Our feelings toward winter are about as polarized as New Englanders’ opinions on whether Connecticut is a part of New England. Opinions aside, we’ve curated an objective list of the best winter activities to do in Boston that’ll make you appreciate the season, which we might as well do, since it can be one of the longest and most unpredictable seasons in the city in terms of the temperatures.
Whether it’s ice skating at Frog Pond or hunting down Boston’s best hot chocolate, these are the best things to do this winter in Boston:
1. Warm up at a Candlelight Concert
Bask in the warm glow of thousands of ember LED candles as you’re serenaded by a string quartet playing your favorite tunes from tributes to artists like Taylor Swift, Adele, and more! A Candlelight Concert is a winter bucket list must!
2. Try a blindfolded dinner experience
Indulge in a mysterious secret 3-course menu and test your senses. This unique dining experience, Dining in the Dark, is a completely blindfolded dinner at Somerville’s Premiere on Broadway.
3. Skate Frog Pond
Frog Pond is one of North America’s most iconic ice skating rinks, according to this report. We may be biased, but we agree— and it’s a quintessential winter activity in Boston.
4. Cozy up fireside
We love a cozy restaurant in the winter, especially when they have a fireplace to warm up by. Prima is a favorite, but check out this fireplace dining guide for a list of fireplace restaurant recommendations in Boston.
5. Cheer on New England’s Title Town teams
Whether it’s a Bruins game, the Boston Fleet or the Boston Celtics, there are endless sporting events in Boston during winter. And there is no better city in which to be a sports fan!
6. Find Boston’s best hot cocoa
This Seaport restaurant is speculated to have the best hot chocolate in Boston. There are so many to try, so grab a friend and go on a full hot chocolate crawl of the city to find your favorite!
7. Enjoy seasonal winter lights
It might get dark incredibly early, but that just means more time to enjoy the dazzling lights around the city. Some disappear after the New Year, but many lights remain through March so explore some of the best winter lights in and around Boston!
8. Hit the slopes at the top skiing destinations in New England
From Stowe, Vermont to Gilford, New Hampshire, there are so many places to ski near Boston, some just 30 minutes away like the Weston Ski Track.
9. Visit a winter market
Boston’s dazzling winter markets are back for the season! Make sure to pay a visit to some of the largest markets in the city such as Snowport and the SoWa Winter Festival!
10. Check out the dazzling indoor light show, Genesis
Genesis, an immersive light show with incredible projections and musical accompaniments in a historic building is in the city— this winter only! Visitors voyage on a miraculous 30-minute audiovisual journey through time. Learn more and reserve your seat!