Add dates

Boston Public Library

Boston Public Library: Our most recommended tours and activities

Boston: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

1. Boston: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Experience the beauty of Boston on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Visit the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston Fish Pier, and other sites. Board an open-top double-decker 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 9 convenient stops. Hear interesting facts, historical information, and anecdotes about the sights you pass through the sites. The stops for the hop-on hop-off tour are:Stop 1: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (Omni Hotel, Westin Waterfront Hotel, Cruise Terminal Black Falcon)Stop 2: Boston Fish Pier (Leader Bank Pavilion, Seaport Hotel, Boston World Trade Center, Boston Children's Museum, Boston Tea Party Museum)Stop 3: New England Aquarium (Sightseeing Cruise, Marriott Custom House, North End, TD Garden, Paul Revere House)Stop 4: Old State House (Boston City Hall, Boston Faneuil Hall, Old South Meeting House, New England Holocaust Memorial)Stop 5: Boston Common (Boston Public Garden, Theater District, China Town)Stop 6: Cheers Pub (Beacon Hill, Charles River)Stop 7: Boston Public Library (John Hancock Tower, Fairmont Hotel, South End, Copley Place)Stop 8: Trinity Church (Back Bay, Prudential Tower Boston, Fenway Park, Newbury Street)Stop 9: Massachusetts State House (State House Library, Boston Downtown, Financial District)

Boston: 2.5-Hour City View Bike Tour

2. Boston: 2.5-Hour City View Bike Tour

The Urban AdvenTours Boston City View Bicycle Tour offers a classic ride for those looking to get a great overall introduction to the city. During the 2.5-hour tour you’ll get to know the city and find neighborhoods that you can explore in greater depth later. Discover the unique character and charm of each area you visit up close, in person, and only possible by bicycle. This comprehensive tour covers all of Boston’s best sites, including: • Historic Fenway Park • The Christian Science Center • Boston Common • The beautiful brownstones in Back Bay and the South End • The Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston’s newest public park • The Charles River Esplanade • The North End, Boston’s oldest residential, Italian neighborhood • Copley Square, where you’ll see the Boston Public Library, Trinity Church, and the John Hancock building Take advantage of a tour that includes an individually-fitted bike, helmet, water, and a friendly and knowledgeable guide who will lead you on your travels. The tour covers 10-12 miles, from the bustling streets of downtown to the serene bike paths along the Charles River.

Boston: Single Ride Pass for Sightseeing Bus

3. Boston: Single Ride Pass for Sightseeing Bus

Brace yourself for a breathtaking journey aboard a double-decker open-top bus on a sightseeing tour of Boston with live commentary. Be amazed as you ascend above the bustling crowd, capturing awe-inspiring views that will leave you speechless. Take a single ride pass while enjoying the tour and learn about the history of the city with live commentary. See all the major attractions and historic landmarks with 9 convenient stops: 1: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center 2: Boston Fish Pier 3: New England Aquarium 4: Old State House 5: Boston Common 6: Cheers Pub 7: Boston Public Library 8: Trinity Church 9: Massachusetts State House

From NYC: Boston City and Harvard Guided Day Trip

4. From NYC: Boston City and Harvard Guided Day Trip

Come discover beautiful Boston. Have your transportation and itinerary taken care of your while your only job is to sit back and enjoy this stunning city. Explore the best Boston has to offer including: Fenway Park stadium, home to the Boston Red SoxHarvard University Main campus: Harvard Yard, Old Yard, John Harvard Statue, Johnston Gate, Harvard souvenir store.Copley Square: Trinity church, Fairmont Copley Hotel, Boston Public Library, John Hancock Tower, “End line” to Boston MarathonBoston Common and the public gardens  Freedom trail: Massachusetts State house, Old state House, Granary Burying ground, Kings chapel, Faneuil hallQuincy Market Start your day in New York City, where your tour guide will share stories of different places on your journey to Boston. Once in Boston, begin your tour at Copley Square, have lunch at Quincy Market and visit Harvard University's main campus.

Boston: Hop-on Hop-off Bus and Freedom Trail Walking Tour

5. Boston: Hop-on Hop-off Bus and Freedom Trail Walking Tour

Get a combo ticket to immerse yourself in the heart of Boston. Join a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus and a Freedom Trail walking tour. Ride on Boston's only double-decker open-top tour bus. Then, witness the past come alive before your eyes on the walking tour. Hop on the bus to enjoy stunning views of the vibrant city streets as expert tour guides provide live commentary on the most iconic neighborhoods, attractions, and shopping hotspots. Seize the adventure, discover Boston's hidden treasures, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Explore the historic Freedom Trail with a guided walking tour of the 2.5-mile-long path. Walk in the footsteps of legends as you encounter 11 magnificent landmarks that have shaped Boston's rich history. Boston Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Tour Stops: • Stop 1: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (Omni Hotel, Westin Waterfront Hotel, Cruise Terminal Black Falcon) • Stop 2: Boston Fish Pier (Leader Bank Pavilion, Seaport Hotel, Boston World Trade Center, Boston Children's Museum, Boston Tea Party Museum) • Stop 3: New England Aquarium (Sightseeing Cruise, Marriott Custom House, North End, TD Garden, Paul Revere House) • Stop 4: Old State House (Boston City Hall, Boston Faneuil Hall, Old South Meeting House, New England Holocaust Memorial) • Stop 5: Boston Common (Boston Public Garden, Theater District, China Town) • Stop 6: Cheers Pub (Beacon Hill, Charles River) • Stop 7: Boston Public Library (John Hancock Tower, Fairmont Hotel, South End, Copley Place) • Stop 8: Trinity Church (Back Bay, Prudential Tower Boston, Fenway Park, Newbury Street) • Stop 9: Massachusetts State House (State House Library, Boston Downtown, Financial District)

Boston Outdoor Escape Game: Record Breaker

6. Boston Outdoor Escape Game: Record Breaker

Imagine you’re a professional record-setter who aims to be the first in everything you do, but how do you become the first at everything? Simple. You race to be the first person to visit every "first" in a country, a feat you can only accomplish in one place - Boston. As you solve challenges, the story unfolds and exact directions on your phone will guide you to the next location. Up for a fun challenge? Start at Boston’s Public Library. The game will take you around 1.5 hours to complete and you can also explore at your own pace: pause the game and resume anytime from the location where you paused it. You will finish at the Union Oyster House. After your booking, you will receive an email on how to download the game to your phone. You can play on your own, in a large group or in several smaller groups that compete against each other and meet at the final stop of the game. For larger groups, one person can purchase access for the entire group by selecting the number of people in the group. All group members will be able to download and play the city game on their phone. Alternatively, each person can make their own purchase.

Boston Back Bay self-guided walking tour & scavenger hunt

7. Boston Back Bay self-guided walking tour & scavenger hunt

Are you looking for things to do in Boston Back Bay? Our tourist scavenger hunt through the Back Bay neighborhood will take you from the Boston Commons to Copley Square via Trinity Church, Boston Public Library, and Gibson House Museum! You will have to solve challenges at every step to discover your next destination. At each step, you will learn a little history as well as interesting facts about what is around you. The Boston Back Bay Tourist Scavenger Hunt is a 3.7 km / 2.3 mi self-guided walking tour of this neighborhood. It should take you 3 hours to complete. - A fun learning experience - Learn some local history - Challenge your knowledge: 24 varied challenges - Fun for all ages, kids included - Walk at your own pace: 3.7 km / 2.3 mi - Take as little, or as much time as you wish to complete your hunt Buy 1 scavenger hunt for your party of 1 to 6 people.

Boston: Back Bay History and Culture Private Walking Tour

8. Boston: Back Bay History and Culture Private Walking Tour

Community Impact: -We mindfully design our tours to explore areas on foot, thus doing our part to lessen our environmental impact -We are committed to a “360-degree view” of storytelling, featuring stories about under-represented groups, such as women, immigrants, and people of various ethnicities, ages, religions, and sexual orientations -During our visit to the Back Bay, we will provide recommendations and offer opportunities to patronize small and local businesses to help them continue to thrive against rising gentrification -Your guide will speak about the important role of Boston's green spaces, including Boston Public Garden and the entirety of the Emerald Necklace, which has directly improved air quality for Bostonians Summary: Meet your guide in the heart of the Back Bay, Copley Square, to start your unique Boston history and culture tour. Here, you’ll see the Boston Public Library, the first free public library in America, and go inside to discover beautiful artwork and an amazing Roman garden! Nearby, Trinity Church is an architectural delight that’s sure to impress anyone, architecture aficionado or not. One block away, we’ll experience the electric and eclectic Newbury Street – this is retail therapy at its finest! Our tour will include a stroll down this famous street, known as the best shopping district in all of Boston, to see the stores go from high-end to mainstream to downright funky. Your tour guide will also point out the beautiful facades of the Victorian-era homes of the Back Bay and learn how this trendy neighborhood earned its name. We’ll then take our Boston Back Bay tour over the picturesque Arthur Fiedler Footbridge and enjoy a walk along the Charles River and the Boston Esplanade, where you will get the best views of Boston. We’ll finish up our Boston history tour at America’s first public botanical garden, the Boston Public Garden. One of the most beautiful spots in Boston, the Public Garden is the perfect setting for a photo session. During the summer months, you might even want to take a ride on the world-famous Swan Boats! Year-round, you can always see one of the most beloved series of statues in Boston, the Make Way For Ducklings statues. From here, you can continue to enjoy the park’s nature and historic structures or head back into the heart of the Back Bay to indulge in shopping, dining, and more with the help of your guide’s local recommendations!

Other Sightseeing Options in Boston Public Library

Want to discover all there is to do in Boston Public Library? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Boston Public Library

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 175 reviews

This tour was great! The guides (we had three riding with us) had a lot of personality. They kept us safe, such as stopping traffic at certain intersections. They were very knowledgeable of the areas we went through and threw in some quirky facts along the way. The ride itself was easy... only one hill where I had to walk my bike up. The ride along the Charles River was so scenic! All in all, a wonderful, fun tour -- great guides, easy to handle bikes, and some exercise!

Excellent tour with fun, knowledgeable, professional guides. If you're looking for something to do in Boston don't miss this bike tour. Pell and Austin are experienced bike riders and know their city's rich history. Two thumbs up. 10 out of 10 for sure.

Millie is an awesome tour guide, my husband and I greatly recommend her tour. She has takes care all of her guests and she is very, very knowledgeable. And as a plus, she even recommends great restaurants with good food! Thank you, Millie!

This was an awesome tour of Boston. Austin our guide was so knowledgeable and made the ride so much fun.

The guides were great and the ride was fun. We were able to see a lot of the city. Very nice!