The North End has been lived in continuously since the 1600s. Its tight lanes hold the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church and Copp's Hill Burying Ground, while Hanover and Salem Streets are lined with Italian restaurants, cafes and bakeries.
The oldest surviving house in downtown Boston, home of the silversmith and messenger, now a small museum on North Square.
The 1723 church where lanterns were hung in the steeple in 1775 to signal the British advance, still an active parish with a visitor programme.
The main commercial street of Italian restaurants and cafes, and the long-standing cannoli rivalry between the neighbourhood's bakeries.
Walking the neighbourhood and the Freedom Trail is free. The Paul Revere House charges a small admission and the Old North Church asks for a donation or offers paid behind-the-scenes tours. Restaurants here are cash-friendly and often do not take reservations for small groups.
The Freedom Trail runs straight through, so you can tie the Revere House, Old North and Copp's Hill together with a meal on Hanover Street.
Lunch for the sights, then come back for dinner and a bakery stop, or expect a wait at the popular restaurants.
The North End adjoins the Rose Kennedy Greenway and Faneuil Hall, so it connects easily to the rest of a Boston day.
Is the North End free to visit?
Yes, as a neighbourhood and for the Freedom Trail. The Paul Revere House charges a small fee and the Old North Church requests a donation.
Which bakery has the best cannoli?
The two long-running rivals are Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry on Hanover Street. Both draw queues; try both and decide.
Do restaurants take reservations?
Many of the smaller trattorias do not, or only for larger groups. Expect a wait at peak times, especially weekends.
How long should I spend?
Half a day to combine the historic sites, a walk of the lanes and a meal.
The North End was settled in the 1630s and has been Boston's densest neighbourhood ever since, home over time to Puritan, Irish, Jewish and, from the late 19th century, Italian communities.
It retains its colonial street plan and several of the city's oldest buildings, and remains strongly associated with Italian-American Boston.
This page is an independent guide for visitors. It is not affiliated with any organisation in the neighbourhood.
