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Boston
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Old North Church & Historic Site
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Closed until 18 Feb 2023
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Old North Church & Historic Site

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Old North Church & Historic Site
4.5
3,098
#19 of 439 things to do in Boston
Historic Sites • Churches & Cathedrals
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Temporarily closedClosed until Feb 18, 2023
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About
Built in 1723, Old North Church is Boston’s oldest surviving church building and an icon of the American Revolution. Old North is famous for the events of April 18, 1775, when allies of Paul Revere secretly climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal that British forces were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea across the Charles River and not by land. This daring act ignited the Revolution. $5 admission includes a self-guided tour through the church, with staff available to answer questions. Visitors can also take add-on tours of the church's crypt, gallery, and bell ringing chamber for $5 each. Old North's beautiful campus is also home to two gift shops and the Printing Office of Edes & Gill, which offers free colonial printing demonstrations.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: North End
Wandering around Boston’s North End can feel like being transported to Europe. Stroll down Hanover and Salem streets for the finest Italian restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and a few boutique shops. Take part in the big debate as to whether Modern Pastry or Mike’s serves a better cannoli. Before your food coma sets in, make sure to stop by historic Paul Revere’s home, and follow the Freedom Trail to Old North Church and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. Take a rest in a cafe on Hanover street and observe the quirky, European character of the North End.
How to get there
  • Haymarket • 7 min walk
  • North Station • 8 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,171 within 5 kms
Salumeria Italiana
332
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Speciality Food Market • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly
Monica’s Mercato
299
0.3 km₹ • Speciality Food Market • Italian • European
Bova's Bakery
1,149
0.1 km₹ • Bakeries • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly
Theo's Cozy Corner Restaurant
384
49 m₹ • American • Cafe • Diner
Galleria Umberto
319
0.3 km₹ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Mamma Maria
1,318
0.3 km₹₹₹₹ • Italian • Contemporary • Vegetarian Friendly
North Street Grille
530
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Modern Pastry Shop
2,218
0.3 km₹ • Bakeries • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly
Carmelina's
690
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
La Summa Cucina Italiana
507
0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
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Attractions
562 within 10 kms
Old North Memorial Garden
2
41 mCemeteries
The Printing Office of Edes & Gill
373
48 mSpeciality Museums • Historic Sites
Paul Revere Statue
280
0.1 kmMonuments & Statues
North End
7,224
0.2 kmNeighbourhoods
Copp's Hill Burying Ground
194
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Cemeteries
Paul Revere Mall
110
97 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
Skinny House
10
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish
38
0.2 kmChurches & Cathedrals
The Paul Revere House
1,435
0.3 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Langone Park
6
0.2 kmParks • Playgrounds
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,098 reviews
Excellent
1,905
Very good
996
Average
174
Poor
19
Terrible
4
Ali68Kent
United Kingdom106 contributions
city break
Dec 2022
Well worth the long walk from downtown Boston and the uphill climb
Great views as up high
Very interesting
Written 11 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
P & G S
Ankeny, IA960 contributions
Love history
Dec 2022 • Couples
We stop here each time we’re in town, and don’t mind making the donation to help with upkeep. We learn something different each time, the kids working we’re very helpful.
Written 29 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lee L
Valhalla, NY1,798 contributions
Revere's ride
Oct 2022
I had allotted 2 days to do the sights along the Freedom Trail while I was in Boston. On Monday I was trying to do everything on 1 of the side of the bridge but when I got to the Old North Church it was closed. I came back on Thursday after doing the Constitution and Bunker Hill and it was open. I bought the General admission which was not much $5 I think. There is not a whole lot inside to see other than being in the place which signaled the ride of Paul Revere and William Dawes.
Review of: Old North Church & Historic Site Boston General Admission
Written 10 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lauren S
3 contributions
Thieves!
Oct 2022
My tour guide never showed. I was early like the listing said. I spoke with several guides who told me that I was not a part of their group. I waited for a half hour. My guide never showed. I tried to get ahold of the guide on the website but the site would not work despite every other site on my phone working. I contacted customer service after the tour was supposed to have started. They made me jump through hoops calling several different numbers to then tell me that they would contact me by email. Days later, they emailed me saying they would only refund me 25%. I contacted my credit card company and they said based on the fact that the site says it's non-refundable, they are allowed to charge me, not show up for the tour and leave me and my kids with the bill. I will NEVER do tours with TripAdvisor ever again. They are thieves!!!!!!
Review of: Old North Church & Historic Site Boston General Admission
Written 7 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
miniman2804
Berkshire207 contributions
History in a living city
Oct 2022
It's not called New England for nothing - kept having to pinch myself that I wasn't in Oxford or Winchester. This is not necessarily a venue to visit, but you'll walk through it on the Freedom Trial (qv) or as you poke around trying to find a restaurant in North End (not much of a challenge - see my other review!) But a lovely area of a lovely city.
Written 29 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kelli
Keller, TX756 contributions
So much history
Oct 2022 • Couples
We only did the basic sanctuary tour here since we had a long day of sights to see and couldn’t wait until the next bell tower tour or other specialty tour. We did take our time, reading all the signs and leaning quite a lot. It was so interesting to learn how church in colonial times worked. There are restrooms (3 unisex toilets, so a line often forms) and a gift shop onsite if you need either. Definitely worth checking out to really set the tone for visiting the freedom trail as a whole.
Written 25 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Victoria
Homewood, IL10 contributions
Worth a visit
Oct 2022 • Family
This was our family’s favorite part of our trip to Boston. We took the Bell Ringing Chamber tour which was fascinating. It was peaceful in the church and filled with history.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
married96
Fernandina Beach, FL602 contributions
HISTORIC CHURCH
Oct 2022
Set in the pews while the presentation was made. Inside we noticed we were sitting in a pew which was occupied by President Theodore Roosevelt on December 29, 1912. This was a celebration of a major renovation at the church. Guide gave us lots of history and information. Well worth a trip.
Review of: Old North Church & Historic Site Boston General Admission
Written 15 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
QNPoohBear
Rhode Island425 contributions
Worth a Second Look
Aug 2022
This was the LAST place I went before COVID shut everything down. I had read the panels in the pew about Paul Revere's ride. This time I went with a friend, at her request, following a visit to Paul Revere's House. It was a little busier during the summer tourist season than it had been in February 2020 but not so busy it was impossible to look around. The greeters gave us a self-guided tour sheet and there was also a QR code to the same thing online. I used the phone guide while my friend used the printed guide. I focused on different things this time and learned more about the people who worshipped at the church over the years.

I felt safe and comfortable visiting here during COVID. The windows were open and it was a gorgeous sunny day. We didn't tour the crypt or steeple due to mobility issues but what we saw was nice. My friend was impressed enough to leave a donation in thanks to the friendly people of the North End who helped her out last time she visisted. I would go here again to learn something new and visit the steeple if I was alone or with someone who could climb stairs easily.
Written 22 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Laurie Carrothers
Savannah, GA4 contributions
Nicest Church Visit in Boston; Historical, Beautiful & Educational!
Sep 2022
Easy access and self guided tour & quite affordable!! Beautiful church that showed us an entirely different approach to social classes coming together to worship but while displaying their separation of class level. So interesting how the pews/boxes were owned and decorated individually by each family. I found that very interesting & quite pretentious that in a house of worship, folks were allowed to display their superiority over one another based on money & class. The entire idea of decorating your own pew in a house of worship was so odd to me but in those early days - it set apart bigger contributors to the establishment from those that could merely afford to attend without giving as much. Most interesting were the logging families that donated the wood that contributed to the building of the large beautiful steeple that naturally mage the North Church more noticeable. Those families received much larger pews that were decorated much fancier to set them apart as more special. We enjoyed learning so much from the info provided in every few pews to educate us as visitors. We highly recommend this visit. It was also enjoyable to watch a mother & a father escorting their children on the self guided tour, reading each step of the way as a mean to educate their young children about the deeper meaning of the way the church functioned. I thought that was a lovely option that these parents had to teach their children at a slow pace so the children could process & absorb the the concept as a whole. It was sweet to witness & their children were genuinely interested so its def family friendly. At this time, they are still encouraging facial masks but we were not harassed for not wearing them. That was a nice option. Also the church has a lovely large Gift Shop that was full of beautiful and practical gift options - large & small. Everything from Christmas ornaments to magnets to sweatshirts to coasters to dolls and beautiful carved wooden book marks. lots to s choose from; my favorite gift shop in all of Boston! Also out front, was our favorite statue of Paul Revere in a park area with benches that lead to the church itself; benches for resting and viewing the statue. Very nice and all def worth visiting.
Review of: Old North Church & Historic Site Boston General Admission
Written 20 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Old North Church & Historic Site, Boston

Frequently Asked Questions about Old North Church & Historic Site
Old North Church & Historic Site is open:
  • Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Sat - Sat 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Old North Church & Historic Site tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 43 Old North Church & Historic Site tours on Tripadvisor
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