With a history spanning 350 years, Boston is one of the most influential and interesting cities in the United States, welcoming over 12 million visitors a year. The city was home to the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, while several Revolutionary War battles were fought nearby. Today, the largest city in New England is known for its fine cultural institutions, world class universities and champion sports franchises in addition to its significant role in American history. 

How to Get to Boston
Your cruise ship will dock at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal on the South Boston waterfront. Many cruise lines offer shuttles into the city center, but taxis are readily available as well. You can also catch Silver Line bus SL2 or SL3 to the South Station of the Boston T (subway). Another option is to head into the center on foot, about a 30-minute walk along Northern Avenue.

One Day in Boston
To get a thorough overview of Boston’s fascinating past, you can spend much of your day walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile trail that takes you past 16 historic sites in the city. Stop in at the visitor center on Tremont Street to get a map, check out an audio guide or arrange for a guided walking tour. Trolley tours following the Freedom Trail are also available. If you walk the trail, you will follow a painted red line or red bricks from Boston Common through downtown Boston, the North End and Charlestown. Along the way, you can visit some of Boston’s most important sites, including the Old State House, Paul Revere’s House, the Old North Church and Faneuil Hall.

If you want to stray from the Freedom Trail, you might visit the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the best art museums in the country, the Peabody Museum or Archaeology & Ethnology, one of the oldest anthropological museums in the world. If your interests lean toward science and technology, don’t miss the MIT Museum, which is home to a variety of exhibits and hands-on activities in science, technology, architecture and design, nautical engineering and history. Kids will especially enjoy the New England Aquarium, which boasts what was once the world’s largest fish tank.

Beer lovers can tour one of Boston’s several breweries and sports fans shouldn’t miss a chance to catch a baseball game at Fenway Park if the Red Sox are in town.

Before returning to your ship, be sure to check out the food stalls at Quincy Market and enjoy the always-entertaining street performers at Faneuil Hall.

Port Information
The cruise terminal doesn’t have many facilities for passengers and isn’t too close to anything of importance. English is the local language and the U.S. Dollar is the official currency. ATMs are readily available throughout the city, but you will likely need to visit a major bank to change currency.