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Boston Common Visitor Center

139 Tremont Street · Boston, MA

Why you should go…

The Boston Common Visitor Center is run by Meet Boston, the city's official tourism organization, and sits on the Tremont Street side of Boston Common next to the Park Street T station. Staff hand out maps and brochures, sell souvenirs and book tickets for Freedom Trail walks, trolley and duck tours, harbor cruises and museums such as the New England Aquarium and the Boston Tea Party Ships. It sits a short walk from the start of the Freedom Trail. Open daily from 8:30 am to 4:45 pm.

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  • #tickets

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Boston Common Visitor Center, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    The Freedom Trail

    Free

    Follow the famous red brick line past 16 Revolutionary landmarks, from Boston Common to Bunker Hill.

    Right next doorMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Boston Public Garden & Swan Boats

    Free

    America's first public botanical garden, weeping willows, the Make Way for Ducklings statues, and famous Swan Boats.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Eat & Drink
    Iconic

    Cheers Beacon Hill

    $25–$50

    The real Beacon Hill bar whose exterior inspired the TV sitcom Cheers, tucked beneath the historic Hampshire House.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Revolutionary Spaces

    Under $25

    Boston's Old State House and Old South Meeting House, twin landmarks of the American Revolution.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Eat & Drink
    Foodie Favorite

    Faneuil Hall Marketplace & Quincy Market

    Free

    Historic 1742 marketplace packed with food stalls, street performers, shops, grab chowder where revolutionaries rallied.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square

    Free

    A free 1895 'palace for the people', Bates Hall's barrel-vaulted reading room, Sargent murals, and a serene Italianate courtyard in Copley Square.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this