One of the best ways to see the sights of Boston is to take one of the many tours. There are tours on busses, replica trolley cars and amphibious vehicles. This is our guide to the main tours available and how they compare with each other.
Old Town Boston Trolley Tours – The main tour on offer from this company is the hop on, hop off tour where your ticket lasts all day. The vehicles are busses that look like old fashioned trolley cars (pictured above) painted in green and orange. There are stops at all the main places you’ll need to see in Boston and you’ll find extra things thrown in too like free admission to the Old State House, a river cruise and occasionally the option to ride the next day too. Adult tickets for the hop on, hop off tour cost $38 although discounts are available if you book in advance online (2010 prices). Your driver is also your narrator for these tours and you can board the tour at any stop. For a great discount on this trolley tour, check out our Tours & Activities pages.
Tel: 1 888 910 8687 (TOUR) or +1 617 269 7150
Beantown Trolley Tours - This company operates a fleet of red trolleys which stop at 20 locations around Boston and Cambridge. You’ll see all the main sights along the way and you can hop on and hop off wherever you want. Your ticket includes a harbour cruise from the New England Aquarium or the USS Constitution. Adults tickets are $29.
Tel: +1 781 986 6100
Boston Upper Deck Trolley Tours – This company offers a hop on, hop off tour on modern replica green and yellow trolley cars with an upper deck for better viewing. Once again they stop at all the main sights in Boston and Cambridge and they claim to have the longest tour route with 21 stops in total. Included in the ticket price is a second day free, a boat cruise (in season) and a tour of Harvard Yard. Adult tickets at $36 (2010 prices)
Tel: +1 617 742 1440
Boston Duck Tour – This company offers two tour options, the 80 minute tour and the 55 minute evening tour which take you to see the well known sights of Boston. Your journey will take place on ‘duck’ amphibious vehicles and so these tours have the extra twist of a journey on the Charles River! Tours are narrated by an on-board guide referred to as a ”ConDUCKtor”. The longer tour departs from two locations – The Prudential Centre and the Museum of Science. The shorter tour leaves from the New England Aquarium. Adult tickets for the 80 minute tour are $31 whilst the shorter tour costs $27 (2010 prices). For a great deal on the Boston Duck Tour, check out our Tours & Activities pages.
Tel: +1 617 267 DUCK
MORE BOSTON TOURS
The Total Boston Experience
Boston Ghosts & Gravestones Tour
Boston Walking Tour: Beacon Hill
Boston Chocolate Walking Tour
The full list of Boston Tours is at our Tours & Activities pages.
