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The best group activities in Boston are the ones built to take a crowd: a guided tour of Fenway Park (group bookings from 12 people), a Boston Duck Tour (group rates from 20), an escape room at Boxaroo in downtown Boston (2 to 10 players per room, up to 400 for events), bowling at Kings in Back Bay or Lucky Strike in the Fenway, mini golf at Puttshack in the Seaport, and a beer hall table at Harpoon Brewery or the Sam Adams taproom. For a free group outing, walk the Freedom Trail or book a weekday State House tour.
What separates a good group plan from a stressful one is the booking rule: how many people triggers a group rate, how far ahead you must reserve and whether the place takes reservations at all. This guide lists those rules as each venue publishes them. If the group is a bachelor party, see our bachelor party guide instead.
Group tours with booking thresholds
| Activity | Group size rule | How to book |
|---|---|---|
| Fenway Park tour | Groups of 12 or more | Call 617-226-6675 |
| Boston Duck Tours | Group program for 20 or more | Group reservation request on the operator's site |
| Massachusetts State House | 10 or more: book at least three weeks ahead; up to 50 | Phone only, 617-727-3676 |
| Old North Church | 15 or more | Groups page on the church website |
| Boston Public Library tour | Over 10 encouraged to register; over 30 must register a week ahead | [email protected] or 617-859-2216 |
| Salem Ferry from Long Wharf | Group rate for 19 or more, reserved in advance | City Cruises |
| Boston Harbor Islands | 25 or more need a free Group Authorization Form | Park website |
Fenway Park tours run every day of the year, on the hour, and the 60-minute public tour costs $30 for adults. Boston Duck Tours leave from three places: the Prudential Center, the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium; our guide to Boston Duck Tour costs has the prices.
Escape rooms, bowling and games
Boxaroo at 55 Court Street, near Government Center, runs private escape rooms: Mystery of the Magician's Study and Conundrum Museum take up to 10 players for 60 minutes, and Storyteller's Secret takes 2 to 5 players for 75 minutes. For larger groups it runs corporate and team-building events for 2 to 400 players. A bigger group can split across two rooms at the same time slot.
Kings Dining and Entertainment at 50 Dalton Street in Back Bay has bowling, billiards and an arcade with food and drinks, and plans private events. It opens at 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday and at 11:30 a.m. Friday to Sunday, and it is cashless. Lucky Strike Fenway at 145 Ipswich Street has 16 lanes, an arcade, billiards and air hockey, with lanes bookable online.
Puttshack at 58 Pier 4 Boulevard in the Seaport is indoor mini golf with balls that keep score; a nine-hole game takes 30 to 45 minutes. Walk-ins are first come, first served, so book for a group, and note that it is 21-plus after 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Beer halls with room for a group
Harpoon Brewery and Beer Hall, at 306 Northern Avenue in the Seaport, has long communal tables and takes no reservations, but parties of 16 to 32 can request a two-hour multi-table event at least three weeks ahead, with a $50-per-person minimum spend plus fees. Guided tastings cost $15 a person for up to 15 people. The beer hall closes for its Octoberfest, so check the site in early October.
The Sam Adams Boston Taproom at 60 State Street, next to Faneuil Hall, is three floors with a rooftop deck and beer-hall tables on the lower level that suit larger groups. Seating is first come, first served, but sections and the full rooftop can be rented for private events. Both venues check ID at the door.
Free and easy group outings
- The Freedom Trail: free to follow, with Freedom Trail Foundation guided tours at $17 for adults if you want a guide.
- Boston Common: room for a picnic, a game or a meeting point that everyone can find.
- Boston Public Market: free public tours on Fridays at 11 a.m., with private group tours arranged by email.
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Quincy Market's food counters let everyone choose their own lunch and still eat together, and street performers work the promenades daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For a food-focused group day, see our comparison of North End food tours.
Tips for planning a group day in Boston
- Book the anchor first. Fenway tours, the State House and escape rooms have fixed slots; build the rest of the day around them.
- Use the T, not cars. Parking is limited near Fenway Park and in the Seaport; the Green Line and the Silver Line serve them.
- Check age rules. Brewery taprooms admit under-21s only with a parent or guardian, and Puttshack is 21-plus late on weekends.
- Watch the season. Harbor island ferries stop in mid-October and the Salem ferry on October 31, so a winter group trip is an indoor one.