There is a wealth of historically significant attractions in Boston. Consider purchasing a 'Boston City Pass' and thereby pay half price for most of the finest attractions.

Freedom Trail: The Freedom Trail is one of the most popular walking tours in America. It covers approximately three miles and is very easy to follow. The path is marked by painted red lines or bricks set into the pavement. Each site is identified by a marker or sign. The trail follows the original path set by the colonists in the early days of Boston. Most of the Trail is accessible only on foot for this reason. The Trail is best started either at Boston Common or at the USS Constitution (where there is free parking). The easiest way is to leave the car behind and take the subway (T) red or green line to Park Street.

Stops Along the Freedom Trail

Boston Common;

Site of Franklin’s Print Shop

Old South Meeting House

Site of Benjamin Franklin’s Birthplace

Old State House

Site of the Boston Massacre

Faneuil Hall

Quincy Market

The Tea Party Ship

Paul Revere House

Saint Stephen’s Church (Hanover Street)

Paul Revere Mall

Old North Church (193 Salem Street)

Copp’s Hill (Hull and Snowhill Streets)

USS Constitution (Charlestown Navy Yard)

Bunker Hill (Charlestown)

Site of the Liberty Tree (Washington & Essex Streets)

State House (Beacon & Park Streets)

John Hancock’s House

The Beacon (The Monument behind the State House)

Park Street Church (Tremont & Park Streets)

Old Granary (Tremont St., near Park Street Church)

King’s Chapel

King’s Chapel Burying Ground

Benjamin Franklin’s Statue

The Old Corner Bookstore (3 School Street, Corner of Washington St.)  

Boston Irish Famine Memorial 50 Braintree Hill Office Park Braintree, MA 02184 617-696-9880 The Boston Irish Famine Memorial, along the city's Freedom Trail, was unveiled in June, 1998 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine, an episode which sent over 100,000 Irish refugees to Boston. It is also a tribute to the memory of over one million Irish who died during the Irish Famine (1845-1849) and a remembrance of people still suffering famines in countries around the world.

Walks Through Freedom 617-227-8800 All year round by reservation. Walk the Freedom Trail with costumed, historic ambassadors from Revolutionary times, discover or re-discover the story of America! Explore the Trail with the Freedom Trail Players as they re-tell the known and little- known tales of the past, leading the way through city streets to the actual sites of our American Heritage.

Black Heritage Trail 46 Joy Street Boston, MA 02114 617-739-1200 A walking tour of the history of Boston's Black community between 1800-1900 on Beacon Hill. The tour includes: Meeting House, Smith CourtResidences, Abiel Smith School, G. Middleton House, Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, Phillips School, home of John J Smith, Charles St. Meeting House, Lewis & Harriet Hayden House, and Coburn's Gaming House. Historic walking map available. All sites must be visited with an arranged tour except those hours noted at specific sites.

Book Lover's Dream Tour Boston History Collaborative - Literary Trail 38 Burroughs St. Boston, MA 02130 617-574-5963 A guided walking tour of either Boston, Cambridge, or Concord's delightful, private bookstores, followed by tea and literary conversation in an elegant, historic setting. Call for reservations.

Women's Heritage Trail Boston, MA 617-522-2872 Begin at the Boston Common Visitor Information booth to start five guided walks through four centuries of Boston women. The Downtown Walk highlights the search for equal rights; the North End Walk explores the diversity of cultures; the Beacon Hill Walk reveals the stories of writers, artists and activists; the South Cove/Chinatown Walk celebrates women's action for economic and social justice; and the Back Bay Walk tells the tales of educators, artists and social reformers. Follow the footsteps of some remarkable Boston women and share their stories of heritage and freedom, accomplishment and achievements as you "remember the ladies." Pick up the 80-page illustrated book "Boston Women's Heritage Trail" and begin at the Boston Commons Visitors Information Booth.

Beacon Hill Walking Tours - Magnificent and Modest Visit the elegant Federal style Otis House, stroll around Beacon Hill; view the homes of well to do merchants and then the modest dwellings on the North Slope where the working class resided.

Boston Duck Tours One of the most popular tours in and around Boston is the legendary Duck Tours, showing you the best of Boston with a combined land and sea tour. World War II vehicles take you on a scenic drive around the most famous sites and attractions in the city, and then onto the Charles River for a delightful harbor cruise. With interesting commentary, this novel tour is an enjoyable way to see the city.

Boston Trolley Tours The Trolley Tours are taken in small bus-like trams that drive around the city on a route that points out the best known sites and landmarks. Travelers can step off at any of the stops to look around and then catch the next trolley, which will arrive shortly. An entertaining commentary accompanies the tour. Check at your hotel for hours and fares.

Boston Common This 40-acre area is the nation's oldest public park. The land was set aside for public use in 1634 (originally as a cow pasture and training ground. The Commons also has a longstanding tradition as a place where demonstrators can exercise their right to freedom of speech without the hassle of getting a permit. Free.

Park Street Church

Free, seasonal tours. Call (617) 523-3383 to learn more. This church is best known for its location at "Brimstone Corner" (named for its use as a gunpowder storage area during the War of 1812) and as the setting of William Lloyd Garrison's first anti-slavery speech.

Granary Burying Ground The first of the three burying grounds on the trail, Granary is notable as the final resting place of John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

King's Chapel and Burying Ground Famous for its architectural beauty, King's Chapel became the first Unitarian Church in the U.S. after the American Revolution. Donations accepted. For more information, call (617) 227-2155.

Site of First Public School/Ben Franklin Statue This Freedom Trail stop features a statue of Ben Franklin and the site of Franklin's alma mater: the Boston Latin School (built in 1635).

Old Corner Bookstore This brick building, where legends like Longfellow, Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau gathered, was once the literary center of Boston.

Old South Meeting House Much of the discussion and debate that led to the Boston Tea Party and other events connected to the American Revolution took place in the old South Meeting House. Call (617) 482-6439 to learn about the lectures and programs on American history and culture offered by the Old South staff.

Boston Massacre Site A simple circle of cobblestones marks the site where five colonists were killed by British soldiers in 1770. The brutality of this incident helped spark the anti-British rage that ultimately led to the American Revolution. Free.

Old North Church "Old North," Boston's oldest church building, is located in the city's Italian North End. The church played an important part in the American Revolution by acting as a signal (via two lanterns hung in its steeple) of British troop movement. Donations accepted. (617) 523-6676.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground The last Freedom trail site on the south side of the Charles River, Copp's Burying Ground is the resting place of thousands of merchants, artisans and free blacks. Free. Not wheelchair accessible.

Bunker Hill Monument

(617) 242-5641 A tall granite obelisk commemorating the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill (which actually took place on Breed's Hill)You can climb this monument's 294 steps for a panoramic view of Boston. (No elevator). During the summer, visitors also can observe free musket firing demonstrations and "battle talks." Free.

New England Aquarium

Central Wharf, Boston, 02110 (617) 973 5200 In addition to over 7,000 fish, aquatic mammals and also penguins, the interior centerpiece is the massive 200,000 gallon 'Giant Ocean Tank', encircled by a four-story spiral ramp. The tank is home to a replica of the Caribbean coral reef and a collection of many different sea creatures, including several huge turtles, barracudas, stingrays and sharks. The New England Aquarium also offers whale-watching tours with indoor and outdoor seating and seal or walrus shows.

The USS Constitution

Charlestown Navy Yard

55 Constitution Rd, Charlestown, Boston, 02129 617- 426 –1812

Open: daily November to April - 10:00 to 17:00 May to October - 09:00 to 18:00 Launched over 200 years ago in 1797, the USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned ship in the US Navy and undefeated in battle. Often referred to as 'Old Ironsides, ' the USS Constitution is located in Charlestown Navy Yard, the last stop on the Freedom Trail. Visitors can board the ship daily. Free guided tours are available. Active-duty sailors guide visitors around the ship.

Boston Public Library

666 Boylston Street, Copley Square, Boston (617) 536 5400 Built in 1848, the Boston Public Library was the first free publicly supported municipal library in America, the first public library to lend a book and the first with a children's room. On the National Register of Historic Places, the library opened in 1852 as the first free, publicly-supported municipal library in America, setting a precedent for grand scale urban libraries. The fine building is reminiscent of an Italian Renaissance palace surrounding an open courtyard. With more than 650,000 photographs, 100,000 prints (some by Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec) and 250 different papers in the 'Newspaper Room', the library now has Internet access, two restaurants and an on-line store with reproductions of its priceless artwork. All exhibits are free, open to the public and books are only the beginning.

Museum of Afro-American History

46 Joy St. Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 725-0022

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 10-4, Memorial Day-Labor Day; Mon.-Sat. 10-4, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

The museum includes the African Meeting House, dedicated in 1806 and said to be the oldest standing African-American church building in the United States, and the Abiel Smith School. Changing exhibits are displayed in the gallery. Guided gallery tours are available. The museum's Black Heritage Trail walking tour links 14 historic sites; maps and guided tours are available

Museum of National Center of Afro-American Artists 300 Walnut St. Roxbury Boston, MA 02119 617-442-8614 An art museum dedicated to the promotion, exhibition, collection and criticism of the Black visual arts heritage worldwide. Programs are offered in 5 areas, as well as publications, research and education.

Bull and Finch Pub - Home of Cheers

84 Beacon Street, Boston (617) 227 9605 The facade of this world-famous pub is instantly recognizable as the inspiration for the American television show, 'Cheers' and is situated opposite the Public Garden. This hugely successful sitcom ran for many years, with well-known characters including Sam, Diane, Norm, Frasier and many more. Although the exterior is the same as on television, the inside is completely different, being made up of several smaller rooms. However, although unexpected, this is not a real disappointment as the busy pub is full of a selection of Cheers memorabilia. The menu serves typical bar food, including burgers, nachos and chicken wings and is very popular with tourists. Open: daily  

Franklin Park Zoo

1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, 02121 (617) 541 5466 Founded in 1911, this large urban zoo covers an area of more than 72 acres / 29 hectares. Filled with a good selection of animals, including gorillas, leopards, hippos and many free-flying birds, this is a popular family attraction.

John Hancock Tower

200 Clarendon Street,

St. James Avenue and Trinity Place, Boston This is New England's tallest building. It was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei. It towers high above Copley Square and away from Boston's downtown high-rise area. The outside of the building is covered by mirror-like glass and Boston’s historic buildings are often reflected with subtle distortions of color and shape. This image of old and new side by side, together with the reflections, is often a popular subject for photographers. After terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the popular 60th floor observatory was permanently closed due to security concerns.

Old State House

206 Washington St. Boston, MA 02109 USA

Phone: (617) 720-1713

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 9-5; closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25 Old State House is at Washington St. at the head of State St. (T: State). The building is on the site of the old 1657 Town House. The present structure, built in 1713, is considered to be Boston's oldest public building. Royal governors and provincial representatives presided at the town house before the Revolution. The Boston Massacre occurred at the east front in 1770, and the Declaration of Independence was read to Bostonians on July 18, 1776, from the balcony. In 1780 John Hancock was inaugurated at the state house as first governor of the Commonwealth. The Bostonian Society maintains the building as a museum of Boston history.

Charles River Dam Visitor Information Center

250 Warren Avenue (617) 727 5114 Guided tours and a short presentation explain the history of the dam and how it actually operates. The Charles River is the stretch of water that separates Cambridge from Boston.

Paul Revere House

19 North Sq. Boston, MA 02113 USA

Phone: (617) 523-2338

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 9:30-5:15, Apr. 15-Oct. 31; daily 9:30-4:15, Apr. 1-14 and Nov.-Dec.; Tues.-Sun. 9:30-4:15, rest of year. Closed Jan. 1, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25

Paul Revere House, 19 North Sq. (T: Haymarket), was built about 1680 and is the oldest house in downtown Boston. The restored home, which Paul Revere owned 1770-1800, contains 17th- and 18th-century furnishings and Revere