Boston Common Visitor Center

Boston Common Visitor Center

Boston Common Visitor Center
3.5
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
About
Official Visitor Information Center located on the Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail. Provides Greater Boston information, souvenirs, ticketing for trolleys, duck tours and walking tours. Open 8:30-5:00 Monday - Friday and 9:00-5:00 Saturday and Sunday.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Boston Common Visitor Center and nearby attractions

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

The area

Address
Neighborhood: Brighton
How to get there
  • Park St • 2 min walk
  • Boylston • 4 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Julia M
    3 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Freedom Trail Beginning
    We started our journey on the Freedom Trail here at the Boston Commons visitor center. There was a nice gentleman who helped us pick our paper guides along the way. I chose a more in depth guide for my husband and a coloring book children’s guide for our kids. They were both informative on the correct levels and entertaining. I’m so glad this was here to start us off on the right track.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 6, 2024
  • gabriela s
    Monroe, New Jersey105 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth your time - short, efgicient
    Helpful. We received a clear map, overview. Some staff are more helpful than others but definitely a good idea to get started there:they're fairly centrally located so we got a good jump start. Took their fee based guided walk of the revolutionary freedom trail and then followed the rest of it - red brick road- all over.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written October 24, 2024
  • Alyeska13
    The Netherlands630 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful advice and directions here, souvenirs and great tour guides too!
    Helpful staff, clean bathrooms, great books for the Freedom Trail. I ended up taking a tour that I purchased there on the second day visiting because I met Phyllis Wheatley (costumed tour guide in character) outside. She was so sweet, informative, funny, and a great tour guide! After talking to her for just a few minutes, I decided to take her tour even though I’d already walked the Freedom Trail by myself. It was just so much fun, and she really knows her stuff! The next day I bought a couple of books at the visitor center for my niece who is studying the Revolution right now. They had fun t shirts, sweatshirts, and various other Boston souvenirs there too.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written November 26, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles91 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
35
Average
17
Poor
6
Terrible
7

Traveller
New York City, NY3,328 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
My wife, daughter, two friends and I visited the Boston Common Visitor Center in November 2021. I went back a second time by myself. The staff were very helpful and they had a lot of books and maps on the Freedom Trail for sale. I bought a Freedom Trail guide book and a map. I would recommend going here if you plan to go on the Freedom Trail.
Written November 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joseph C
Louisville, KY62 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2014 • Friends
The visitor center is right there as you get off the T. It is a great place and is the beginning of the Freedom Trail. Inside they have various brochures and maps related to Boston and particularly regarding the Freedom Trail. The items they had were not cheap, and you had to purchase a minimum amount to charge anything. Nothing that I saw was free for the taking. However, the maps and brochures did have really helpful information which both helped direct on the Freedom Trail, but also in the more detailed ones, had a lot f information about the sites and sites off the trail that are also of significant historical note. One of these was the Warren Tavern located in Charlestown at the foot of Bunker/ Breeds Hill. This tavern is the oldest building in Charlestown and in 1789 hosted none than than George Washington. Without the information in one of the brochures my friend and I would not hve known about this place and the food was good to).
Written April 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Roberta B
Cibolo, TX124 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2015 • Family
Open from 8:30 to 5 most days. They have the standard pamphlets on attractions. I picked up a map and subway map and bought a guide for the Freedom Trail.

It was loud in the building as it was small and crowded. The lady that helped me was friendly and helpful. The guides run in price from $7 to $9. I picked up the $9 guide because it has more in depth explanations of the places along the trail.

The important thing to note is that the start of the trail is outside this building. It isn't necessary to go into the center to do the trail if you already have a map of the trail.
Written July 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scenic706155
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
Asked one question which was answered politely. Second question was answered with venom spewing! An employee (volunteer? - can’t imagine her being paid with her attitude) not much older than myself was beyond rude! But something good came out of it - when visitors in our town ask for directions I jump in my vehicle and have them follow me to their destination. There is no excuse for the bad attitude! Get another gig if you can’t stand it! I could name the individual but won’t.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TSmithy7
Windsor, UK35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021 • Friends
My husband and I have just returned from Boston after an amazing trip with some friends. We went to the visitor’ centre twice. Oh the first day we decided to do the Freedom Trail so went to get details. The lady working there helped us pick a guide book and explained how the trail works. We thoroughly enjoyed it. On our second visit, there was a man working and he was extremely helpful, taking the time to give us some local tips. He really stood out and I wish I got his name. Anyone visiting Boston should go to the visitors centre for sure!
Written December 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tim L
Green Bay, WI18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
Visitor Center Aaron's assistance was outstanding! He was very friendly, professional and knowledgeable . He explained all the area's attractions and coordinated our Freedom Trail tours. John Adams (Tim) and Captain Nate were amazing and taught us much with enthusiasm!Thank you from Wisconsin!
Written May 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bill T
San Angelo, TX79 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018
Great source for the Freedom Trail. They have all the information needed to walk the trail. Some brochures are available for free and some can be purchased.
Written August 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jimmymac200
Wark, UK32 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2015 • Couples
It was our first visit to Boston and thought the visitor centre would be the best place to start for advice on what to do and see and how to get around the city. How wrong could we be! It was a very snowy day and we were the only people in the Centre so they were not busy - however the young girl behind the counter was less than helpful and not at all forthcoming with advice. It felt like she just didn't want to be there and had the most disdainful expression. We asked about using the T line as we were going to the TD stadium that night to see the basketball and were made to feel quite stupid when asking which line to take. We have travelled all around the world and always visit tourist centres for advice, this visit was definitely the worst we have ever encountered.
Written February 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gsanbrook
Tyler, TX116 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nice people it seemed. Anxious to help-- at first. But don't ask then to repeat something- they turn quite ugly. Basically got some help on how to get somewhere, but lady was very impatient when I asked for clarification - "DO YOU GOT IT NOW?". I wanted to get back in her face and set her straight, but I had my wife with me, a no win situation. I don't understand why people with so little patience work in a help the traveler place.
Written August 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kerrymusic
us south43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2010
good variety of information, range of topics. if you're looking to speak with staff, they are well informed and willing to help, but choose your times to visit -- if it seems too busy, come back another time. early mornings are often best to find things less crowded.
Written June 13, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 72
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Boston Common Visitor Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All Boston HotelsBoston Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in BostonHotels near Boston Common Visitor Center
All things to do in Boston
Day Trips in Boston
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars