Things to Do in Boston in December

VerdictFair
Ranked#9 of 12
PricesExpensive

December in Boston means early darkness and genuine cold. The sun drops below the horizon before 4:15 PM for most of the month. Daytime temperatures average 5.5°C (42°F) and fall to -2.2°C (28°F) overnight, but wind off Boston Harbor adds a raw, biting edge to those numbers. If you're arriving from anywhere south of Washington, D.C., the chill will likely catch you off guard the moment you step outside Logan Airport.

The trade-off is real holiday atmosphere. Beacon Hill's gas-lit streets look like a period film set once the wreaths go up in early December. The tree lighting on Boston Common draws thousands on its opening night. Boston Ballet runs The Nutcracker at the Citizens Bank Opera House through late December, and the North End's Italian bakeries fill their cases with panettone and struffoli. The smell of espresso mixes with cold salt air along Hanover Street. You can feel the season in this city in a way that newer, sunnier places can't replicate.

You'll pay for all of it, though. Hotel rates in Back Bay and the Seaport tend to climb 30-50% above the annual average between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. Mid-December offers a brief window of relative calm after college students clear out of Cambridge and the Fenway area, but it closes fast once the Christmas week visitors arrive. First Night Boston on December 31 draws a final wave to close out the year.

Why visit in December

Holiday decorations on Beacon Hill and Boston Common create genuine winter atmosphere, not the manufactured kind. The gas lamps on Charles Street have been there since the 1800s.
College students leave after mid-December finals, noticeably thinning crowds around Harvard Square, the Fenway area, and the Green Line.
Peak season for cold-water New England oysters. Varieties from Wellfleet, Duxbury, and Island Creek are at their plumpest and briniest in December's frigid waters.
World-class indoor venues, from the Museum of Fine Arts to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, make cold days productive rather than wasted.

Worth knowing

Sunset before 4:15 PM limits outdoor sightseeing to roughly 6 hours of usable daylight, and the Freedom Trail's last few stops will be in the dark if you start after 1 PM.
Wind chill off Boston Harbor regularly pushes the feels-like temperature to -10°C (14°F) or lower, turning a 20-minute waterfront walk into an endurance test.
Hotel rates run 30-50% above the annual average during the holiday stretch from mid-December through New Year's, with limited availability for last-minute bookings.
Nor'easters can arrive with little warning in December, dumping 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) of snow and disrupting flights out of Logan for 24-48 hours.

Best for

Think twice if

Weather measured 6° / -2°C 111mm rain · 11 rainy days · 71% humidity rains perceptibly ~2h/day · 87% of mornings dry

Crowds medium

Pack A windproof, insulated winter coat rated to at least -5°C (23°F), thermal base layers of merino wool or synthetic, waterproof boots with traction for icy sidewalks, and wool or fleece accessories for your head, hands, and neck. Indoor spaces are heated to 20-22°C (68-72°F), so dress in removable layers to avoid overheating on the T or inside museums.

December in Boston brings steady cold with occasional snow. Expect gray skies and temperatures that rarely climb above 6°C (43°F). Wind off the harbor makes it feel colder than the thermometer reads. About 11 days see measurable precipitation, split between cold rain and wet snow. Late December can occasionally dip below -10°C (14°F) during cold snaps, though those typically last 2-3 days before moderating.

Seasonal caution

Wind chill regularly pushes feels-like temperatures to -10°C (14°F) or colder, especially along the waterfront and on exposed bridges. Frostbite risk on exposed skin becomes real at these temperatures after 30 minutes.
Nor'easters can hit in December, bringing 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) of snow, high winds, and flight cancellations at Logan Airport. Monitor forecasts 3-5 days out and build a buffer day into your travel plans.
Icy sidewalks are common after any precipitation event. The brick sidewalks in Beacon Hill and the North End become particularly slippery. Traction on your footwear is not optional.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Boston
Month	Avg high (°C)	Avg low (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
Jan	3	-5	113
Feb	4	-6	77
Mar	9	-1	113
Apr	14	4	86
May	20	10	111
Jun	26	16	77
Jul	29	19	134
Aug	27	18	89
Sep	23	15	129
Oct	18	9	110
Nov	11	2	65
Dec	6	-2	111

Headline events

Citywide Free

Boston Common Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration

First Thursday of December

The city's official start to the holiday season. Nova Scotia has donated a white spruce to Boston every year since 1971, a thank-you for relief aid Boston sent after the 1917 Halifax Explosion. The lighting ceremony on Boston Common typically draws over 20,000 people, with performances and fireworks over Frog Pond.

#BostonTreeLighting

Citywide Free

First Night Boston

December 31

Boston's New Year's Eve arts festival has been running since 1976, making it the oldest First Night celebration in the country. Copley Square hosts the midnight countdown and fireworks, and the evening fills Back Bay with ice sculptures, live performances, and processions. The cold is part of the tradition at this point.

#FirstNightBoston

Best things to do in December

Ice skating at Frog Pond on Boston Common

outdoor

The Frog Pond rink has been a December fixture since 1996. It sits in the middle of Boston Common with views of the State House dome and the holiday lights. The rink is smaller than you might expect, which keeps the atmosphere intimate. Weekday mornings are the least crowded. Skate rental is available on site.

The rink is open November through mid-March, but December brings the holiday lights on the Common, and the combination of skating under lit trees in the cold night air is the peak experience.

Booking tipWeekday mornings before 11 AM tend to have the shortest waits for skate rental. Weekend evenings draw the biggest crowds.

Walk the Beacon Hill holiday decorations

sightseeing

Beacon Hill's narrow brick sidewalks, Federal-era row houses, and gas-lit lamps on Acorn Street and Charles Street look like a greeting card once residents hang wreaths, candles, and garlands in early December. The neighborhood is compact. You can walk the main streets in about 45 minutes.

Decorations go up in the first week of December and come down shortly after New Year's. This is the only month the full display is in place.

Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker at Citizens Bank Opera House

culture

Boston Ballet has performed The Nutcracker since 1965. The Citizens Bank Opera House on Washington Street seats about 2,600, and the production uses over 250 costumes. Performances run from late November through late December, with matinee and evening shows most days during the holiday weeks.

The Nutcracker is a December-only production. It typically closes the weekend before Christmas or shortly after, depending on the year's schedule.

Booking tipWeekend matinee performances sell out earliest. Weeknight shows tend to have better seat availability, especially in the first two weeks of December.

Museum of Fine Arts winter visit

culture

The MFA holds over 500,000 works across 53 galleries. December is a good time to spend 3-4 hours inside without feeling like you're missing outdoor weather. The Art of the Americas wing and the Japanese garden courtyard are highlights. The museum stays open until 10 PM on Wednesdays.

With only 6 hours of usable daylight and frequent cold rain, December makes indoor cultural venues the logical center of a visit. Wednesday late nights are less crowded than weekend afternoons.

Booking tipWednesday evening visits after 5 PM tend to have noticeably thinner crowds than weekend daytime hours.

Holiday shopping on Newbury Street

shopping

Newbury Street in Back Bay runs 8 blocks from the Public Garden to Massachusetts Avenue. The street mixes independent boutiques, galleries, and chain retailers. December window displays go up after Thanksgiving, and the brownstone storefronts give the shopping a different feel from a mall. Side streets like Gloucester and Exeter have smaller shops worth ducking into.

Holiday window displays and seasonal pop-up shops only appear from late November through December. The street also has more energy in the evenings during this period, with extended store hours.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

culture

Gardner built her Venetian-style palazzo in the Fenway in 1903 and filled it with Titians, Rembrandts, and Sargents. The central courtyard, with its year-round plantings under a glass roof, feels like stepping into a different climate. The museum still follows Gardner's original arrangement. Nothing has been moved since her death.

The courtyard's warmth and greenery stand in sharp contrast to the December cold outside. The museum also hosts a series of chamber music concerts in December, a tradition Gardner herself started.

SoWa Winter Market

shopping

The SoWa market in the South End shifts indoors for winter, filling warehouse spaces on Harrison Avenue with local artisans, vintage dealers, and food vendors. The December edition leans heavily into holiday gift shopping, with handmade goods from New England makers. The smell of fresh crepes and hot chocolate fills the space.

The winter market runs only from November through late December. The holiday edition brings the widest selection of vendors and the largest crowds on weekend afternoons.

Boston Harbor holiday cruise

sightseeing

Several operators run evening cruises from Long Wharf through December. The boats pass the waterfront skyline lit up for the holidays, with views of the Zakim Bridge and the harbor islands. Most cruises run 60-90 minutes. The heated cabins have large windows, but the open deck gives the better photos if you can handle the cold.

The waterfront and skyline holiday lighting is only in place from late November through early January. Evening cruises after dark, which in December means anytime after 4:30 PM, get the full effect.

What to eat in December

On menus now

New England clam chowder
Every restaurant serves it year-round, but a thick, cream-based bowl after walking the Freedom Trail in 2°C wind is a different experience entirely. Legal Sea Foods and Atlantic Fish Company are reliable standards, though neighborhood spots in the North End and South Boston often have more character.
Lobster bisque
Boston's winter take on lobster. Rich, creamy, and served blisteringly hot, it shows up on most seafood restaurant menus from November through March. The warmth and richness suit December in a way that a cold lobster roll does not.
Italian holiday pastries from the North End
The bakeries on Hanover Street add panettone, struffoli, and sfogliatelle to their cases starting in early December. Mike's Pastry and Modern Pastry both do brisk holiday business, with lines spilling onto the sidewalk on weekend afternoons. The smell of anise and powdered sugar in those narrow shops is pure North End.

What to drink

Hot buttered rum
A traditional New England cold-weather drink that bars in Beacon Hill and Back Bay tend to make well. Spiced rum, butter, warm spices, and hot water. The Brick & Mortar bar in Cambridge has been known for a particularly good version.
Hot apple cider
Sold at the Boston Common Frog Pond skating area and at the holiday markets in Copley Square. The warm, spiced version tends to appear only from late November through the end of December. It pairs well with cold hands and the sound of skate blades on ice.

In markets

Wellfleet and Island Creek oysters
December's near-freezing water temperatures on Cape Cod and the South Shore produce the plumpest, briniest oysters of the year. The cold slows the oysters' metabolism and concentrates their flavor. Raw bars across the Seaport and Back Bay run oyster happy hours that typically drop prices to roughly half the dinner rate.

Regular events in December

Boston Common Holiday Tree LightingFree

Nova Scotia's annual gift of a white spruce to Boston, lit on the Common with fireworks, music, and a crowd that regularly tops 20,000 people. The tradition dates to 1971.

First Thursday of December

Blink! at Faneuil HallFree

A holiday light and sound show projected onto the facade of Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Shows run every half hour from dusk until 10 PM throughout December. The 4-minute display draws crowds to the cobblestoned plaza.

Throughout December, nightly

Tuba Christmas at Faneuil HallFree

A gathering of tuba and euphonium players performing Christmas carols on the Faneuil Hall steps. The event has been running nationally since 1974, and Boston's edition typically draws 40-60 brass players. The sound of that many tubas playing 'Silent Night' in the open air is oddly moving.

Mid-December, typically a Saturday afternoon

Christmas Revels at Sanders Theatre

The Revels is a participatory performance of music, dance, and ritual celebrating the winter solstice, held in Harvard's Sanders Theatre in Cambridge since 1971. Each year focuses on a different cultural tradition. The audience joins in on several songs. Sanders Theatre, with its dark wood and high arches, adds to the atmosphere.

Mid to late December, multiple performances

First Night BostonFree

Boston's city-wide New Year's Eve arts festival, the oldest in the United States, fills the Back Bay with ice sculptures, live music, dance performances, and a midnight countdown with fireworks at Copley Square.

December 31

Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall

The Boston Pops perform holiday concerts at Symphony Hall throughout December, led by Keith Lockhart since 1995. The 2,625-seat hall on Massachusetts Avenue gets decked out in holiday greenery, and the program mixes seasonal standards with orchestral arrangements.

Throughout December

Best places this December

Boston Common and the Public Garden
park
The Common's holiday lights and the Frog Pond skating rink make this the center of December activity. The adjacent Public Garden is quieter and prettier with a dusting of snow on the bare trees and the frozen lagoon. The Make Way for Ducklings statues sometimes get tiny scarves in winter.
Downtown
Beacon Hill
neighborhood
Gas-lit streets, brick row houses, and December wreaths on every door. Acorn Street and Louisburg Square are the most photographed blocks. Charles Street at the base of the hill has independent bookshops, antique stores, and cafes that are good warming-up stops.
Beacon Hill
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
historic site
The Blink! light show runs nightly on the Faneuil Hall facade through December. Quincy Market's food hall inside stays warm and busy. The area skews touristy, but the colonial architecture and the holiday crowd give it genuine December energy.
Downtown
The North End
neighborhood
Boston's Italian neighborhood. Hanover Street's bakeries and cafes are at their most fragrant in December, with holiday pastry cases and espresso steam. The Old North Church at the end of the street runs candlelight services in December that are worth attending regardless of denomination.
North End
Harvard Square and Harvard Yard
neighborhood
Once finals end around December 15, the Square empties out noticeably. The Harvard Coop bookstore and the cafes along Brattle Street are good for a slow afternoon. Harvard Yard under snow, with the bare elms and red brick, is one of the more photogenic winter scenes in greater Boston.
Cambridge
Boston Public Library, Copley Square
cultural
The McKim Building's Bates Hall, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and green reading lamps, is one of the most beautiful public rooms in America. The library is free to enter and warm. The courtyard is closed in winter, but the interior galleries and the map collection are open.
Back Bay
Seaport District
neighborhood
The newer waterfront neighborhood has restaurants, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and harbor walks that feel exposed and windswept in December. The ICA's glass cantilever over the harbor is striking in winter light, and the galleries inside are warm. The Seaport's restaurant row tends to be less crowded on weeknights in December than Back Bay's.
Seaport

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Insulated winter coatWindproof and rated to at least -5°C (23°F). Down or synthetic insulation. The wind off the harbor cuts through anything lighter.Shop
Thermal base layersMerino wool or synthetic long underwear for both top and bottom. You'll want these for any day that involves more than 30 minutes of outdoor walking.Shop
Waterproof boots with tractionBrick sidewalks in Beacon Hill and the North End become ice rinks after any precipitation. Rubber-soled boots with aggressive tread are not a style choice here, they're a safety requirement.Shop
Wool or fleece hatYou lose significant heat through your head, and the wind tunnels between Back Bay's brownstones will remind you of this fast.Shop
Insulated glovesTouchscreen-compatible if you plan to take photos. Your hands will be the first thing to go numb on the waterfront.Shop
Scarf or neck gaiterCovers the gap between your coat collar and hat. The wind finds exposed skin along the Harborwalk in about 3 minutes.Shop
Layers for indoorsMuseums, restaurants, and T stations are heated to 20-22°C (68-72°F). A heavy coat over a single layer means you're either freezing outside or sweating inside. A zip fleece or light sweater under the coat gives you options.Shop
Compact umbrellaDecember precipitation is roughly split between rain and snow. The rain days tend to come with wind, so a compact, wind-resistant umbrella is more useful than a full-size one.Shop
Hand warmersDisposable heat packs for your pockets. They cost almost nothing and make a 2-hour walking tour of the Freedom Trail tolerable when the wind chill drops below -5°C (23°F).Shop

Insider tips

The T (Boston's subway) runs until about 12:30 AM most nights, but December weekend service can be crowded after holiday events. The Green Line, which serves Back Bay and Fenway, is the slowest and most packed. If you're heading back to a hotel in Back Bay after the tree lighting or a Pops concert, walking 15 minutes is often faster than waiting for a train.
The window between December 5 and December 18 is the sweet spot for hotel rates. Thanksgiving visitors have left, college students are in finals or gone, and the Christmas wave hasn't hit yet. You'll still get the holiday decorations without the holiday pricing peak.
Oyster happy hours at raw bars in the Seaport and Back Bay typically run weekday afternoons, roughly 3-5 PM. December oysters are noticeably different from summer ones, plumper and more mineral. If you've only had oysters in warm months, try a cold-water comparison.
The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles and takes about 90 minutes without stops. In December, start by 10 AM to finish in daylight. The stretch from the Old North Church to Copp's Hill Burying Ground gets icy and uneven. Watch your footing on the brick.
Parking in Boston is genuinely difficult in December. Garages near Faneuil Hall and the Seaport fill up on weekend evenings. The T and ride-sharing are both more reliable than trying to park, especially in Beacon Hill and the North End where street parking is resident-only.

Avoid these mistakes

Underestimating the wind chill. The thermometer might read 3°C (37°F), but wind off the harbor drops the feels-like temperature to -5°C (23°F) or lower. People who dress for the posted temperature end up cutting outdoor plans short.
Starting the Freedom Trail after noon. With sunset around 4:15 PM, a late start means finishing the North End section in full darkness on unlit, narrow streets with icy brick sidewalks.
Booking a hotel for Christmas week without checking rates first. The holiday premium in central Boston is steep, and availability drops fast after mid-November. Booking early or staying in Cambridge or Somerville can take the edge off.
Assuming the T is fast. Boston's subway system is the oldest in America (1897), and it sometimes feels like it. The Green Line in particular runs on surface-level tracks through the Back Bay and can be slow and crowded. Build extra time into your transit plans.
Skipping layers because you'll 'mostly be indoors.' The walk between indoor venues, even a 5-minute stretch between a restaurant and a T station, will remind you that December air in Boston has teeth.

Practical tips for December

Book holiday-week hotels and Nutcracker tickets as early as possible, ideally by mid-November. The brief calm window from roughly December 5-18 tends to offer better hotel availability and slightly lower rates than the weeks on either side. Layer clothing for temperature swings between the heated T, warm restaurants, and the raw outdoor air. If you're planning a Freedom Trail walk, start before 11 AM to finish in daylight, and wear boots with real traction for the brick sidewalks. Check MBTA service alerts before heading out, as weekend track maintenance and storm-related delays are common in December. Carry a portable phone charger, as cold weather drains batteries faster than you'd expect, and you'll likely be using your phone for maps and ride-sharing.

FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Boston?

It depends on what you're after. If you want holiday atmosphere, world-class museums, and cold-water oysters, December delivers all three. But you'll have only about 6 hours of daylight, temperatures that regularly dip below freezing, and hotel rates well above the annual average. It's a fair-weather month for fair-weather visitors, which is to say, it's not. You need to genuinely enjoy winter to have a good time here in December.

Does it snow in Boston in December?

It can, though December is not Boston's snowiest month (that tends to be January or February). Boston averages about 25 cm (10 inches) of snow in December, but individual storms vary widely. Some Decembers barely see a flurry, while a single nor'easter can drop 20-30 cm (8-12 inches) in one shot. The city handles snow efficiently, and major roads and the T typically recover within a day.

What should I wear in Boston in December?

A real winter coat, not a fall jacket. Insulated, windproof, rated to at least -5°C (23°F). Thermal base layers, waterproof boots with traction soles, and wool or fleece accessories for your head, hands, and neck. The wind off the harbor makes the actual temperature feel 5-10 degrees colder. Layer so you can peel down indoors, where heating runs at 20-22°C (68-72°F).

How do I get around Boston in December?

The MBTA subway (the T) covers most visitor destinations. The Red Line connects Cambridge and Harvard Square to Downtown. The Green Line runs through Back Bay, and the Orange Line hits the North End area. Service runs until about 12:30 AM. Ride-sharing apps are widely available but can have longer wait times after holiday events. Walking is practical for short distances, but dress for it and watch for ice on sidewalks.

Is Boston expensive to visit in December?

Yes, it's one of the pricier months. Hotel rates in central neighborhoods run 30-50% above the annual average during the holiday period. The early-to-mid December window before Christmas visitors arrive offers slightly better rates. Restaurant prices are mostly stable, but popular spots add premium prix fixe menus for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Museum admission is at standard rates year-round.