January in Boston — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.9/10January averages -2°C (28°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 152 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 1.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Boston — 6.3 points higher on the same scale.
February in Boston — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4/10February averages -1°C (30°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 68 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 4 sunny days and 10.3 hours of daylight.
It scores 4/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Boston — 4.2 points higher on the same scale.
March in Boston — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4/10March averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 146 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 11 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Boston — 4.2 points higher on the same scale.
April in Boston — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.4/10April averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 104 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 17 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 6.4/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Boston — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.
May in Boston — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.2/10May averages 14°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 81 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 sunny days and 14.4 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Boston at 8.2/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
June in Boston — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8.2/10June averages 19°C (66°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 91 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 26 sunny days and 15.1 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.2/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
July in Boston — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7.1/10July averages 24°C (74°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
At 120 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 27 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.1/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
August in Boston — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 7.9/10August averages 22°C (72°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
At 106 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 21 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.9/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
September in Boston — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 7.2/10September averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 109 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 13 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
October in Boston — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.7/10October averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 74 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 6 sunny days and 10.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.7/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
November in Boston — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5/10November averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 78 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 9.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 5/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Boston — 3.2 points higher on the same scale.
December in Boston — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.5/10December averages 1°C (34°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 156 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 2.5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.2/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, May is materially better in Boston — 5.7 points higher on the same scale.
