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Charles River

Charles River: Our most recommended tours and activities

Boston: Charles River Sightseeing Cruise

1. Boston: Charles River Sightseeing Cruise

Enjoy a 70-minute, fully-narrated sightseeing cruise along the Charles River. Your captain and crew will both entertain and educate while pointing out the historic and cultural sights of Boston and Cambridge. Sights include Beacon Hill, Esplanade Park, the Back Bay, Boston University, M.I.T., Harvard and countless sailboats and rowers! Enjoy the sights from a covered seating area, or come out to the front for a better view. Sightseeing cruises depart from Lechmere Canal Park at Cambridge Side. The ticket booth and boat departure is located outside the doors by the Food Court.

Boston: Summer Nights Sunset Trolley Tour

2. Boston: Summer Nights Sunset Trolley Tour

Discover Boston’s illustrious story aboard Old Town Trolley on this exciting new sunset tour. Watch the city skyline fade into the night over the Charles River. See the moonlight light up Boston’s cobblestone streets and colonial architecture as guides show you the city’s most iconic locations. Take in all the picturesque scenery as you pass by iconic locations such as the North End, Boston Harbor, the Boston Commons, the Massachusetts State House, Boston Public Library, the Bunker Hill Bridge, TD Garden, the Museum of Science, Trinity Church, John Hancock Tower, and Cambridge. Discover the rich history of America’s Cradle of Liberty on this 90-minute tour. Witness history come to life as soft music and lively narration set the stage for a beautiful sunset over the Charles River.

Boston: Small Group Night Tour with Sunset Boat Cruise

3. Boston: Small Group Night Tour with Sunset Boat Cruise

Step back into the American Revolution and view the very best sites and attractions of Boston on a guided sunset cruise and nighttime walking tour. Join a local expert guide and uncover the story of Boston with historic highlights and personalized recommendations. Begin your tour of Boston with a pickup from your hotel in the downtown area. Kick off your night in Boston with a scenic sunset cruise on Boston Harbor. Relax and take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline illuminated at night. Next, back on land, your local guide will take you on a narrated walking tour of the North End neighborhood. Stop outside the famous Skinny House, the narrowest house in Boston. See the historic Old North Church, the George Robert Fountain, and the Paul Revere House. You will have the opportunity to grab a quick pastry from Mike's Pastry at the end of your tour. Finally, be returned to your hotel in Boston so you can enjoy the rest of the night.

From Boston: Guided Bike Tour of Cambridge

4. From Boston: Guided Bike Tour of Cambridge

Renowned as one of America’s most bicycle-friendly cities, experience the atmosphere and appeal of Cambridge during a 2.5-hour guided bike tour. Known as “Boston’s Left Bank,” Cambridge is a hotspot of the arts and home to MIT and Harvard University.  Begin this experience by meeting your  guide at the designated meeting point. Here pick up your helmet, water, and your bicycle or electric bike that will take you from Boston over the Charles River and into Cambridge.  From the cycling paths on the Charles River to the booming industry of Kendall Square, this tour shows you the most exciting and vibrant parts of Cambridge. You will visit some of Cambridge's most popular sites such as Harvard Square, The Stata Center, Longfellow Bridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Charles River with views of the Boston Skyline.

Boston: Back Bay History and Culture Private Walking Tour

5. Boston: Back Bay History and Culture Private Walking Tour

Community Impact: -We mindfully design our tours to explore areas on foot, thus doing our part to lessen our environmental impact -We are committed to a “360-degree view” of storytelling, featuring stories about under-represented groups, such as women, immigrants, and people of various ethnicities, ages, religions, and sexual orientations -During our visit to the Back Bay, we will provide recommendations and offer opportunities to patronize small and local businesses to help them continue to thrive against rising gentrification -Your guide will speak about the important role of Boston's green spaces, including Boston Public Garden and the entirety of the Emerald Necklace, which has directly improved air quality for Bostonians Summary: Meet your guide in the heart of the Back Bay, Copley Square, to start your unique Boston history and culture tour. Here, you’ll see the Boston Public Library, the first free public library in America, and go inside to discover beautiful artwork and an amazing Roman garden! Nearby, Trinity Church is an architectural delight that’s sure to impress anyone, architecture aficionado or not. One block away, we’ll experience the electric and eclectic Newbury Street – this is retail therapy at its finest! Our tour will include a stroll down this famous street, known as the best shopping district in all of Boston, to see the stores go from high-end to mainstream to downright funky. Your tour guide will also point out the beautiful facades of the Victorian-era homes of the Back Bay and learn how this trendy neighborhood earned its name. We’ll then take our Boston Back Bay tour over the picturesque Arthur Fiedler Footbridge and enjoy a walk along the Charles River and the Boston Esplanade, where you will get the best views of Boston. We’ll finish up our Boston history tour at America’s first public botanical garden, the Boston Public Garden. One of the most beautiful spots in Boston, the Public Garden is the perfect setting for a photo session. During the summer months, you might even want to take a ride on the world-famous Swan Boats! Year-round, you can always see one of the most beloved series of statues in Boston, the Make Way For Ducklings statues. From here, you can continue to enjoy the park’s nature and historic structures or head back into the heart of the Back Bay to indulge in shopping, dining, and more with the help of your guide’s local recommendations!

Cambridge: Self-Guided GPS Driving Audio Tour

6. Cambridge: Self-Guided GPS Driving Audio Tour

Start your tour of Cambridge by downloading your app, which functions as a tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Enjoy a tour developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists and stop to watch videos along the way. First, discover Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood before crossing the Charles River and entering Cambridge. Discover MIT and head onto Broadway, where you’ll find some serious history as well as the cutting-edge Draper Laboratory. Pass by buildings built in the 1880s and get your first look at Harvard, as well as a redoubt used by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Then, see the high school attended by celebrities like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. See Harvard’s Memorial Hall and the Cambridge Common. In Kerry Corner, learn about Cambridge’s Irish history, before seeing Cambridge City Hall. Pass the First Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King, Jr. attended services, before returning to MIT.

Other Sightseeing Options in Charles River

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What people are saying about Charles River

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 123 reviews

Stuart was our guide, and he was knowledgeable and fun for our guided walking tour. The sunset riverboat was a pleasant start to the evening. Note, it was not narrated. It was quiet and a great opportunity to speak with other passengers and have a cocktail.

Our tour guy, Crappy, was anything but crappy! He was informative. He was humerus and interacted with the group. He was even available for dinner after work . Go Warriors! I would definitely recommend a tour with him.

Very nice way to see Boston. To do at the beginning of your visit to Boston because the guide gives plenty of suggestions of things to visit and restaurants to try. The view is magnificent at sunset.

Our tour guide, Hambone, was phenomenal. He pointed out many sites and used different songs that added to the experience. He was very knowledgeable about Boston and answered questions easily.

Amazing tour with a tour guide (Stuart) who knew the story about the story. I learned tidbits of information not taught in the history books that made the tour a can’t miss adventure.