Walk Around Boston's Oldest Neighborhood For European Charm, Unique Shops, And Delicious Food

Nothing says "old Boston" like the cobblestone streets of the North End. This is the oldest district in the city, and the history is palpable as visitors enter a labyrinth of brick facades, mullioned windows, and age-old signs. Puritan settlement here dates back to the 17th century, and the adjacent Battery Wharf has been a vital shipping entrepôt for nearly as long. Travelers often compare the narrow walkways and Victorian-style street lamps to Europe, and it's easy to believe that Boston has the oldest subway, college, library, and public park in the nation.

But the North End is arguably most famous as Boston's Little Italy, where well over 100 Italian restaurants are nestled inside vintage buildings, ready to welcome hungry travelers from all over. Italian is still spoken in many shops and kitchens, and institutions like the St. Leonard of Port Maurice Church remain (literally) sacred to Boston's Italian community. Indeed, the North End is widely considered one of the best Little Italys in the world. 

Boston isn't an easy city to navigate, and tourists often get turned around in this confusing quilt of colonial streets. To really get a feel for the place, it's always nice to connect with a local, and a good bet is Viator's free Boston North End Tour. Learn the textured history of the North End, from Revolutionary heroes to Industrial Age immigration, as well as all the best haunts for handmade pasta and Mediterranean wines. For a more casual — yet equally delizioso — experience, the North End is also replete with pizza options, from foldable takeout slices to wood-fired pies.

Tucked into a quiet block on North Square is the dark-brown cottage of Paul Revere, the rebellious silversmith who made his famous "Midnight Ride" in 1775, warning the Colonial Army that the British redcoats were on the move. This is one of the most dramatic and memorable events of the American Revolution, and the museum inside Paul Revere's House has become a favorite stop on Boston's "Freedom Trail" walking tour. The structure was repurposed over the years as a boarding house, bank, and candy store, but the restored dwelling looks much as it did in Revere's day, with a roughly original floor plan and period furnishings. This is just one of the best museums you can visit in Boston.

Bostonians have always taken pride in their beer, ever since the first brewing license was issued in 1630, and the North End has a good number of pubs and taverns. Some are new and trendy, like Wicked Craft Co., while others are old and hallowed: The Green Dragon Tavern first opened in 1654, and one of its regulars was, well, Paul Revere. While you're sampling New England specialties, here are Boston's best spots for clam chowder.