
“Should I visit Boston in winter?”
This is a question I get a lot from readers who know that this city is my beloved hometown. The answer is simple: the weather in Boston from October to April is a game of roulette. You can win big, or get slapped in the face!

Winter in Boston Can Be Great!
On one hand, you may luck out with your winter visit to Boston. It MAY be ridiculously warm and gorgeous here, making your tourism in “America’s Walking City” a breeze. This winter we’ve had two days in the 60s!

OR Boston Snow Can Wallop Us
The danger of traveling to Boston during our cold season, however, is clear for anyone who’s watched the news recently: We MAY get massive loads of snow without warning! These storms can cause your travel plans to be canceled, delayed, or generally thrown into a tailspin.

Boston Can Get Major Blizzard Action
In 2015, we beat the all-time record for snow in Boston and achieved NINE FEET of the white stuff over the course of multiple back-to-back blizzards. That was insane, and undoubtably wreaked havoc on the travel plans of our city’s tourists, not to mention the lives of us locals!
Pigeons huddled together for winter warmth.
But Some Years, Boston Gets Almost No Snow
In 2016, we only had one major blizzard, and that was cleared up quite quickly. Before the plows worked their magic, though, I was able to spend a day photographing Boston under that frosting.

Boston is Beautiful in Winter Snow!
The resulting lovely photos are displayed here for your enjoyment, and these images reveal the other way you could luck out in winter travel here: You might get to see how pretty Boston is under a fresh blanket of snow! So what are the best places to gaze at this city in winter? Here is my suggestion for…

A Great Boston Walking Tour:
If your winter travel timing does work out fortuitously, I recommend you stroll through the following areas to see some of Boston’s prettiest spots. (Note: This walking tour itinerary is gorgeous in any season! I just took the photographs in winter this round.)
Begin at Copley Square (by the Copley stop on the Green Line and Back Bay station on the Orange Line MBTA trains). Pop into the stunning Copley Library, and admire the mirrored Hancock Building and how it reflects Trinity Church.

Walk Newbury St. for a European Feel
From there, walk northeast along Boylston Street (lots of fun shops) or Newbury Street (such European flair!) towards the Boston Public Garden. Now, during the summer, the Public Garden is known for its heavenly Swan Boats, Make Way For Duckling statues, and romantic marriage proposals. But is it worth a visit during the colder months? Yes!

Stroll through Boston Public Garden
During the winter, the Boston Public Garden is transformed into a wedding cake of white-laced willows and water. It’s a sight not to be missed if you’re lucky enough to have any time in Boston! (This is not to be confused with Boston Public Market, which is named as an homage to the park.)


The Esplanade Along the Charles River
After wandering the Public Garden, head northwest on Arlington Street towards the Charles River. If you follow Arlington Street, it will take you on a pedestrian bridge over Storrow Drive and plop you safely on the gorgeous Charles River Esplanade: the garden park along the river!

During colder months, the esplanade can be blustery and frigid as the wind whips off the water, but odds are just as good that the sun will be sparkling off the ice under a bright blue winter sky, and you’ll see some unforgettable scenery.


When you’ve had your fill of the wintry water sights, head back over the bridge to Arlington Street and walk along the southwest border of the Public Garden until Arlington intersects with Commonwealth Avenue.

The Tree-Lined Strip of Commonwealth Ave.
Dear “Comm. Ave.” as it is called, is a classic Boston street with a wide green park running down the middle of the street. As you can see from the lead photo of this article, its towering trees look luscious in the snow!

More Photos of Boston in Winter Snow
All these photos show the beauty you can see along this route, so let’s take a moment to sit back and admire more of Boston in winter.


See? Boston in Winter Can be Awesome!
Despite the risks of travel delays due to blizzards, I hope these photos make it clear why the odds are good that visiting Boston in winter is still worth it! Now I’m curious to hear from YOU. What’s your take on this fine city during our colder months? Do share!

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Want more Boston winter? Check out these ice storm photos, a pink sunset over snow, and icicle city. Any purchases through the affiliate links in this article support this site at no cost to you. Thank you!
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Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski says
What fantastic pictures! The city looks gorgeous in winter.
Anna says
Thank you for this gorgeous blog. Makes you want to visit Boston.
Lillie says
Yay! That makes me very happy. It’s a fabulous city to visit!
Maggie says
Stunning Pictures!!! Boston looks lovely, It gives me excellent enjoyment to look at these pictures and delight your excellent content here. I highly appreciate it.
Lillie says
Thanks, Maggie!
Mary @ Green Global Travel says
I enjoyed reading about the virtues of visiting Boston in the winter from my warm home in Atlanta. The photos of the trees with snow look beautiful. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your hometown.
jlm says
Beautiful pictures. Sometimes when you live here, you forget to notice how beautiful it is. I’m curious why you chose you call the Arthur Fielder head on the Esplanade a “head statue”
Lillie says
Thanks for your comment! You ask a good question about my title for the statue. I didn’t realize who it was (just looked it up and see that Arthur Fielder was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra), but now I know. Thank you!
Keryn says
I can’t get over these stunning scenes! You are making me regret not heading downtown to DC during our last snow. Sadly by the time the metro started running after the blizzard the snow was already gross. Ugh!
Danielle Kempe says
I’m a fellow MA resident.
I live just south of the city of Boston in a city called Quincy, MA. (Tourists, come visit! We’re known as the City of Presidents and our national park visitors center offers great guided tours!)
I live off the subway system here, so I get to the beautiful areas of Boston that Lillie photographed with a 30 – 40 minute train ride.
I’m spoiled by how much I love the city of Boston – regardless of our crazy weather.
Today it’s windy, but 54 degrees!
It’s totally worth it to come visit any time of the year.
And please don’t believe the rumors that Bostonian’s aren’t friendly. I go out of my way to help people who look confused on our subway (MBTA) or are looking at a map beside one of our streets that was formerly a cow path.
Mama Munchkin (@globalmunchkins) says
Absolutely stunning photography. It looks like I need to add Boston to my list. I had not thought of visiting in the winter before. But, after drooling over these photos it seems like a great time to go!
Wandering Educators says
Lovely photos! I love winter.
Penny Sadler says
Beautiful photos. I agree it’s a great photo op! I’m thinking a nice Irish Whiskey is a good idea after all that frosty stuff.
Lillie says
Good idea! Just have to wait until after my pregnancy!
Cathy says
In New England if you don’t like the weather- give it a minute, it will change! That quote is oh so true! Beautiful photos of Boston!
Lillie says
SUCH a true saying!
Dave. M says
Boston in the winter definitely is a dicey game!
And I never knew pigeons could be so pretty :)
Lillie says
I’ve always admired the subtle iridescent rainbows of pigeon feathers, and was so excited that those two pretty ones let me get close enough to photograph their fashionable outfits!
Bethaney - Flashpacker Family says
We visited Boston in the summer and it was lovely. So hot and sunny. It looks beautiful like this also. I love the snow on the trees.
Lillie says
So glad you got to see our city in the summer! It’s great in all seasons. Autumn is arguably even more incredible!