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Massachusetts State House

Massachusetts State House: Our most recommended tours and activities

Boston: Guided Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail

1. Boston: Guided Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail

See all 16 of Boston's iconic Freedom Trail sites in a single tour with an experienced guide. Learn about famous Americans like Paul Revere and John Hancock, along with lesser-known stories of women, African Americans, and immigrant patriots and pioneers. Start your tour just inside the Boston Common at the back of the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, located at the corner of Park and Beacon Streets. Discover tales of rebels, gangs, and Midnight Riders, with a few cheap dad jokes for good measure. Gain an understanding of Boston's role in the American Revolution and how the city became a pioneer in the fields of abolition, American education, and immigration. Along the way, learn about the explosive events of the American Revolution like the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre in the places they happened. See Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel, the Benjamin Franklin Statue, the Old Corner Bookstore, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, the Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, the USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill Monument.

Boston: Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolley Ticket

2. Boston: Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolley Ticket

Discover Boston onboard an enchanting hop-on and hop-off trolley to see all the historic sights at your own pace. Choose from a 1-day or 2-day hop-on hop-off open-air trolley ticket, providing access to 9 stops, all conveniently located close to the city’s premier attractions. Friendly tour guides are on board, ready to narrate your tour, and you can join and end the tour at any of the stops along the route. Jump off in neighborhoods such as North End and Beacon Hill to explore further. Take the full 1-hour circuit non-stop to get a great orientation of downtown Boston or explore in your own time. Hop-on and hop-off trolley stops: • New England Aquarium - Shuttle and Ferry - Quincy Market – Faneuil Hall • Paul Revere House - Little Italy • North End - Old North Church • USS Constitution - Old Ironsides • North Station - TD Bank Garden Sports Museum • Old State House - Faneuil Hall – Boston Massacre - Government Center • Boston Common - Public Garden • State House - Beacon Hill • South Station - Convention Center - Children’s Museum

Boston: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

3. 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: Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl

4. Boston: Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl

Enjoy an evening pub crawl of haunted bars across Boston, and pass by spirited locations in the city on a guided haunted tour. Hang out with John F. Kennedy in the back corner of the 21st Amendment. Teleport to Ireland with a pint of Guinness at Emmet’s Pub. Visit the Omni Parker House Hotel, where a sinister liquor salesman haunts Room 303. Finally, head to the Beantown Pub to hear about the life and death of Sam Adams from your guide. Finish the tour at the 17th-century Granary Burying Ground cemetery.

Boston: Big Bus Open-Top Sightseeing Tour with Live Guide

5. Boston: Big Bus Open-Top Sightseeing Tour with Live Guide

This 90-minute Big Bus sightseeing tour is the perfect way to explore this historic city in style and comfort aboard an open-top double-decker bus. Take in the scenic Boston Harbor or New England Aquarium before boarding the open-top bus tour and then let our knowledgeable, local live guides share the history and hidden stories of Boston on our scenic and relaxing journey. Start your tour by being transported back in time to the colonial era with a visit to Downtown, North End, and Beacon Hill. See the charming streets of old Boston and take in the stunning architecture. Next, head over to Back Bay, the Theater District and the Waterfront - the heart of Boston's bustling city center. Admire the towering skyscrapers and immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of modern-day Boston. No trip to Boston would be complete without a visit to Charlestown, home of the historic USS Constitution - the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. And don't forget to snap a photo of the iconic Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. After the tour, be sure to check out Fenway Park, the famous Quincy Market, or even stroll the Boston Common. Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore all of Boston's most famous landmarks and attractions. With comfortable seating, engaging live guides, and stunning views at every turn, it's the perfect way to experience this amazing city.

Boston: Ghost Tour

6. Boston: Ghost Tour

Embark on a unique after-dark tour and explore downtown Boston’s most haunted hotspots. Discover both the paranormal and historical worlds of each carefully selected tour site and listen to researched, authentic, and up-to-date accounts that ensure you have the best, most chilling experience possible. Highlights of the tour include: Omni Parker House Haunted by its first owner and other notable ghostly guests, the Omni Parker House is considered Boston’s most haunted location. One room, in particular, has caused so much trouble, terror, and grief that the hotel was eventually forced to convert it into a storage room, lest they risk another guest suffering from a grisly night’s stay in the cursed room. What could possibly drive a hotel to permanently retire an otherwise perfectly good guest room? Discover the details on our tour. Boston Common This seemingly placid area is the country’s oldest park. For a century of its long history, Boston Common was the site of hundreds of hangings. Not all of the victims of these executions managed to escape the park, even after death. The grim ghosts of the hanging victims are the least of your paranormal concerns in the Common. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you whenever you’re at this park… or else. Old South Meeting House Witness the birthplace of the Boston Tea Party protest and the very American Revolution itself at the Old South Meeting House. This building is of crucially historic importance, but that’s not the only legacy the meeting house is known for. It is a specter that sometimes appears and always acts as a harbinger of impending death. Or perhaps it’s no messenger of death at all, but instead directly responsible for the string of deaths that have befallen the unlucky ones who’ve encountered it. Old City Hall This former hub of Boston’s local government has since become a bustling mixed-use commercial and office property. Because of its historical significance being covered up with the new polish of redevelopment, at least one ghost exacts its revenge for this perceived disrespect for history on visitors. The Old City Hall may be magnificent looking, but watch where you look inside…

Boston: Self-Guided Freedom Trail Walking Audio Tour w/ App

7. Boston: Self-Guided Freedom Trail Walking Audio Tour w/ App

Discover Boston's Revolutionary history on a Freedom Trail self-guided audio walking tour with an app. Explore historic downtown Boston, the North End, and Charlestown all at your own pace and without the crowds. Simply press start and follow the arrow on the app to find your next stop, listening to professional narration along your way. Head off on a historical adventure through Boston's colorful past with this self-guided tour of the Freedom Trail. Start by walking through downtown Boston and see the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Sam Adams grave, Old South, and much more. Then, continue by following the directions on your app to Boston's North End. See Paul Revere's House, Copp's Hill Burial Ground, Old North, and more to truly get a flavor of what this part of the city has to offer. Carry on to Charlestown to see Bunker Hill, the USS Constitution, and more. Best of all, take the tour anytime, at your own pace, and on your own schedule. This tour never expires on your downloaded app, so you can take it as many times as you like.

Boston History & Highlights Afternoon Tour

8. Boston History & Highlights Afternoon Tour

Begin at the lifeblood of Boston, the Boston Harbor, with a walk through a scenic waterfront park, with views of the harbor. From the harbor, continue past the Rose Kennedy Greenway, State Street, and the historic Custom House Tower, the city’s first skyscraper. Then, your guide will lead you toward the famous Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, which both boast stunning views. Moving into the heart of Downtown Boston, stop in front of the Old State House and the site of the Boston Massacre. Was it really a massacre or maybe just great propaganda for the Revolution? Ask your expert guide about that one!  A short trek through Downtown Crossing brings you to Old City Hall. This beautiful building, done in French Revivalist architecture, was the seat of city government for years in Boston. It also happens to be the site of the birth of public education in America. You'll definitely want to have your guide snap your picture with the bronze donkey outside the entrance. On most weekdays, you’ll have a chance to see the government at work (or not) inside the inspiring, historic and beautiful Massachusetts State House, designed and built by famous federalist architect Charles Bulfinch in 1798. Outside the State House, take in the views of modern Boston, including the skyscrapers of Downtown, the Financial District, and the tallest building in New England: the John Hancock Tower.   Continue your journey through Beacon Hill, where you’ll have a chance to take in the quintessential architecture of Boston’s red brick row houses. Get out your cameras — this neighborhood is one of the most photogenic in the city. Finally, arrive at the beautiful Boston Public Garden, one of Boston’s favorite green spaces, where you’ll see locals walking the dogs, playing with the kids, and enjoying lunch in the shade. Your guide will point you in the right direction, and will help with any and all recommendations for great things to do in Boston that evening and beyond. 

Boston: Private Walking Photography Tour

9. Boston: Private Walking Photography Tour

Discover the beauty of Boston's natural and urban scenery on this guided walking tour with a photographer. Follow a carefully planned route to visit some of the most stunning and culturally significant spots in Boston. Choose from a group tour or a private experience.  Meet your guide in front of the Massachusetts State House in the heart of the city. Get to know your guide before beginning your photo adventure. Uncover hidden gems and see some of the city's top attractions along your route.  Dive into the history behind the sights along the the way. After you finish, visit a cozy Boston café where you can purchase a cup of coffee or tea and review the photos together.   Talk about and analyze different modeling poses and photo compositions, and get some creative tips for your own smartphone photography. Be sent a postcard with a photo of your choosing as a keepsake.  Get advice on other spots to visit in the city so you can continue capturing lovely images and memories. In 5-10 days, receive and email with 20-30 high-quality digital images from your tour. 

Boston: Beacon Hill True Crime Walking Tour

10. Boston: Beacon Hill True Crime Walking Tour

Creep through Boston's historic Beacon Hill district and learn about real crimes and the more seedy side of the city. Your expert guide will tell you all about famous murder cases, serial killers, hangings and crazy court cases. Set in one of Boston's now most desirable neighborhoods this full guided tour is a delightful dip into the dark underworld of the city. Meeting at the Massachusetts State House, you'll then head off to get all the gory details about the Boston Strangler, the evidence in the Parman-Webster trial and much more about notorious cases, and the ones you've never even heard of. Fans of true crime won't want to miss this one!

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What people are saying about Massachusetts State House

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 962 reviews

The best photographer. I’d recommend him to everyone. Beautiful pictures throughout my weekend. He made me feel comfortable. Moreover this photographer is a very talented person who knows how to capture the moment

Fantastic tour, Charlie was a Harvard grad and current adjunct history professor and was very passionate and knowledgable about the Revolution and Boston. He painted a great picture that brought you back in time.

The tour guide was very knowledge, and very informative along the way. He w made us feel as though we're we part of history in the way that he told the story. Made sure that he was heard by all.

Knowledgeable and friendly. Comes at the history from a unique perspective. I learned far more than I anticipated being someone who’s lived in Boston for more than 10 years.

A great tour, well run, easy to book. Excellent knowledge by our guide and great fun on the tour around Boston.