Tours/Boston/Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour
Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour
5.0(6)Boston2h 5min
VIATOR5.0(1)TRIPADVISOR5.0(5)
+4 photos
At a glance
Duration
2h 5min
Price from
$40 / person
Rating
5.0 / 5 · 6 reviews
Languages
EN, EN
Group
Small group, up to 16
Cancellation
Free cancellation
Meeting point
Come to the Boston Common Visitors Center! Your guide will be wearing a tall hat and holding a scroll with Behold Boston written on it.
Restrooms and water fountains are available in the visitors center if needed before the tour
Discover Boston's modern sites as historic delights are revealed by your guide's Ultra HD scroll! See, hear, and feel how the city was built over 400 years.
As you stroll along Boston's picturesque streets, each step will reveal architectural feats & visual treats connected to tales of triumph, resilience, and unprecedented brilliance!
Tour Options
Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour
Itinerary
15 min
Behold the Birth of Boston in 1630! Learn about the englishman who lived alone on this land since 1625 & the bold individual who spent 10 weeks sailing through stormy seas to seed this city.
15 min
Admire this monument to the civil war. Reflect on its symbols and their connection to the people who established Boston. From here we have an excellent view into Back Bay
Pass by
Behold Boston's Back Bay, back when it was a bay! See how it was filled in and a beautiful neighborhood for business and residents was built!
5 min
See the story which inspired the sculpture commemorating MLK Jr. He met his wife Coretta Scott in Boston while studying at Boston University
Pass by
Behold the (former) tallest building in America, the Park St Church. Site of America's first subway, and one of the busiest streets in Boston.
25 min
Discover the transformation of downtown from 3 separate centuries. Behold the Burnt District, as this neighborhood was called after a devastating fire.
10 min
Take a 10 minute break among stunning fountains and the brand new Great Hall in the Winthrop Center. On the walk here, we will discuss education and writings which influenced Bostonians & the rest of the world!
15 min
See the transformation of transportation in Boston, discussing railways, highways, tunnels, and boats that passed by the waterfront here. See what happened to the connection between Boston's North and South Station & learn about Charlie from the subway cards.
15 min
Are the streets of Boston former cow paths? Why is parking so expensive here? We horse around or morse around here depending on crowd preferences.
15 min
Behold Boston's Brightest time capsule. Learn about the removal and replica of British symbols atop the oldest public building in Massachusetts as we see its evolution over 300 years.
Highlights
10 minute break with accessible restrooms & AC
UltraHD Scroll displaying restored photographs, movies, and sounds from our surroundings
Expert Guide
Digital Reference Guide For Keeps
What's included
Included
10 minute break with accessible restrooms & AC
UltraHD Scroll displaying restored photographs, movies, and sounds from our surroundings
Expert Guide
Digital Reference Guide For Keeps
Not included
Parking
Gratuities
Souvenirs (available for additional price)
Traveller Ratings
5.0
6 reviews
5
6
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour take?
Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour lasts about 2h 5min. The itinerary has 10 stops.
How much does Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $40 per person for this Boston experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Come to the Boston Common Visitors Center! Your guide will be wearing a tall hat and holding a scroll with Behold Boston written on it.
Restrooms and water fountains are available in the visitors center if needed before the tour. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Building Blocks of Boston : Downtown Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 16 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(6)
A
alicemJ4465CW
September 28, 2025
A fantastic walking tour!
Arty from Scroll and Stroll gives a great tour that's very detailed. The extensive research he has done on Boston's history is evident, and he presents the information in an easy to understand way. The presentation on the screen helps bring the various stories to life.
He is calm, patient and kind. He helped me take some great photos at the historic sites. He also recommended a lovely pizza place for lunch and more places around Boston he thought I'd enjoy visiting. Definitely worth it.
A
Alice_M
September 28, 2025
A fantastic walking tour!
Arty gives a great tour that's very detailed. The extensive research he has done on Boston's history shows, and he presents the information in an easy to understand way. The images on the screen help bring the various stories to life.
He is calm, patient and kind. He helped me take some great photos at the historic sites. He also recommended a lovely pizza place for lunch and more places around Boston he thought I'd enjoy visiting.
Definitely worth it.
Operator response
Thank you so much for the kind words Alice! It was a pleasure showing you around Boston. I hope you enjoyed your time around Harvard as well
A
aalexbao
July 2, 2025
A wonderful walking tour of a city steeped in history and with the best standard of living in the world.
Walking through one of the oldest cities in the United States is unforgettable. It is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and has one of the highest costs of living in the United States.
Boston is a center of higher learning. The economy is also based on research, electronics, engineering, finance, technology and biotechnology, in addition to medicine.
C
Curiosity818210
April 28, 2025
Fun Boston tour
This was an excellent tour. Guide (Arty?) was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The questions along the way were different from other walking tours and fun. Boston has a lot of history, and it was fun being introduced to. I highly recommend.
R
rosemarybD565SC
September 4, 2024
Best tour ever!!
As a lifelong Boston native I was pleasantly surprised to learn facts I did not know and it was a pleasant walk. I liked the game aspect and party arty was an excellent host. I have told numerous friends about it and would highly recommend attending.
A
arvias2023
July 14, 2024
Engaging and well-researched
Arturas is a warm, engaging, knowledgeable tour guide who is clearly passionate about what he does! I've lived in Boston for 10 years but was intrigued by his website so my friend and I signed up for a tour. Even as a local, there were so many fun surprises on his tour and so many tidbits and places I never knew about! He's clearly put a lot of research and work into crafting an interesting tour and it was a really lovely way to spend 2 hours in the city. I was happy to support him as a local small business owner - Arturas is one of the nicest humans you'll ever meet - and I would definitely recommend this tour, for locals and tourists alike!
