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must-visit in BostonOld Town & Historic District

Freedom Trail

📍 Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111, United States (Freedom Trail start)
Freedom Trail
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4.4/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
USA, Boston
Category
Old Town & Historic District
Duration
1.5-3 hours walking; a half day with interior visits
Address
Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111, United States (Freedom Trail start)
Coordinates
42.3631, -71.0694

Introduction

The Freedom Trail is a roughly 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) red-brick path through Boston that links 16 sites of central importance to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. It begins at Boston Common and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, passing the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, the Paul Revere House and the USS Constitution along the way. Each site carries a pivotal moment of the American Revolution: the 1770 Boston Massacre site, the 1773 Tea Party gathering place, and the 1775 start of Paul Revere's midnight ride. Proposed by Boston journalist William Schofield in 1951 and maintained by the Freedom Trail Foundation, the trail draws more than 4 million walkers each year and is the most vivid way to understand the founding of the United States.

✨ Highlights

1
Red-Brick Path
A ground-level brick trail guides visitors past 16 historic sites
2
Boston Common
America's oldest public park and the trail's starting point
3
Faneuil Hall
1742 market and meeting hall known as the Cradle of Liberty
4
Old North Church
Where Paul Revere's lanterns signaled the British advance
5
USS Constitution
1797 frigate, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat
6
Bunker Hill Monument
221-foot obelisk honoring the first major battle of the Revolution

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration:2 to 4 hours; a full day to enter every site
→Access:Green or Red Line to Park Street station at the start
→Tours:Foundation offers costumed 18th-century guide tours
→Transportation:Starts at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St, by Park Street Station (Red/Green Lines); the red-brick path runs north to Charlestown Navy Yard, linking 16 sites.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
MondayOpen 24 hours
TuesdayOpen 24 hours
WednesdayOpen 24 hours
ThursdayOpen 24 hours
FridayOpen 24 hours
SaturdayOpen 24 hours
SundayOpen 24 hours

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick path set in Boston city sidewalks, free to walk at any hour every day of the year with no admission. The Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont St), the trail start, is open daily 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. and gives free maps. The 16 historic sites along the route keep their own hours, and some (Old South Meeting House, Paul Revere House, Old State House) charge separate admission.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free AdmissionThe trail is free to walk, no ticket required

The Freedom Trail red-brick path is free and open to walk at any time. Most of the 16 historic sites charge separate or independent admission, e.g. Old South Meeting House, Paul Revere House and Old State House sell their own tickets; see each site website thefreedomtrail.org. The official Foundation guided tour is a paid program.

💡 Tips

• Official tours last about 100 minutes from Boston Common; no reservation needed
• Some sites shorten winter hours; check the website before setting out
• Wear comfortable walking shoes; the route is about 4 km with inclines
• USS Constitution requires security screening; large bags are prohibited
• Quincy Market beside Faneuil Hall offers many lunch options mid-route

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Freedom Trail?

Monday: Open 24 hours; Tuesday: Open 24 hours; Wednesday: Open 24 hours; Thursday: Open 24 hours; Friday: Open 24 hours; Saturday: Open 24 hours; Sunday: Open 24 hours; The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile red-brick path set in Boston city sidewalks, free to walk at any hour every day of the year with no admission. The Boston Common Visitor Information Center (139 Tremont St), the trail start, is open daily 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. and gives free maps. The 16 historic sites along the route keep their own hours, and some (Old South Meeting House, Paul Revere House, Old State House) charge separate admission.

How much is the admission for Freedom Trail?

Free Admission: The trail is free to walk, no ticket required; The Freedom Trail red-brick path is free and open to walk at any time. Most of the 16 historic sites charge separate or independent admission, e.g. Old South Meeting House, Paul Revere House and Old State House sell their own tickets; see each site website thefreedomtrail.org. The official Foundation guided tour is a paid program.

Any practical tips for visiting Freedom Trail?

Official tours last about 100 minutes from Boston Common; no reservation needed Some sites shorten winter hours; check the website before setting out

How long should I spend at Freedom Trail?

A typical visit takes 1.5-3 hours walking; a half day with interior visits.

Checked 5 November 2026 from the open-sites list at thefreedomtrail.org (Boston Common Visitor Information Center open daily 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m.). The trail is a red-brick route set in city sidewalks, free to walk any hour all year; its 16 historic sites keep their own hours and admission, some weekdays only.

Trips featuring Freedom Trail