Boston tours during winter months let you see the city in a new way - with no leaves to block the view!
Although fewer Boston tours take place during winter months compared with other times of the year, the good news is that you’ll still have plenty of tour choices for sightseeing, cruising around Boston Harbor, exploring historic sites, and visiting top day trip destinations.
Top Boston Experiences during Winter
- Hop-On Hop-Off Old Town Trolley Tour - Choose 1 or 2 day passes
- View Boston Observatory - Enjoy spectacular views and the Stratus Bar
- Historical Pub Crawl Tour along the Freedom Trail - Soak up history in Boston's cozy pubs
Best of all, Boston winter tours for the chilly months - November, December, January, February, and even March (yes, March can qualify as “winter” here!) - show you our top sights and attractions while keeping you warm and comfortable.
Enjoy a gourmet meal and spectacular skyline views on a luxury Boston Harbor dinner cruise ship. Experience the gilded age in Newport amid lavish Christmas decorations. Visit places you've see before...in iconic movies filmed in Boston. And that's just the beginning.
And if you're looking for a great rainy day activity, most of these fun tours will give you a fun view of the city while keeping you dry.
Top Photo: Victorian mansions in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood during January
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Special Winter Tours of Boston
Boston sparkles during the winter with holidays, decorations, and good cheer. These exciting walking tours, trolley and bus tours, and indoor destinations will show you the best of the city during this special time of the year!
Freedom Trail Historic Pub Crawl Tour
Boston's history is closely linked to the love of good brew. Did you know that the Puritans, the first European settlers, didn't trust the water, so they drank beer instead? And they built a lot of taverns.
Here in Boston, we still love our pubs, and this tour takes you to 4 of our most famous historic taverns where you get to sample some local only-in-Boston brews.
As you go from pub to pub on the Freedom Trail Historic Pub Crawl Tour, you'll pass by Freedom Trail historic sites, so your guide will share some interesting tidbits about all the places you'll see.
Your guide will also entertain you with mostly-true stories about the role that beer played in some of our most important historic events leading up to the American Revolution - let's just say that not everyone was fully sober when they tossed that tea into the Harbor!
So if you love beer, history, and sightseeing and also like to have a good time, don't miss this chance to raise your glass to the founding of America! Even if you don't love beer, there's no need to miss this fascinating tour - so just choose the tour's "Dry Run" option.
North End Walking Tour: Food & History Tour
On this fascinating walking tour of Boston's historic North End and other historic sites, your guide takes you to visit the oldest parts of the city and brings to life the drama of the late 18th century, when this neighborhood played a crucial role in the beginning of the American Revolution.
But as you soak up the special character of the North End's lively Italian culture, you'll notice the delicious aromas of Italian specialties drifting from the restaurants.
Fortunately, this is a food tour - so you'll get to the best of the North End's famous Italian cuisine along the way - fresh bread, cheeses, pastries, meats, and pizza. You'll even stop for a beer at a quirky, almost-hidden historic tavern.
North End Walking Tour - Find Out More
Boston Harbor Tours - Brunch, Lunch, & Dinner Cruises
Although most local cruises operate only during warmer seasons, Boston’s two biggest luxury cruise ships continue offering Harbor tours throughout the winter.
Thanks to their large size and excellent climate control systems, the Odyssey and Spirit of Boston provide a comfortable cruise as they show you spectacular city skyline views and the fascinating Harbor Islands.
Enjoy a tasty meal prepared by an on-board chef, order your favorite beverage from the attentive wait staff, and try out the dance floor!
Outside? Snow, sleet, or freezing rain may be driving down, and an icy wind may be blowing - but you won't care because you'll be inside the warm, welcoming ship as you'll be watching through the windows as the wintry scenes unfold.
Find out more about Odyssey Boston Harbor tours
Get more information about Spirit of Boston tours
Boston TV and Movies Location Tour
Less-than-perfect weather won’t slow you down on this fascinating Boston Movie Mile Locations Tour.
You'll tour in comfort in a warm luxury bus while seeing real Boston locations used in iconic television shows and movies such as Mystic River, The Departed, Cheers, The Town.
Best of all, your guide will show you clips of the actual movies, and share behind-the-scene information about how these local sites get transformed into what you see on the wide screen.
Your tour makes several stops - so keep your camera ready!
Consistently rated as one of the very best Boston tours.
Boston Movies Location Tour - Learn More
Get your Boston Movie Mile Tour tickets
Newport Mansion Christmas Tour
Less than an hour from Boston, the Newport mansions embody 19th century Gilded Age opulence. Come see how elaborate holiday decorations transform these grand homes into dazzling extravaganzas.
Your comfortable tour coach will pick you up in Boston and whisk you to Newport where you'll visit The Breakers, a 70-room waterfront mansion, and Marble House, inspired by Pet it Trianon at Versailles.
Note: These special Christmas tours are offered only during November and December.
Newport Mansion Christmas Tours - Find Out More
Free Museum & Cultural Tours during Winter Months
Tour MFA's new Art of the Americas wing ... get a close look at their Asian and European art collections... see the most exciting contemporary pieces.
These are just a few of the fascinating museum tours offered free (with the price of admission) by Boston's world-famous Museum of Fine Arts, a perfect place to spend the day when the weather is less than stellar.
MFA even offers these tours in French, ASL, Spanish, Russian, and other languages beyond English.
- More tour information: MFA website (enter FREE TOURS in the search box)
- Find out about how to get free entrance to MFA with a GoBoston or CityPASS discount card
More Free Art, History, & Culture Tours:
- Boston Atheaneum Art & Architecture Tours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3pm. Reservations required - call 617-227-0270, ext. 221. More info: Boston Athenaeum website
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace Tour - Sundays, 11am, through January 3 (weather permitting). One-hour tour exploring the market's central role in Boston's history, how it was built, and how it led to Boston's importance as an international trade center. Meet your guide by Pulse Cafe on South Market Street. More info: Faneuil Hall Marketplace website
- Boston Public Library: Daily 1-hour tours highlighting the famed architecture as well as the library's art treasures, including works by John Sargent and Daniel Chester French. Tour time varies by day - check BPL's website for details - select Central Library and click on Tours)
Boston Insider Tip: What to Wear on a Winter Walking Tour
If you're doing one of these Boston walking tours when the weather is cold, dress in layers so that you can remove a layer or two if the sun shines brightly (you may be surprised by how warm you'll get as you're walking around) - and add layers if the wind starts blowing strongly. Warm gloves, thick-soled shoes, a scarf, and a hat will also add to your comfort.
Self-Guided Walking Tour of the Esplanade
Boston's Esplanade may be best known for the Hatch Shell where the Boston Pops give their famous July 4th concert.
But visit during fall or winter, and you can enjoy sweeping river views, examine the many statues, and walk or jog along the winding paths along the river.
To get there from Boston's Public Garden, simply walk along Arlington Street to Charles Street and lightly to the left, pick up Garnier Way - almost an extension of Arlington Street. You'll almost immediately see the curving Fiedler Footbridge arching across Storrow Drive.
Walk up the ramp - and take a moment to savor the expansive views. To you're right, you'll see the Hatch shell, site of the famous Boston Pops July 4th concert.
To your left is a wonderful playground for kids. Nearby, you'll find the striking 8-foot head of famed Pops Conductor Arthur Fiedler carved from 83 layers of sand-blasted aluminum.
Stroll in the other direction, and get a close-up look at the beautiful inlaid wood lining the Hatch Shell. Pose for a photo next to the cannon used in the 1812 Overture at the end of the July 4th Boston Pops concert each summer. On sunny days, relax in one of the benches along the river and watch the ducks bob for fish in the water.
Most of all, enjoy having found one of Boston's almost-hidden treasures!
Save on Tours with Boston Discount Cards
Discover how Boston sightseeing passes give you free entrance museums, cruises, sightseeing trolleys, and tours
More Ideas for Winter Fun:
More Articles about Fun Things to Do in Boston in Winter
- Fenway Park Tour - In the winter?!? Yes, the famous ball park looks magical with snow on the ground, and you'll love the close-up views!
- Boston Outdoor Winter Activities - Skiing, skating, sledding - and that's just the beginning
- Boston Indoor Winter Activities - How to have fun while staying warm and toasty
- Winter Break in Boston - School's out - best things to do in Boston!
- More Boston Sightseeing Tours - See the best of Boston all year round
More Fun Ways to See Boston in the Winter
Find a Boston Hotel
Use this hotel map from Booking.com to find a place to stay during your winter visit. Enter your dates to find cheapest rates on hotels and apartments. Bonus for winter visitors: Boston hotel rates drop to their lowest points during the colder months.
Booking.com
