Best Time to Visit Boston

UPDATED JULY 2024
By Dom Bewley
boston seasons

You need a vacation this year. After the past two years, everyone does. Why not try Boston, one of America's most historic cities? No matter what time of year you plan on traveling, there's so much to see and do. Here's our guide to the best time to visit Boston, catered just to you!

Including:

  • Summer sun and fun
  • Fall predictions and plans
  • Winter chills and thrills
  • Spring air and activities
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Boston's weather in summer

If you're one for brilliant sun, warmer weather, and slathering on the sunblock, summer's the best time to visit Boston!

Depending on the month, you're looking at highs from around 77-82°F to lows of around 59-66°F. That's some solid, short slash skirt weather, so pack your sunnies and plenty of airy clothes!

As for rain, you're looking at an average of 6-8 days per month, so maybe pack an umbrella in case you're not lucky!

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Things to do in Boston over the summer

So, what to do with all that fine summer weather? Make the most of it with some fantastic outdoor activities!

See all the sights and sounds the city has to offer with a trolley tour of Boston! You'll see great views of the city and tick off all the sightseeing attractions on your itinerary in one fell swoop! Boston's CityView Trolley tour lets you see all the top attractions, popular shopping destinations, museums, and more. All while you sit back, breeze running through your hair in a comfy chair. The onboard guide will weave you tales of the city's history as you go, and you can even hop off to get up and close at some places.

Prefer your cultural journey on foot? Take a walking tour of the Freedom Trail. Actors play the role of the trail's key personnel, dazzling you with bite-sized nuggets of history as you walk the famous red-brick road. And you'll pass many of Boston's most historic landmarks like the Massachusetts State House and the Old South Meeting House, where the Boston Tea Party used to meet in secret.

How about something less historical? Try a trip to Franklin Park Zoo. With thousands of species to meet, it's the perfect place for kids and big kids alike.

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Boston's weather in the fall

If you prefer to complement your summer days with a warm jacket, fall is the best time to visit Boston!

The temperature difference is much bigger here, with September's summer hangover leading to temperatures of 57-73°F, while November's winter prep leads to lows of 37-52°F. So, bear that in mind when you pack your bags!

Rain is similar to summer, so expect 6-8 days every month, and pack accordingly.

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Things to do in Boston over the fall

With such a disparity in the temperature, let's look at a few options to cover our bases.

For warmer days, why not hang out with some animals at the New England Aquarium? A world of underwater wonder awaits you, from Antarctic polar deserts to Caribbean reefs. Visit the harbor seals and watch them play, discover new and exotic species that call the Amazon home, or meet over 60 delightful penguins and learn about their colony.

For the cooler days, why not take a tour of the famous Harvard University? Hosted by students, these tours take you inside and out of the famous campus, teaching you about what life is like at the college, and the famous faces that honed their craft there.

When the chill starts to take hold, art lovers will adore the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Boasting over half a million pieces across four floors and dozens of exhibits, it's one of the world's best art museums. No matter your taste, you're bound to find something there to inspire you!

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Boston's weather in winter

If you like the chiller days and indoor activities draped in cuddly coats, winter is the best time to visit Boston!

We're getting freezing now, so expect highs of around 37-43°F and lows of around 23-28. We're talking big wooly coats, mittens, hats, the whole shebang. Or just wear all your clothes at once. Your choice.

Expect a bit more rain this time, averaging around 7-9 days per month. Pack a raincoat or an umbrella, just to be safe.

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Things to do in Boston over the winter

Let's stay inside this time, shall we? Don't worry; Boston has some great indoor attractions too!

Want to learn more about Boston's most famous politician? Head to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Within, you'll discover artifacts, photos, and film footage across 25 large exhibits, giving you insight into the great man himself. See how Kennedy furnished the Oval Office, learn about the First Lady, and see how his campaign trail ended with the first live-broadcast presidential debate against Richard Nixon.

Take the little ones on an adventure at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center. They can explore MINILAND®, a city made from 1.5 million multicolored bricks, see their favorite LEGO movie characters come to life at the 4D Cinema, or learn how to build masterpieces at one of the fun and informative workshops.

Or, get spooky at the Salem Witch Museum, where you'll learn the dark history of the settlers and how fear and accusations snowballed into the witch trials that took so many lives.

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Boston's weather in spring

If you prefer cool breezes and sunshine, spring is the best time to visit Boston!

As you'd expect, there's quite a difference in temperature, depending on when you visit. Expect highs of 46-66°F, and lows of 30-50°F. Pack for winter if it's early spring, and for summer if it's late April/May.

You might need an umbrella too, as you can expect an average of 8 days of rain each month.

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Things to do in Boston over spring

Like fall, we'll cover our bases with options for colder and warmer days.

On colder days, try the warm embrace of Boston's Museum of Science. Housing over 700 interactive exhibits, a whole heap of dinosaur fossils, and the galvanizing Theater of Electricity (pun intended, of course), it's a great place for big and little kids to open their minds.

On cooler days, get the blood pumping by renting a bike and touring the city! It comes with a helmet, lock, and bike, so you have everything you need to forge your own path around Boston's beautiful landmarks!

Or, if the weather is fine, go take a picnic and relax and Boston Common. If you're with that special someone, rent out one of the famous Swan Boats and go for a romantic paddle!

That's our guide to the best time to visit Boston!

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to Do in Boston in Summer

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Best walks in Boston

On your marks, get set... walk! That’s the way to do Boston, anyway. Unassuming, academic and full of history, this city is the ideal place to stretch your legs as it’s also very accessible, very flat, and very pretty. There’s a good mix of city lights and green spaces, and the Charles River winds serenely on its way to Massachusetts Bay offering lovely walks along the esplanade. Beware the weather – the icy wind off the Atlantic can make things pretty wet and chilly in winter – but don’t let it put you off! Fuel up on some Boston baked beans, grab your raincoat and try out one of these awesome Boston walks: The Freedom Trail Financial District to the Theater District The Movie Mile Harvard to MIT The Battle Green Tour The Emerald Necklace Trail The Freedom Trail Many key events of the American Revolutionary War took place in Boston, and a lot of these historical sites are now accessible to visitors. To make it easy, 16 of them are connected by the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail which runs from Boston Common to Bunker Hill. It’s marked by a red path on the ground so you can’t really get lost – but if you’re finding all the history a little disorientating then use your pass to take a Freedom Trail Foundation guided tour. It covers 11 of the 16 sites on the trail, including Massachusetts State House, the USS Constitution and the site of the Boston Massacre. Your guide – complete in 18th century costume – will share all the stories of revenge and revolution so you won’t get your dates and declarations in a tangle. The Financial District to the Theater District This easy walk gives you a great overview of the modern and historic side of Boston in just a couple of hours. Start at the World Trade Center bus stop and enjoy the view of the wharf and Congress Bridge before exploring the financial district. Here, as well as being able to witness Boston’s buzzing economy in motion, you’ll find the Boston Children’s Museum, the Boston Tea Party Museum, King’s Chapel and Burial Ground and the Irish Famine Memorial. Soak up the history, then go for some retail therapy at Downtown Crossing before heading towards the Theater District via Washington Street and Tremont Street. This route will take you past Chinatown, which makes a colorful diversion if you’re feeling peckish, and you’ll come out by the Shubert and Wang Theaters. From here, it’s an easy saunter to Boston Common, where you can either have a look around Emerson College Campus or just flop down on the grass and give your legs a rest. The Movie Mile Many of Boston’s iconic landmarks are familiar to us because we’ve seen them so often on film and television – so why not get to know them in person? Take the Boston Movie Mile Walking Tour with Go City and discover over 30 locations you may have seen in films like Ted, Good Will Hunting and The Departed, or TV shows like Ally McBeal and Cheers. You’ll take in quiet, unassuming neighborhoods, historic homes, the original Cheers pub and the bench where Robin Williams and Matt Damon shot one of their most famous scenes. Make sure your big and small screen trivia knowledge is up to date, as your guide may just quiz you along the way! Harvard to MIT This is a great walk that combines two of the city’s most famous institutions with a generous taste of student life in the city. North of the river in Cambridge, these two academic heavyweights are only a mile or so apart, but a slightly detoured route will also take you past Harvard Stadium (home of the New England Patriots until the 70s) and Harvard Business School. Explore Harvard Square on your own or join a guided tour, then head west over the Anderson Memorial Bridge towards the stadium. If you’re lucky, there might be a game going on, if not, it’s still worth a wander around. From there, turn down Harvard Way past the Baker Library to the Business School, and then circle back to the river and use the Western Avenue Bridge to cross back over. Turn left and walk along the river to Magazine Beach, then head east towards MIT. If you need more intellectual inspiration, you can take another guided tour, or check out the List Visual Arts Center. The “Let it Begin Here” Battle Green Tour Take a deep dive into American Revolutionary History with a guided tour of Lexington Battle Green, included with your Go City Boston Pass. This small area is of huge historical significance, being the place where the first shots of the war were fired. See the Old Belfry that sounded the alarm, the Buckman Tavern where nervous militiamen gathered the night before the battle, the Revolutionary War Monument, the Old Burying Ground and the Henry H. Kitson Minuteman Statue. Hear stories of how the battle unfolded, George Washington’s thoughts on the whole affair, and the meaning behind the famous “Stand your ground” inscription. You’ll also see some houses and other buildings dating from the same era, so you can really feel that you’ve traveled back in time. The Emerald Necklace walk A favorite among locals and visitors alike, this walk gets its name from the way it links a chain of sparkling parks and green spaces through the city. It’s a great one if you want to get away from the concrete jungle and give your legs a proper stretch – it’s around nine miles and does include some elevation, so allow up to four hours – more if you want to stop for a picnic somewhere! Start in Franklin Park – Boston’s largest, where you’ll also find the Franklin Zoo. From here, the walk takes you through the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, Jamaica Pond, Olmsted Park and along the Riverway to Muddy River. This route also takes you past the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. Continue along the long, green space that is the Commonwealth Avenue Mall all the way to the Public Garden, then either cross the suspension bridge or take the left path past the Robin Williams Memorial Bench. Finish by exploring Boston Common and be sure to take a selfie in front of Brewer Fountain! Step it up with Go City You can walk pretty much anywhere in Boston! Make sure you don’t miss anything with a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass and save on dozens of attractions around the city.
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boston souvenirs
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Best Boston Souvenirs

Hello there! Welcome to the gift shop. Sadly, we only have one thing in stock. It's this guide to the best souvenirs in Boston. Hopefully, you aren't looking for ice cream. We don't sell those. But, if you're interested in the best Boston souvenirs, you're in luck, partner. Here's a menu with all of the best souvenirs in Boston. Including: Freedom Trail memorabilia Boston Red Sox souvenirs Harvard attire Baked beans - really Irish things and more! Freedom Trail frills The Freedom Trail is one of Boston's most important historical landmarks. So, why not commemorate your journey down the red brick road with some keepsakes? Right next to the Paul Revere House, you'll find North End Gift Shoppe, which sells all manner of freedom-esque attire, from freedom hats to freedom slacks. Want a freedom snowglobe? No? Well tough luck, because you're buying one before you leave! Why not take a tour that will lead you right there? Godly bothers Ever wondered if a church would dare sell gift shop oddities? Wonder no more; just hop on down to Old North Church and browse through the shop's many Boston-themed souvenirs. Books? Yes. Clothing? Yes. Jewelry? Yes! You can even pick up inspirational items like nativity figures for your very own Jesus Christ-approved Christmas setup. Holy Moses! You're a consumer, Harry! Any Potterphiles out there can also pick up some awesome wizarding merch at the Harry Potter Shop. Grab your wand and fly to Newbury Street, and enter a world of wizarding wonder. Mugs, wands, scarves, and anything else any depressed muggle would want to brighten up their banal, magic-free lives. Put your red sox on Whether you're a baseball fan or not, the Boston Red Sox is arguably one of the most famous bat/ball teams in the world. In the last twenty years, they've won the World Series four times, and every year, rabid fans gather around Fenway Park to cheer them on. So, why not go grab some sweet Red Sox memorabilia during your trip? The team store contains loads of great baseball content, like jerseys, baseballs, hats, yearbooks, and collecting cards. Even if the stadium doesn't interest you, you'll find plenty of vendors around the city proudly displaying their wares. Bunker down One of the most famous battles of the War of Independence took place at Bunker Hill. So you can bet your bottom dollar that there's a shop full of memorabilia for you to purchase. Located off of the Freedom Trail, the Bunker Hill Monument has its own gift shop, where you can pick up Bunker-related souvenirs and other oddities dedicated to both the battle and Boston itself. So, have at it. Also other sports things! Besides the Red Sox, Boston has a handful of other famous sports franchises that call it home. At the TD Garden, you'll find shops dedicated to both the basketballing Boston Celtics, and the hockey-pucking Boston Bruins. So go pick up a t-shirt, hat, or jersey and wear them with pride. So what if you're not from Boston? Who's going to stop you? No one, that's who. J R R Token When visiting Boston, chances are you'll take the subway at one time. But long before the advent of contactless cards and digital ticket readers, Bostonites used something else to get through the gates. That's right, people, we're talking about subway tokens. So why not commemorate your vacation and pick one up for yourself at the MBTA gift shop? Sure, it might be a useless sliver of finely crafted metal now, but boy does it tell a story. A story of how people used to pay to ride the subway. They even sell other subway-related memorabilia like toy subways. Perfect for kids who just can't get enough of riding the subway trains. Kids, ey? Easily pleased. Harvard? I hardly knew...ard One stop on your Boston tour should be the city's famous Harvard University. Not only can you take a tour of the facilities with a real, authentic, 100% human student, but you can even visit the campus' rather fantastic Natural History Museum. But why would anyone believe you even went without any proof? Well, don't worry about that; just pick up some sweet Harvard threads and other things at the Harvard Shop! Yes, even you could pretend you attended Harvard by buying a sweet hoodie, or sports-related jacket. Then, use what you learned on the tour to convince others that, yes, you were worthy to walk its halls and learn many things about things. Luck of the Irish Do you ever wonder whether you have too few Irish things in your abode? Need a little green to add to the sheen? Well, guess what? You can do it! Simply head on over to one of the many Irish-themed souvenir shops you'll find in the city. Our recommendation is Southie's Own on W Broadway, where you'll find plenty of delightful Irish oddities to purchase with real money. Do you like Shamrocks? They sell many things adorned with the sprig, including hats. They also sell flags. These should suffice. In the Beantime Baked beans. Love them or hate them; they do exist. We can prove it! Boston is even called Beantown because they became a staple for settlers of the New World. See, proved. And, if you're visiting Beantown, sorry, Boston, then why not pick up the town's modernized take on the humble bean? Nothing quite says America like adding sugar and meat flavors to a healthy legume. These delicious treats are worth the investment, and will be the perfect gift to any friend you'd like to confuse. So go on, get beany with it! Sorry. That was inappropriate. Adamized And finally, let's end with one of Boston's most famous exports; beer! You may have heard of a little brew called Samuel Adams? Well, that tasty treat is based in Boston, so why not buy a t-shirt or other form of clothing that celebrates the suds at the brewery's gift shop? They do hats, beer, coasters, beer, shirts, and even beer. So what are you waiting for? Thanks for reading the menu; hopefully, it helped you discover the best Boston souvenirs. Looking for more Boston fun? Here's our guide to the best times to visit the city! But what if Boston isn't safe? Well, you can find out if it is right here (spoiler alert: it is).
Dom Bewley

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