Boston walking tour & city guide

Walking the Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a 4-kilometer route marked by a red line in the sidewalk that links 16 historic sites. It starts at Boston Common, America's oldest public park, established in 1634, and passes the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, the Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre, and Faneuil Hall, a meeting hall and marketplace since 1742.

In the North End, the trail leads to the Paul Revere House, the oldest surviving building in downtown Boston, and the Old North Church, where lanterns were hung in 1775 to warn that British troops were on the move. It ends across the river in Charlestown at the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.

Neighborhoods to explore

Beacon Hill is Boston's most picturesque neighborhood, with gas lamps, brick sidewalks and Federal-style row houses. Acorn Street, a narrow lane of cobblestones, is said to be one of the most photographed streets in America. It is especially atmospheric in the rain, as the featured video shows.

The North End is Boston's Little Italy, packed with cafés, bakeries and family restaurants. Back Bay offers elegant Victorian brownstones, the shops of Newbury Street and Copley Square, home to the Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library. Across the Charles River, Cambridge is home to Harvard University and MIT.

Tips for visiting

Boston is very walkable, and the 'T', America's oldest subway system, fills the gaps. Autumn is spectacular, with crisp air and colorful foliage across New England. Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are warm and busy. Sports are a passion here, from the Red Sox at historic Fenway Park, opened in 1912, to the Celtics and the Bruins.