The best things to do in Boston in winter are skating on the Frog Pond on Boston Common (mid-November to March), long afternoons in the city's museums, a Celtics or Bruins game at TD Garden, a year-round tour of Fenway Park, and a handful of fixed events: the Common's tree lighting on December 3, 2026, First Night on New Year's Eve, free museum entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18, 2027), the Boston Wine & Food Festival from January 22 to March 6, 2027, and Dine Out Boston from February 20 to March 7, 2027.
Winter here is real: January averages a high of 37°F, and Logan Airport gets about 47 inches of snow between December and March in a normal year. Build each day around one indoor anchor, keep outdoor plans flexible, and know which favorites close until spring.
How cold is Boston in winter?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 42°F | 29°F | 9 inches |
| January | 37°F | 23°F | 14 inches |
| February | 39°F | 25°F | 14 inches |
| March | 46°F | 31°F | 9 inches |
Snowstorms can close the outdoor rinks, which post their closings, and the MBTA lists weather among the main causes of delays, so give outdoor plans a backup. Waterproof boots matter more than a heavy coat, because Boston is a walking city.
Winter events in Boston, December to March
| When | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| December 3, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m. | Boston Common tree lighting, free | Boston Common |
| December 3 to 17, 2026 | Holiday Pops | Symphony Hall |
| November 27 to December 31, 2026 | Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker | Citizens Opera House |
| November 20 to December 27, 2026 | SoWa Christmas Market, indoors | SoWa Power Station, South End |
| December 31 | First Night Boston, free | City Hall Plaza to Boston Common |
| January 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Gardner free for all, MFA free for Massachusetts residents | Fenway |
| January 22 to March 6, 2027 | Boston Wine & Food Festival | Boston Harbor Hotel |
| February 20 to March 7, 2027 | Dine Out Boston restaurant week | Participating restaurants |
Snowport, the outdoor holiday market at 100 Seaport Boulevard, ran from November 7 to December 28 in 2025; its 2026 dates had not been announced when we checked. December and January each have their own guide: things to do in Boston in December and things to do in Boston in January.
Outdoor things to do in a Boston winter
- Skate the Frog Pond. The Skating Club of Boston runs the rink on the Common from mid-November into March, with admission and skate rental fees; weather closings are posted on its site. Park Street station is on the Common.
- Winter on the Waterfront. Boston Harbor Now runs winter events along the harbor, including skating at the state's Steriti Memorial Rink in the North End.
- Sled on Flagstaff Hill. The hill under the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Common has long been the city's sledding slope after a snowfall.
- Drink by a fire pit. Rooftop at The Envoy in the Seaport stays open all winter with fire pits and seasonal igloos; book ahead.
- Ski for a day. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton is about 50 miles west of Boston by road; it is a car trip.
Indoor plans for cold days
Build the day around a museum. The Museum of Fine Arts is open until 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and closed on Tuesdays; the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a few blocks away, is free on Thursday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. and its glass-roofed courtyard flowers all year. The Institute of Contemporary Art is also free on Thursday nights. The Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium are open daily and suit a snow day with children; our winter guide for families has more.
For sport, the Celtics and the Bruins both play at TD Garden, where the guided Sports Museum tour runs daily except on some event days and holidays. Fenway Park tours run every day of the year, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between November and March. For a warm meal, chowder and oysters at Union Oyster House, on Union Street since 1826, suit the weather, and Boston Public Market is an indoor place to graze above Haymarket station.
Where to stay for a winter trip
Pick a hotel near the T, so a snowstorm does not strand you. The Lenox Hotel, half a block from Copley station, lights the wood-burning fireplaces in its fireplace rooms and several suites from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Hotels connected to the Prudential Center and Copley Place, such as Mandarin Oriental, Boston, let you shop and eat in Back Bay without going outside.
What is closed in Boston in winter?
- The Swan Boats in the Public Garden: closed until mid-April.
- Boston Harbor Islands ferries: mid-May to mid-October only.
- The New England Aquarium whale watch: May through November only.
- Community Boating's kayak and sailboat rentals: April 1 to October 31.
- Boston Duck Tours: late March into November.
- The SoWa Open Market: Sundays from May to mid-November.
- The Paul Revere House: open, but closed on Mondays in January, February and March.
Visiting at the tail end of the season? See things to do in Boston in March.
Sources: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Logan; Frog Pond; Boston Harbor Now; City of Boston tree lighting; Holiday Pops; Boston Ballet; First Night Boston; MFA free days; Gardner Museum; Boston Wine & Food Festival; Dine Out Boston; Wachusett Mountain. Checked October 1, 2026.