How to Spend 6 Hours in Boston: Ferry to Old Ironsides and Bunker Hill
Updated October 3, 2026
Six hours in Boston is enough to cross the harbor by ferry to Charlestown, board USS Constitution, learn its story in the museum next door, climb the Bunker Hill Monument and finish at the Warren Tavern.
Charlestown is older than Boston itself, a hilly neighborhood of narrow streets and federal style row houses across the harbor from the North End. The commuter ferry from Long Wharf crosses the inner harbor to the old Navy Yard, where the oldest commissioned warship still afloat is moored. From the waterfront the Freedom Trail climbs to the granite obelisk marking the first major battle of the Revolution, then drops to a tavern Paul Revere drank in. Plan this one for Wednesday through Sunday, when both the ship and the monument welcome visitors.
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The 6 hour plan, stop by stop
Stops and travel: 3 hr 5 min to 4 hr 20 min of 6 hours
Launched in 1797, USS Constitution earned the nickname Old Ironsides when British cannonballs seemed to bounce off her oak hull in the War of 1812. She is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, and active duty sailors still crew her. They lead visitors across the spar deck and down among the cannons of the gun deck, answering questions about life aboard. Boarding is free and first come, first served, visitors eighteen and older must show a physical photo ID, and in the cooler months the ship opens Wednesday through Sunday.
Tip: Bring the ID card itself, since photos of it are refused, and expect a short security screening before you board.
- Time here
- 40 min to 1 hr
- Website
- navy.mil
NaviTime to head out from USS Constitution for USS Constitution Museum. It's a 4 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
Housed in a granite shipyard building beside the pier, this museum explains what the sailors aboard Old Ironsides actually did all day. Hands on exhibits let you try a sailor's hammock, haul on lines and test your skills as a gun crew. Displays cover the ship's battles, the boys who served as powder monkeys and the restorations that have kept her afloat for over two centuries. As of October 2026, admission is by suggested donation with a $15 standard rate, and it opens daily.
Tip: Head upstairs to the hands on deck exhibits, which are as fun for grown ups as they are for kids.
- Time here
- 35 to 50 min
- Website
- ussconstitutionmuseum.org
NaviTime to head out from USS Constitution Museum for Bunker Hill Monument. It's an 11 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
This granite obelisk marks the Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, mostly on neighboring Breed's Hill, where colonial militia twice threw back British regulars before running out of powder. The battle was a British victory at a terrible cost, and it proved the Americans could stand and fight. Climb the 294 spiral steps for a view over the harbor, the Zakim Bridge and downtown, then see the dioramas in the Bunker Hill Museum across the street. Both the climb and the museum are free, and the site opens Wednesday through Sunday.
Tip: The stairway is narrow with no elevator, and only a limited number of climbers are allowed inside at once, so expect a short wait on fine days.
- Time here
- 40 min to 1 hr
- Website
- nps.gov
NaviTime to head out from Bunker Hill Monument for Warren Tavern. It's a 5 minute walk if you leave now. Here's the link
Named for Dr. Joseph Warren, the patriot leader killed at Bunker Hill, this tavern rose among the first buildings after the British burned Charlestown, and it has poured drinks since 1780. Paul Revere was a regular, and George Washington is said to have stopped in. Low beams, wide floorboards and a fireplace set the mood, while the menu sticks to pub classics such as chowder, burgers and fish and chips.
Tip: Walk back downtown afterward over the Charlestown Bridge, following the red Freedom Trail line into the North End.
- Time here
- 50 min to 1 hr 10 min
- Website
- warrentavern.com
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