Boston · GUIDED

The 15 Guided Tours in Boston Worth Booking Ahead

94 tours  ·  from $5 a head

Boston itineraries always run one afternoon short. These 15 guided tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get back to the chowder.

History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour - The Bewitched statue and Salem’s pop-culture image
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History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour

1.History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14,564 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $36Our pick

Starting at Old Town Hall, a local historian leads a two-hour walk past the Witch Trials Memorial, the Bewitched statue, Ropes Mansion, and the Witch House. Guides such as Lisa, Michael, and Sean bring Salem’s past to life with history, humor, architecture, and ghost lore. Choose a daytime departure or a lantern-lit evening tour.

“Dana was very an informative and interesting tour. Had a great attitude the whole time and was able to keep the tour fun the whole time.”

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Cambridge: Harvard University Student-Guided Walking Tour - From Harvard Square through Johnston Gate
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Cambridge: Harvard University Student-Guided Walking Tour

2.Harvard University Student-Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,931 reviews · 1h 10m · from $22

Meet a Harvard student in Harvard Square for a 70-minute walk through the university’s historic grounds. See Johnston Gate, the John Harvard Statue, Memorial Hall, and Widener Library while hearing campus stories and student-life details. The route is under a mile, wheelchair accessible, and led in English.

“We enjoyed the tour so much, Jonathan was awesome. We totally recommend that tour while visiting Havard.”

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Harvard University Campus Guided Walking Tour - The John Harvard Statue and the art museums
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Harvard University Campus Guided Walking Tour

3.Harvard University Campus Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,632 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $23

A current Harvard student leads this under-one-mile walk through Harvard Square and campus, sharing university history, traditions, and student-life stories. You’ll see Harvard Yard, the John Harvard Statue, Memorial Hall, and more, then finish at the student-run Harvard Shop. The tour costs $23 and runs about 70 minutes.

“Nice tour of the campus! We visited the most important and historic buildings and got to know fun facts about the school. Oksana was an amazing guide.”

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Boston Fenway Park: Guided Ballpark Tour with Options - The Green Monster, Pesky’s Pole, and the Roof Deck
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Boston Fenway Park: Guided Ballpark Tour with Options

4.Boston Fenway Park: Guided Ballpark Tour with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,606 reviews · from $20

Explore Fenway Park with a guide on a public or private one-hour tour, a pre-game visit, or a 15-minute express tour. Look for Pesky’s Pole, the 37-foot Green Monster, the Roof Deck, and, on some options, the Red Seat or visiting clubhouse. Guides such as Joe, Andy, Mike, and Mary Ella have led tours, though your guide will vary.

“Great tour at a great price! Our guide was very pleasant and provided a wealth of history of the park. We got to see all the highlights of the park - the historic wooden seats, The Green Monsta’, the Press Box, famous red seat in right field. A must see!”

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Boston Freedom Trail Walking Tour with Costumed Guide - Granary Burying Ground: the history slows down
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Boston Freedom Trail Walking Tour with Costumed Guide

5.Boston Freedom Trail Walking Tour with Costumed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,531 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Follow Boston’s Freedom Trail with a guide in period costume, passing the State House, Granary Burying Ground, Old State House and Paul Revere House. Guides such as Katherine, Neil and Ben have led the tour, mixing colonial stories with humor. The walk takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, though it can run longer.

“Katherine did a fun amazing tour Well worth every minute Informative and entertaining I recommend it to anyone visiting”

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Salem Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour - Witch trial stories, told at their locations
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Salem Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour

6.Salem Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,931 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Walk Salem’s historic center with a licensed guide who combines the 1692 witch trials with tales of voodoo, vampires, and reported hauntings. Stops include the Old Burying Point and the former Witch Dungeon site. Guides such as Dr. Vitka, Mike, and Vin have led tours, though the guide for your date may vary. Bring photos if you’d like help checking them for possible paranormal traces.

“Vin was amazing!! He was very knowledgeable and was a fantastic story teller - especially about his personal experiences and actual pictures from his crew and others that have taken the tour. A must-do in Salem.”

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Mysteries and Murders of Salem Guided Night-Time Walking Tour - Jail stories, a church and a haunted house
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Mysteries and Murders of Salem Guided Night-Time Walking Tour

7.Mysteries and Murders of Salem Guided Night-Time Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,488 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $36

Follow a professional guide through Salem after dark for stories of murder, mystery and alleged hauntings beyond the witch trials. Guides including Samantha, Danielle, Violet and William lead this outdoor walk from Old Town Hall to the Burying Point. Expect about 100 to 120 minutes on foot, with no entry into buildings or the cemetery.

“Our tour guide Violet was great and was super informative. Tour was a great time for me and my wife.”

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2.5-Hour Salem History & Sightseeing Guided Walking Tour - Starting on historic Essex Street
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2.5-Hour Salem History & Sightseeing Guided Walking Tour

8.2.5-Hour Salem History & Sightseeing Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 850 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Spend 2.5 hours walking Salem with local guide Kenneth, from Essex Street to the McIntire Historic District and Witch Trials Memorial. You’ll hear about Indigenous peoples, Puritans, Patriots, and Salem’s seafaring past, while viewing historic homes from outside. Buildings are not entered, so plan separate visits if you want to see their interiors.

“Ken was fantastic! He shares a wealth of knowledge about Salem and its history with us. He was entertaining and focused on our interests. He went out of his way to keep us comfortable and even walked us to our next destination. Highly recommend him and this tour.”

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Salem Night Tour: Haunt and History Guided Night Tour - The Witch Trials Memorial and the weight of the story
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Salem Night Tour: Haunt and History Guided Night Tour

9.Salem Night Tour: Haunt and History Guided Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 673 reviews · 1h 30m · from $30

Spend 90 minutes walking downtown Salem with a local historian and paranormal guide. Stops can include the Witch Trials Memorial, two cemeteries, the Old Salem Jail, and Hocus Pocus filming locations. Guides such as Penny, Bob, and Elaina mix local history with ghost stories. The route varies, and building admission is not included.

“Matty was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable and I feel like we learned a lot.”

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Salem, MA: History and Hauntings Guided Walking Tour - The Witch House and the 1692 trials
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Salem, MA: History and Hauntings Guided Walking Tour

10.History and Hauntings Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 651 reviews · 2 hours · from $36

Spend two hours outdoors with a licensed English-speaking guide, tracing Salem’s witch-trial history, seafaring past, and ghost stories. The route passes Old Town Hall, the Witch House, and the McIntire and Chestnut Street districts before ending at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. Guides include storytellers such as Diane, Joe, Dean, and Hilary.

“Well done. I learned so much and this was definitely one of my highlights of my trip here. Recommend for anyone who wants to hear some Salem witch history with a mix of a few interesting witch stories and the trials! Truly amazing stuff. Thanks so much!”

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Walk the Historic Freedom Trail with Costumed Guide - King’s Chapel and Boston Latin School show a changing city
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Walk the Historic Freedom Trail with Costumed Guide

11.Walk the Historic Freedom Trail with Costumed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 329 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Walk from Boston Common to Faneuil Hall with a costumed guide, stopping at Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, the Old State House, and more. The 90-minute route covers about 11 of the Freedom Trail’s 16 sites. Guides have included James Otis, Thomas, Adri, Steven, Jeff, and Samuel Gray, but the guide varies.

“Knowledgeable guide and when he has the speaker on it was better to understand and hear him. For seniors with hearing issues you need an amplifying system”

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Scenic Newport, RI Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour - Ocean Drive, beaches, and Fort Adams
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Scenic Newport, RI Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

12.Scenic Newport, RI Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 325 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.)

Drive an 11-mile route through Newport with more than 45 GPS-triggered audio stories, from Bellevue Avenue’s Gilded Age mansions to Ocean Drive, Fort Adams, and the Irish District. The English-language tour takes about two to three hours and costs $16.99 per car for up to four people. Download it in advance, then pause for walks, mansion visits, and ocean views.

“Easy to use. Travel at your own pace. Good information about the town and the mansions. Definitely would recommend it.”

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Signature Boston Guided Brewery Tour with snack - Winter Hill Brewing: a neighborhood feel
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Signature Boston Guided Brewery Tour with snack

13.Signature Boston Guided Brewery Tour with snack

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 271 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $119

Meet your guide in downtown Boston for a three-hour brewery outing with round-trip transport, a snack, and up to 16 craft beer samples. The listed route visits Night Shift Brewing, Dorchester Brewing Company, and Winter Hill Brewing Company, though stops can vary. Guides such as Adrian, Travis, Raj, and Bill have led tours, but your guide is not guaranteed.

“Travis was awesome! He was funny, informative & kept us safe while we tried a variety of delicious beer! Dinner was great too!”

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Salem, MA: Hocus Pocus Movie Guided Walking Tour - Starting at Salem Common
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Salem, MA: Hocus Pocus Movie Guided Walking Tour

14.Hocus Pocus Movie Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 263 reviews · 2h 30m · from $52

This 150-minute, 3.4-mile walk links five Hocus Pocus filming locations with Salem history, movie trivia, candy, and a small keepsake bag. Guides such as Grace, Hilary, Ryan, Michael, Violet, and Topher have led tours. The route ends at Pioneer Village, not downtown, and its weekend admission costs $5.

“Wonderful combination of a bit of history of Salem sprinkled in between Hocus Pocus filming locations. Violet was knowledgeable, kind and shared her joy for the city and the movie in equal measure! Couldn’t have been a better afternoon well spent!”

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Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour - North End stories and Paul Revere’s route
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Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour

15.Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 258 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $7Best value

Walk Boston’s Freedom Trail from the Boston Common Visitors Center to the USS Constitution with a GPS-guided audio tour in the WalknTours app. Hear about the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere, the North End and Bunker Hill. Plan on two to three hours, though stops and technical snags can make it longer.

“This audio worked well. The arrows were helpful. Would recommend to anyone new to Boston interested in the city sights”

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New in Guided

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★ 5.0Self Guided Audio Tour ‘Hawthorne’s Haunts’ Haunted Walking Tour SalemFrom $56 reviews
★ 4.0Plymouth Pilgrims Self-Guided Walking Audio TourFrom $1428 reviews
★ 4.5Plymouth Pilgrim Historic Self Guided GPS Audio Walking TourFrom $94 reviews
★ 4.0Ultimate Newport Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: Walk & DriveFrom $1930 reviews
★ 4.0Art Historian’s Gilded Age Newport: A Self-Guided Driving Tour24 reviews
★ 4.5Newport Downtown Historic Audio APP Self Guided Smart Phone TourFrom $95 reviews
★ 3.5Newport Cliff Walk – Legends of the Gilded Age GPS Guided Audio TourFrom $1112 reviews
★ 3.5Nantucket Coast to Coast Self-Guided Biking or Driving TourFrom $123 reviews
★ 4.0Beyond the Cobblestones Self Guided Walking Tour of NantucketFrom $911 reviews
★ 4.5Martha’s Vineyard Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour6 reviews
★ 4.5Edgartown Martha’s Vineyard Self-Guided (GPS) Audio Walking TourFrom $913 reviews
★ 5.0Provincetown Self-Guided Walking Audio TourFrom $145 reviews
★ 5.0National Seashore Tour with Guided HikeFrom $757 reviews

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