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Old State House

Old State House: Our most recommended tours and activities

Boston: Guided Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail

1. Boston: Guided Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail

See all 16 of Boston's Iconic Freedom Trail sites in a single tour with an experienced guide. Learn about icons like Paul Revere and John Hancock, along with lesser-known stories of women, African Americans, and immigrant patriots and pioneers. Start your tour opposite the Massachusetts Statehouse, at the base of the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston Common, and finish in the North End with the best view of the Charlestown Freedom Trail sites. Discover tales of rebels, gangs, and Midnight Riders, with a few cheap dad jokes for good measure. Gain an understanding of Boston's role in the American Revolution and how the city became a pioneer in the fields of abolition, American education, and immigration. Along the way, experience the explosive events of the American Revolution like the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre in the places they happened. See Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel, the Benjamin Franklin Statue, the Old Corner Bookstore, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, the Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, the USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument.

Boston: Historic Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail

2. Boston: Historic Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail

Learn about the tumultuous 15-year period that culminated in the American Revolution on this small-group walking tour. As you walk through the heart of Boston, you’ll follow the footsteps of colonial Bostonians, all of whom grappled with the difficult question of loyalty or rebellion to crown and country. Start your walking tour on Boston Common, where the Freedom Trail originates. From there, you'll begin your walk along the historic Freedom Trail with your guide. Along the way, learn the significance of landmarks such as the Granary Burying Ground, the Old South Meeting House, the Boston Massacre Site, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, and more. Your walking tour concludes at Copp's Hill Terrace, steps from the Old North Church. This final viewpoint over to Charlestown provides guests with a view of all 16 official landmarks on the Freedom Trail.

Boston: Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolley Ticket

3. Boston: Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolley Ticket

Discover Boston onboard an enchanting hop-on and hop-off trolley to see all the historic sights at your own pace. Choose from a 1-day or 2-day hop-on hop-off open-air trolley ticket, providing access to 9 stops, all conveniently located close to the city’s premier attractions. Friendly tour guides are on board, ready to narrate your tour, and you can join and end the tour at any of the stops along the route. Jump off in neighborhoods such as North End and Beacon Hill to explore further. Take the full 1-hour circuit non-stop to get a great orientation of downtown Boston or explore in your own time. Hop-on and hop-off trolley stops: • New England Aquarium - Shuttle and Ferry - Quincy Market – Faneuil Hall • Paul Revere House - Little Italy • North End - Old North Church • USS Constitution - Old Ironsides • North Station - TD Bank Garden Sports Museum • Old State House - Faneuil Hall – Boston Massacre - Government Center • Boston Common - Public Garden • State House - Beacon Hill • South Station - Convention Center - Children’s Museum

Boston: North End to Freedom Trail Food and History Tour

4. Boston: North End to Freedom Trail Food and History Tour

Learn about Boston's own Little Italy district of North End and its rich culinary scene. Also, learn about the significant role the city played during the American Revolution on a fascinating guided walking tour of Boston.  Make your way through to the heart of the North End, home to some of the city’s oldest buildings and renowned for its variety of food offerings. Try some fresh bread and Italian meats and cheeses at a hidden bakery. You will also indulge in some sweet local pastries. On the Freedom Trail, explore the Rose Kennedy Greenway, State Street, and the historic Custom House Tower. Then, head over to Old City Hall, which was the birthplace of public education in America. Don’t forget to get a picture of the bronzed Donkey outside the entrance Your tour will finish at the Boston Public Garden. Enjoy the rest of your day relaxing in the park and its beautiful surroundings. 

Boston: Self-Guided Freedom Trail Walking Audio Tour w/ App

5. Boston: Self-Guided Freedom Trail Walking Audio Tour w/ App

Discover Boston's Revolutionary history on a Freedom Trail self-guided audio walking tour with an app. Explore historic downtown Boston, the North End, and Charlestown all at your own pace and without the crowds. Simply press start and follow the arrow on the app to find your next stop, listening to professional narration along your way. Head off on a historical adventure through Boston's colorful past with this self-guided tour of the Freedom Trail. Start by walking through downtown Boston and see the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Sam Adams grave, Old South, and much more. Then, continue by following the directions on your app to Boston's North End. See Paul Revere's House, Copp's Hill Burial Ground, Old North, and more to truly get a flavor of what this part of the city has to offer. Carry on to Charlestown to see Bunker Hill, the USS Constitution, and more. Best of all, take the tour anytime, at your own pace, and on your own schedule. This tour never expires on your downloaded app, so you can take it as many times as you like.

Boston: The Revolutionary Story Narrative Walking Tour

6. Boston: The Revolutionary Story Narrative Walking Tour

Follow the story of the American Revolution chronologically through the streets of Boston on this guided walking tour. Enjoy a tour that places a lot less emphasis on the facts and the dates and a lot more on the passions, personalities, and psychologies driving the events. See historic landmarks where events such as the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere occurred. As you walk around, the sightseeing is synchronized with and unfolds to the storytelling. During the tour, begin to connect the characters, moments, and landmarks together, following the story from the settling of Boston to the Declaration of Independence. This tour is designed for the curious visitor who wants to do more than just scratch the surface. 

Boston: Death and Dying Walking Ghost Tour

7. Boston: Death and Dying Walking Ghost Tour

Discover the ghosts of Boston with a tour for those aged 16 and above. Listen as your guide tells you about death and afterlife in Colonial America. Hear the stories pf the hauntings of Boston. Be greeted by your guide at the old State House and visit chilling locations like the Boston Common, the Custom House, the Boston Athenaeum, the Old South Meeting House, the Omni Parker House Hotel, and the Granary Burying Ground. Stop at King’s Chapel Burial Ground where a headless woman never fulfilled her journey to the afterlife. Uncover the story of a man who was buried alive in this cemetery.

VIP Freedom Trail Tour: Paul Revere House & Old North Church

8. VIP Freedom Trail Tour: Paul Revere House & Old North Church

Your adventure begins in the lush, green Boston Common—America's oldest urban park, with roots in the 17th century and ties to the American Revolution. There's no better place to begin your journey along the Freedom Trail. From there, head to the Massachusetts State House, located on land once owned by the one and only John Hancock. After swinging by the Park Street Church, you'll head to the Granary Burying Ground, the final resting place of notable patriots such as Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. Continuing along the Freedom Trail, you'll see sights that played a pivotal role in early American history. Discover the space where revolutionaries met to plan pivotal events such as the Boston Tea Party, pause at the somber site of the Boston Massacre, and hear the story of Samuel Adams at Faneuil Hall. Next, it's time to head into the North End neighborhood. Over the centuries, this part of Boston has become a home to a thriving Italian immigrant community, but it also happens to be the home of the final two Freedom Trail sites on your itinerary. First, you'll step into the Old North Church and enjoy a private guided experience, including a trip up to the bell tower where two strategically placed lanterns launched the American Revolution. Finally, you'll have time to explore Revere's very own home at your own pace as your Freedom Trail experience comes full-circle.

Boston: Freedom Trail Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

9. Boston: Freedom Trail Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

Experience the beauty of the Freedom Trail of Boston on a self-guided walking tour. See the famous places like Boston Common Visitor Center, Park Street Church, Boston State House, and more with the magic of an audio guide. Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. You will receive the download instructions after booking. Download the app and start the tour with your mobile phone as your guide. Start your tour at the Boston Common Visitor Center. Walk towards the north for a great view of the Boston State House, topped with a real gold dome. Visit the iconic Robert G Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial, historic Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, and the Old South Meeting House. You will pass by the Old Corner Bookstore, and continue to the Old State House, which has the distinct honor of being the place where the declaration of Independence was read aloud to the people of Boston. The next landmark is the Boston Massacre. Here, you will get a chance to untangle the truth behind this oft-misunderstood event. Continue to see the Faneuil Hall, a regal structure that witnessed countless historical events. Admire the iconic Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, before continuing to the USS Constitution. It is known by its nickname Old Ironsides.  Finally, reach the Bunker Hill Monument, commemorating one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Explore the city with a smartphone GPS navigated audio tour at your own pace and schedule.

Boston's Official Revolutionary Women Tour

10. Boston's Official Revolutionary Women Tour

Experience and discover the women who took part in the American Revolution, and the generations of women that followed, inaugurating their own struggles for freedom and equality. Walk the Freedom Trail and explore four centuries of Revolutionary Women who changed history - featuring Anne Hutchinson, Mary Dyer, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, Phillis Wheatley, and Susan B. Anthony. Visit the places where women’s voices were heard and works were published, and they were laid to rest along Boston’s iconic red line.

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What people are saying about Old State House

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 991 reviews

Fantastic tour, Charlie was a Harvard grad and current adjunct history professor and was very passionate and knowledgable about the Revolution and Boston. He painted a great picture that brought you back in time.

Knowledgeable and friendly. Comes at the history from a unique perspective. I learned far more than I anticipated being someone who’s lived in Boston for more than 10 years.

Maz was an excellent guide. We really enjoyed all of the food tasted during the tour, and the interesting information given along the way. It was a 10 out of 10!

Very pleasant morning spent exploring Boston and learning all about its past history.

Our guide was so incredibly knowledgeable, and so helpful with future planning.