1Downtown · mile 0
Boston Common
America's oldest public park and the trail's starting point.
Why it matters: British troops camped here before marching to Lexington and Concord in 1775.
Learn more →
Boston, Massachusetts · Since 1951
Walk Boston's Freedom Trail
16 historic sites. 2.5 miles. More than 250 years of American history. Plan your walk, explore every stop, and discover the stories that made Boston famous.
2.5 Mile Historic Trail
16 Official Sites
Boston Common → Charlestown
Allow 2–4+ Hours
What is the Freedom Trail?
A red line through the birthplace of a revolution
Set into Boston's sidewalks, a line of red brick and paint connects 16 historically significant sites — churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, a ship and a battlefield — through Downtown Boston, the North End and Charlestown.
Following the line is easy. Knowing what you're looking at is the hard part. The Old State House is a handsome brick building — until you learn the Declaration of Independence was read from its balcony to a cheering crowd.
Want a guide without joining a tour group?
The WalknTours audio tour plays the stories automatically as you reach each site — at your pace, on your phone.
See how it works ↓
Only
$9.99
Self-guided GPS audio tour
Explore the Freedom Trail at Your Own Pace
The Classic Freedom Trail Self-Guided Audio Tour by WalknTours
Your phone becomes your personal tour guide. GPS-triggered stories and turn-by-turn directions play automatically as you walk from Boston Common through Downtown, the North End and into Charlestown.
Distance
≈ 3.2 miles
Duration
≈ 2.5–3.5 hours
Starts
Boston Common
- Self-guided GPS audio experience
- Starts at the Boston Common Visitors Center
- Historic Downtown, the North End and Charlestown
- All major Freedom Trail landmarks plus extra stories and locations
- Explore at your own pace — pause for food or sights anytime
- Works through the WalknTours app on your phone
In walking order
The 16 Freedom Trail Stops
From America's oldest park to the battlefield on Breed's Hill.
12Beacon Hill · mile 0.2
Massachusetts State House
The gold-domed seat of Massachusetts government.
Why it matters: Built on land once owned by John Hancock; its cornerstone was laid by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.
Learn more →3Downtown · mile 0.35
Park Street Church
A soaring white steeple at the corner of the Common.
Why it matters: William Lloyd Garrison gave his first major anti-slavery speech here in 1829.
Learn more →
4Downtown · mile 0.4
Granary Burying Ground
Final resting place of Revolutionary heroes.
Why it matters: Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and the Boston Massacre victims are buried here.
Learn more →5Downtown · mile 0.5
King's Chapel & Burying Ground
Boston's first Anglican church and its oldest burial ground.
Why it matters: A royal church in a Puritan town — a symbol of the Crown's presence in colonial Boston.
Learn more →6Downtown · mile 0.55
Boston Latin School Site & Benjamin Franklin Statue
Site of America's first public school.
Why it matters: Founded in 1635, its students included Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
Learn more →7Downtown · mile 0.6
Old Corner Bookstore
Boston's literary heart in the 19th century.
Why it matters: Publishers here brought Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau and Longfellow to readers.
Learn more →8Downtown · mile 0.65
Old South Meeting House
Where the Boston Tea Party began.
Why it matters: On December 16, 1773, thousands gathered here before heading to Griffin's Wharf.
Learn more →9Downtown · mile 0.75
Old State House
Boston's oldest surviving public building.
Why it matters: The Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians from its balcony in 1776.
Learn more →10Downtown · mile 0.8
Boston Massacre Site
A cobblestone circle marking a turning point.
Why it matters: Five colonists were killed by British soldiers here on March 5, 1770.
Learn more →
11Downtown · mile 1
Faneuil Hall
The "Cradle of Liberty" and a marketplace since 1742.
Why it matters: Patriots like Samuel Adams rallied colonists against British taxes here.
Learn more →
12North End · mile 1.4
Paul Revere House
Downtown Boston's oldest house.
Why it matters: Revere set out from here on his famous midnight ride in April 1775.
Learn more →13North End · mile 1.6
Old North Church
Boston's oldest standing church building.
Why it matters: "One if by land, two if by sea" — two lanterns hung in its steeple on April 18, 1775.
Learn more →14North End · mile 1.7
Copp's Hill Burying Ground
A hilltop cemetery with harbor views.
Why it matters: British cannon fired on Charlestown from here during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Learn more →
15Charlestown · mile 2.3
USS Constitution
The world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat.
Why it matters: Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" after cannonballs bounced off her hull in the War of 1812.
Learn more →16Charlestown · mile 2.5
Bunker Hill Monument
A 221-foot granite obelisk and the trail's finale.
Why it matters: Marks the site of the first major battle of the Revolution, fought June 17, 1775.
Learn more →Route
Freedom Trail Map
The trail runs north from Boston Common through Downtown, into the North End, across the Charlestown Bridge to the USS Constitution and finally Bunker Hill.
- 1. Boston Common
- 2. Massachusetts State House
- 3. Park Street Church
- 4. Granary Burying Ground
- 5. King's Chapel & Burying Ground
- 6. Boston Latin School Site & Benjamin Franklin Statue
- 7. Old Corner Bookstore
- 8. Old South Meeting House
- 9. Old State House
- 10. Boston Massacre Site
- 11. Faneuil Hall
- 12. Paul Revere House
- 13. Old North Church
- 14. Copp's Hill Burying Ground
- 15. USS Constitution
- 16. Bunker Hill Monument
Visitor essentials
Plan Your Freedom Trail Walk
Where Does the Freedom Trail Start?
At Boston Common, by the Visitors Center on Tremont Street. Park Street station is right there.
How Long Is the Freedom Trail?
The official route is about 2.5 miles, but with detours, lunch and getting back from Charlestown, expect to walk more.
How Long Does It Take?
- Quick Visit — 2–3 hours
- Classic Experience — 3–4 hours
- Take Your Time — half day or longer
What Should I Bring?
Comfortable shoes, a charged phone, headphones, water and weather-appropriate layers.
Can I Stop for Lunch?
Absolutely. Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market and the North End are perfectly placed mid-walk.
Do I Need a Guide?
You can follow the red line independently, join a traditional guided tour, or use a self-guided audio tour. For a guide's storytelling with total flexibility, we recommend WalknTours.
Itineraries
Choose Your Freedom Trail Itinerary
≈ 2 hours
2-Hour Freedom Trail Highlights
Short on time? Walk the downtown core and finish at Faneuil Hall.
See the itinerary →Recommended≈ 4 hours
Half-Day Freedom Trail
Our recommended experience: the full trail through the North End, with a lunch stop.
See the itinerary →Full day
Full-Day Historic Boston
The Freedom Trail plus museums, a long North End lunch and Charlestown at an easy pace.
See the itinerary →Food & rest stops
Where to Eat Along the Freedom Trail
The trail passes two of Boston's best food neighborhoods. Here's where to look.
Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market
A busy food hall with dozens of counters — chowder, lobster rolls and quick bites.
North End Italian
Family-run trattorias and pizzerias in Boston's Little Italy.
Hanover Street
The North End's main drag — you'll find something within a block of any craving.
Historic taverns
Several pubs near Faneuil Hall trace their roots to the colonial and early-republic eras.
Coffee & quick stops
Downtown Crossing and the Common's edge are full of cafés for a mid-walk refill.
Cannoli & dessert
North End pastry shops are a Boston rite of passage — expect lines on weekends.
Neighborhood spotlight
Explore the North End
Boston's oldest neighborhood packs Revolutionary landmarks into a few winding blocks. Paul Revere's house still stands on North Square; two lanterns once hung in the Old North Church steeple. Generations of Italian-American families made it Boston's Little Italy — Hanover Street's trattorias, espresso bars and bakeries are the trail's best lunch break.
Explore the North EndMore from WalknTours
There's More to Boston Than the Freedom Trail
Self-guided walks for every kind of history lover.
Flagship tourThe Classic Freedom Trail Self-Guided Audio Tour
Your phone becomes your personal tour guide.
GPS-triggered stories and turn-by-turn directions play automatically as you walk from Boston Common through Downtown, the North End and into Charlestown.
Ghosts of Boston's Past
A self-guided haunted-history walk.
Explore Boston's darker corners — old burying grounds, executions, epidemics and the legends that still linger after dark.
Underground Railroad & Beacon Hill
Abolitionist Boston, street by street.
A self-guided walk through Beacon Hill exploring the people, homes and churches at the heart of Boston's fight against slavery.
Boston travel
Things to Do in Boston
Historic Boston
Revolution-era sites, museums and landmarks.
Freedom Trail
The essential 2.5-mile walk through American history.
Beacon Hill
Gas lamps, brick lanes and abolitionist history.
North End
Little Italy, bakeries and Paul Revere.
Charlestown
Old Ironsides and Bunker Hill.
Food experiences
Where to eat along and near the trail.
Walking tours
Guided, self-guided and audio options compared.
Ghost tours
Haunted burying grounds and dark history.
Read before you go
Boston Travel Guides
The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom TrailFreedom TrailHow Long Does It Take to Walk the Freedom Trail?PlanningWhere Does the Freedom Trail Start?PlanningCan You Walk the Freedom Trail Without a Guide?Freedom TrailWhere to Eat Along the Freedom TrailPlanningWhat to Do in Boston's North EndNeighborhoods
Freedom Trail Map & Walking RouteComing soon
All 16 Freedom Trail Stops ExplainedComing soon
Best Way to Walk the Freedom TrailComing soon
Freedom Trail With KidsComing soon