Boston Duck Tour - Discount Admission, Tips for Visiting & More

A Duck Tour on the Charles River is the smart way to soak up the sights of Boston.

By Lindsay Eagan
Published: July 18, 2024
Boston Duck Tours

Visitors to Boston can get an amazing tour both by land and by water with the Boston Duck Boat Tours - among the city's most popular attractions for visitors and locals alike. Learn the history and many fascinating tales of popular and historic sites in Boston, all while riding in a World War II-era replica duck boat.

Our helpful guide for taking a famous Boston Duck Tour is packed full of ways to save on admission, tips for visiting, other nearby attractions, and much more. Quack quack!

Tips for taking a Duck Tour of Boston

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While always an enjoyable experience, there are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your tour.

  • Take the tour first on your vacation. With more than 30 sights to be seen during the tour, chances are you will discover a new historical landmark or interesting sight you didn't know about before. This will help you plan out what you want to see more of later.
     
  • Bring your camera. Boston is a beautiful and historic city, and on every street you will find something worth capturing on film.
     
  • Get the photo. If you forget your camera, Boston Duck Boat Tours sells prints of group photos with the duck boat and conDUCKtor for an extra charge at the end of the trip.
     
  • Tell the conDUCKtor if it is your birthday. Those celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special event may be invited up to pilot the ship as you cruise the waters of the famed Charles River.
Child driving the Boston Duck Boat
  • Buy a T-shirt. Your tour doesn't have to end just because you pulled back up on dry land and the conDUCKtor let you off. There is a full range of merchandise available, including sweatshirts, tote bags, onesies for the little ones, and, of course, rubber duckies.
     
  • The duck boats are wheelchair accessible, but given that three seats need to be removed for a wheelchair to fit, guests needing that accommodation must call 617-267-3825 in advance. The wheelchair lift can also be used to assist passengers who have trouble climbing stairs.
     
  • Tip the driver. While the discount ticket for the duck tour is included with the Go Boston Card, we still suggest you show your appreciation for the conDUCKtor by leaving him a tip.

What is there to see and do on the Boston Duck Tour?

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Tours are roughly 80 minutes long, with 20 of those minutes spent on the Charles River. Duck boats depart from and return to the Prudential Center, the Museum of Science, or the New England Aquarium.

As the conDUCKtor regales guests with the history of the Old State House, Cheers, the Big Dig, and more, the Duck Boat heads towards the Charles River and splashes down into it. While cruising on the normally placid waters of the river, guests get to see the Boston skyline and Cambridge on the opposite bank.

Each Duck Boat is named in honor of a local landmark, and each conDUCKtor has a persona or gimmick. You may find yourself, for example, on Faneuil Holly, the duck boat named for Faneuil Hall, otherwise known as the Cradle of Liberty. You might also end up on North End Norma, named for the Italian neighborhood at the tip of the Shawmut peninsula. At the helm of the duck boat may be Captain WeirdBeard, the nephew of the famed pirate Blackbeard, or Worcester T. Filibuster, a lifelong politician who has yet to win an election.

What sights will I see on the Boston Duck Tour?

You will see dozens of famous Boston sights on your tour. They include the following:

  • Prudential Tower
  • Christian Science Church
  • Copley Place/ Arts Square
  • New Old South Church
  • Arlington Street Church
  • Boston Common/ Public Gardens
  • Swan Boats
  • Beacon Hill
  • State House
  • Robert Gould Shaw Memorial
  • Mary Dyer
  • Old Scollay Square/ Government Center
  • Old West Church
  • West End
  • TD Garden
  • Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
Museum of Science as seen from the Charles River
Museum of Science as seen from the Charles River
  • Museum of Science
  • Charles River
  • Esplanade
  • Longfellow Bridge
  • Hatch Shell
  • Bunker Hill
  • Main Street, Charlestown
  • Old North Church/North End
  • Rose Kennedy Greenway/North End Parks
  • Holocaust Memorial
  • Faneuil Hall/ Quincy Market
  • Old State House
  • King’s Chapel
  • Granary Burying Ground
  • Make Way for Ducklings
  • Cheers
  • Newbury Street
  • Trinity Church
  • Hancock Tower
  • Boston Public Library

What attractions are near the Boston Duck Tour?

There are plenty of other great attractions located nearby - and some are right on the doorstep of the Duck Tour boarding points. Here are a few we suggest adding to your itinerary.

Skywalk Observatory

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If you leave from the Prudential Center, check out the Skywalk Observatory on the 52nd floor for a bird's eye view of all the attractions you just saw at duck's eye level. If you're hungry, check out the Top of the Hub restaurant for an unparalleled dining experience. They also offer tasty cocktails and apps if you want to avoid the commitment of a full dinner. 

Getting In: Skywalk Observatory tickets are included on all Boston passes.

Museum of Science

Tourgoers leaving from the Museum of Science point shouldn't miss the 700 exhibits and numerous live demonstrations inside. Kids will love the electricity show in the world's largest open-air Van de Graaff generator. The Mugar Omni Theater, located at the museum, is a domed IMAX theater that offers 180-degree domed viewing. Don't miss the enchanting Hall of Human Life, where you can explore the biology and science behind how the human body functions. 

Getting In: Museum of Science tickets are included on all Boston passes.

New England Aquarium

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Another departure point option for duck boat passengers, the New England Aquarium is also a can't-miss attraction in its own right. It's filled with an abundance of marine life from playful penguins to fearsome sharks and beyond. There's even a touch tank exhibit that kids love. Their signature exhibit is the four-story tall Caribbean Coral Reef, featuring sea turtles, tropical fish, eels, and much more. 

Getting In: New England Aquarium tickets are included on all Boston passes.

Shopping in Boston

If you're already going to be at the Prudential Center to pick up your Duck Boat tour, then it's worth your time to browse a few of the popular shops in this mall. It's filled with everything from high-end labels to the high street. Locals flock here for many of their shopping needs. Explore the mall itself, and the streets around it. Who knows – maybe you'll score an awesome deal!

Save on admission to top Boston attractions with Go City®  

Planning to visit lots of Boston attractions? With Go City® you won't miss a thing, plus with a pass, you can save up to 50% compared to buying individual entry to everything you want to do. So grab a Boston pass and get exploring!

☀️Compare Boston passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 –  ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️ 

Lindsay Eagan
Go City Travel Expert

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