North End Walking Tour (Self Guided), Boston

The North End was the city's first neighborhood, and one that has been key to its fortunes, having become a hub of commercial, social and intellectual activity by the 1750s. Later known as Boston's Little Italy, it has been home to Italian immigrants through much of the 20th century, and still retains a certain Mediterranean flavor in its many restaurants, cafés, and specialty shops. In addition to being a foodie paradise, the North End is also home to some of most important historical landmarks in the city.

Make sure to stop by Paul Revere’s historic home – the oldest still standing building in Boston, where you may learn more about its famous owner than you ever knew. It certainly is interesting to see how people lived back in the 1700s, while also learning about the Revolutionary War and birth of the Nation.

Other places of interest are represented by the city’s oldest active church (Old North Church) and the nearby Copp's Hill Burying Ground with its remarkably beautiful headstones – very Victorian Gothic in style. You can even see the tomb of Cotton Mather, the Puritan minister that was a central figure of the Salem witch trials.

The route ends at the Charleston Bridge which, besides being a sight to behold, allows a terrific view of The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge at the same time.

The North End neighborhood is one of those where it's easy to get lost, so take our self-guided walking tour to appreciate its main historical landmarks and thoroughfares – a nice way to “lose yourself” while staying on the right course.