Harbor Cruises & Whale Watching

Boston has always been a city of the sea. Its wealth came from shipping, fishing and trade, and a surprising amount of the city you walk on today was once water. The Back Bay, much of the South End and most of the downtown waterfront were built on landfill during the 1800s.

For years the harbor was something locals avoided; by the 1980s it had a reputation as one of the dirtiest in the country. A massive cleanup, centered on the Deer Island treatment plant, turned that around. Today the harbor is clean enough for swimming beaches, seals and even the occasional whale, and getting out on the water is one of the best things you can do in Boston.

Whale watching at Stellwagen Bank

About 25 miles offshore, at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, an underwater plateau called Stellwagen Bank pushes cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface. Small fish gather by the millions, and the whales follow. The area became a National Marine Sanctuary in 1992 and is one of the best places in the world to see whales up close.

Humpbacks are the stars. Many of them return year after year from their winter breeding grounds in the Caribbean, and researchers know individual whales by the patterns on their tails. You may also see finback whales, the second largest animal on Earth, along with minke whales and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. The season generally runs from spring into the fall.

The harbor and its islands

Boston Harbor is dotted with 34 islands, many of them part of a national and state park. Georges Island is home to Fort Warren, a granite Civil War fort you can explore. Little Brewster Island holds Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse station in the country, first lit in 1716.

A sightseeing cruise gives you the whole story in an hour or two: the skyline, Old Ironsides, the old wharves and the airport planes gliding in overhead. At sunset, with the city lighting up, it is one of the most romantic hours you can spend in Boston.

The Charles River and the duck boats

On the other side of the city, the Charles River separates Boston from Cambridge. Its Esplanade is the city's backyard, with sailboats, rowing shells and the Hatch Shell, where the Boston Pops play their famous Fourth of July concert.

The most famous way onto the Charles is a duck boat. These WWII-style amphibious vehicles have toured the city since 1994, rolling past the landmarks before driving straight into the river. They are also how Boston celebrates its championships: the city's teams ride them through the streets in their victory parades.

What you might see on the water

Humpback whalesFamous for breaching and slapping their tails

Finback whalesFast, sleek and up to 70 feet long

Minke whalesThe smallest of the local baleen whales

Atlantic white-sided dolphinsOften travel in large, playful groups

Harbor sealsSpotted on the rocks of the outer islands

USS ConstitutionSometimes turned around in the harbor on special occasions

Boston LightAmerica's oldest lighthouse station

The skyline at sunsetBest from the inner harbor near Long Wharf

Our top tours

Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Catamaran

The classic trip to Stellwagen Bank with naturalist narration. The fast boat means more time with the whales.

★ 4.5 (3,400+ reviews)
3.5 hours
From about $86

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Boston Duck Boat Tour with Charles River Splash

The most famous tour in Boston. Tour the city on land, then splash right into the Charles.

★ 4.6 (10,000+ reviews)
80 min
From about $62

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Historic Sightseeing Harbor Cruise

An easy hour on the harbor with Old Ironsides, the islands and great skyline views.

★ 4.5 (1,500+ reviews)
1 hour
From about $46

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Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Golden hour over the skyline with drinks available on board. A favorite for anniversaries.

★ 4.6 (750+ reviews)
2 hours
From about $54

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90-Minute Harbor Sunset Sightseeing Cruise

A narrated evening cruise timed for sunset over the city.

★ 4.4 (520+ reviews)
90 min
From about $62

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Boston Harbor Sightseeing Cruise

A relaxed 90-minute narrated cruise past the waterfront and harbor islands.

★ 4.5 (270+ reviews)
90 min
From about $46

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Planning your days? See how these tours fit into our 2, 3 and 5-day Boston itineraries →