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Old North Church & Historic Site, Boston, MA
SightseeingIconicHistory buff pick

Old North Church & Historic Site

193 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113 · Boston, MA

Why you should go…

'One if by land, two if by sea', the two lanterns hung in this 1723 steeple on April 18, 1775 set Paul Revere's midnight ride in motion. Boston's oldest surviving church building still holds services, and a modest admission covers a self-guided visit to its box pews and new exhibits in the North End. Add-on tours descend into the crypt, where more than a thousand Bostonians are entombed, or climb toward the bell-ringing chamber once worked by a teenage Revere.

  • #paul revere
  • #north end
  • #revolution
  • #church
  • #history

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 Old North Church & Historic Site, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Paul Revere House

    Under $25

    Walk through the North End home Paul Revere owned at the time of his midnight ride, built around 1680.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    The Sports Museum

    Under $25

    Boston sports history museum inside TD Garden.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Eat & Drink
    Foodie Favorite

    Union Oyster House

    Free

    Eat oysters and seafood at the original oyster bar inside a Georgian building on Boston's Freedom Trail near Faneuil Hall.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Old State House

    Under $25

    Tour Boston's oldest surviving public building, where the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony in 1776.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Revolutionary Spaces

    Under $25

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

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Granary Burying Ground

    Free

    A 1660 burial ground on the Freedom Trail where Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and John Hancock rest among slate headstones.

    0.7 mi awayMore like this