Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
3.7/5
Based on 7 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour worth booking?
Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in Boston, United States, from $30 per person. It scores 53 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.7/5 rating across 7 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 53 / 100
- Rating
- 3.7/5 (7)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $30 per person
Step back in time to where America began. Boston is more than just a fun city; it is the cradle of American liberty. From the legendary ride of Paul Revere to the tension of the Boston Massacre, our Boston 101 Essential
What you get
About this experience
Step back in time to where America began. Boston is more than just a fun city; it is the cradle of American liberty. From the legendary ride of Paul Revere to the tension of the Boston Massacre, our Boston 101 Essential Historical Walking Tour brings the 17th and 18th centuries to life. We show you pictures and paintings of Boston's history so you can visualize the past. Led by certified historians, this 90-minute guided experience is the perfect introduction for first-time visitors and history buffs alike. You'll see Boston Common, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Grounds, King's Chapel, Boston Massacre site, old jail location, Faneuil Hall that are all on the freedom trail. You will hear about the Battle of Bunker Hill, the siege of Boston and how Henry Knox forced the British out of Boston. This is a small group tour so you don't have to go on a 50 person tour.
What's included
Included
- Images shown by the guide
Not included
- Tour Guide Tips
What you'll see and do
Granary Burying Ground
You will enter this cemetery that was established in 1660 and will see the headstones of Paul Revere, Same Adams, John Hancock, and the parents of Benjamin Franklin. The graves of the men killed in the Boston Massacre are also there.
15 minutes here
King's Chapel
King's Chapel was established in 1686 and was the first Anglican congregation in the greater Boston area. We do not go inside, but you will marvel at the structure. The chapel gives tours that involve seeing the crypts below the main room as well as the bell in the steeple.
Pass by without stopping
King's Chapel Burying Ground
The King's Chapel Burying Ground was established in 1630 that is the same year that Boston was founded. Many notable people are buried there like John Win throp, Massachusetts' first governor who served 12 terms. Also, Mary Chilton, believed to be the first woman to step off the Mayflower, is there too. In addition, we will discuss William Dawes who also made a famous ride warning colonists that the British were here.
15 minutes here
Government Center
During the American Revolution, the British encamped on this site and occupied a church that sits where Boston City Hall is located now. There are lot of great history at this location including the site of the laboratory of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.
5 minutes here
Boston Massacre Site
The Boston Massacre is arguably the starting point of tensions between the colonists and the monarchy. Five colonists were killed and six were injured when a handful of British soldiers fired into the crowd. You'll stand in the spot where it happened and learn how it led to the American Revolution.
15 minutes here
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Peter Faneuil was the owner of the building and offered it as a public meeting place where colonists discussed revolution and other topics. You'll hear the story of the Battle of Bunker Hill -- one of the bloodiest battles of the war. And you'll also hear about Evacuation Day in 1776 and Boston's role in the War of 1812.
15 minutes here
Boston Common
Your walking tour starts here. You will learn about William Blackstone, the first European settler living here, who sold the land to John Winthrop in 1630. You'll hear stories of witches who were hanged here as well as other criminals. The British encamped here during the occupation of Boston.
15 minutes here
Stop in Court Square and see where the Boston Gaol (jail) was located during the 1600s. Prisoners included Quakers, "witches," pirates, murderers, rebels, debtors, and newspaper editors. Famous prisoners included Captain Kidd and witches from the 1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Boston
Meet at Boston Common Tablet (aka Blackstone Tablet) at the corner of Park and Tremont Streets. The guide is wearing a Black and Yellow Tri-Corner hat and will be holding a sign with the tour name.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Sat
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Salem Historical Tours, LLC
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
7 verified traveler reviews for Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Awful Service
Tried to take a walking tour provided by this company, but no one was there. I called their customer service number and was given a description of a person, but that didn’t match what the operator ended up telling me. They continue to harass me after requesting a refund. Just a gross company.
Response from the operator: Once again, the same person has written two reviews that is against TripAdvisor/Viator rules. There is an image of the meeting point on the product and the confirmation. It is a picture of the Subway station. The words "Meet Between The Subway Stairs" are very visible on the picture and there is a white star also on the picture where the guide stands. The guide was at the spot, holding a Boston 101: Historical Walking Tour sign. He is 6-2 & wears a yellow tri-corner hat, shouting out the tour name. All the other people found him. Thousands of people find us every year. There is another guide doing a different tour nearby. Our people goes to him in error and he sends them to us. We reciprocate when his people come to us. The fact that the other guide wasn't mentioned is interesting because it means the guest wasn't able to find either guide. The guest also provided a picture of the meeting site showing we weren't there. Forensics showed the picture was taken at 3:38 pm. The tour started at 11 am and was long gone. The picture was a lie. Please give her review no credibility.
via Tripadvisor
Weren’t able to take tour due to poor directions from operator
Full refund requested. Photo of meetup place did not match with the info sent for meetup. Reached out for assistance to find tour guide and was unsuccessful in finding person who was supposedly there per description. Very unsatisfied.
Response from the operator: There is an image of the meeting point on the product and the confirmation. It is a picture of the Subway station. The words "Meet Between The Subway Stairs" are very visible on the picture and there is a white star also on the picture where the guide stands. The guide was at the spot, holding a Boston 101: Historical Walking Tour sign. He is 6-2 & wears a yellow tri-corner hat, shouting out the tour name. All the other people found him. Thousands of people find us every year. There is another guide doing a different tour nearby. Our people goes to him in error and he sends them to us. We reciprocate when his people come to us. The fact that the other guide wasn't mentioned is interesting because it means the guest wasn't able to find either guide.
via Viator
Brilliant historical walking tour of Salem
Corrinne was an absolutely exceptional tour guide. Despite it being just my friend and me on the tour, she was incredibly generous with her time, extending the walking tour by an extra 30 minutes to ensure we had the best possible experience. Her knowledge of Salem's history was truly outstanding. She tailored the tour to our interests, answered every question with enthusiasm and depth, and brought the stories of Salem to life in a fascinating and engaging way. We came away having learned so much and feeling that we had experienced the very best of Salem's rich history. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone visiting Salem. Thank you, Corrinne, for making our visit so special! — Jess (Scotland) & Rachael (Ireland)
Response from the operator: Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Corinne is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
via Tripadvisor
Great tour!
Bob our guide was fantastic. Knowledgeable and funny. Great tour group size. Excellent value for money, covering everything from history of the buildings to great facts about witches. Would highly recommend.
Response from the operator: Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Bob is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
via Tripadvisor
Walking Tour of Boston
This was a nice walking tour. Things to take into account is they said to show up 15 minutes early but the guide didn't show up until almost the start time. Mentioned I wondered where he was and was told bluntly it wasn't the tour start time yet. This company uses the same tour guides for Salem and Boston, including all of the variety of tour types. They are not specialists in any one. If I were to go again, I would just show up in the park and get a tour guide there.
Response from the operator: The guide was delayed but showed up 10 minutes early, not at the start time as the reviewer incorrectly recalled. This particular guide is an author, researcher and historian that has been frequently featured on TV shows and has provided lectures throughout New England.. There are only two guides in the company that work in Boston. The rest work in Salem. They specialize in each of their disciplines. The tour guide in the park that meets in our spot just started tours and talks about restaurants he has eaten in and how the city looked when he grew up. If you want to see the Granary Burying Grounds, Kings Chapel Burying Ground, Faneuil Hall, Boston Massacre Site, Jail, and Oldestt School in America as well as learn the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill and Boston Tea Party, you need to take this "great" walking tour.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Sat
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 53
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Boston.
How much does Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $30 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Boston usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Boston is not rushed.
Is Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 53 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.7/5 across 7 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Boston, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Boston can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Boston and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Boston 101 Best Historical Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Boston within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Boston?
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Boston is compact enough that a good walking guide beats any bus. Freedom Trail walks, harbour cruises, Fenway tours and whale-watch runs out to Stellwagen Bank are the core, plus Salem and Cape Cod as day trips. Outty Ranking weights guide storytelling and group size heavily, because on the Freedom Trail the narration is the entire product. On Outty we rank every Boston experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Full Revolutionary Story Epic Small-Group Boston Walking Tour, Boston: Freedom Trail History Small Group Walking Tour, Boston's Freedom Trail: A Revolutionary Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Boston?
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May to October. Whale watching runs roughly April through October only. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Boston?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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