Historic Boston Sights and Landmarks

October 20, 2026

Sightseeing in Boston works best neighborhood by neighborhood, because the main historic sites cluster close together. The notes below follow the Freedom Trail from Boston Common north to Charlestown and add the other free or low-cost stops along the way. Hours shift with the seasons, so confirm them on the official pages.

Boston Common and Beacon Hill

The Freedom Trail starts at Boston Common, where the Visitor Information Center sits at 139 Tremont St. The route is 2.5 miles and passes 16 official sites, and walking it costs nothing. Across from the Massachusetts State House stands the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, a bronze relief by Saint-Gaudens unveiled in 1897. Please treat it with the gravity it deserves. The State House runs free docent tours on weekdays from 10 to 3:30, lasting about 45 minutes, and you pass airport-style security first. The Granary Burying Ground on Tremont St is the resting place of Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine and Paul Revere. Walk around the stones and never rub or lean on them.

The Public Garden next door has the Swan Boats, run by the Paget family since 1877. They sail from spring to roughly Labor Day, and fares are about $3.25 to $4.75.

Downtown

The Old State House and Old South Meeting House share one admission ticket, priced at $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $10 for youth 6 to 17, and both open daily 10 to 5. Cobblestones in the traffic island outside the Old State House mark where five colonists, including Crispus Attucks, died on 5 March 1770. Faneuil Hall’s Great Hall is free and stays closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the cooler months. The shops and food stalls on the ground floor are open daily. Details for the first pair are on revolutionaryspaces.org .

North End

Paul Revere House at 19 North Square costs $6 for adults, with cheaper rates for seniors, students and children. Old North Church, the active Episcopal parish at 193 Salem St, offers a $10 Discovery Pass for adults. Check paulreverehouse.org and oldnorth.com for seasonal hours.

Charlestown

The Bunker Hill Monument is free, and nobody needs a reservation. A tight spiral staircase of 294 steps leads to the top, and the staff let in only 25 visitors at a time. Come on Wednesday to Sunday, when it is currently open 10 to 5, and arrive well before closing because the last climb leaves 30 minutes earlier. Bad weather can shut it. Next door in the square, the Bunker Hill Museum at 43 Monument Square charges no admission. At the Navy Yard, USS Constitution is free to board with a physical government photo ID for anyone 18 or over. Its days and hours vary through the year, so look at the National Park Service pages first. Start with the Bunker Hill visitor page .

Copley Square library

Copley Square is home to the Boston Public Library, where entry costs nothing. Look up current opening hours and any tours on its own website.

Practical notes

Between roughly December and March, expect nor’easters, deep snow and biting wind. Check the forecast and MBTA service alerts. For a guided overview, compare tours on Viator .