Is the Boston Freedom Trail worth a visit?

Yes! I think it is. I lived in Boston for for several years and never got tired of the wonderful historirical sites. And the trail takes you through the North End, where along side the Old North Church and Paul Revere House are great Italian restaurants and pastry shops and delis and bakeries. 

Definitely yes. Especially if you're into history. Easy way to get around & see the local sites. Very interesting.

Long time resident, "first" time caller -- love the show.

Given that driving in Boston is tough, but walking in the relatively compact city is a treat, the trail is a great way to see the city especially if you are willing to pick and choose from the items on the Freedom Trail.

I'd suggest that you start at Arlington T-stop (green line) and walk through the Boston Public Garden to the start of the trail. From there, you can pick and choose the historical stuff (unless there is a particular dead person you want to honor, no one needs to visit all the cemeteries on the trail), take time to check out Faneuil Hall, and plan to end at/near the North End. Beyond this, the trail lacks a rewarding "points of interest" / "required walking distance" ratio.

If you don't complete the full trail, you should use the extra time to visit the places off the red-brick route worth any Boston visitor's time. These include Fenway Park (for the sports fan), the Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (for the art lover), and Newbury Street (mostly people watching).

Chiming in with another yes. It's certainly the tourist trail, and a well-beaten path; however, Boston is best seen by foot. And as a safe city, you can wander off The Freedom Trail to explore any neighborhood that interests you.

Even if you don't care for history, if you've never been to Boston, then it's a great way to wrap your head around the topography and points of interest.

As a local and an explorer, I'd just recommend...

• beginning in Beacon Hill and going through the Public Garden which is adjacent to the Boston Commons, where the trail actually picks up.
• not eating in Faneuil Hall (which is setup for tourists)
• eating in the North End is fun. Check out Parla Restaurant (new, trendy spot for craft cocktails and small plates), The Daily Catch North End for Seafood, or Giacomo's Restaurant (always a line, good cheap food and $10 bottles of wine).

Absolutely! In fact, being from the area, I've done it several times and learned something new each time. Although it can be done in a day, I recommend breaking it up into a weekend trip. It's done best by walking and taking your time to do it and stop and see all the sites and have some good meals along the way.

I agree with everyone else. It is worth it and gives you a good sense of the city. You don't have to go into all the buildings if you don't want to, but I especially liked the Paul Revere House. It is especially fun if you make pub stops along the way. Bell In Hand Tavern is on the trail and claims to be the oldest bar in America!

I agree with the other replies in saying "yes!". I veered from the trail a little though, I will admit. Besides that, I enjoyed the North End too. Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry are frontrunners for the best pastries/cannolis in Boston. I really enjoyed the Boston Harbor Cruises too. Marge was a great guide!

I would say the short answer is Yes. It is certainly a great walk and takes you through various city neighborhoods that one might otherwise pass up on a visit. (i.e. - parts of Charlestown (Massachusetts) and the Bunker Hill Monument.) If it fits into your allotted time in the city I would say go for it. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as well!

Absolutely. You can go on a small group tour with guides dressed in period clothing from the late 1700s. Ours was a history teacher moonlighting as a guide, and the man was fantastic. These people really know their history (and Boston has loads of that), and they make the tours entertaining as well as informative. The Freedom Trail is unique to Boston, and not to be missed.

YES!!  It's only 2.5 miles long and packed with historical sites.  You should stop by the Boston National Historical Park visitor centers Service located at Faneuil Hall (not on State Street -- they moved) and pick up some free, informative info.

Yes it is worth it because you can walk at your own pace and there are some cool stops along the way.

You've got some resounding 'yes' answers, and - in general - I agree. I also lived in Boston for several years during graduate school and after, and the FT is definitely one of those 'must see' parts of the city...and rightfully so. Everyone is right about the history and getting a sense of the city and the great Italian places (although I think many are overrated IMO). But here are some additional thoughts: 1. if you're going in the summer, do the FT in the morning or in the late afternoon (the heat can be oppressive in Boston, unexpectedly, and you'll enjoy it more during cooler hours); even consider making a foray after the sites are closed: you'll be away from the worst of the crowds and you can get a sense of the lay of the land, deciding what you want to see without having to go into every little nook (even find short cuts to reduce the length). 2. if you can, check into some of the behind the scenes tours: my wife & I did a tour of the church, and even into the crypts beneath it and the belfry above...amazing, but they're only at special times I think it was July 4th week for us). 3. IF you are there during a summer day: Stop. Sit. Drink. 4. Wear exceedingly comfortable shoes: cobblestones are hell on your legs/back if you're not used to them. 5. Don't spend all your time staring down at your map (a big joke in Boston) or down at the red stripe : Especially this part of Boston is beautiful and it has much to offer outside of the church and Paul Revere House; soak in the surroundings and enjoy watching some of your fellow visitors as they have their head permanently bowed to the ground; 6 Finally, take some time to see some of the surroundings, too: the seafront by the New England Aquarium, the parks over the Big Dig, there is a lot to see very nearby which shouldn't be missed in the rush to find this or that historical oddity (which may or may not actually be what you think it is...or even what the guidebook says it is).

I think you are covered with all the great answers here! I only spent a couple days there and found the Freedom Trail a great way to cover lots of ground in a short time!

http://www.thislifeintrips.com/36-hours-in-beantown/

Shaun

Yes, it's a great way to explore the city. I've stayed there for just one day and thanks to the freedom trail I managed to know a lot of atractive sites.