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Boston Duck Tours – tickets, prices, timings, what to expect

If you want to explore Boston, Boston Duck Tours is the best way to see the city from land and water, and that too in the same vehicle. 

These giant and pop-colored amphibian vehicles will take you on a thrilling historical tour via long, busy Boston streets and the pristine Charles River. 

The tours are led by knowledgeable and entertaining guides who provide interesting facts and stories about Boston’s history, architecture, and culture.

Boston Duck Tours is a fun and memorable way to experience the city, and it’s a great option for families, groups, and anyone who wants to see Boston from a unique perspective.

This article explains everything you need to know before buying your Boston Duck Tour Tickets.

Top Boston Duck Tours

# Boston Duck Last-minute tickets

Table of contents

What to expect from boston duck tours, where to book the tickets, how online tickets work, last-minute tickets, ticket prices, duck tour timings, how long is the boston duck tour, best time for duck tours in boston, where do duck tours depart from, route of duck tour boston.

Once you step into the truck cum boat, the ConDUCKtors will greet you and narrate all the legendary stories associated with the landmarks the amphibious vehicle passes by. 

Some of the tour’s highlights are the Boston Public Garden, Old State House, Museum Of Science, Boylston Street, Old South Church, Arlington Street Chruch, etc.

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Boston Duck tours tickets

You can book your Boston Duck Tours tickets online and offline 30 days before your visit. 

Ticket booths are at the Prudential Center, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium. 

But when you buy the tickets online , you can avoid the hassle of standing in long queues.

When you book tickets for Duck Tours in Boston, you select your preferred time of visit and date.

Immediately after purchase, your tickets get emailed to you. You don’t need to take any printouts. 

Now all you must do is, reach one of the three departure points – Prudential Center, Museum of Science, or New England Aquarium – at least 15 minutes before the time on your ticket. 

Since you have a ticket and are on time, you can show it on your smartphone and board the vehicle. 

A limited number of Duck tour Boston tickets are sold online at 8.45 am five days prior. 

If these tickets are sold out online, they won’t be available at the ticket booths either. 

Visitors aged 12 to 64 years pay the full Boston Duck Tour ticket price of $50 per person.

Seniors 65 years and above and guests with a Military ID qualify for a Boston Duck tour discount of $8 and pay only $42 for entry. 

Kids aged three to 11 years get a $14 discount on the full ticket cost and pay only $36.

Unfortunately, infants younger than three don’t get free entry – but pay a reduced price of $11.

Adult ticket (12 to 64 years): $50 Children ticket (3 to 11 years): $36 Military ticket (with ID): $42 Senior ticket (65+ years): $42 Infant ticket (up to 2 years): $11

Duck boat tours in Boston depart every hour, starting at 9 am or 10 am until one hour before sunset.

The ticket booths at Prudential Center, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium open 30 minutes before the first tour and close after the last tour departs.

However, we suggest you purchase a Boston Duck Tour ticket in advance to avoid last-minute disappointment. 

Boston Duck Tours are around 80 minutes long – n hour on land and 20 minutes in the water. 

There are no stops and breaks along the route. 

However, the tour duration may vary depending on external and uncontrollable factors such as weather, traffic, and ongoing construction. 

Boston’s Duck boat tour is a fantastic experience that takes you through the past and present of the city. 

If you plan to go sightseeing and witness the beauty of the city’s historic neighborhoods like Charlestown, Beacon Hill, Downtown, and Back Bay on these ducks, then late spring through early fall is the perfect time to do so. 

This tourist-friendly season falls between March and November when the weather is pleasant.

The cool breeze emerging from the womb of the Charles River brushes your hair, and the skyline soothes your body, mind, and soul. 

The rest of the months aren’t bad either – drive by the Boston landmarks and dive into the Charles River by booking your Boston Duck T our tickets today!

Will you get drenched? You won’t get drenched in water as the World War II amphibian vehicles splash into the charming Charles River. However, you may get a light spray of water right on your face depending on the speed of the truck cum boat and the direction and strength of the wind. 

Duck tours Boston has three departure locations: the Museum of Science, Prudential Center, and New England Aquarium.

Each location is conveniently located near public transportation. 

Museum of Science

The Museum of Science is located near Boston’s West End, the Bulfinch Triangle, and Charlestown neighborhoods, and it borders the City of Cambridge on the Charles River. 

The ducks boarding area is in front of the Museum of Science, next to the giant Tyrannosaurus rex! 

Address: 1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114. Get Directions

New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is a popular aquatic wonder in Boston. It is located on Boston’s historic Waterfront and is near Faneuil Hall.

Boston Duck Tours departs from the New England Aquarium’s driveway in front of the Whale Watch Booth.

Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. Get Directions

Prudential Center

Prudential Center is a huge shopping complex hosting nearly 75 stores, and the Boston Ducks depart from here.

Address: 53 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116. Get Directions

Multi-language tours Now you can experience Duck Tours in Boston in your language. All you need to do is wear the GPS headsets and quack; there you go! These language tours depart from the Museum of Science and are available in Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Cantonese & Korean.

The best way to explore the heritage and history of Boston is through Duck Tours Boston. 

The fun and entertainment begin when you hop on your “DUCK,” a World War II-styled amphibian vehicle that takes you on a land and water excursion.  

You’ll cruise by all the significant places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts. 

Some of the highlights are – 

• The golden-domed State House, which is the state Capitol and the seat of the government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• The historical Bunker Hill echoes the stories of the American Revolution
• The multi-purpose Fleet Center, which hosts different sports activities
• Boston Common, which is a perfect picnic site
• Newbury Street, which contains tonnes of restaurants and shopping centers

The DUCK transports you to different neighborhoods where you experience nature and man-made architecture a little closer.

Your ConDUCKtor will give you many little-known facts and interesting insights about Boston city. 

Their witty commentary will make your journey a lot more fun!

To know the path you will take, check out the tour’s route map .

What to wear during the trip For Duck boat tours in Boston, you need not wear a swimsuit. But proper clothing is a must because as the amphibian vehicle travel from land to water, there are chances of getting a little wet despite the ducks being heated and enclosed. Dress according to the weather on the day of your voyage. It is often breezy on Charles River.

Sources # Bostonducktours.com # Prudentialcenter.com # Tripadvisor.com # Wikipedia.org The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

Popular attractions in Boston

# Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum # Boston Trolley Tours # New England Aquarium # Boston Ghost Tours # Zoo New England # Codzilla Boston # Fenway Park tours # Boston Harbor Cruises # Whale Watching in Boston # Harvard Tours # Boston Duck Tours

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This article was researched & written by

Nishtha Nogia

Nishtha Nogia loves to explore new places with family and friends. She travels to weave stories packed with fun, surprises, and laughter. For her, traveling is all about hogging local cuisines, interacting with people, and creating lifelong memories. She has a travel bucket list ready and is waiting to start ticking them one by one. Favourite Cities: Seoul, Paris, New York, and Istanbul.

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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Boston Super Saver: Duck Boat Tour & Skip-The-Line New England Aquarium

• 80-minute Duck Boat Tour of Boston
• Narrated tour of Boston with your own personal ConDUCKtor®
• 20-minute boat ride along the Charles River
• Admission to the New England Aquarium
• Maps available at the Aquarium in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese
• See a variety of aquatic animals such as Northern Fur Seals, Penguins, and Sea Turtles
• Entry/Admission - Boston
• Entry/Admission - New England Aquarium
• Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
• Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, USA Our New England Aquarium ticket booth and boarding area are located in front of the New England Aquarium located at: Central Wharf, Boston MA 02110
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• IMPORTANT: Please refer to voucher immediately after purchase for important information on reserving your duck boat tour time.
• IMPORTANT: You will receive your New England Aquarium tickets after you check in for your duck boat tour on the date of travel. This voucher may not be redeemed directly at the Aquarium.
• Tours will depart and conclude from the Duck Boat Ticket Booth located at the New England Aquarium.
• The New England Aquarium must be visited on the same date as your Duck Boat Tour.
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at Central Wharf Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, USA Our New England Aquarium ticket booth and boarding area are located in front of the New England Aquarium located at: Central Wharf, Boston MA 02110 See address & details
• 1 Boston Duck Tours New England Aquarium Departure Location Stop: 80 minutes - Admission included See details
• 2 New England Aquarium Stop: 3 hours - Admission included See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• nerine2023 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must do in Boston A must do in Boston. Very informative and you get to see a wide range of Boston. The tour guide was entertaining. The views from the river was awesome Read more Written February 24, 2024
• pablodK2171SJ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Best tour ever The guides made everything really interactive and we really got to learn a lot about Boston’s history. A must do activity Read more Written January 13, 2024
• danzN540GW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Boston Duck Tours is fun. An excellent tour of Revolutionary Boston. The water part was a lot of fun, but short. The tour guide was funny and deeply knowledgeable. Ms. Wich knew enormous amounts about early Boston history and presented it in a fun and humorous way. Next time I'm in Boston I plan on taking the Boston Duck Tour again for the fun of it. Read more Written November 9, 2023
• daniellewU710AZ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Hot Wheels is the best tour guide This was one of the best city tours i have ever been on. So much history and such a fun experience. It's really good for all ages. Our guide, Hot Wheels was so fun and so knowledgeable about the city. He had great stories and was very up beat. Read more Written November 8, 2023
• evamochi8 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Had a great time! It was our first day and outing in Boston and we couldn't have started it better. Our guide and driver were welcoming, funny and informative. I took some mental notes of places of interest to visit along the way after hearing the stories behind them. My friend got to "drive" the boat once on the river and had a great time. We also stayed to chat with our guide for a few minutes after the tour and were given some more recommendations. Highly recommend! Read more Written November 7, 2023
• theresahH6042MH 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Difficult to follow! We went into it knowing it was a bit silly, but our “Narrator” was SO difficult to follow, in that he was all over the place in his narration!! Don’t go if you want any real history. Not worth the 100+ dollars spent. Read more Written November 6, 2023
• 512dainisk 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles I would not recommend to my friends.  The only tourist trip to Boston which was highly recommended. And, it is probably true if you are traveling with family and kids. However, it was a disappointment for me. I felt like I was in kindergarten with basic jokes from the guide and very superficial information regarding history. I would expect less "show" and more professional guidance. Do not expect any sightseeing in the water, just a round of boat trip for those never been in the boat. Pity, I would not recommend to my friends.  Read more Written October 31, 2023
• argenisc2016 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Nice thing to do, once. It was really fun for the family. They do take you around so there's a good amount of sightseeing. Of course it is really fun when the truck goes into the water and they even let us drive it for a bit and take pictures doing so. In my opinion a bit expensive. Read more Written October 30, 2023
• fedcba 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Entertaining and Informative It's definitely not the cheapest thing to do in Boston but a worthwhile experience with great information about the city and history. Highlight for kids: sitting in the captain's seat and driving the Duck in the water! Read more Written October 30, 2023
• Compass11058286354 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Take this Tour, you'll be glad you did Captain Super Size made the adventure fantastic. Super Size shares a wealth of Boston knowledge - both the common facts and the lesser know facts/myths. He was hilarious too! My only regret is we didn’t take this tour sooner, that way we could have done it again! Fantastic, conductor very informative, entertaining and hilarious! Wonderful experience highly recommend it!! Read more Written October 29, 2023
• Sandra G 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Splish made a splash with us We picked the tour up at the harbour keen to see the city sites. Not taken a duck tour before so we thought we’d give it a go! Apart from the seats being very uncomfortable it was great. A major factor of that was the guide, who called himself Splish. Knowledgable and thoroughly entertaining. My husband even had a go at driving the duck on the water. We had a great time. Read more Written October 28, 2023
• X278FOdaleb 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Should have been a 5 star Riding the DUCK amphibious vehicle was a unique experience that shouldn't be missed. The historical route through the streets, amazing views from the Charles River, and accompanying narration by the narrator were (mostly...see next sentence) interesting, entertaining, and educational. Unfortunately, the narrator (in this case space girl with multi-colored hair) made a number of unnecessarily derogatory, condescending, and inaccurate comments about people in American history, which greatly diminished the enjoyment of the tour. For example, she said 1. John Hancock signed his name to the Declaration of Independence in large letters because he was so arrogant (actually, it was to irk King George III); 2. the founding fathers were drama queens (thus, conducting the Boston tea party and "misnaming" the shooting of five local citizens by British troops a massacre); and 3. the Puritans were total narcs. Whether you agree with her or not, her descriptions were not appropriate for a mixed audience. Hopefully, the other narrators are better. Overall, this tour is worthwhile but you may want to ask about the views of your narrator before spending your money to be offended by their remarks. Read more Written October 23, 2023
• Maps59616291478 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Mediocre Land Tour, Good Water Tour We chose this tour for the water aspect to see the views and still get some history of Boston. The water portion was nice with beautiful views. The land portion was mediocre at best. We would not do this again. Read more Written October 22, 2023
• CAEurope 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles You have to do it! So much fun! Learned a bit more of the history throughout Boston and had lots of laughs. Captain was awesome and driver maneuvered the vehicle with skill throughout the city which is no small feat. Quack quack! Read more Written October 17, 2023
• Venture706151 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Boston history and river ride by duck bus Fantastic, conductor , very informative , entertaining and hilarious! Wonderful experience highly recommend it!! Read more Written October 16, 2023

More to explore in Boston

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Boston Super Saver: Duck Boat Tour & Skip-The-Line New England Aquarium provided by Boston Duck Tours

Everything To Know About the Boston Duck Boats and Tours

From Boston’s historic homes to the bustling waterfront, it can be a little overwhelming to make sure you hit all of the city’s most noteworthy sites . But there isn’t much of a better way to fit everything in than the Boston Duck Tours.

Since 1994, the “duck” boats have been a staple in the Massachusetts capital, carrying thousands of passengers in peak season across the city. Today, the fleet consists of 28 replica World War II amphibious landing vehicles that take you through Boston and into the Charles River. Here’s everything you need to know about one of Boston’s most popular tours.

Hit numerous sites in 80 minutes

With tours taking place every day from the end of March through the end of November, the Boston Duck Tours run every 20-30 minutes (depending on departure area) from 9am to about an hour before sunset. Passengers have the ability to get tickets and board at three locations, including the Prudential Center, Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium.

Once onboard, local drivers take guests on an 80-minute tour of the city, hitting numerous historical and significant sites along the way. You’ll slow down to see the Boston Public Gardens, Beacon Hill, JFK Residence, the Old State House and more than 20 other sites.

During the ride, the quirky ConDUCKtors spew out historical facts and interesting tidbits. Each guide takes on a different persona, bringing a unique – and often humorous – twist to the tour. There’s Bobby Oar, Vincent Van Duck, Robin the Riveter, Lenient Louis the Plunderless Privateer, Captain Super Swift and a crew of many other characters.

While the New England Aquarium boats take a slightly different route than the Prudential Center and Museum of Science rides, they see most of the same places. The Prudential Center and Museum of Science boats are also equipped to give tours in nine different languages and are wheelchair accessible.

Get on the Charles River

One of the more popular locations along the ride puts visitors right into the Charles. At different points on the trip (depending on your boarding spot), the “Duck” turns from truck to boat, and the drivers take passengers on a 20-minute glide over the river.

Entering the river around the Museum of Science, participants see Boston’s West End and Beacon Hill neighborhoods from the water before cruising under the famous Longfellow Bridge. The excursion gives wide, sweeping views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines and intimately displays the Back Bay, including the beautiful Esplanade, before turning back.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be one of the several passengers picked to drive the boat along the river portion of the tour.

Ride in a little piece of history

While the present-day boats are all replicas, the Boston Duck Tours started with an original fleet of World War II amphibious landing vehicles that were converted for passengers. Code-named “DUKW” (which is where the current name comes from), the last original WWII vehicle was taken out of the fleet in 2014, but the company still owns one for special occasions.

The replicas are known as “truck ducks.” First built in Kansas, these models were purposely made for tourism and have a stronger hull with an enclosed top. The oldest boat dates back to 2006 with the newest being from 2014.

To localize the fleet, the company named each of the 28 duck boats after a Boston landmark or neighborhood, with the name painted along the side of the vehicle. Boats include Back Bay Bertha, Beacon Hilda, Espla Nadia, Olga Ironsides, Symphony Hal, Fenway Fanny and many others.

Ride in the same boats as Boston’s champions

Starting in 2002 with the New England Patriots’ first Super Bowl win, Boston Duck Tours and its boats became the “Official ChampionSHIP” of Boston’s four major sports teams. Whenever one of Boston’s teams wins a championship, the company sends out its “Rolling Rally,” a parade that consists of almost the whole fleet and welcomes the players onboard to travel around the city among crowds of cheering fans.

The duck boats have hosted the championship parade a total of 12 times between all four sports teams since 2002, including six times for the Patriots, four times for the Red Sox and one each for the Bruins and Celtics.

On the day of the championship parade, the summer tours are shut down, and all the boats go towards hosting the rally. In the case of the Patriots, whose Super Bowl parade is in the winter, the fleet is brought back into service for one day in February to celebrate. After you’ve experienced Boston Duck Tours, why not check out our list of the must-visit attractions in Boston .

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