16 Fun Things To Do In Boston In Winter

Boston is an interesting, unique, and exciting city to visit… Even in winter!

The weather outside might be freezing, but the city gets even more beautiful covered in snow and offers many fun winter activities that you will love.

In this post, you will find 16 fun things to do in Boston during winter.

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Boston in winter: what you need to know

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

What is the weather in Boston like in winter?

As you probably already know, Boston gets indeed VERY cold in winter! The cold season lasts from December to March, with an average daily high temperature below 45°F.

The coldest day days usually have temperatures under 23°F and Boston’s coldest month is January.

Is Boston worth visiting in winter?

Absolutely! To make the most of your visit to Boston in winter, make sure to pack appropriately and plan your itinerary ahead of time.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN BOSTON?

Boston is the kind of city where you could be for a whole month and still find many new things to do. But in regards to visiting Boston in the winter season, I would say three or four days is more than enough.

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Finding a place to stay

If you haven’t booked your accommodation in Boston yet, no worries!

Here are some of our favorites:

• Fairmont Copley Plaza – See availability
• Encore Boston Harbor – See availability
• InterContinental Boston, an IHG Hotel – See availability
• Boston Hotel Commonwealth – See availability

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The Best Things to do in Boston in Winter

Without further ado, here are the best winter activities to do in Boston.

1- Shopping at Primark

Did you know that Boston has one of the few Primark shops in the United States? The store is very affordable and has a great variety of cute clothing.

If you are up to a shopping spree, the address is 10 Summer St, Boston.

2- Strolling through Boston Common

Boston Common is the name of Boston’s public central park. The park was established in 1634, becoming America’s first public park in history. It is also a clue location in the famous Freedom Trail.

Strolling through Boston Common is one of my favorite winter activities in Boston. 

3- Eat at Quincy Market

Quincy Market is a paradise for those looking for a real Bostonian gastronomic experience.

There is nothing better than a warm lobster roll to warm you up.

4- Visit the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Learn about the history of one of the most defining historic events in Boston.

5- Go on a day trip to Harvard University

Going on a day trip to Harvard is an absolute must if this is your first time in Boston.

The university is one of the most iconic in the world and it offers amazing student-led tours. 

6- Tour Boston’s Public Library

The Boston Public Library is one of the most beautiful libraries I have ever seen. I went on a free tour offered by Hi Boston Hostel and absolutely loved it.

After the tour, I highly encourage grabbing a coffee and getting to know the modern part of the library as well. I stayed longer than I expected because it was just so pleasant.

7- Catch a Broadway play

On a lazy snowy day, what about watching a Broadway play? You can check all the showtimes on Broadway’s official website.

8- Discover Boston’s Chinatown

Boston’s Chinatown is one of the top five biggest Chinatowns in the United States and the only one of its kind in New England.

If you love Asian food, make sure to visit this unique neighborhood with restaurants from every corner of Asia.

9- Go on a day trip to Salem, the City of Witches

The town of Salem became world-famous for being the stage of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1690s. Today, the little historic town is one of the best Halloween destinations in the country and makes for a great quick trip from Boston.

You can read all about it here.

10- Go Ice Skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond

Ice skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond is probably one of the most fun things to do in Boston in winter. Make sure to stop by if you are looking for some winter sporty fun.

11- Visit the MIT

If you head to Cambridge to visit Harvard University, you might as well stretch your itinerary a bit and visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

12- See art at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of the most amazing, beautiful museums I have ever been to. The building was inspired by Palazzo Barbaro in Venice and is truly something out of this world.

When I went there, they even had a Botticelli exhibit.

13- Visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural history is nothing like the ones you will find in New York and Washington DC because it’s more on the academic than on the interactive side. Still, a very exciting visit.

14- See some art at the Museum of Fine Arts

Hey, another museum for your list! The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston encompasses around 450000 works of art and has one of the best collections in the world.

15- Visit the New England Aquarium

The Boston Aquarium is a very fun place to visit in Boston during winter. Tickets are about $32 for adults and $23 for kids.

16 – Go on an awesome tour

Tours are a great way to really get to know a new city and there are many cool ones to take in Boston!

Here are some of the most popular:

• Boston Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour with 18 Stops
• Boston Whale Watching Cruise by High-Speed Catamaran
• Martha’s Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

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That’s a wrap! I really hope you loved all these suggestions of fun things to do in Boston in winter.

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