Boston Duck Tours

The best way to tour Boston by land and water!

Looking for a fun way to tour Boston? Boston Duck Tours take you on a unique adventure - one of Boston's top attractions!

Once aboard your Duck-mobile, you'll tour through several of the city's most historic neighborhoods - Downtown, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Charlestown.  The most exciting moment comes when you "splash down" into the Charles River!

Duck boat in Boston's Charles river, with Liberty Hotel at the left, and golden dome of the Massachusetts State House barely visible on the right

Fortunately, you're in a World War II-style amphibious vehicle, so you'll enjoy the excursion around the river where you'll see some spectacular city skyline views.  Be sure to bring your camera! 

Each brightly-painted Boston Duck Tour vehicle has its own name celebrating the city's cherished heritage:  Red Sox Nation, Faneuil Holly, Haymarket Hannah, plus many more. 

Exuberant Duck Tour "ConDUCKtors" - Captain Courageous, Admiral Amnesia, and Colonial Duct Tape, to name a few - entertain you with witty and interesting commentary about Boston's history, attractions, and little known events. 

You'll cruise by all the places that made Boston the Birthplace of Liberty as well as a great place to visit today.  You'll see the golden-domed Massachusetts State House, the Bunker Hill Monument, Boston Common, Copley Square, Faneuil Hall, the glitzy shops along Newbury Street, plus much more. 

The famous Boston sights are interesting . . . but my favorite part of the tour is when you "splash down" in the Charles River.  Suddenly, you're water-borne . . . and the sites at water-level are fascinating. 

Tour routes occasionally change due to construction or other events.  And whenever the Red Sox win the World Series, the Duck vehicles lead the Celebration Parade.

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Are the Boston Duck tours just for tourists?

Sure, the Boston Duck Tours are touristy - but you'll see as many Boston locals on the vehicles as Boston tourists.  Duck tours are a popular way to celebrate promotions, birthdays, graduations, or friendship while enjoying a cruise through the city and down the river on a beautiful spring, summer, or autumn day. 

Although . . . you don't actually get to just sit back and go for a ride.  Some of the ConDUCTors strongly encourage you to "quack" at people on the street.  And sometimes, the people on the street "quack" back.  At the very least, they usually wave.  Of course, you don't have to do this.  But it's a lot of fun.  After all, how often, as an adult, do you get to quack at strangers?  And kids, of course, love this.

Boston Duck Tours are kind of pricey, but they offer great value.  (See my tips about how to get discounts.)  Not only are they fun, but they're so high off the ground that you have a great vantage spot for seeing the city while someone else drives. 

Insider tips

• If you're an avid photographer, try to get onto one of the original 32-passenger Duck Boats and grab an outer end seat in one of the non-enclosed back rows.  These older vehicles are slowly being replaced by new fully-enclosed 36-seat models - comfy on rainy days, but slightly less convenient for photos.
• Speaking of rain . . . Duck Tours operate rain or shine - so dress accordingly!  If you're sitting in a non-enclosed back row, you may get light spray from the river.  Also, the river can be much breezier (and colder) than land. 
• Tickets for Boston Duck Tours are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.  If weather conditions prevent the boats from going into the river, half your ticket price will be refunded.  If the whole tour has to be canceled (a severe thunderstorm sometimes causes cancellations), you'll get a full refund.
• Should you buy your ticket in advance?  Well, there are trade-offs.  Pros: You avoid waiting in line to purchase a ticket, plus you can book your preferred time.  Cons: If the weather turns nasty or your schedule changes, you're still committed to the trip.
• Tours last about 80 minutes, and don't make stops.  If you have children of the age where bathroom needs can be unpredictable (that period after they're out of diapers but before they've learned to anticipate, um, coming events) you may want to either pop a pull-up on them or wait until they're a bit older. 

Compare Duck Tour savings with Boston discount cards