Downtown Boston Historic Sites: Self-Guided Audio Tour

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Downtown Boston with this self-guided audio tour. Explore at your own pace and be captivated by the revolutionary narrators and seamless sound editing. Don’t miss this freedom trail adventure!

Duration: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Freedom Trail - This tour takes you along the Freedom Trail from the Boston Common, through old Boston, the North End, over the bridge to Charlestown, to Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution. The Freedom Trail is the premier thing to do in Boston.
  • Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial - Learn the history of the 54th and how they changed America as the 2nd black regiment that fought in the civil war.
  • Massachusetts State House - Learn about it’s golden dome, what’s on top and its history.
  • Park Street Church - Learn about its explosive past and see where they stored the gun powder in the war of 1812
  • King’s Chapel - Learn about it’s steeple, bell and historic past.
  • Omni Parker House - The oldest continually run hotel in the USA.
  • Old City Hall - See the old city hall and the location of the first school in the US, Boston Latin.
  • Old South Meeting House - Hear the story about how the Boston Tea Party began.
  • Granary Burying Ground - Enter the Granary Burying ground voiced by the voice of the grounds keeper Willie. Hear the tales of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams and many more on your interactive experience.

It’s only open 9 to 5, check times.

  • Boston Massacre Site - Stop at the Boston Massacre site and relive the events of that day on a 3 minute sound experience
  • Faneuil Hall Marketplace - We will visit the Cradle of Liberty and see one of the most visited sites in the USA, Faneuil Hall.
  • Union Oyster House - We will hear the story of where JFK and his family often dined, the oldest continually run restaurant in the USA.
  • The Green Dragon Tavern - Stop that the Green Dragon, the headquarters of the revolution, and hear the story of it’s revolutionary history.
  • Old State House - See the old State house, the historic site of many events.
  • Haymarket - We will end at the Haymarket, if it’s Friday or Saturday, the Haymarket will be in full swing. Just across the street is the North End. The spot where our next tour continues.
  • New England Holocaust Memorial - The tour will take a walk into the New England Holocaust Memorial and learn a deeper story of the Holocaust. You’ll hear about what the numbers mean on the glass, the fire glowing below, and the history and story of the Holocaust and it’s camps.
  • 122 Bowdoin St - JFK’s residence! This was the spot JFK lived, we will stop outside the door and learn the story of JFK in Boston.
  • Spring Street - The tour will go into water street and see the site where they first spring was in Boston that allowed the first settlers to thrive!
  • Commonwealth Books - You’ll see one of the oldest, and coolest, book shops in Boston hidden down a small, very local alley.
What's Included
  • Learn about the 54th Memorial’s historic impact
  • Visit Benjamin Franklin’s Birthplace
  • See the residence of former president JFK
  • Gain access to a virtual tour with 360� photos post-visit
  • Discover the story behind the old city hall’s donkey
  • Experience the tour with GPS guidance on the WalknTours app
  • Explore iconic sites on the Freedom Trail, including Faneuil Hall and the Old State House
  • Gain entry to the Granary and King’s Chapel burial grounds
What's Not Included
  • This is on your smart phone, NO in person human guide, no entrance into buildings, it’s all outside
Additional Information

Explore the historical landmarks of Downtown Boston at your convenience with this Smart Phone App Audio Walking Tour, commencing from the Boston Common Visitors Center to Blackstone Corner.

What sets this tour apart?

  • Enjoy the captivating narratives of the revolutionaries, and the sound editing so immersive, you’ll hardly remember it’s technology leading the way.
  • Personalized guidance provided by our WalknTours technology.
  • This isn’t a mere spewing of facts, but a thrilling journey along the freedom trail.
  • Embark on your tour at a time that suits your schedule and tempo.
  • Your tour doesn’t expire, so you can listen at your leisure.
  • One purchase accommodates 2 phones

Commence your tour at the Boston Common Visitors Center. Simply press play, slide your phone into your pocket, and be guided step-by-step along the historic streets of Boston.

Suitable for listening via headphones, bluetooth speakers, or your mobile device.

Join us on our comprehensive Downtown Boston tour. For the entire Freedom Trail experience, check out our ‘Classic Freedom Trail Tour’.

Location
Boston Common Visitors Center
Tremont Street
The tour starts near the front door of the Boston Common Visitors Center, standing on the red brick trail.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.1
(19 Ratings)
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Andrea_s
Jul 1, 2024
Excellent - Lots of great info. The ability to start and stop is great. We went in an enjoyed many of the sites, including a meal at Union Oyster and a drink at the Green Dragon. We spent the day walking around Boston!
Review provided by Viator
Marlon_m
Feb 19, 2024
Great value! Awesome way to spend a day with your family. - I felt the tour was a very good value and way better than I expected. It was nice to stop and have a snack or a lunch break. It’s also a super long tour. I didn’t know I was going to Bunker Hill. It was a bonus.
Review provided by Viator
Amanda_t
Jul 25, 2022
Great tour! - The tour was easy to download and use. And so informative! What a great way to not spend a lot of money, but still learn a lot about Boston! And at your own pace. I highly recommend it!
Review provided by Viator
Jennifer_v
Jul 8, 2022
Excellent walking tour.... - Excellent walking tour. Super easy. Pause and continue at your own pace. Nice alternative to a guided tour. Provides the perfect amount of historical information.
Review provided by Viator
Wendi_c
Jul 6, 2022
Easy, inexpensive way to tour Boston - Perfect for a family of 4 with teenagers. Could go at our own pace. Great for our American History vacation.
Review provided by Viator
Eleanor_h
Jun 29, 2022
Great solo tour - Had an extra couple of hours before my flight and decided to do an audio tour. Super informative and educational. Great directions and I never got lost or felt I was going the wrong way. Highly recommend the “ dig deeper” options. Could have missed my flight I enjoyed it so much!
Review provided by Viator
Jacqueline_a
Sep 18, 2023
Good tour - Was difficult following directions to get to where the tour started. I booked it and wanted to use on my boyfriend's phone but it was impossible so I had to buy it a second time with his name on his phone to actually use it. The Freedom Trail line really helped us navigate and the arrow in the app helps too. Very difficult to hear unless you're using headphones because of all the traffic noise. Otherwise a good historical telling of all the sites.
Review provided by Viator
Lucille_t
Jul 31, 2022
Great way to see history - This tour is a great way to see the Freedom Trail at your own a pace while also enjoying the sights and sounds of Boston. My husband and I shared the audio on one phone and this worked just fine. We took our time and paused at the places we wanted to stay at longer and learned so much about this country's history. The path is easy to follow and the audio is great at directing you on which way to go. We started at the visitor's center and they were helpful at getting us going in the right direction.
Review provided by Viator
Barbarabn4136hu
Aug 23, 2022
So so in Boston - The tour was good. The large numbers of people and traffic made it uncomfortable and hectic. It was hard to get pictures due to the crowds. Beantown Pub was referred to us but the food was just ok, got the fish and chips but fish was not fresh. Very disappointed for the price. Did a tour in Salem the next day and was much happier. Smaller crowds and much more relaxed atmosphere.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ralph_r
Mar 20, 2024
Payed for nothing - It was confusing to get stated and once I got the app downloaded , it did not work . I ended up paying for a guided tour which was much better
Review provided by Viator
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