Boston 6 Ways: Find The Best Tour For You

Getting familiar with a city can be overwhelming at first. Where do you start? What should you see? Thankfully, Boston, which is bursting with things to do, has a number of helpful guided tours—that cover everything from its robust food scene to its rich history. Here are some of our favorite Boston tours for uncovering the various sides of Massachusetts’ capital.

Hit the streets (and the water)

Take to Boston’s streets in an amphibious landing vehicle that will bring you from the State House to Bunker Hill and even into the Charles River to see all sides of the city from land and water. Each Boston Duck Tours boat has a “Conducktor” aboard to give you an overview of city history and point out more than 30 sites during the 80-minute adventure. Get your camera ready—when the duck boat descends into the Charles River, you get a chance to capture a unique perspective of the city skyline. Tours meet at the Museum of Science and the Prudential Center. Adult tickets start at $41.99.

Get hooked on spooky tales

Are you a fan of being frightened? Board a trolley for a 90-minute Ghosts & Gravestones Tour, and hear about the city’s lesser-known history from costumed guides. You’ll learn about Colonial-era ghosts, the streets where the Boston Strangler stalked his victims and the harrowing history of the Omni Parker House Hotel. Be ready to stroll amongst the dead as you leave the trolley behind for two 20-minute walks through either Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, the Granary Burying Ground or King’s Chapel Burying Ground. Tickets for adults start at $35.91.

Savor the flavor during bites

Get a true taste of Beantown on the Sweet and Savory South End Tour. The three-hour Boston walking tour takes you through the South End’s iconic architecture and brownstones and into some of the neighborhood’s most beloved restaurants, from the Elephant Walk South End to South End Buttery (which has also doubled as a film set for an award-winning film). Be sure to save room for the samples at Formaggio Kitchen, a cozy shop known for its local cheeses. It will be love at first bite. Tickets are $65 on weekdays and $69 on weekends.

Knock it out of the park

No trip to Beantown is complete without a visit to Fenway Park.

See one of America’s most cherished (and oldest) ballparks on a guided 60-minute historic tour of Fenway Park. For visitors who are more pressed for time, fit in a visit between business meetings with the Fenway in Fifteen Tour, which includes the Right Field Roof Deck and a view of the Boston skyline in just 15 minutes. If you want a really intimate look at the ballpark, opt for the Pregame Tour, which gets you onto the field’s warning track and a chance to check out the view from the coveted Green Monster seats. Tickets for the Pregame Tour are first-come, first-served and day-of only. Tickets for tours start at $15 for adults.

Race through Boston

Get a move on while taking in Beantown on one of these guided running tours. The North End Run covers more than six miles as you start (and end) at the Boston Marathon finish line and weave past Copley Square, the home of Paul Revere, the Old North Church, the Old State House and Boston Common with your guide. If you have more time, opt for the 90-minute Seaport Beer Run, which ends with an hourlong tour of the Harpoon Brewery. Run tickets start at $30.

Discover masterpieces

In its quest to be inclusive to all visitors, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) has launched A Feeling for Form, a tour that allows seeing-impaired visitors to familiarize themselves with certain pieces of artwork and furniture through tactile exploration. For non-vision-impaired guests, the MFA offers hour and half-hour tours. Take your pick of a selection that covers museum highlights or focuses on a specific area, such as art of Europe. The guided tours are free, but A Feeling for Form requires advance reservations.

Interested in Boston ghost tours? Check out these haunted Boston attractions.