With over 200 docents, Boston By Foot offers the greatest variety of walking tours in Boston. These tours are researched and written by the volunteer guides who donate their unique interests, specialties and time to this program for the sole purpose of sharing their passion for Boston's history, architecture and culture.
Be sure to consult the calendar for the tour schedule or contact us to arrange a private tour anytime throughout the year.
Hold your mouse over any of the titles to see a short description or click on it to read more information. Click on any of the categories to see more similar offerings.
| title | type of offering |
|---|---|
| Art Deco Boston can claim examples of Art Deco rivaling New York's finest. Walk through Boston's financial district to see examples of opulent and eclectic Art Deco buildings built from a time of economic and technological optimism through the Great Depression and World War II. Discover the downtown you often see but rarely notice. | |
| Ashmont Hill Explore a wonderful area of Dorchester, a town even older than Boston. Ashmont Hill was the site of several Colonial estates eventually giving way to lovely Victorian homes in this 19th century garden suburb. | |
| Avenue of the Arts Along a half-mile stretch of Huntington Avenue stands a dense concentration of Boston's most venerable cultural institutions. Walk with us through this corridor to learn about the establishments dedicated to the fine arts, music, theater, education, religion, sports and much more. | |
| Bay Village Visit one of Boston's hidden neighborhoods; a miniature, garden-filled area that has maintained its residential charm amidst the surrounding city. | |
| Beacon Hill From the State House through the historic streets of elegant row houses, experience examples of architect Charles Bulfinch and his followers. | |
| Beacon Hill With a BOO! Beacon Hill With a BOO! is the Halloween walking tour of Beacon Hill featuring the murders, executions, ghosts and politicians of this seemingly quaint neighborhood. | |
| Ben Franklin: Son of Boston Celebrate and learn the life of Benjamin Franklin by walking among the sites of his homes and haunts in Colonial Boston. In his day, Benjamin Franklin was America's greatest scientist, inventor, diplomat, humorist, statesman, and entrepreneur. Ben was born in Boston, came of age in Philadelphia, and was the darling of Paris. | |
| Boats, Bridges and Locks Discover the things that move in, around, and over the Charles River Basin. From the Boston Garden along the Bulfinch Triangle, over the Charles, and to U.S.S. Constitution, you will experience the art, technology, and nature of this historic area. Examine Boston's new cable-stayed landmark, the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, the locks of the Charles River Dam, and the revitalization of the lower basin. | |
| Boston By Little Feet Boston By Little Feet is the only walking tour of the Freedom Trail specifically geared for children. | |
| Boston Common and Public Garden Stroll through Boston's two great parks for the people. Learn about the history of this green and precious heritage: a struggle for beauty and preservation against daunting odds. Experience the sculpture, ornamental plantings, ponds, and wildlife all within the heart of a bustling city. | |
| Boston Public Library A masterpiece of American architecture. The tour showcases the architecture of this temple built by McKim, Mead and White as well as the amazing art adorning the interior of this | |
| Boston Underfoot Trace the evolution of Boston from a small peninsula through to the Big Dig. Walking from Boston's oldest alleys, to the modern Greenway, and a ride on the subway, your guide will present the engineering of a city. | |
| Bostonians Behaving Badly Boston ranked #1 as America's most riotous town in the 18th century and third in the total number of riots in the 19th century. Our rebellious Dina will lead us on a tour that goes beyond tea parties to shed light on the lesser known but violent and deadly events that shaped Boston and impacted the nation. | |
| Bulfinch Triangle Explore the architecture, history and evolution of the Bulfinch Triangle. Once considered a lost area of rundown buildings under the shadow of elevated tracks and highways, the Bulfinch Triangle is now evolving into a sophisticated urban neighborhood with new and restored buildings, restaurants, landscaping, and a growing base of Boston sports fans. | |
| Captain Kidd's Treasure Hunt A short self-guided tour for buccaneers of all ages. Each participant receives clues on a pirate's treasure map leading to a trove of architectural and historical gems. The tour is self-guided at your own pace. Simply purchase the map during one of the available times. | |
| Charlestown: Where Boston Began Charlestown was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before the Puritans crossed over to Boston in 1630. In 1775, Paul Revere crossed over to Charlestown to begin his famous Midnight Ride, the colonists stood up to the British army at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and Charlestown was burned to the ground. Tour this urban village founded in 1628 that focuses on the early Puritan settlement, the Bunker Hill monument, and many of its distinguished citizens which have included John Harvard and Samuel Morse. | |
| Chestnut Hill Suburban touring at its best! Explore the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill and walk among the Victorian estates while learning the history of this hidden streetcar suburb alongside the campus of Boston College and the historic Chestnut Hill Reservoir. | |
| Chinatown This thriving, self-sufficient community combines the irrepressible spirit of the East with a Boston flavor. Recently, Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians have further expanded the ethnic diversity of the neighborhood. This tour traces Chinatown's rich cultural and architectural history, from 1875 to present day, and a vibrant convergence of old and new. | |
| Churches of the Back Bay See the revival architectures of churches in Boston's Back Bay. The 19th century movement into the Back Bay created protestant churches in the Romanesque and Gothic revival styles, many of which remain in pristine condition today. Learn about notable residents and the Victorian culture of one of Boston's most prestigious neighborhoods. | |
| Colonial Boston 1630-1776: The settling of the Shawmut Peninsula by the Puritans and their development of a successful mercantile economy produced a densely populated town of Colonial and Georgian homes, buildings and churches. Field Trip: Historic Downtown Area | |
| Commonwealth Avenue The grand dame of avenues, | |
| Contemporary Boston 1900-present: Follow the progression of 20th and 21st century architecture through the modern and post-modern office buildings, government buildings, condos, skyscrapers, convention centers and hotels of Boston. Field Trip: Government Center & the financial district | |
| Contemporary Boston This tour through the downtown Financial District traces the city's evolution from its depressed state in the 1960's to a thriving hub of Boston's commerce today. We will examine the history and effects of the rise of the skyscraper as steel-frame construction supplanted masonry and see a variety of approaches to revitalizing an urban environment. | |
| The Dark Side of Boston Take a walk on Boston's Dark Side through its history of murder, misery, misfortunes, malice, misdeeds, malevolence, and the macabre. | |
| Exploring the Charles River Basin Take a journey of discovery and explore the new open spaces along lost half-mile of the Charles River. A hub of transportation and recreation, this area has experienced several cycles of dramatic change resulting from the construction of bridges and dams, railroads, land-making, and the Big Dig project. From the tidal estuary of the Charles through the vision of Charles Eliot, reclaim this lost half-mile on this trek over dams, under bridges, along railroads, and through beautifully sculpted parks. | |
| Federal Boston 1785-1820: Charles Bulfinch emerges as the architectural leader of the Federal style with important contributions such as the Massachusetts State House, the Tontine Crescent and the Colonnade. Beacon Hill develops as a neighborhood for the affluent featuring many of Bulfinch's works and that of his followers. Field Trip: Beacon Hill | |
| Final Footwork For guides-in-training. Written exam followed by a demonstration tour. | |
| The Flat of Beacon Hill Discover the new 19th century neighborhood of Beacon Hill. From the early carriage houses to Victorian row houses, the Flat is a charming neighborhood with colorful history and architecture with notable landmarks such as the Church of the Advent and the Charles Street Meeting House. | |
| Footloose on the Freedom Trail Footloose on the Freedom Trail is a 3-hour walking tour of the entire Freedom Trail from the State House to the U.S.S. Constitution offered every Independence Day. The tour winds among Boston's parades and celebrations and includes the honoring of Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere at the Granary Burying Ground, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House. If you can't figure out which event to attend on the morning of the Fourth, get a taste of everything with Boston By Foot. | |
| Footloose on the Freedom Trail Get ready for the Boston marathon and Patriots' Day with this 3-hour walking tour of the entire Freedom Trail from the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill to the U.S.S. Constitution in the Charlestown Navy Yard. | |
| Franklin Park This autumn stroll through the historic landscape of Franklin Park, the crown jewel of Boston's Emerald Necklace. Learn about the Olmsted architectural firm and its influence on the park's design, maintenance, and security, as well as changes these features underwent throughout the twentieth century. | |
| Great Women of Boston From the 17th century to present day, women's contributions to Boston did not always garner the attention they might deserve. On this walking tour, you will learn who they were and what they achieved against the backdrop of the Boston's downtown historic sites. | |
| Greenway & Beyond Explore the new Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on this 2-hour special walking tour offered by Boston By Foot. The Greenway is Boston's new centerpiece of the Big Dig's urban restoration. From North Station to Chinatown, the Greenway is breathing new life into the downtown neighborhoods once blighted by an elevated highway. | |
| Harvard Yard Explore the oldest and one of the most foremost educational institutions in America. From its founding in 1636, Harvard University includes edifices that span the architectural styles of the nation. Learn the history of this venerable institution, as well as the academic history of America, through this eclectic mix of structures and objects in Harvard Yard. | |
| Heart of the Freedom Trail Walk American history on the downtown portion of the Freedom Trail and see historic sites from the Puritan settlement through the American Revolution. Stops include Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, the Old State House, King's Chapel, Old South Meeting House as well as the site of the first public school in America. | |
| Jamaica Plain Jamaica Plain encompasses only 3.07 square miles but offers a tremendously rich and varied narrative. From an early Puritans settlement to an area of wealthy summer estates, the rise of modern transportation transformed JP into a streetcar suburb. This walking tour features a selection of very impressive Victorian houses and the Emerald Necklace park system. Discover why Jamaica Plain is so well-loved by its residents. | |
| Johnny Tremain Relive the adventures of Johnny Tremain in Colonial Boston based on Esther Forbes' prize-winning novel about a young boy who gets caught up in the whirlwind of events that lead up to the American Revolution. | |
| Literary Landmarks Enthusiasts of American literature will enjoy walking among the homes and haunts of the great Victorian writers such as Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau, Alcott, James, Dickens, and Longfellow. | |
| Longwood & Cottage Farm See two of Brookline's most delightful neighborhoods. Longwood and Cottage Farm provide a quiet, bucolic setting apart from its urban borders. This walking tour showcases a remarkable collection of romantic English country style cottages and picturesque churches. | |
| Mission Hill Discover the Boston neighborhood of Mission Hill. Winding up the hill, learn the history of Parker Hill and the mission of the Redemptorist Fathers, see where Roxbury Puddingstone got its name, the architecture of Ralph Adams Cram, and a former tuberculosis sanatorium. The finale at the top of the hill features sweeping views of the city. | |
| The North End Visit America's oldest neighborhood tracing its evolution from an early Puritan settlement through waves of immigrants. Now the Little Italy of Boston, this tour will also feature one of the North End's most prominent residents, Paul Revere. | |
| Preserving Boston's History Learn the story behind the survival of some of Boston's most beloved historic landmarks and the destruction of others as we discuss Boston's role in the development of the Historic Preservation movement and the role of preservation in a vibrant modern city. | |
| The Revitalization of the Ashmont MBTA Station Berton Bremer, lead architect for the redesign of the 82-year old Ashmont station, will present the station's history, its architecture, and the current construction of this vital community resource and its surroundings. | |
| The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Explore the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on this special walking tour offered by Boston By Foot. The Greenway is Boston's new mixed-use public space that once housed the elevated highway since replaced by the Big Dig. Learn the history of the neighborhoods that once occupied this space and the present day urban planning that is knitting Boston back together. | |
| Roxbury Explore the Fort Hill and Eliot Square areas of Roxbury. Visit the neighborhood of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and the myriad of ethnic groups who have made Roxbury their home. | |
| The Shirley-Eustis House Join us on a visit to the 1747 mansion of Royal Governor William Shirley. It is the only remaining house in the United States built by a royal governor. This tour will include a visit to the orchards, the gardens, the Gardner Carriage House, as well as the mansion's interior. | |
| The South End The South End is a tour of a vibrant Boston neighborhood, full of wonderful buildings, and diverse culture. Built entirely on made-land, the South End, with its lovely parks and early Victorian row houses, has experienced dramatic changes from an enclave for Boston's 19th century elite, to a poor immigrant neighborhood, through its present day urban, architectural, and cultural renewal. | |
| Subterranean Boston Under the city is a dense network of pipes, conduits, sewers and tunnels that serve the utility and transportation needs of a growing city. In 1987, Boston began the largest public works project in U.S. history to submerge an aging elevated highway amidst existing roads, structures, subways, railroads, utilities, businesses and homes, and in the process transformed the downtown landscape into a shining example of 21st century urban renewal. Field Trip: the Big Dig, Kennedy Greenway and downtown infrastructure | |
| Tory Row When George Washington arrived in Massachusetts in 1775, he made his headquarters in the abandoned mansions of wealthy loyalists along Brattle Street in Cambridge. Walk through one of America's finest neighborhoods and see elegant examples of early New England architecture. | |
| Tufts University Join us for this early evening stroll over the Medford hills of this world-renowned institution. Founded by Universalists in 1852, Tufts has evolved into an international research university. Hear the story of this venerable school while walking the landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and enjoying the architecture of such notables as Gridley James Fox Bryant. | |
| Victorian Back Bay Tour the 19th century made-land and one of America's richest collections of art & architecture. This tour features Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library, New Old South Church, and the many Victorian townhouses along streets designed after the grand boulevards of Paris. | |
| Victorian Boston 1850-1900: With great influence from Paris, the Back Bay land-making project enables wealthy persons moving up from the South End to build large mansions as well as providing great structures for art, learning and worship. The Victorian period ushers in a variety of architectural styles featuring the works of H.H. Richardson, C.F. McKim, and Cummings & Sears. Field Trip: Copley Square and Back Bay | |
| Walking The Edge: Tracing Boston's Colonial Shoreline Explore 18th century Boston on this 5-hour Labor Day tour of the colonial shoreline. | |
| Waterfront The Boston Waterfront was the epicenter of the maritime economy in the New World. From Quincy Market to Rowes Wharf, this walk through Boston's mercantile history features tales of the colonial shoreline, the lore of clipper ships, and the vibrant commerce of today's shops and restaurants. | |
| Whats New, Amongst the Old, in Salem Walk through the civic center of Salem, beginning with the 1816 Old Town Hall tucked away in Derby Square and comparing it to the newer 1838 City Hall. The old courthouse complex on Federal Street and the imposing new Essex County judicial center designed by Goody Clancy Architects are also featured. If time permits, we'll also visit the renowned McIntire Historic District. |
