your concerns.
We apologize if the tour did not meet your expectations in terms of enthusiasm and engagement during the history narration. Our aim is to ensure an enjoyable and informative experience for all participants, regardless of their age. However, we understand that children within the age range of 9-18 may have varying levels of interest in American history, especially if they are not particularly familiar with it or have a limited interest in the subject matter.
It's worth mentioning that our tours are 100% customizable to cater to our customers' preferences and interests. As a Canadian visitor, your kids might not have had a strong connection to American history, which could have affected their engagement during the tour. We always strive to accommodate our customers' needs, and if we had been made aware of your desire to focus more on highlights, allowing time for walking around, taking pictures, and even enjoying local culinary delights, we would have gladly adjusted the itinerary accordingly.
In the future, we encourage you to communicate your specific preferences at the beginning of the tour. If you would like to make stops for photos, explore attractive walking areas like parks, gardens, the waterfront, or simply take a leisurely stroll along the river, we can certainly arrange that. Additionally, if you express an interest in local dining experiences, such as restaurants, pastry shops, or ice cream places, we are more than happy to accommodate those requests as well.
Regarding your choice to explore the Freedom Trail, it's important to note that the trail primarily encompasses historic sites. These locations hold significant historical value and provide insights into the rich heritage of Boston. While they may not have provided the level of engagement you were seeking, they offer a glimpse into the city's past and cultural significance.
We appreciate your feedback and will take it into consideration to improve our tours and ensure a more enjoyable experience for all participants. If there is anything else we can do to assist you or if you have any further suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Best regards,
Sam
Antonio_S, Apr 2023
Great experience , learned a lot!! Good info, a lot of history and got to visit many places along the way.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
Thank you! We are glad you had a good time!
Carly_C, Dec 2022
This tour was fantastic…the only downside was it rained our entire tour. No one’s fault. We were definitely given the option to get out, but it was so cold we opted to stay in. I can’t remember our tour guides name, but he was phenomenal! He was originally from Brazil, but had lived in Boston for over 30 years and was an expert in Boston’s history. Thank you again for everything! Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Thank you so much!!
Chris_P, Nov 2022
The tour guide was super knowledgeable and all around a good guide. The problem was that I paid $600 to be driven around the city for a few of hours seeing everything from inside a van. Do the freedom trail, it was amazing and free.
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Our rates are upfront. No hidden costs. Our four hours tours are customizable. It is always up to the customer whether we stop and wait at some point of interest, or keep driving to next thing.
Some customers like to stop in several places for pictures, etc., while others prefer not to waste anytime and see as much as possible within the time they have.
We are always and willing to accommodate.
Diana_C, Oct 2022
We had an excellent history and view of Boston. Definitely recommend
Sam as a tour guide. We had a great diverse tour. Never knew there were so many Universities in Boston.
fanofmotherearth, Oct 2022
Fantastic tour of all Boston. Everything wonderful about the Freedom Trail was seen and brought to life by Sam’s narration. We drove by all the best cultural, medical and educational sites. I am so surprised to have seen so much in 4 hours. Loved it!!!!!
Polly_C, Oct 2022
Sam was an amazing guide. Excellent host and very knowledgeable. If we come back we would definitely use Sam.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you !
From $924.66
per group (up to 3)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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