Visitors can look around the ship's top deck and two lower decks on free self-guided USS Constitution tours. Step onto the vessel—often known by the nickname Old Ironsides—and ask the naval crew members any questions you wish: They're primed to provide information about the ship and its past. Aside from roaming the decks, you can also visit the nearby museum to trace the vessel's history in detail.
One of the attractions on Boston's Freedom Trail, the USS Constitution is a fixture on most city tours, be they by air-conditioned vehicle, foot, trolley car, or bike. The ship is also a star attraction on almost all Boston Harbor cruises, so you can admire it from the water against the city skyline. Options include daytime cruises that stop to let you go on board, and drinks-and-dinner cruises that pass the ship during the daily sunset firing of its cannons—a famous Boston ritual.