Boston Harbor Islands
Cruises
Spectacle Island, Georges Island, and more
One of the best Boston tours!
Cruise to the Boston Harbor Islands for the perfect day trip - or even longer if you like to camp. All of the islands are within 10 miles of downtown Boston. A ferry will whisk you to the closest island in only 15 minutes.
Boston Harbor Island cruises depart from Long Wharf, in the downtown waterfront area. As soon as the ferry pulls away from the wharf and the tall city buildings begin to shrink as they grow more distant, I feel like I'm in a different world.
Large ferries transport you to two of the islands - Spectacle Island and Georges Island. From there, you can hop on a smaller inter-island water shuttle to reach 4 smaller islands.
On the islands, you'll find a lot of different activities to enjoy - hiking, exploring historic sites, walking along the beaches, photographing, bird watching, picnicking, swimming.
Special free activities, such as kayaking, sailing, plays, and special guided tours by Park rangers about topics such as tidal pools are scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
If you want to experience a really different side of the city - or even if you're just wondering what to do in Boston to keep cool on a hot summer day - a Boston Harbor Islands cruise should be on your agenda.
What will you find on the Boston Harbor Islands?
Thirty two islands and 2 coastal peninsulas belong to the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, created in 1997.
The islands dot Boston's Inner and Outer Harbors. In size, they range from less than an acre to over 200 acres.
The Harbor Islands had military and strategic importance to Boston and the United States from Colonial times through World War II.
Spectacle Island
Boston Harbor Islands ferries stop first at Spectacle Island. This 121-acre island opened to the public only in 2006 after a rather infamous previous life as a City of Boston garbage dump followed by a stint as a Big Dig landfill.
Now that the almost 4 million cubic tons of Central Artery / Tunnel debris that were dumped there have been capped, 2 beaches created, and 28,000 trees, shrubs, and vines installed, Spectacle Island is the new "gateway" to the Boston Harbor Islands.
If you haven't visited this island before, get off the ferry and explore. You'll find a new solar-powered Visitors Center, cafe, marina, a gorgeous beach with lifeguards, showers, and changing areas - so bring your swimsuit and a towel!
Spectacle Island also has 5 miles of hiking trails going up to the island's highest point, where you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Boston skyline and waterfront.
On Sunday afternoons from June through August, you can also enjoy free jazz concerts at the Visitors Center.
And on Thursday evenings from late June through early September, you can hop on a Boston dinner cruise and come out for a special New England clambake dinner put on by super-chef Jasper White's Summer Shack Restaurant.
Georges Island
After stopping at Spectacle Island, the Long Wharf ferries continue on to Georges Island, which is also where you can catch the water shuttles to other islands. Ferry service between Spectacle and Georges Islands is included in the basic fare that you pay at Long Wharf.
This 39-acre island (53 acres at low tide) contains Fort Warren, built in 1845, decommissioned in 1947, and now a National Historic Landmark. In fact, the whole island is fortified, so if you're not interested in forts, you may want to either skip Georges Island or stop here only long enough to catch the water shuttle to the smaller islands.
Although the fort was used as a prison during the American Civil War and renowned for its humane treatment of Confederate soldiers, it's best known locally for its ghost legend, "The Lady in Black."
What to learn more about this ghost? Go on one of the free guided tours of the fort given by Park Rangers.
You can also hike around Georges Island on your own. There's a gravel beach, a large dock, and paved walkways.
You can also enjoy lots of other free activities here. Although programming varies each year, typical events are plays, historic shows, musical performances, and even an occasional baseball game.
Lovells Island, Peddocks Island, Grape Island, Bumpkin Island
These islands are more rustic than Spectacle Island and Georges Island, and offer picnicking, walking and hiking, plus free Park Service Ranger tours. Although you can swim, it's at your own risk - no lifeguards are here.
You can take the water shuttle from one of these islands to another.
You'll almost feel like you're the first person to explore some of these places - but that's far from true. Native Americans and Colonists used them as places to grow cultivate crops, so you're actually following in the footsteps of history. Grape Island, for example, got its name from Colonists who found lots of wild grapes growing on it.
Camping is available on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells Islands for a small fee (confirm the amount when you make reservations). You must make advance reservations, as each island has only 6 - 10 individual campsites and 2 group campsites.
Campsites have composting toilets and picnic tables. There's no fresh water, electricity, food (although you can take the inter-island shuttle over to Spectacle Island and visit the cafe), or phone service - so you need to plan carefully.
To reserve a campsite, call this toll-free number: 1-877-422-6762. You'll be assigned a specific campsite by an Island park ranger when you check in.
Getting to the Boston Harbor Islands by ferry
Ferries to Georges Island and Spectacle Island depart from Boston's Long Wharf between early May and Columbus Day Weekend in October. Round trip tickets for adults are $14, and for children 3-11 are $8. Tickets for seniors 65+ are $10. Children 2 and under are free. A family package (2 adults, 2 children 11 or under) is $39. Ferry service between these two islands is free.
From Georges Island, you can take a water shuttle to the other 4 islands for $3.
The ferries and water shuttles are operated by Boston's Best Cruises. Call 617-223-8666 or check the Harbor Express Ferry website for schedules and more information.
What to bring:
- Sun block
- Light jacket (offshore temperatures are cooler than you'd expect)
- Water bottle
- Swimsuit and towel if you plan to swim
- Camera, binoculars
- Picnic lunch (although you can by snacks on Spectacle Island)
Insider tips:
You'll find the biggest crowds on the Boston Harbor Islands on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day). These are also the days when special activities are scheduled.
If you just want to see the Harbor Islands instead of exploring them, try one of these:
Details about Boston Harbor Islands cruises
Departure location for ferries: Long Wharf (north side) next to Christopher Columbus Park - look for the Harbor Island Express dock.
Contact information:
- Boston's Best Cruises (which operates the ferries): 617-223-8666; ferry schedule
- Park Rangers: 617-223-8666
Nearest T station: Blue Line/Aquarium
Open: Early May through Columbus Day weekend in October
Tickets: Purchase in person at the Harbor Island Express kiosk at Long Wharf
Cost: 2009 fares are $14 for adults, $10 for Seniors,
Event schedule: Download a calendar brochure to find free activities
Marina information, including fees: 857-452-7221
Nearest parking: Boston Harbor Garage is the closest. Check Boston garages near North End attractions for prices, discounts, and other options
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