Charles River

Unique & unexpected

Make a splash on an 80-minute “Duck” tour of Boston and see the city from the land and water on one non-stop journey. Climb aboard your World War II-style amphibious landing vehicle at the Museum of Science or Prudential Center, and set off to discover unique neighborhoods. You will be welcomed on board by one of the legendary “ConDUCKtors®” who will narrate your tour and tell you about Boston as the birthplace of freedom and place of “firsts.” Travel by the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill, and continue to Boston Common and Copley Square. Hear about the “Big Dig,” and marvel at fashionable Newbury Street. Go to historic Quincy Market, and more. As the best of Boston unfolds, your “ConDUCKtor®” will give you lots of little-known facts and interesting insights into the heritage of the city. Then, just when you think you've seen it all, it's time for a splash into the Charles River. Enjoy views of Boston and Cambridge that you won't get anywhere else. All tours feature a fun, informative local guide. In addition, Boston Duck Tours has invested in providing the best experience in Boston for visitors far and wide with its new GPS activated foreign language app that guests can download and use on tour. The app breaks down the language barrier, providing imagery as well as narration in languages including Spanish, German, Mandarin, French, Japanese, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean and Cantonese on all tours. Please bring your own headphones.

Experience the beauty of Boston with Boston Sightseeing double-decker hop-on hop-off tour. Visit the New England Aquarium, Old State House Museum, Boston Fish Pier, Trinity Church, and other sites. Board an open-top double-decker tour bus and be amazed as you ascend above the bustling crowd, capturing awe-inspiring views. You will see all the major attractions and historic landmarks with 8 convenient stops. Hear interesting facts, glorious historical information, and anecdotes about the sights you pass through the sites. The stops for the hop-on hop-off tour are:Stop 1: New England Aquarium (Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market, Sightseeing Cruise, North End, TD Garden, Marriot Custom House.)Stop-2: Old State House Museum (Boston City Hall, Historic District, Samuel Adams Taproom, Old South Meeting House.)Stop-3: Downtown Boston (Boston Opera House, Old Granary Burial Ground, Kings Chapel, Frog Pond, Park Street Church.)Stop-4: Boston Common (Boston Public Garden, Theater District, Chinatown, Boch Center, Swan Boat)Stop-5: Cheers Pub (Beacon Hill, Charles River, Gibson House Museum, The Newbury, Charles St. Meeting House.)Stop-6: Boston Public Library (John Hancock Tower, Copley Square, Arts Boston, South End.)Stop-7: Trinity Church (Back Bay, Newbury Street)Stop-8: Massachusetts State House (State House Library, Financial District, Otis House Museum)

Discover Boston’s illustrious story aboard Old Town Trolley on this exciting new sunset tour. Watch the city skyline fade into the night over the Charles River. See the moonlight light up Boston’s cobblestone streets and colonial architecture as guides show you the city’s most iconic locations. Take in all the picturesque scenery as you pass by iconic locations such as the North End, Boston Harbor, the Boston Commons, the Massachusetts State House, Boston Public Library, the Bunker Hill Bridge, TD Garden, the Museum of Science, Trinity Church, John Hancock Tower, and Cambridge. Discover the rich history of America’s Cradle of Liberty on this 90-minute tour. Witness history come to life as soft music and lively narration set the stage for a beautiful sunset over the Charles River.

Boston, known as "The Cradle of Liberty," is a city rich in history and culture. From the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill to the bustling Seaport District, Boston has something for everyone. Big Bus guides you through remarkable landmarks such as Fenway Park, the historic Freedom Trail, and the picturesque Boston Common. Embark on a journey through Boston to discover its charm, experience its vibrant culture, and create unforgettable memories. From the historic North End and Theater District to the scenic Boston Harbor and New England Aquarium, our open-top double-decker bus tour offers a comprehensive sightseeing experience. Tour through the colonial era with a visit to Downtown, North End, and Beacon Hill, taking in the charming streets and stunning architecture of old Boston. Then, head over to Back Bay, the Theater District, and the Waterfront - the heart of Boston's bustling city center. Here, you'll be able to gaze at the towering skyscrapers and immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of modern-day Boston. Don’t miss Charlestown, home of the historic USS Constitution - the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. And take a photo of the iconic Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. After the tour, consider visiting Fenway Park and the famous Quincy Market, or even taking a stroll through the Boston Common. With Big Bus Boston, you can explore Boston at your own pace!

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 5+mile-long tour covers the essentials of Cambridge in 1-2 hours. Enjoy a tour developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists and stop to watch videos along the way. First, discover Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood before crossing the Charles River and entering Cambridge. Discover MIT and head onto Broadway, where you’ll find some serious history as well as the cutting-edge Draper Laboratory. Pass by buildings built in the 1880s and get your first look at Harvard, as well as a redoubt used by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Then, see the high school attended by celebrities like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. See Harvard’s Memorial Hall and the Cambridge Common. In Kerry Corner, learn about Cambridge’s Irish history, before seeing Cambridge City Hall. Pass the First Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King, Jr. attended services, before returning to MIT.

Renowned as one of America’s most bicycle-friendly cities, experience the atmosphere and appeal of Cambridge during a 2.5-hour guided bike tour. Known as “Boston’s Left Bank,” Cambridge is a hotspot of the arts and home to MIT and Harvard University.  Begin this experience by meeting your  guide at the designated meeting point. Here pick up your helmet, water, and your bicycle or electric bike that will take you from Boston over the Charles River and into Cambridge.  From the cycling paths on the Charles River to the booming industry of Kendall Square, this tour shows you the most exciting and vibrant parts of Cambridge. You will visit some of Cambridge's most popular sites such as Harvard Square, The Stata Center, Longfellow Bridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Charles River with views of the Boston Skyline.

Capture the historical, intellectual, and cultural history of two world-renowned institutions, Harvard and MIT, on this private driving tour with a local guide! Your tour will take you to the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, more colloquially called MIT. Here, you’ll take in its public artworks and architectural wonders by famed architects like Frank Gehry and IM Pei, a nod to the institute's history of innovation and cutting-edge technology. You’ll also have the opportunity to arrange advance admission or purchase tickets for the MIT museum, where you can explore exhibits on AI, robotics, and more. We’ll get another look at university life at another nearby renowned institution, Harvard University. We can spend some time walking around Harvard’s classic campus and learn the origins of this very first American college. Our Harvard tour – or should be say, Hahvahd Tour – will be a mix of history and architecture. You can expect beautiful gothic styles, including Memorial Hall and charming Memorial Church. Your guide will even let you in on the secret of the whispering arch at Sever Hall. As we pass by Widener Library, your tour guide will fill you in on the background of this impressive Beaux-Arts building, which houses over 3.5 million books! Among the sculptures found throughout the campus, you’ll learn about the world-famous statue of John Harvard and dispel some oft-repeated myths. We’ll then take a stroll across Harvard Yard, as seen in movies such as Good Will Hunting and The Firm, and learn the long list of dignitaries who graduated from this prestigious university. Although the list of Harvard drop-outs is just as fascinating! You may be enticed to buy a crimson sweatshirt at the world-famous Harvard Coop to show your support for the school! Adjacent to the Yard is Harvard Square, a favorite shopping and socializing spot for students and locals alike. The city of Cambridge has several sites connected to the American Revolution, and our tour will take you to the training site of the Continental Army, Cambridge Common. Here, you’ll see several monuments representing famous Revolutionary War figures and relics scattered throughout the 16-acre park. We’ll also have time to experience historic Brattle Street, perhaps the most beautiful street in Cambridge, lined by many colonial mansions with various architectural styles and beautiful tree-lined sidewalks. We love to show our travelers the hidden gems not often visited on other tours, so we’ll be sure to stop at Mount Auburn Cemetery, a unique National Historic Landmark known for its natural beauty and notable burials. After discovering the historical, architectural, and intellectual side of Cambridge, you’ll be ready for a relaxing drive along the scenic Charles River back to any ending location of your choosing!

Step back into the American Revolution and view the very best sites and attractions of Boston on a guided drive and nighttime walking tour. Join a local expert guide and uncover the story of Boston with historic highlights and personalized recommendations. Begin your tour of Boston with a pickup from your hotel in the downtown area. Kick off your night in Boston with a scenic drive in downtown Boston. Relax and take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline illuminated at night. Continuing the adventure, visit View Boston, where panoramic views await. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, this state-of-the-art observation deck offers 360-degree vistas of the cityscape, from historic landmarks to modern skyscrapers. Next, your local guide will take you on a narrated walking tour of the North End neighborhood. Stop outside the famous Skinny House, the narrowest house in Boston. See the historic Old North Church, the George Robert Fountain, and the Paul Revere House. You will have the opportunity to grab a quick pastry from a local North End bakery at the end of your tour. Finally, be returned to your hotel in Boston so you can enjoy the rest of the night.

This private Boston tour has something for everyone, and we’ll start by indulging the history lovers: relive the city’s major events on a Freedom Trail tour, from speeches protesting British rule in Faneuil Hall to the infamous massacre that took place outside Old State House. We’ll visit the site of the infamous Boston Tea Party and a cemetery where several notable Bostonians are buried. Other top things to do in Boston include visiting the North End, where you’ll discover Old North Church’s connection to Paul Revere's famous midnight ride and many excellent Italian eateries. In Beacon Hill, you’ll love the charm of its historic homes and alleyways and see the most photographed street in Boston! In Charlestown, we’ll see the USS Constitution and tour the battlefield of Bunker Hill. Stop at the Seaport District for the best city views and seafood. Wrap up your tour of Boston in the Back Bay neighborhood to enjoy a cocktail on Newbury Street or a stroll along the Esplanade!

We’ll be exploring significant moments of American history along the iconic Freedom Trail, including landmarks like Faneuil Hall, where the first cries for revolution rang out. Your local tour guide will key in on the events that led to the American Revolution, like an infamous tea party and a pivotal massacre. Boston is known for many of the nation’s “firsts”, including the very first free public library as well as the first public school in the U.S. and where you’ll learn how this pioneering institution connects us to modern-day public education. A short drive over to Charlestown will bring us to both the Bunker Hill Monument and the U.S.S. Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy. We’ll also be driving through beautiful Beacon Hill, stopping to see the most photographed street in all of Boston! In Boston’s North End, you’ll discover amazing history from colonial times to modern crimes and get the best recommendations from your guide for the best cappuccinos and cannoli. And as you step inside historic Old North Church (when possible), you’ll learn what really happened during that legendary midnight ride… If it’s seafood you’re seeking, you’ll find that and more in the Seaport District, where we’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Boston Harbor. More views abound along the banks of the Charles River, where we can take in the city skyline on the Boston Esplanade. See the beautiful Victorian-era homes of the Back Bay and learn how it got its name. Finally, we’ll complete our Boston tour at Harvard Square and walk around the country’s most prestigious university campus. With so much history, culture, and great cuisine, we can’t wait to take you on this action-packed Boston sightseeing tour!