Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, at 4 South Market Street in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, is a historic market district built around Faneuil Hall, a meeting hall dating to 1742 that earned the nickname Cradle of Liberty for the protest meetings held there before the American Revolution. Today the complex includes the hall itself, the long granite Quincy Market building with its food colonnade, and the North and South Market buildings, along with plazas where street performers entertain crowds. Visitors can see the grasshopper weathervane atop Faneuil Hall, browse independent shops and national retailers, and sample New England specialties such as clam chowder, lobster rolls, Boston cream pie and baked goods. The upper floor of Faneuil Hall still serves as a public meeting space, and National Park Service rangers give short talks on the history of the building. A typical visit lasts one to two hours, longer for a full meal. The marketplace sits on the Freedom Trail, so many visitors stop here between the Old State House and the North End. Photo opportunities include the cobbled plaza with the Quincy Market dome, the Samuel Adams statue in front of the hall and the nearby Rose Kennedy Greenway. Stores are typically open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 6pm, although food hall hours vary. Crowds are heaviest at lunchtime and on summer weekends, when seating in the food colonnade is scarce. Weekday mornings are calmer, and evenings bring a livelier atmosphere with musicians and street entertainers. The nearest MBTA stations are Government Center and Aquarium, both a short walk away, and entry is free, with meals typically costing around $10 to $20.