The Benjamin Franklin Statue, located next to Boston’s Old City Hall.
Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
More than four million people set foot on the Freedom Trail every year to see some of Boston’s most famous historic sites. This 2.5-mile trail passes by 16 significant landmarks, a journey made relatively foolproof by the red paint/red brick line leading the way.
Ready to lace up your walking shoes and join in? Here are our tips and tricks for enjoying your time on the fabled Freedom Trail.
Welcome to Boston, the capital city of Massachusetts. Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
The Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts | Tips & Tricks
Like many children who grew up relatively close to Boston, I was herded by some valorous teachers along that revolutionary red stripe during a school field trip. And honestly? I can’t remember a bit of it.
But many years later, I approached the trail for a reprise. As a Massachusetts resident, I found the idea of becoming a tourist in my own state charming.
And after the fact, I stand by the statement that — whether you’re a Boston resident or a visitor from thousands of miles away — the Freedom Trail will entertain.
Yes, you might get tired and end up saving the last mile for another day. Yes, a granola bar will come in handy. Yes, there are many Starbucks locations on the trail (three, to be exact). And yes, you’re going to want to wear comfortable shoes.
Samuel Adams and Paul Revere laid the cornerstones of the Massachusetts State House on July 4, 1795. The majestic building — which overlooks the Boston Common — sits on the land that used to be a part of John Hancock’s cow pasture. Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
1. Where does the Freedom Trail start?
The trail begins at Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States.
2. Where does the Freedom Trail end?
It winds up at the Battle of Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown.
3. How should someone prepare to walk the Freedom Trail?
We recommend visiting the Freedom Trail Foundation’s website and printing its handy PDF map of both the Freedom Trail and the Black Heritage Trail. The latter is in Beacon Hill, near the Freedom Trail’s starting point, which means that an ambitious sightseer could easily walk them back-to-back (though this may mean walking one in reverse, which is what I did). You can read about the Black Heritage Trail here.
4. How long does it take to walk the Freedom Trail?
It depends on whether you stop for food or drink, take a shopping break at Faneuil Hall, or enter into any of the historic buildings along the way. The path winds from downtown through the North End and into Charlestown for a grand total of 2.5 miles. You can read about the accessibility of the route here.
According to the Freedom Trail website, which offers many potential itineraries, most walking tours last between 60 and 90 minutes. It took me about two hours, including many photo ops and one cannoli stop.
Cannoli from Bova’s Bakery in the North End—yum! Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
5. Is it better to take a guided tour or just wing it?
I personally enjoyed the freedom of walking the trail on my own. That said, the tour guides are knowledgeable — and very chipper (you can decide whether that’s a pro or a con). Which brings us to…
A marker on the trail’s red brick line. Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
8. Where are the best places to eat on the Freedom Trail?
Here are some recommendations from us here at Yankee:
Where to get the best lobster roll on the Freedom Trail:
Head for Neptune Oyster on Salem Street in the North End, or Luke’s Lobster in Downtown Crossing. That said, if you want to get our food editor’s favorite lobster roll in the city, head over to Row 34 on Congress Street.
Where to get the best cannoli on the Freedom Trail: Yankee senior food editor Amy Traverso has declared that in the North End, “almost any take on cannoli is a good bet.” She recently reviewed four of the North End’s top bakeries to see which had the best cannoli; alas, the shop she gave first place to, Maria’s, has announced it will be closing. So as the path winds toward Paul Revere’s house, look for her second pick, Modern Pastry Shop. As for me, I stopped by Bova’s Bakery, whose cannoli Traverso dubbed “by far the prettiest of the lot.” It did not disappoint!
Modern Pastry Shop, which our food editor named one of the best places to get a cannoli in Boston’s North End. The sweetest part? It’s right on the Freedom Trail. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanWhere to eat at the beginning of the Freedom Trail:JM Curley serves playful comfort food, including fried pickles, duck poutine, and barbecue pork mac ’n’ cheese. Fill up on fried goodness — then walk it off over the next 2.5 miles.
Where to eat in the middle of the Freedom Trail:Faneuil Hall Marketplace or Boston Public Market — with all their food carts, kiosks, and restaurants combined, these two spots offer just about anything you can imagine.
Where to eat at the end of the Freedom Trail:
Only a six-minute walk from the end of the trail, the Brewer’s Fork in Charlestown sports an impressive array of brews and excellent wood-fired fare, plus an outdoor beer garden that’s perfect on a warm-weather day.
For more tips, see our guide to the best places to eat in Boston.
Tucked between Boston Public Market and Faneuil Hall is Haymarket, an open-air market that runs Friday and Saturdays year-round and is one of the cheapest spots in the city to buy fresh produce. Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
9. Any tips for a unique Freedom Trail experience?
For your first time walking the route, you may want to stick to tradition. That said, here are some ideas for spicing up a Freedom Trail trek:
Celebrate liberation with libation on an organized Freedom Trail Pub Crawl, or go the DIY route and pinpoint some watering holes to visit along the way.
Work up a sweat on an early morning Freedom Trail run — perfect if you’re traveling with some late sleepers who perhaps don’t share your enthusiasm for the Revolution.
Start at Bunker Hill and walk the trail backward. (This may not be your definition of thrilling, but then again, it may.)
Take a trolley tour or a duck boat tour, which both cover much of the same territory as the Freedom Trail.
Scenes from the Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is well-labeled, with signs on buildings and lampposts. But if you still feel lost, just look for the red line on the ground! Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanThe Benjamin Franklin statue next to Boston’s Old City Hall. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanOld City Hall in Boston. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanDog tags hang outside the Old North Church to honor the U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanThe past and the present converge at the Old Corner Bookstore, Boston’s oldest commercial building, which is now occupied by a Chipotle. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanOld South Meeting house, the site of the tea tax debates which led to the Boston Tea Party. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanNorth Market, one of four buildings that make up Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanUnion Oyster House, the oldest continually-functioning restaurant in the country (and a great Freedom Trail photo op!). Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
Do you have any tips for how to have a great experience on the Freedom Trail?
As the Associate Digital Editor for Yankee Magazine, Katherine writes and edits content for NewEngland.com, manages the New England Today newsletter, and promotes Yankee Magazine on social media channels. A graduate of Smith College, Katherine grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and currently lives in Maine.
