Freedom Trail Tips for the Best Boston Walking Tour
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What You Need to Know About Boston’s Freedom Trail
If you’re headed to Boston for the first time, chances are you’re planning to check out the Freedom Trail. This approximately 2.5-mile-long path in central Boston takes you to the most prominent sites involved in the American Revolution. Along the way, you’ll pass Paul Revere’s House, Faneuil Hall, and Bunker Hill along with other notable sites, including the Omni Parker House Hotel.
I’ve been to Boston several times in recent years and the Freedom Trail played a prominent role on these trips. Whether you’re a history buff or not, I definitely recommend setting some time aside during your Boston trip to walk the Freedom Trail. In this post I’ll share my best Freedom Trail tips and tricks as well as answer some frequently asked questions about the urban walking path.
What is the Freedom Trail?
The Freedom Trail’s brick path runs through downtown Boston connecting various sites from the American Revolution and other historic Boston sites, including both the oldest tavern and oldest restaurant in America.
The Freedom Trail is a free urban walking path that weaves through the heart of central Boston. The path is literally embedded in the city sidewalk. When you spot a line of red bricks running through the sidewalk’s center, you’ve found the Trail.
Every so often, those bricks are punctuated by bronze plaques. Not only do the plaques make a great photo-op, they also remind you to look up and take in your surroundings.
You can hop on the Freedom Trail on wherever you first cross the bricks. To do the Trail from start to finish, you’ll start on the east end of the Boston Common and wrap up about 2.5 miles away on the north side of the Charles River at Bunker Hill in Charlestown. Along the way, you’ll pass 16 sites connected with events of the 1770s American Revolution.
It’s estimated that more than four million people enjoy the Freedom Trail each year. I really wish more cities would develop similar immersive experiences. It’s truly a unique urban experience perfect for anyone interested in early American history and a great way to get to know Boston.
In the Granary Burying Grounds where several Boston Tea Party participants, along with Paul Revere, are buried.
A brief history of the Freedom Trail
We can thank mid-20th century Boston city leaders for today’s Freedom Trail. The trail was designed in 1951. At the time, Bostonians were concerned that many homes and buildings connected with the city’s influential early days were disappearing.
For example, if the commonwealth of Massachusetts had been more forward thinking during the 19th century, we’d be able to visit the Hancock Mansion that once dominated Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts State House actually stands on a tract of land that belonged to the most famous signature on the Declaration of Independence.
While the state could have purchased the mansion in the 1860s, they opted to let the property fall into private hands. So instead of being remodeled into the Massachusetts’ governor residence, the mansion was demolished in the early 1900s. Now all that remains of the famed residence is the front door.
You can still visit that door in the Old State House. The museum at the Old State House is a great place to learn more about the events in Boston’s historical preservation efforts.
In 1974, the Boston National Historical Park was formed. The park includes eight sites connected with the American Revolution. You’ll pass seven of these sites on the Freedom Trail.
The museum in the Old State House is a great place to learn more about Boston’s Revolutionary History.A statue of Benjamin Franklin stands just off the Freedom Trail path, near the site of the Boston Latin School which Franklin, along with four other signers of the Declaration of Independence, attended.
Is it worth walking Boston’s Freedom Trail?
Absolutely!
The Freedom Trail will play a role in any first-time visit to Boston – whether you want it to or not. You can’t help but stumble onto the Trail as you take in some of Boston’s most iconic sites like the Boston Public Market, Quincy Market, and Faneuil Hall. If one of your favorite things about London is how ancient buildings blend in with modern skyscrapers, you’re going to love Boston’s Freedom Trail.
I’ll admit: I’m a history nut. I wouldn’t dream of going to Boston and not experiencing the Freedom Trail. It really should feature prominently on any New England itinerary.
The Trail provides a fascinating look at the city’s history and there’s something oddly satisfying – and grounding – about following a brick path through a busy city. You feel a little bit like Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road!
Three Freedom Trail sites in one: Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, and Park Street Church.
What are the sites on the Freedom Trail?
There are 16 sites along the Freedom Trail, all somehow associated with the American Revolution of the 1770s.
In order from south to north, the sites are:
Boston Common
Massachusetts State House (If you want to go inside you’ll need to arrange a free tour in advance.)
Park Street Church (Currently closed to the public until Summer 2023)
Granary Burying Ground
King’s Chapel
Boston Latin School Site
Old Corner Bookstore
Old South Meeting House
Old State House
Boston Massacre Site
Faneuil Hall
Paul Revere House
Old North Church
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
USS Constitution
Bunker Hill Monument
Can you see every American Revolution Site in Boston on the Freedom Trail?
Absolutely not. The two most notable exemptions from the Freedom Trail are the sites of the Liberty Tree and the Boston Tea Party.
Don’t worry: you can still visit both of these. The Liberty Tree is remembered in a small plaza at the corner of Boylston and Washington Streets just southeast of the Freedom Trail’s start in the Boston Common. Meanwhile, there’s a whole museum devoted to the Boston Tea Party right in the Boston Harbor. It’s worth a visit, if only for their excellent gift shop!
I’m not sure why these sites were excluded from the Trail. My guess is that designers like the scenic start of Boston Common and wanted to keep zigzagging to a minimum.
Where to start the Freedom Trail
While you can hop on the Freedom Trail wherever you stumble upon in it in downtown Boston, I do recommend doing the Trail from start to finish (that is: south to north), if only so you can pick up a guidebook at the Boston Common Visitor Center.
Do I need a guide for the Freedom Trail?
It depends on what you mean by “guide.” I’ve always done a self-guided walk, but there are plenty of guided tours you can take. Just be warned, many guides will lead you through the city in Revolutionary garb.
I do definitely recommend having a guidebook along. I really like the official guidebook of the Freedom Trail Foundation. You can easily pick up your own copy at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center.
Which Freedom Trail guidebook should I buy?
If you’re wondering which guide to buy at the visitor center, the guides at the counter are arranged left to right from least to most information. While I think most people’s impulse is to opt for the book with the most information, I urge you to consider just how much information you can really digest when standing in the middle of a bustling sidewalk.
When should I walk the Freedom Trail?
Technically the Freedom Trail is open 24/7, but it’s best hiked Wednesday – Sunday between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. That’s when the vast majority of sites along the route are open to the public.
Many of the sites along the Freedom Trail are managed by the National Park Service as the Boston National Historical Park. These sites are generally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Just keep in mind that the Great Hall at Faneuil Hall is also closed on Wednesdays.
If you want to avoid school groups, you’ll want to either hit the Trail on the weekend (along with every other Boston visitor), or start your walk after lunch. Most school groups will need to hop on a bus shortly after lunch to get back to school before the final bell rings.
The USS Constitution is open for free (first come, first serve) tours from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday. Consider visiting first thing in the morning since most people walking the entire Freedom Trail won’t reach the ship until early afternoon.
How much does it cost to go on the Freedom Trail?
Technically it’s free to walk the Freedom Trail and you can certainly see and learn a lot without spending a dime. However, since many of the sites along the Freedom Trail are managed by independent nonprofits, they charge admission to help with maintenance and preservation.
Complete Guide to Freedom Trail Costs
(All prices are per adult.)
Official Freedom Trail Guidebook: $7.00
King’s Chapel Admission: $5.00
Old Corner Bookstore: Currently houses a Chipotle, so depending on how Midwestern you are, popping in will cost you a Chipotle order
Total possible Freedom Trail cost per person: $68 + 1 Chipotle meal
A 90-minute official Freedom Trail foundation tour goes past (but not inside) the first 11 sites on the Freedom Trail and costs $17 per adult.
Faneiul Hall in downtown Boston.
How long does it take to do the Freedom Trail?
I’m not exaggerating when I say you could spend all day on the Freedom Trail. You’re looking to spend anywhere from 5 – 45 minutes at each site if you go inside. It’s also going to take you the better part of an hour to simply walk the Freedom Trail’s 2.5 miles through the busy city.
The first time I walked the Freedom Trail from start to finish, it took four hours. We definitely took our time at each stop, poking around the Granary Burying Ground finding notable graves, going into King’s Chapel, touring Paul Revere’s House, and climbing to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument. Of course, we also had to make a pit stop for cannoli when we were in Boston’s North End.
We found four hours on the Trail was really all we had the attention spans for. We swung into Faneuil Hall and the Old State House at other points in our trip and I’m glad we did. The fact that we spaced out some of our Freedom Trail stops definitely made our visits more meaningful and memorable.
If you really want to do every stop on the Freedom Trail in one day, start at Boston Common around 9:30 a.m. so that you hit the first site that offers admission – King’s Chapel – right when it opens at 10 a.m. From that moment, the clock is ticking. You’ll need to make it to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument before 4:30 p.m.
The Great Hall on Faneuil Hall’s second floor..
If you’re short on time
If you can only do part of the Freedom Trail, I recommend starting at Boston Common and going as far as Old North Church. This is only about a one-mile walk one way and will only take about 40 minutes, even with stopping briefly outside each stop.
The points of interest are pretty packed in on the first half of the Trail so if you’re just doing a portion, you’ll get the most bang for your buck this way. The three Freedom Trail sites past Old North Church are spread out over nearly two miles.
My must-see sites on the Freedom Trail
Full disclosure, I’ve never been able to hit all of the Freedom Trail sites when they’re open. (I’m looking at you, USS Constitution and Old North Church!) However, of the sites I’ve visited, these are the ones I recommend checking out:
Boston Common Kings Chapel Old State House Boston Massacre Site Faneuil Hall Paul Revere House Copps Burying Ground Bunker Hill Monument
Bunker Hill Monument overlooking Charlestown on the north side of the Charles River in BostonThe view from the top of the Bunker Hill Monument. You can see several Freedom Trail sites, including the USS Constitution, Old North Church, and Faneuil Hall.
What to read/watch before visiting Boston
To get the most out of your time on the Freedom Trail, I highly recommend reading both Esther Forbes’ Johnny Tremain and watching at least the first episode of the HBO mini-series John Adams before you visit Boston.
The Boston African American National Historic Site
As you might expect from a historic trail developed in the 1950s, the Freedom Trail definitely tells the story of the American Revolution from a white male perspective. But don’t despair! You can also follow the Black Heritage Trail in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t tell the black perspective of the American Revolution, but rather discusses Boston’s African American community’s role in the American Civil War.
Since 1980, the Boston African American National Historic Site has worked to preserve buildings that belonged to free African Americans in the 19th century. I haven’t had a chance to follow the 1.6 mile Black Heritage Trail that goes to 10 sites in the National Historic Site. However I’m also looking for any excuse to return to Boston and will definitely check it out on my next visit.
Ada is a travel writer based in northern Minnesota. She’s spent two decades as a freelance writer. She’s lived in three countries and has visited all 50 states. In addition to traveling the world, she runs a Boundary Waters outfitters and helps people plan canoe trips and other outdoor adventures in northeastern Minnesota.
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When should I walk the Freedom Trail?
