Baby, It's Cold Outside: 15 Fun Things to Do in Boston Despite the Winter Chill

Don’t let the cold keep you indoors – Boston is a spectacular city that comes alive during winter. This guide features 15 amazing activities you can do throughout the season.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: 15 Fun Things to Do in Boston Despite the Winter Chill

Check out our favorite things to do in Boston during winter:

Skate in Boston Common
Head to the Prudential Skywalk Observatory
Visit The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
Head to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Snap some photos at Mapparium
Swing by the Boston Children’s Museum
Spend the day at the Museum of African-American History
Take a tour of the Taza Chocolate Factory
Stop by the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum
Check out the Boston Winter Holiday Market
Visit the Brattle Book Shop
Head to the trees at Boston Common and Copley Square
Tip your glass at Samuel Adams Brewery or Harpoon Brewery
Sip a latte at Caffe Vittoria
Check out the abandoned Brook Farm

Here’s a closer look at each.

#1. Ice Skate in Boston Common

Boston Common is one of the oldest public parks in the country, and it’s a great place to ice skate in winter. The rink is open from late November through early March. Don’t have skates? That’s okay – you can rent them on site. If you know you’ll go back several times, you can purchase season passes; you can also rent skating aids for kids learning to skate, have your skates sharpened, and get a locker to keep your belongings secure while you enjoy your time around the rink.

#2. Head to the Prudential Skywalk Observatory

The Prudential Skywalk Observatory is one of the best places to get views of Boston, and it’s open year-round. You’ll get an up-close look at some of Boston’s most iconic landmarks from 50 floors up. While you’re there, warm up in the cafe or do some shopping in the on-site stores. You can also purchase tickets to the observation deck in advance online.

#3. Visit The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Learn about one of the most important events in American history at The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. This interactive museum allows you to experience what it was like on the deck of the ships during the Boston Tea Party. You can also explore exhibits on the history leading up to the event, participate in hands-on activities, and see artifacts from the time period. The museum is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

#4. Head to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston is one of the largest museums in the country, and it has a wide array of art on display. You can see paintings, sculptures, photographs, textiles, and more from different cultures and time periods. The museum is open every day except for Tuesdays; Admission is free for Massachusetts residents.

#5. Snap Some Photos at Mapparium

Mapparium is a three-story, stained-glass globe at the Mary Baker Eddy Library. It’s one of the most unique places to take photos in Boston. You can walk inside the glass globe and see the world as it was in 1935, when this artistically majestic piece was crafted. The Mapparium is open every day except for Sundays; admission is free for Massachusetts residents.

#6. Swing by the Boston Children’s Museum

The Boston Children’s Museum is a great place to take kids of all ages. There are interactive exhibits on science, culture, art, and more. The Boston Children’s Museum is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is free for children under the age of 1.

#7. Spend the Day at the Museum of African-American History

Learn about the history and culture of African Americans at the Museum of African American History. The museum has exhibits on slavery, Civil Rights, music, art, and more. The Museum of African American History is open every day except Monday.

#8. Take a Tour of the Taza Chocolate Factory

If you love chocolate, you’ll want to take a tour of the Taza Chocolate Factory. You’ll learn about how chocolate is made, and you’ll get to try some of the delicious chocolate Taza produces. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday; you can purchase tickets in advance online.

#9. Stop by the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a must-see for art lovers. The museum has a collection of paintings, sculptures, textiles, and more from different cultures and time periods. Most of the pieces in the collection were collected in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Mrs. Gardner, who established the museum after returning from global travels. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is open every day except Tuesday.

#10. Check out the Boston Winter Holiday Market

The Boston Winter Holiday Market is a great place to find unique gifts for your loved ones (or yourself). The market features a variety of vendors selling handmade goods, jewelry, clothes, and more. The market is open from the end of November through Christmas Eve.

#11. Visit the Brattle Book Shop

The Brattle Book Shop is one of the oldest and largest used bookstores in the country. You can find books on a wide range of topics, and the prices are unbeatable. Featuring two floors of general used books and an additional floor packed with rare and antique books, as well as an outside sale lot, the Brattle Book Shop is open every day except Sunday. Typically, a buyer is on-site between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. if you’re looking to part with your own books, as well.

#12. Head to the Trees at Boston Common and Copley Square

Boston Common and Copley Square are two of the most popular places to see beautifully illuminated Christmas trees in Boston. Every year, a huge tree is lit up in each location, and they’re surrounded by smaller trees decorated by different local organizations. The trees at Boston Common and Copley Square are lit up in early December and stay lit until early January.

#13. Tip Your Glass at Samuel Adams Brewery or Harpoon Brewery

Boston is known for its beers and lagers, and there are two great breweries you can visit to learn about the brewing process and sample some of the best beer in the city. Samuel Adams Brewery offers tours every day except Sunday, and Harpoon Brewery offers tours Monday through Saturday. You must be 21 or older to take a tour at either brewery.

#14. Sip an Espresso at Caffe Vittoria

Caffe Vittoria is Boston’s oldest Italian coffeehouse, and it’s a great place to stop for a quick pick-me-up. The coffeehouse has a cozy, old-world vibe, and the espresso is some of the best in the city. Caffe Vittoria located about a one-minute walk from the Paul Revere House and is open daily.

#15. Check out the Abandoned Brook Farm

If you’re interested in exploring Boston’s history, you should visit the abandoned Brook Farm. This former utopian community was founded in 1841 and was home to many notable writers and thinkers, including Nathaniel Hawthorne (though, reportedly, Hawthorne did not enjoy his time there). The Brook Farm is now a National Historic Site, and you can take a self-guided tour of the grounds. The site is open from mid-April through mid-November.

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Boston?

If you’re searching for a luxury home for sale in Boston, or if you’re selling your home, we can help. Call 617-967-5271 or get in touch with us online so we can discuss your needs. In the meantime, please feel free to browse our listings in the following communities:

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: 15 Fun Things to Do in Boston Despite the Winter Chill