Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

A great way to get around and see all there is to see and do in Boston are the different tour buses that use the classic hop-on hop-off system to take you around the length and breadth of all the attractions of the city.

The city is located very close to Cape Cod and the famous Martha's Vineyard Island and you will be able to enjoy incredible boat rides and gastronomic and beach tourism. Boston is also one of **America'**s most historic cities, so there's no shortage of places to visit.

During your stay in the city you will see various types of tourist buses everywhere and especially around the main attractions and historic districts of the city.

They can be considered partly a means of transportation and partly a real sightseeing tour, as the colourful cars will offer you a lot of fun and provide you with the easiest way to tour Boston at your own pace.

The drivers entertain passengers with many stories about famous landmarks and local characters as they drive through the legendary historic areas of the city.

See interesting places you want to explore along the way?
Just hop off and tour the site at your leisure, then hop back on the trolley for a new destination.

These tourist buses have 18 stops where you can hop on and off as many times as you like, always respecting the timetable on your ticket.

Arriving on a cruise ship?

Old Town Trolley Tours offers a stop at Seaport, near the port of call for most cruise ships.

If this is the case, I suggest you make the first stop nearby to visit the Tea Party Museum, one of Boston's best museums.

When is the tour available?

Tours start at 9 am and run until 5 pm from April to October and from 9 am to 4 pm from November to March.

What will you be able to see?

Stops are made at major tourist attractions such as the USS Constitution, Cheers Bar, Fenway Park, Boston Convention Center and more.

Among all the possible tour bus companies, Old Town Trolley has the best reviews from tourists, but its price is one of the highest of the different options you'll have to choose from.

Recommended for... all tourists who aim to enjoy a top quality Boston bus service.

How much do they cost?

Ticket prices are always for advance online purchases. Prices are always approximate and may change or be subject to change.

Remember that you can buy your ticket directly at the venue, but prices are a little more expensive so it is better to buy online.

• 1-day pass: adults pay around $50, children between 4 and 12 pay around $30 and children under 4 get in free.
• 2-day pass: about $75 for adults, $45 for children 4-12 and free for children under 4.

These hop on hop off sightseeing buses offer tours of Boston throughout the year and their first stop is at Long Wharf Boston. The company's total number of stops is 17 points of interest.

Depending on the season, they also offer a 45-minute harbour cruise with the purchase of tickets.

This is one of the most affordable options available to travellers and one of the most popular for value for money service.

When is the tour available?

Trolleybuses operate all year round, although timetables change according to the season.

• April to August: if you're visiting Boston in the summer
  You can use this bus every day between 9.30am and 5pm. Trams run every 10 to 15 minutes.
• September, October, November: Daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Trams depart every 20-30 minutes.

What will you see?

The first stop for this company is at the New England Aquarium, near Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall.

Then you can visit Paul Revere's house (one of the places you'll see if you decide to take a historical tour of Boston) and Little Italy, which is one of the best food tours in the city.

The Constitution Museum, USS Cassin Young, Bunker Hill Monument and more attractive sites are options to get off and discover on foot.

How much do they cost?

Although prices are approximate and can always vary, you will find this information very useful in planning your budget for your trip to Boston.

• Day Pass: Adults (13 and over) - $38; Seniors (62+) - $36; Children (5-12) - $15; Children (under 4) - Free
• Trolley Tour + Cruise: Adults (13 and older) - $56; seniors (62+) - $54; children (5-12) - $31; children (under 4) - Free

With a total of 20 stops, this trolley takes you around the best tourist sites in a complete circuit that lasts approximately 90 minutes.

If you choose to hop off at each stop and enjoy the highlights, you could easily spend the whole day exploring some of Boston's most notable sights!

Plus, you can add a 45-minute cruise around Boston Harbor for about $12 extra.

This is a great way to enjoy two different tours and experience the city from every possible angle.

Recommended for... anyone who is also looking for a harbour cruise and/or to save money.

When is the tour available?

The tour bus service is available year-round. Includes stops at Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill, Quincy Market, USS Constitution and more.

How much do they cost?

• 1-day tickets: Adults - $40; children (3-12) - $18; children under age 3 - free.
• 2-Day Tickets: Adults - $47; children (3-12) - $23; children under 3 - Free

Every tourist arriving in Boston waits for the best known and most popular tour. Boston's fun Duck Tours

This company offers the option of discovering the charms of Boston in a unique and entertaining way.

You will get on one of the incredible amphibious boats of the fleet. The name comes from the shape of these large boats that date back to World War II and were refurbished so that you can see the whole city from the famous Charles River.

The Duck Tours are not a non-stop tour, but they will give you 90 minutes of guaranteed fun and you will also get to see many aspects of the city.

The guides are very knowledgeable about the highlights of Boston and are very entertaining to listen to!

In Boston, the Duck tours start from three different locations:

• One on the waterfront behind Faneuil Hall.
• One in the Back Bay behind the Prudential Center.
• And a third in Cambridge at the Boston Museum of Science.

How much do they cost?

• Adults - $53
• Children (3-11) - $37
• Infants (0-2) - $11
• Seniors - $44

Also, if you're on a cruise and have a quick stopover in Boston, this company has a pier at the Black Falcon Terminal.

So it's a perfect option for discovering the charms of Boston in a short time.

Don't worry about carrying a map, open Google maps or geolocation apps because the tram driver is also an indispensable guide to the best places and sights to visit in Boston.

He will also provide you with a brochure at every stop with information on all the attractions to explore around each stop.

My advice is not to forget to bring the following items:

• Sunscreen: The Boston sun can be strong and there is plenty to explore on foot near each stop so keeping out of the sun during the midday hours is a must.
• Water bottle: Especially if you're visiting in the summer, stay hydrated as there is plenty of walking and sightseeing.
• Umbrella: Boston's weather can change faster than you expect and what may seem like a sunny day can suddenly turn into a thunderstorm. Be prepared! Of course, if you get caught in a severe storm without an umbrella, you can remain comfortably in the vehicle until the rain stops.
• Comfortable walking shoes: many interesting attractions, including several of the Freedom Trail sites such as the historic cemeteries, are within 2 or 3 blocks of where the trams can stop, as Boston's narrow, winding streets in the older historic areas do not allow them to reach everywhere. In Boston you will walk a lot every day and comfortable shoes are a must.