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The North End: Boston's Immigration Gateway

Explore Boston’s oldest neighborhood and discover the charm of this unique, compact city space

Paul Revere's house in Boston's North End

Tour Description

Explore Boston’s oldest neighborhood, the North End, with our knowledgeable guide.

Discover the charm of this unique, compact city space that has been home to immigrants for 400 years.

Learn what brought waves of people from Ireland, Eastern Europe, and Italy to the North End; the difficulties they faced when they arrived; and how they made a difference in their new home!

This tour begins at the waterfront and weaves through Boston’s famous ‘crooked and narrow’ streets. It will end in the heart of the North End, the perfect spot to enjoy an Italian treat after the tour!

2024 Member Add-Ons:

Register for the tour on select dates using your membership code for a free tour Add-On option available to members.

- August, Date TBA: Add on a guided visit to Armenian Heritage Park after the tour
- Saturday, Sept 28: Add on a guided visit to the Holocaust Memorial after the tour

Become a Boston By Foot member today to enjoy free tours and special members events and activities.

Experience this tour in French or Italian!

Join us for select North End tours without English translation:
• Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 4:30 pm: tour given in French
• Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 11:00 am: tour given in Italian
• Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 4:00 pm: tour given in French

Enjoy our language tours? Join us on select dates for Road to Revolution in Mandarin or French, Beacon Hill in Italian, Art Architecture and Gardens in French, and Boston By Little Feet in German this season.

Tour Information

tour duration
DURATION

90 minutes

tour distance
DISTANCE

0.88 mile

tour terrain level 2
TERRAIN

potential uneven surfaces and moderate inclines

Public Tour Calendar


Private Tours

Boston By Foot private tours are perfect for family groups, school groups, corporate groups, university and alumni groups, people who wish to tour with their pets, and anyone looking for a more personalized tour experience.

Starting Location

Meet your guide at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, intersection of Richmond St. and Atlantic Ave.

Finding Your Guide: All guides carry an 8×11 sign that says “Boston By Foot Walking Tours.”

Nearest Accessible MBTA Station: Aquarium (Blue Line)

Ending Location

This tour ends in the general area of Salem and Parmenter Streets.

Nearest Accessible MBTA Station: Haymarket (Green & Orange Lines) is 0.3 miles away

“Your tour was fantastic! Every group was amazed at your knowledge and great style in dealing with students. We all learned so much. The experience will help us when we read about this exciting time in our history. You are the talk of the school today... Thank you!”
— West Hartford, CT