Urban AdvenTours

Urban AdvenTours is a bike tour and rental company based on Atlantic Avenue on Boston's waterfront. Cycling is an efficient way to see a compact city, and a guided ride lets you cover more ground than on foot while still stopping often to look around.

The signature tour is the City View Tour, a two-and-a-half to three-hour ride of about 10 to 12 miles that runs daily at 10am, with riders asked to arrive at 9:30am. The Tour de Cambridge covers 12 to 14 miles across the river, and the Family Friendly Tour is a shorter ride of under 10 miles; both run from April to November. Private tours can be arranged with custom timings, and the company also lists other themed rides, including an electric bike tour, a Tour de Boston and an Emerald Necklace tour.

For those who prefer to explore independently, the shop rents city bikes, electric bikes, road and gravel bikes, mountain bikes, tandems, children's bikes and e-cargo bikes that can carry up to two children, plus bike racks for cars. This makes it a good option for families and for experienced cyclists who want a better bike than a public share scheme provides.

The shop is open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 5pm on Sunday, but it closes every day from 2pm to 3pm for a siesta break, which is worth knowing if you plan to collect or return a bike in the afternoon. Book tours in advance, particularly at weekends, and arrive at the stated time so that the group can be fitted and briefed before setting off.

If you have not ridden in a busy city before, a guided tour is a sensible first step, since the guide chooses the route and sets the pace. Tell the team about your experience and any concerns when you book, so they can match you with the right bike and tour.

The tours suit active travellers, couples and families with children who are confident on a bike. As a general tip, wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes, bring water and sun protection in summer, and check the weather before you go. The 10am start makes it easy to combine a morning ride with lunch and an afternoon of sightseeing on foot.