Question 1

Why choose Hub Town Tours?

Accepted Answer

Hub Town Tours has a straightforward mission: to provide the most fulfilling history tours of this essential American city. That's it! We keep tour groups small, our guide team happy, and the history accurate. Every tour is a chronological narrative walking our guests on the Freedom Trail, over Beacon Hill, or across the Back Bay.

Tens of thousands of delighted former guests vouch for us... Hub Town Tours is a Top 20 Tour in the USA with nearly 100% 5-star reviews across all major online platforms!

Question 2

Where do tours start and end?

Accepted Answer

All small-group tours begin near Boston Common, but the exact location depends on the tour you've booked! Freedom Trail tours start beside the Boston Foundation Monument, directly opposite 50 Beacon Street (02108). Beacon Hill tours gather at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of the park, steps from the Boston Common Visitors Center at 139 Tremont Street (02108). Back Bay tours meet at the Make Way for Ducklings statues inside the Boston Public Garden, directly opposite 67 Beacon Street (02108).

Tours are not loops, and end points are as follows: Freedom Trail tours conclude at Copp’s Hill Terrace in Boston's North End; Beacon Hill tours conclude at the Robert Gould Shaw / 54th MA Memorial on Boston Common; Back Bay tours conclude at the Boston Women's Memorial on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

If you've booked a private tour with us, your meeting point will be specified in your custom itinerary.

Question 3

When do the tours begin?

Accepted Answer

Public tours start between 8:45am and 4:30pm. Our most popular tour, Freedom Trail (2.5 Hours), typically departs on the :15 and :45 of the hour throughout the day. During high season—June to October—this experience runs seven days per week, with departures every 15 minutes.

Our Underground Railroad history tour of Beacon Hill (2.5 Hours) typically runs at 10:00am on Saturdays and Sundays and 1:30pm on Fridays and Mondays. Our newest tour, Votes for Women history in the Back Bay (2.5 Hours), typically operates on the same schedule as the Beacon Hill tour.

Please note, all itineraries can be turned into private outings! Private Group tours are available for early morning and evening departures, depending on guide availability.

Question 4

How long is the walking tour?

Accepted Answer

All small-group public tours are 2.5 hours in duration, travel approximately 2.0 miles, and include a short intermission with the opportunity to use public restrooms.

Private tour duration and walking routes are fully customizable. For more details about our historical tour offerings, please check out our Tour Catalog!

Question 5

Is there a limit on group size?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our small-group tours have a maximum of 16 guests. It's an open secret that the Freedom Trail has become wildly popular. While other groups balloon in size, Hub Town Tours recognizes a tour is only worthwhile if you can hear your guide and appreciate the history up close!

Our standard private tour rate includes the first 5 guests; extra guests may be added for an additional fee. Groups of 11+ guests are eligible for discounted group rates! For larger groups, we always assign additional guides to prevent overcrowding.

Question 6

What will we see on the tour?

Accepted Answer

Our small-group tour of the iconic Freedom Trail (Revolutionary Boston) provides a view of all 16 official landmarks on Boston’s Freedom Trail, a must-do for any visitor. This is our most popular tour!

Our tour in historic Beacon Hill (Civil War Boston) features Underground Railroad sites and abolitionist landmarks along the Black Heritage Trail, uncovering history hidden in plain sight.

Our tour through the elegant Back Bay (Women’s Rights Boston) visits popular locations and historic sites in the Back Bay, such as must-see landmarks like the Public Garden and Copley Square.

Question 7

Will we enter any historic sites?

Accepted Answer

Aside from public structures and burying grounds, your guided tour remains outdoors and will NOT go inside historic structures. Most landmark buildings in Boston—whether on the Freedom Trail, or in the neighborhoods of Beacon Hill and Back Bay—are privately-run museums or churches, several of which charge admission fees.

If you’d like to enter select locations, we highly suggest returning after your tour! For private reservations, we’re happy to help coordinate site visits.

Question 8

Is this a good tour for all ages?

Accepted Answer

Hub Town Tours strives to offer an experience that is accessible for a wide range of ages and learning levels. We welcome visitors of any age, but tours involve a fair bit of walking over the course of multiple hours. Our guides deliver an in-depth historical narrative best suited for adults and older children.

Children ages 5 and under are always free and do not require a ticket. For families with younger children, we recommend booking a private tour with a duration of 1.5 hours.

Question 9

How strenuous is the walking?

Accepted Answer

We recommend at least a moderate fitness level for all guests. Our most popular tour—strolling the Freedom Trail (2.5 Hours) in a small group—travels approximately 2.0 miles over mostly level, paved surfaces. We do look for benches, but please be prepared to be on your feet for long stretches! This route is fully accessible with minor modifications.

Our Beacon Hill (2.5 Hours) walk travels 1.8 miles, but as the name of the neighborhood suggests, there are multiple inclines and declines along the route. Beacon Hill sidewalks are mostly brick; while incredibly quaint, they can be quite uneven. Unfortunately, this tour is not an accessible itinerary.

Our new Back Bay (2.5 Hours) tour covers approximately 2.0 miles. Like the Freedom Trail, this tour is fully accessible. The terrain is level, with the widest sidewalks of our three itineraries.

Question 10

Any COVID safety precautions?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Please review our COVID Guidelines. All tour itineraries are 100% outdoors in well-ventilated spaces, and groups are always limited to 16 individuals. Please note, masks are NOT required on tour. We also offer private tours, which can be limited to your immediate household.

Question 11

Are the tour routes accessible?

Accepted Answer

Hub Town Tours endeavors to make our tours accessible for everyone. As an old city, Boston has a many narrow alleyways and uneven sidewalks that make passage difficult. Freedom Trail and Back Bay tours are wheelchair, scooter, and stroller accessible.

We kindly ask you let us know in advance about any accessibility concerns, and pledge to always do our best to accommodate. We regretfully CANNOT offer an accessible Beacon Hill tour due to hilly terrain and numerous ADA-noncompliant sidewalks.

Question 12

Can I arrive via public transit?

Accepted Answer

Hub Town Tours encourages all visitors to use public transit! Boston's subway and bus system is referred to as “the T”: stations are identified by prominent T-in-Circle signs and major transit lines are color-coded.

The closest “T” station to our Boston Common start is Park Street, serving the Green and Red Lines. If arriving by the Orange Line, get off at Downtown Crossing; if arriving by the Blue Line, get off at Government Center. If arriving by the Silver Line, get off at Temple Place.

If arriving via commuter rail, Boston’s three major train stations—North Station (points north), South Station (points south), and Back Bay (points west)—are each approximately a 15-minute walk from Boston Common, where our small-group tours begin.

Question 13

Where should I park my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

For its central location and value, Center Plaza Garage at 43 Tremont Street (02114) is our primary recommendation. Closest to our tour starting points is Boston Common Garage, located underneath Boston Common at 0 Charles Street (02116). Please plan to arrive early, however, as this garage often fills up.

For oversize vehicles—such as trailers, campers, and large trucks—the best open-air lot is SP+ Parking at 45 Binford Street (02210) in Boston’s Seaport. This parking lot is a 1.3-mile walk to our starting point, so please allow appropriate travel time.

Question 14

How should I dress for my tour?

Accepted Answer

Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are an absolute necessity! Boston’s sidewalks come in all manner of surfaces—asphalt, bricks, pavers, modern concrete, historic cobblestones—few of which are level.

It's good practice to bring a light jacket (except perhaps during the hottest months of July and August). During spring, autumn, and winter, dress accordingly in layers and be prepared for windy spots downtown!

Question 15

What happens in poor weather?

Accepted Answer

We make every effort to deliver all tours that are scheduled. Simply put, tours operate rain or shine! The only reason we would cancel or suspend a tour is the presence of dangerous conditions such as lightning, hail, local flooding, and/or high winds.

If a tour must be canceled or suspended due to weather at any point, all affected guests are entitled to a full refund to the card on record. Please visit hubtowntours.com/weather to learn more.

Question 16

How do I pay for the tour?

Accepted Answer

Payment must be made in advance for all public tours, whether booked through our official website or third-party platforms. For private tours, Hub Town Tours typically collects a deposit to hold a reservation; the remaining balance is then collected at the conclusion of your tour.

We accept multiple forms of digital payment including Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App, as well as all major credit cards. We can accept cash, but prefer digital or card payments. And gratuities for your guide are never obligated, but always appreciated!

Question 17

What is your tour refund policy?

Accepted Answer

For public tours, please provide 24 hours notice prior to your scheduled tour date and time to secure a full refund. Cancellations with fewer than 24-hours notice result in loss of tour payment or deposit. For private tours, full refunds are possible with at least 48 hours advance notice; cancellations with at least 24 hours notice receive a 50% refund.

We aim to provide a Boston guided tours that are consistently of the highest quality and enjoyed by every guest. If you feel your experience has fallen shy of that standard, please let us know within 24 hours of your tour starting time by emailing help@hubtowntours.com.

Question 18

What should I do after my tour?

Accepted Answer

There is plenty to do in Boston after your tour!

For history buffs: Climb aboard the U.S.S. Constitution and check out Bunker Hill; visit the battlegrounds at Lexington & Concord; explore Cambridge, in particular Harvard Yard or MIT's campus.

For families: Visit the New England Aquarium; head over to the Museum of Science and enjoy a Duck Boat ride; or hop aboard replica ships at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

For sports lovers: Take a tour of Fenway Park, America's oldest ballpark; check out the underrated (and hidden) Sports Museum inside TD Garden; or visit the Boston Marathon finish line.

For foodies: Don’t miss an Italian meal and pastries in the North End; nosh a lobster roll at James Hook & Co.; and sample our local breweries, such as Trillium, Night Shift, and Harpoon.