Boston Emerald Necklace Bike Tour Experience

The Emerald Necklace bike tour is an amazing way to see Boston’s most famous green spaces in a ‘green’ way - you may forget you are in the heart of the city! Discover Frederick Law Olmsted’s famous system of parks on this bicycle tour of the historic Emerald Necklace. From the shaded boulevard on Commonwealth Avenue to the popular shores of Jamaica Pond to the winding paths of the Arnold Arboretum, this route is a fabulous way to experience Boston's park system. The route is a favorite among locals! The parks are gorgeous any time of the year, but the foliage peaks in color between mid October and early November.
This tour is up to 4 hours long and covers at least 15 miles, with several hills. Riders must be comfortable spending that much time on a bike and covering that distance. This ride covers many hidden gems in Boston.

Meeting Point

Urban AdvenTours

103 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110, USA

What's included:

• Professional guide
• Use of bicycle
• Use of helmet

What to expect:

Duration: 4 hours

Urban AdvenTours

103 Atlantic Ave, , Boston, 02110-3702, Massachusetts

Arrive at our shop 30 minutes prior to your tour time. You'll be asked to sign a waiver and be fitted on your bike. You guide will provide an overview of the ride, what to expect, as well as our safety tips and rules of the road.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

North End

, , Boston, 02109, Massachusetts

Our ride will start in the North End, Boston's Italian neighborhood. You will likely smell the garlic as we roll through. At the end of your tour, you guide will be happy to recommend a restaurant or pastry shop (mmm...cannolis!)

Pass by without stopping

Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge

I-93, , Boston, Massachusetts

Curious to know the inspiration behind Boston's new(ish) bridge? Our guides will let you know a few fun facts behind the design...

Pass by without stopping

TD Garden

100 Legends Way, , Boston, 02114-1300, Massachusetts

Along our route, we'll ride past TD Garden, home of the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and many a concert!

Pass by without stopping

Beacon Hill

Boston, 02108, Massachusetts

Cycle through Beacon Hill, on of Boston's most famous - and photographed - neighborhoods.

Pass by without stopping

Louisburg Square

Louisburg Square, , Boston, 02108, Massachusetts

Louisburg Square is famously known as a literary square, with previous residents including Louisa May Alcott and Robert Frost.

5 minutes

Charles River Esplanade

Storrow Drive, , Boston, 02114, Massachusetts

Our route will take us along the river on the Esplanade, where we'll ride by the Hatch Shell, the outdoor concert stage which was made famous by the Boston Pops Orchestra, which performs during the Fourth of July fireworks.

Pass by without stopping

Back Bay

, , Boston, Massachusetts

We'll ride through the Back Bay Fens, one of the parks in the Emerald Necklace park system, which was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The Fens are home to Victory Gardens dating back to WWII, as well as two of Boston's art museums - the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Pass by without stopping

Museum of Fine Arts

465 Huntington Ave, Avenue of the Arts, Boston, 02115-5597, Massachusetts

The MFA is a world class art museum. We'll stop to see one of their unique art installations outside of the museum. Banners outside will give you an idea of current exhibits, but the MFA is always worth a visit while you're in Boston.

Pass by without stopping

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

25 Evans Way, , Boston, 02115-5538, Massachusetts

We'll pass by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - we recommend planning a visit during your time in Boston!

Pass by without stopping

Emerald Necklace

125 The Fenway, , Boston, 02115-3700, Massachusetts

During this tour, we'll ride through the famed Emerald Necklace, which is a chain of green spaces and parks. You may not even feel as though you are right in the heart of a city!

1 hour

Jamaica Pond Park

Between The Jamaicaway and Perkins Street, , Boston, 02130, Massachusetts

Ride around Jamaica Pond, a kettle pond within the Emerald Necklace.

5 minutes

Arnold Arboretum

125 Arborway, Boston, 02130-3500, Massachusetts

We'll ride through Arnold Arboretum, the second "link" in the Emerald Necklace park system

5 minutes

South End

Tremont Street, , Boston, 02118, Massachusetts

Ride through Boston's South End neighborhood.

Pass by without stopping

Copley Square

560 Boylston St, , Boston, 02116-3603, Massachusetts

Copley Plaza is the heart of the Back Bay neighborhood. The John Hancock building, Trinity Church, and the Boston Public Library surround the square. Copley Plaza also marks the finish line for the Boston Marathon.

10 minutes

Trinity Church Boston

206 Clarendon Street, Boston, 02116-3916, Massachusetts

You'll see Trinity Church when we stop in Copley Plaza.

5 minutes

John Hancock Tower

200 Clarendon St, Boston, 02116, Massachusetts

See the John Hancock Tower during our stop at Copley Plaza.

5 minutes

Boston Public Library

700 Boylston St, Boston, 02116-2813, Massachusetts

You'll see the Boston Public Library when we stop in Copley Square.

5 minutes

Commonwealth Avenue Mall

484 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, 02215-2737, Massachusetts

Ride in the bike path along Comm Ave

Pass by without stopping

Boston Common

139 Tremont St, , Boston, 02111-1318, Massachusetts

We'll visit America's oldest park!

5 minutes

Downtown Crossing

Washington Street, , Boston, 02111, Massachusetts

We'll ride through Downtown Crossing, the original shopping district in Boston.

Pass by without stopping

Freedom Trail

Boston, Massachusetts

Many people ask if we will ride the Freedom Trail on tour. While it's not possible to follow the entire route on bike, we'll cross over the Freedom Trail multiple times along our tour.

Pass by without stopping

Old South Meeting House

310 Washington St, , Boston, 02108-4616, Massachusetts

As we ride through Downtown Crossing, you'll see the Old South Meeting House.

Pass by without stopping

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway

Atlantic Ave, , Boston, 02111, Massachusetts

One of the city's newest parks, created during "the Big Dig". Rose Kennedy Greenway is the home of many unique art installations, gardens, splash fountains, and farmer's markets.

Pass by without stopping

Boston Harbor Cruises

Boston, 02110, Massachusetts

From Long Wharf, you can see the Old State House - the site of the Boston Massacre - the Custom House Building, the Seaport District of South Boston, and the neighborhood of East Boston.

10 minutes