Freedom Trail by Trolley, Duck Boat or Foot 2026

Booking choice: The hop-on hop-off trolley, from $58 per person. Check dates Compare the options below

Neither a trolley nor a duck boat walks the Freedom Trail. They are sightseeing rides that pass several of its sites, which is a different thing.

That difference decides the choice. The rest is length, weather and who is with you.

The quick answer

The hop-on hop-off trolley at $58 loops downtown with 11 stops, and the duck boat tour at $62 adds 20 minutes on the Charles River. For the trail itself, walk it, alone or with a guide.

An orange and green hop-on hop-off trolley beside a red brick pavement under a blue sky with clouds — A hop-on hop-off trolley beside a brick pavement.

Does a trolley follow the Freedom Trail?

No. It is a narrated loop with 11 stops that passes several sites.

The hop-on hop-off trolley runs a loop of about 1 hour 45 minutes, is enclosed, and includes narration. The description on the listing says 18 stops, while the summary says 11, so check the map at booking. A one-day ticket gets a discount to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, and GPS-triggered walking tours of Boston Common and the waterfront are included.

A red trolley on a street in front of a building with a golden dome in warm light — A red trolley below the State House dome.

What does a duck boat do?

It drives past landmarks by road, then enters the Charles River for 20 minutes of the 80.

The duck boat tour lasts 80 minutes, departs from the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium or the Prudential Center, and passes sites such as Faneuil Hall and the Old State House. Guests praise the guides.

Boston's skyline with a golden dome seen across the water from river level — The skyline with the State House dome from the water.

How do the trolley, the duck boat and walking compare?

Rides show you the city, and walking follows the line.

The table sets the formats side by side.

Option	Format	Follows the trail	Length	From
The trolley	Enclosed hop-on loop	Passes sites	1 h 45 min	$58
The duck boat	Open-air road and river	Passes sites	80 minutes	$62
The small-group walk	On foot	Yes, downtown and North End	2.5 hours	$39
The whole-trail walk	On foot	Yes, all 16 sites	4 hours	$79
The audio app	On foot, solo	Yes, with Charlestown	About 3 hours	$8

A narrated loop past the sites with 11 stops to hop off, in an enclosed trolley.

Check dates for the hop-on hop-off trolley

Which is better in bad weather?

The enclosed trolley. The duck boat has open windows.

The trolley listing says the enclosed cabin offers protection from weather. A guest of the duck boat tour wrote that the windows are always open unless it rains, and another said it can be freezing. The Duck Tours company takes a winter break, so check its season before you plan around it.

A harbor with many moored boats and a promenade railing under a blue sky — A harbor marina beneath a clear sky.

Who should pick which?

Pick the ride for tired legs and mixed groups, the walk for the history.

Tired legs or a scooter: the trolley, where a guest travelled with a mobility scooter.
Kids who want a splash: the duck boat.
The trail itself: the small-group walk.

Can a ride replace walking the trail?

No. A ride shows the layout, and the trail is something to walk.

The sites you most want to see up close are in the narrow streets: Granary Burying Ground, the Paul Revere House, Old North. The route guide shows what walking involves. A ride works best as a second day.

A yellow-hulled sailing ship moored at a wharf beside a red brick building — A Tea Party ship at its wharf.

Is there an evening option?

Yes. A history pub crawl on the Freedom Trail runs 2 hours 15 minutes for adults.

The history pub crawl meets at 6 Faneuil Hall Square, costs $60, and tells founding-father stories at pubs. Drinks are bought separately, and guests advise eating first.

A framed painting of a man in a three-cornered hat holding a newspaper — A painting of a colonial figure in a pub.

Founding-father stories over a pint, with a 4.9 rating, for adults.

★ 4.9 1,084 reviews · 2 hr 15 min · from $60

Explore the history pub crawl

What about the Tea Party ships?

The Tea Party ships and museum is a separate one-hour experience at 306 Congress Street.

It costs $36, and you take part in the town meeting and throw tea overboard. It sits about a mile from the Old South Meeting House, so it is a trolley stop rather than a walk on the trail.