Is Faneuil Hall worth visiting with kids?

Yes — the food hall solves the 'nobody agrees on lunch' problem, the street performers entertain kids for free, and it's positioned perfectly mid-Freedom Trail.

What's the difference between Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market?

Faneuil Hall is the historic building (meeting hall, NPS talks). Quincy Market is the long colonnade building with the food hall. They're next to each other in the same marketplace complex.

Is Faneuil Hall expensive?

The food hall in Quincy Market is moderate — expect to spend $45-70 for a family of 4 for lunch. The sit-down restaurants in the complex are pricier. Street performers are free (tips appreciated).

Is there parking at Faneuil Hall?

The Government Center Garage is the closest parking (adjacent to the marketplace), typically $20-35 for a few hours. The T (Blue or Green Line) is more convenient and cheaper.

Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market

Name: Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market
Address: 4 South Market Street, Boston, MA, 02109, US
Telephone: (617) 523-1300
Rating: 4.4

Rating

4.4(35,000)

Price

Free

Duration

1-2 hours

Best Ages

All ages

About

Faneuil Hall Marketplace gets a bad rap as a tourist trap, and some of that is deserved — the souvenir shops aren't winning any awards. But for families, it genuinely works as a lunch stop, entertainment break, and low-key history lesson, especially when combined with the Freedom Trail.

Quincy Market, the long colonnade building at the center of the complex, houses a food hall with 30+ vendors selling everything from New England clam chowder to sushi to rotisserie chicken. The format works the same way as Chelsea Market in New York: everyone picks what they want, you meet at a communal table, and nobody compromises. The food quality is a step below Boston's best restaurants, but it's reliable, fast, and varied.

The outdoor plazas between the market buildings feature street performers year-round. The acts range from magic shows to acrobatics to comedy, and the performers are specifically selected for family-friendly content. Kids crowd around the performers and are genuinely engaged — it's free entertainment (tips at the end) that gives parents a 15-minute break.

Faneuil Hall itself is a historic building that played a central role in the American Revolution. National Park Service Rangers give free talks about its history, focusing on the debates that led to independence. The talks are brief (10 minutes), accessible for kids 7+, and worth the stop. The building is an official stop on the Freedom Trail.

Logistically, Faneuil Hall is in the center of downtown Boston, a 5-minute walk from the New England Aquarium, a 10-minute walk from the North End, and directly on the Freedom Trail. The Blue Line (Aquarium or State Street stations) and Green Line (Government Center) are all within a 5-minute walk.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Stroller-Friendly

Nursing / Changing

true

Kid Meals

true

Setting

Indoor & Outdoor

Rainy Day

Great option!

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Weekday lunchtimes; avoid weekend afternoons in summer

Wait Times

5-15 minutes at popular food stalls; no wait for general entry

Nearby Food

["Quincy Market food hall (dozens of stalls — clam chowder, lobster rolls, pizza, international food)","Union Oyster House (2 min walk, America's oldest restaurant, kid-friendly at lunch)","North End restaurants (10 min walk for superior Italian food)"]

Why Kids Love It

Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are admittedly touristy, but they work for families in a way that most tourist attractions don't. The Quincy Market food hall — a long colonnade building filled with food stalls — lets everyone pick something different. Clam chowder, lobster rolls, pizza, Indian food, Greek food, bakery items — it's the 'nobody can agree on lunch' solution.

The outdoor area between the market buildings has street performers year-round. Magicians, musicians, comedians, and acrobats perform free shows (tips appreciated). Kids gather in semicircles around the performers and are genuinely entertained. The quality varies, but the best performers here are seriously talented and gear their acts toward family audiences.

Faneuil Hall itself (the brick building at the west end) is a historic meeting hall where Samuel Adams and other revolutionaries debated. The NPS Rangers stationed inside give free 10-minute talks about its history. It's a quick, free, educational stop that pairs naturally with the Freedom Trail (the red line runs right past the front door).

Pro Tips from Parents

The center building (Quincy Market) has the food hall; the North and South Market buildings have shops and restaurants — go center first
Street performers are free to watch but they do a 'hat pass' at the end — have a few dollars ready
The upstairs of Faneuil Hall has a free NPS Ranger talk about the building's role in the Revolution — worth 10 minutes
Use Quincy Market as a lunch stop between Freedom Trail sites — it's perfectly positioned mid-trail
The restrooms inside Quincy Market are free and relatively clean — better than most Freedom Trail alternatives

What to Bring

Cash for street performer tips
An appetite
Nothing else needed — it's a fully serviced indoor/outdoor market

Cost Info

Free Admission

Estimated Cost (Family of 4)

$45-$70 for lunch at the food hall

Tips to Save

["Quincy Market food hall has the best variety — skip the sit-down restaurants for better value","Free street performers outside are genuinely entertaining and kid-appropriate","NPS Rangers give free talks about the history of Faneuil Hall (check schedule at the information booth)","The food hall is cheaper than the surrounding restaurants — stick to the center building"]