Boston

Boston Private City Tour

Badge of ExcellenceBoston, USA

From $599.00

per group (up to 3)

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

4 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover the best of Boston and see the sights that interest you most on this half-day tour. Board your private vehicle along with your group and explore key landmarks in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. See Harvard University, Fenway Park, the Boston Public Library, Beacon Hill, and much more while listening to commentary from your driver about Boston’s history.

Avoid the headache of crowded tourist buses
Explore the city at your own pace
Customize the tour to your group’s interests
A private driver means a personalized experience

What's Included

Bottled water

Tickets to Attractions

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We pick up from any hotels in the Boston Area

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

51 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 51 reviews

Boston Hospitality

niyati_p, Apr 2024

Sam Soares, our guide and driver was very friendly, courteous, professional, knowledgeable. He was very mindful of our time and comfort. We had forgotten our water bottle with was special to our friend in the car, he took the time from his personal family time to come back to our hotel to return it back to us. This was very much appreciated by our friend who left the water bottle in the car. Thank you so much Sam!!!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you very much. The pleasure was ours.

Great tour!

CARLOS_M, Apr 2024

Our guide was very knowledgeable and our tour was very enjoyable. He adapted the tour great to our interests and the weather. We drove the end of the freedom trail, visited the USS Constitution, Charlestown, MIT, Harvard and even Fenway Park. Very smooth and perfect

Disappointed with Driver

Janice_J, Oct 2023

We chose this over the much cheaper Boston Hop-On Hop-Off trolley tours thinking we would enjoy the more personal experience and all the details & info that would be shared with us while touring Boston for the first time. We were so disappointed with our tour guide, Henry. He spoke in a whisper that we could barely hear, especially those seated in the second row of the vehicle. While he did take us around town, he omitted some of the very things we had hoped to see such as Chinatown gates. We saw the infamous Mike's Pastry shop only from the corner as he turned in the opposite direction. He mentioned Paul Revere's house as we were almost completely past it. No historical details were given or a chance for a photo. He talked more about the age of the buildings we passed and the much-needed repair of Boston streets more than anything else. We only made stops at Harvard and at the USS Constitution. Otherwise, everything was a quick pass-by. Some were mentioned too late to even photograph. Very little historical info was shared along the way. We had to ask. His Mercedes SUV was comfortable and clean. The tour company itself may be a good one, but Henry was definitely not the tour guide we had hoped for. We learned more about Boston from our Uber drivers than from Henry. Very disappointing, especially after paying $634 for the private tour. So when booking this expensive private tour, be sure Henry is not your guide.

seeing city when time is short

lois1112, Aug 2023

I was in Boston for a very short ti;me and this was my time to see the city it was worth every dime. loved it

Tour was really good and ...

JoseEduardo_M, May 2023

Tour was really good and our driver/tour guide was knowledgeable and did an excellent job. The only reason we can’t rate 5 stars is our tour was late. Had confirmation for 10:00 am, after 15 minutes we had to contact Viator and they asked us to contact the provider. The latter said they had an “issue with their system”. Nevertheless, provider arranged to have our tour at 11:00 am. It wasn’t what we wanted but the tour was good and met our expectations. Of course, we had to rearrange our lunch reservations but as a whole would recommend the tour.

Response from Host, May 2023

I am so sorry for the glitch. I am happy we were still able to work around and provide you with a good guide after all. Thank you for the feedback

Is was an Ok tour. Driver...

Laura_P, May 2023

Is was an Ok tour. Driver was super nice but no personality or enthusiasm when giving us the history of Boston. We had kids ages 9-18 and they were bored. As adults we became bored after the repetition of ‘ this building is … “. We would of rather hit the highlights and been able to walk around and eat or take pics ! Not what I expected!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent tour experience. We appreciate your honest review and would like to address your concerns. We apologize if the tour did not meet your expectations in terms of enthusiasm and engagement during the history narration. Our aim is to ensure an enjoyable and informative experience for all participants, regardless of their age. However, we understand that children within the age range of 9-18 may have varying levels of interest in American history, especially if they are not particularly familiar with it or have a limited interest in the subject matter. It's worth mentioning that our tours are 100% customizable to cater to our customers' preferences and interests. As a Canadian visitor, your kids might not have had a strong connection to American history, which could have affected their engagement during the tour. We always strive to accommodate our customers' needs, and if we had been made aware of your desire to focus more on highlights, allowing time for walking around, taking pictures, and even enjoying local culinary delights, we would have gladly adjusted the itinerary accordingly. In the future, we encourage you to communicate your specific preferences at the beginning of the tour. If you would like to make stops for photos, explore attractive walking areas like parks, gardens, the waterfront, or simply take a leisurely stroll along the river, we can certainly arrange that. Additionally, if you express an interest in local dining experiences, such as restaurants, pastry shops, or ice cream places, we are more than happy to accommodate those requests as well. Regarding your choice to explore the Freedom Trail, it's important to note that the trail primarily encompasses historic sites. These locations hold significant historical value and provide insights into the rich heritage of Boston. While they may not have provided the level of engagement you were seeking, they offer a glimpse into the city's past and cultural significance. We appreciate your feedback and will take it into consideration to improve our tours and ensure a more enjoyable experience for all participants. If there is anything else we can do to assist you or if you have any further suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Best regards, Sam

Great city!!

Antonio_S, Apr 2023

Great experience , learned a lot!! Good info, a lot of history and got to visit many places along the way.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you! We are glad you had a good time!

Awesome!

Carly_C, Dec 2022

This tour was fantastic…the only downside was it rained our entire tour. No one’s fault. We were definitely given the option to get out, but it was so cold we opted to stay in. I can’t remember our tour guides name, but he was phenomenal! He was originally from Brazil, but had lived in Boston for over 30 years and was an expert in Boston’s history. Thank you again for everything! Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Thank you so much!!

Good tour, but too expensive.

Chris_P, Nov 2022

The tour guide was super knowledgeable and all around a good guide. The problem was that I paid $600 to be driven around the city for a few of hours seeing everything from inside a van. Do the freedom trail, it was amazing and free.

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Our rates are upfront. No hidden costs. Our four hours tours are customizable. It is always up to the customer whether we stop and wait at some point of interest, or keep driving to next thing. Some customers like to stop in several places for pictures, etc., while others prefer not to waste anytime and see as much as possible within the time they have. We are always and willing to accommodate.

Sam was great

Diana_C, Oct 2022

We had an excellent history and view of Boston. Definitely recommend Sam as a tour guide. We had a great diverse tour. Never knew there were so many Universities in Boston.

Fantastic tour of all...

fanofmotherearth, Oct 2022

Fantastic tour of all Boston. Everything wonderful about the Freedom Trail was seen and brought to life by Sam’s narration. We drove by all the best cultural, medical and educational sites. I am so surprised to have seen so much in 4 hours. Loved it!!!!!

Boston in a day

Polly_C, Oct 2022

Sam was an amazing guide. Excellent host and very knowledgeable. If we come back we would definitely use Sam.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Thank you !

VIP Experience

Diane_B, Sep 2022

So great having a private guide all to ourselves. We got picked up/dropped off right at our hotel. It was so convenient. Our guide was very knowledgeable and our tour was custom designed to see just what we wanted to see. We highly recommend this tour as one of the best ways to see an overall view of Boston.

Sam was terrific as...

DanfordM_B, Aug 2022

Sam was terrific as guide! 4 hours was just right! The Van was perfect for the tour. We have been very pleased with our Viator experiences in NYC and France!

Calm, Informational, Thoughtful, and Amazing

Mary_F, Jul 2022

Sam is a gentleman, and obviously loves history. When I reached out to they replied immediately. This was important to me, as I’m not a seasoned traveler, and was taking an 89 year old on a tour of Boston!

Comfortable, informative, customized to exactly what we wanted to see

Mary_P, Jul 2022

Historical background provided by the guide as we traveled from site to site was interesting. We were able to stop at the locations we wanted to see in more depth than from a vehicle. The vehicle wss very roomy and comfortable.

Great Private Tour of the Boston Area

Lis_A, Apr 2022

Sam was great. The tour was very informative and interesting. We covered most sites at Boston and Cambridge. Some areas were not reachable due to the marathon, but Sam took us to other beautiful places we were not planning to see. The car was super clean, modern and comfortable. We had a wonderful time. Definitely recommended, specially if you don't have too much time to see Boston and you want to see and learn as much as possible.

2021 year end tour

niyati_p, Dec 2021

We really enjoyed our tour!! Sam was very knowledgeable about Boston!! I would highly recommend this company. Thank you!!!

Scenic, Historic, Customizable, Friendly & 5 Stars!

Mike_P, Oct 2021

This is the best way to see the most of Boston in 4 hours. There were 6 in our group - my wife and I with 4 teenagers one being Brazilian. Sam is the man and speaks Portuguese. He gave us details in 2 languages. He picked us up at our hotel and brought us back. Highly Recommended!! Voce é o cara! Muito Obrigado!!

Great customizable tour

Kathryn_F, Sep 2021

I liked that the tour was customizable. Loved the historical Boston, Lexington, and Concord. Our driver, Sam, was knowledgeable and very personable. I would highly recommend him!

Response from Host, Sep 2021

Thank you. It was a pleasure!