Boston · 1-DAY TOURS

The 15 Best 1-Day Tours from Boston

28 tours  ·  from $49 a head

A short list to forward to whoever is planning: 15 1-day tours worth the money, each with its price, how travellers rated it and the one thing to know first.

Boston to Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour - A short cruise across Vineyard Sound
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Boston to Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

1.Boston to Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,162 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $129Our pick

Leave Boston at 6:15 a.m. for Falmouth, then sail to Martha’s Vineyard for 5.5 to 6 hours on the island. Explore Oak Bluffs and other towns at your own pace, or pay extra for a three-hour narrated bus tour that includes Edgartown and the Aquinnah cliffs. Guides such as Tom, Elaine, and Johnny Boston have led past trips.

“Elaine was an excellent driver and guide. She gave us some history as we drove along. I really enjoyed the trip. Hopefully when we return Elaine won't have retired as we would definitely request her.”

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Boston: Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour - The ferry gives you a first look at the coast
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Boston: Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

2.Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 573 reviews · 13 hours · from $129

Ride from a downtown Boston pickup to the ferry at Falmouth, then spend about six hours on Martha’s Vineyard. Choose a three-hour island tour with local guides such as Tom or Anthony, or explore independently. Expect gingerbread cottages, Edgartown shops, Aquinnah’s cliffs and lighthouse, and a full 13-hour day.

“Long day starting at 6am and back in Boston for about 7pm. Nice drive to the ferry and only a short 30 minutes or so across to the Island. We didn't book the Island tour but used the public busses to get around. We went to Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and back to Oak Bluffs on the busses and they were easy to find and use. Their website gives you loads of info and the prices were around $2-3 a ticket. It was throwing it down all day when we went but there were plenty of lovely local shops at each town to have a look in and we bought some…”

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Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour from Boston - Six hours on Martha’s Vineyard: choose your own pace
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Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour from Boston

3.Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 407 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $130

Travel from Boston to Woods Hole with live commentary, stop at Nobska Point Lighthouse, then ferry to Oak Bluffs for about six hours on Martha’s Vineyard. Explore on your own or pay extra for a three-hour island tour. Guides such as Matt, Rory, and Keith have earned praise for their local stories and practical help.

“The trip was two parts, first a large van ride from Boston to Wood Hole, where we caught a ferry to the island. Once there you have the choice to tour the island on your own or join a second large van that takes you around the island. This is what we did. The tour was informative, but you don’t stop anywhere for an extended period of time. ( 2- 15 minute stops). Then you return to the ferry port, Oak Bluff, where we had lunch.”

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Boston to Newport Small-Group Day Trip with Breakers & Marble House Admission - The Breakers: Newport at its grandest
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Boston to Newport Small-Group Day Trip with Breakers & Marble House Admission

4.Boston to Newport Small-Group Day Trip with Breakers & Marble House Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 266 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $155

Ride from downtown Boston to Newport in a small group of up to 24, with a guide narrating the route and city highlights. Admission to the Breakers and Marble House is included, along with time to explore Newport independently. Expect an early start, a long day, and a mix of mansion tours, coastal scenery, and free time.

“Seeing the mansions and their way of life brought a sense of reality to what is seen in movies and TV about the guilded age.”

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Boston to New Hampshire Fall Foliage White Mountains Day Trip - Following fall color along the Kancamagus Highway
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Boston to New Hampshire Fall Foliage White Mountains Day Trip

5.Boston to New Hampshire Fall Foliage White Mountains Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $150Top rated

Leave downtown Boston at 7 a.m. for a roughly 12-hour trip through New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Your driver-guide takes you along the Kancamagus Highway for photo stops, then allows time for lunch in North Conway before visits near Omni Mount Washington Resort. Guides such as Rory, Matt, and Keith have led trips with live commentary.

“Matt was a great guide! He knows the area well and made the trip fun and informative for everyone in the group!”

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Boston to Kennebunkport Day Trip with Optional Trolley Tour - Nubble Light: a classic Maine view
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Boston to Kennebunkport Day Trip with Optional Trolley Tour

6.Boston to Kennebunkport Day Trip with Optional Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 166 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $135

Leave Boston at 7:15 am for a full day on the southern Maine coast. A guide drives you to Nubble Light, Marginal Way, Perkins Cove and Kennebunkport, with water and snacks provided. You’ll have time to explore the towns and coast on your own, and can add a one-hour Kennebunkport trolley tour that includes a view of Walker’s Point.

“Thank you Lucia for the safe drive and great tour. We had a wonderful and enjoyable trip to Maine . .”

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Boston: Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour - The ferry gives you a first look at the coast
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Boston: Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

7.Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 123 reviews · from $120

Travel from Boston to Woods Hole by minibus, then cross to Martha’s Vineyard by ferry. Guides such as Keith, Matt, Rory, and Harry share local and regional history. On the island, choose your own time for shops, food, and the beach, or book the optional three-hour guided tour. Check your selected option carefully: the island tour is not always included.

“friendly and knowledgeable guides. pickup was easy and the minibus was comfortable.”

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From Boston: Quincy, Plymouth, and Mayflower II Day Trip - Scituate Lighthouse and the Army of Two
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From Boston: Quincy, Plymouth, and Mayflower II Day Trip

8.Quincy, Plymouth, and Mayflower II Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 102 reviews · 11 hours · from $165

Travel south from Boston by air-conditioned minibus to see the Adams family birthplaces in Quincy, Scituate Lighthouse, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, and Plimoth Patuxet. Your English-speaking guide narrates the day, with guides such as David and Kristin bringing local history to life. Admission, snacks, and water are included.

“Lovely trip, knowledgeable driver, and plenty of interesting stops while driving up the coast to Plymouth. Great way to spend a stress free day exploring the sites of Massachusetts!”

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From Boston: Newport Mansions Full-Day Trip - The Boston pickup and ride south
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From Boston: Newport Mansions Full-Day Trip

9.Newport Mansions Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 76 reviews · 12 hours · from $155

Spend 12 hours traveling from Boston to Newport by minibus, with visits to the Breakers and Marble House, multilingual audio tours, and a narrated town tour. You’ll have two hours for lunch and exploring the waterfront, plus a guidebook, snacks, and water. Guides have included Tim, Lucia, and Chris.

“This was a wonderful way to see Newport. Chris was a fantastic guide and organized a great over view experience of Newport. The 2 mansions were unbelievable; cliff walk was fun, and the historic downtown was charming. This tour is worth your time; you will not regret it.”

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Day Trip from Boston To Salem Witch Exhibits - Seeing Salem from the trolley
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Day Trip from Boston To Salem Witch Exhibits

10.Day Trip from Boston To Salem Witch Exhibits

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $190

Travel from Boston to Salem in a small group of up to 12, with hotel pickup, a local guide, trolley tour, and admission to the Salem Witch Museum and House of the Seven Gables. You’ll also have time for lunch, waterfront sights, and shops. Guides such as Matt and Rory have led the trip.

“Very informative and I had a wonderful time with the tour guide and our fellow passengers. I’m ready for our next experience.”

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From Boston: Kennebunkport Day Trip & Optional Trolley Tour - Ogunquit: walk Marginal Way at your own pace
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From Boston: Kennebunkport Day Trip & Optional Trolley Tour

11.Kennebunkport Day Trip & Optional Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 11 hours · from $135

Leave downtown Boston by air-conditioned minibus for York, Ogunquit, and Kennebunkport. You’ll stop at Nubble Light, walk part or all of Marginal Way, and have time to eat and browse in town. A 45-minute local trolley tour is an optional extra and includes a view of the Bush family compound at Walker’s Point. Guides have included Lucia and Coach.

“We loved the scenic and well-narrated drive. We enjoyed visiting the Nubble lighthouse and enjoyed our time in Kennebunkport. The trolley ride around Kennebunkport was awesome and informational. The lobster rolls at Allison’s made a fantastic lunch. Only regret we have is being unable to step into the ocean as our team was running late on the tour and didn’t have time for that kind of pitstop.”

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Private Day Trip to Lexington and Concord from Boston - What the price includes, and what it does not
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Private Day Trip to Lexington and Concord from Boston

12.Private Day Trip to Lexington and Concord from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $493

Spend about six and a half hours tracing the Revolution from Lexington Green to Concord, then visit Orchard House, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and Walden Pond. Your private guide can adjust the pace and focus. Guides who have led the tour include Mark, Maria, Alexandria, Riley, and Jenny. Lunch is on your own in downtown Concord.

“Beautiful tour with lots of very interesting history! One thing was to read about history leading up to the American revolution and the early years of the USA, and another was to visit places were it all started! Mark was an excellent guide and explained things very well. He also was did a great job accommodating the four of us; two of us had mobility issues. He truly enjoined the experience and would not only, highly recommend the tour but also Boston Hidden Gems as the tour company and Mark as a tour guide.”

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Niagara Falls(US side) 2-Day Trip from Boston - Niagara after dark, lights, mist, and possible fireworks
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Niagara Falls(US side) 2-Day Trip from Boston

13.Niagara Falls(US side) 2-Day Trip from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 1 hour - 2 days · from $49Best value

Travel from Boston to the US side of Niagara Falls by coach, stay one night in a nearby hotel, and see the falls illuminated after dark. The second day can include Whirlpool State Park, Cave of the Winds, and the Maid of the Mist, depending on your booking option. English-speaking guides lead the trip; guide Willy has been praised for careful breaks and helpful coordination.

“Our Guide Willy was very cooperative, helpful. He made sure all 10 passengers of the group have comfortable journey, by taking breaks time to time. The vehicle was not comfortable though. On Day 1, we covered Whirlpool state park, Maid of the mist, Niagara at Night, Goat Island, Luna Island and Fireworks. We stayed at Aloft-Buffalo Airport hotel, which was nice. We arrived at 11PM at the hotel, room was already allotted, Willy gave us the room key for check-in. Next day, Day 2 we met at the hotel looby, checked out and went for quick breakfast. Then we headed to Niagara state park again for Cave of the Winds.…”

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From Providence: Day Trip around Rhode Island - Providence sets the scene
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From Providence: Day Trip around Rhode Island

14.From Providence: Day Trip around Rhode Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · from $125

See Rhode Island by climate-controlled bus, with an English-speaking guide, from Providence through Wickford, Newport, Bristol, and other coastal stops. You may get out for photos and closer looks at sights such as a lighthouse, a village, ocean views, and a beach. The tour lasts eight hours and returns to its starting point.

“That was the best money spent. Ted the guide is so amazing. The sights plus history he gives is unbelievable. Words cannot describe how wonderful this trip is.”

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Private Day Trip to Salem and Hammond Castle from Boston - From Salem Common to the Witch Trials Memorial
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Private Day Trip to Salem and Hammond Castle from Boston

15.Private Day Trip to Salem and Hammond Castle from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $495

Spend about seven hours with a private guide, traveling from Boston to Hammond Castle and Salem in an air-conditioned minivan. Tour the castle, then explore Salem’s maritime landmarks, witch trial sites, historic streets, and mansions. Guides such as Jenny and Maria have tailored the day to guests’ interests. Castle admission, transport, parking, fuel, and bottled water are included; lunch is not.

“Exceptional tour and an amazing tour guide. We could have stayed a really long time here. Jenny was a wonderful guide and listen to our wants and needs”

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