Best Things to Do in Boston in January

Top 10 Boston activities for January

Looking for interesting things to do in Boston in January? Boston hotels offer their cheapest rates this month, and the city is full of fun activities and events.

Outdoors, winter sports hold center stage at TD Garden, Fenway Park, local ice rinks, and ski slopes.

Indoors, Boston cultural venues, restaurants, and nightlife provide lots to do. Two big wine events add extra warmth. And Boston sports fans get to cheer the Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots.

'Skating' across the ice on the Lagoon in Boston's Public Garden / Things to Do in Boston in January - www.boston-discovery-guide.com

Photo courtesy of Tim Sackton

January always feels like the coldest and snowiest month of the year in Boston. And often, it is. But the sky is luminous, even when cloudy, and as the month goes by, you may even notice the days getting a tiny bit longer.

If you're planning what to do in Boston in January, here are some activities to consider. Be sure to also check the Boston Event Calendar for January.

10 fun things to do in Boston in January

1. Bundle up, and go outside

Go ice skating on Frog Pond in Boston Common, or cross Charles Street to the Public Garden and "skate" across the frozen Lagoon - no actual skates required!

Ice Skating on Frog Pond on Boston Common

2. Head for the ski slopes

Several downhill and cross country ski areas are located near Boston, less than an hour outside of the city. True, you won't feel like you're in the Alps - but they are convenient, great places to learn, a lot of fun, and among the most popular things to do in Boston in January.

Just a little farther away in the Berkshires, you'll find even more possibilities, including luxury ski resorts for romantic weekend getaways.


Best Massachusetts Ski Areas Near Boston	Guide to New England Ski Areas	Best New England Ski Resorts

3. Immerse yourself in spectator sports

Prefer to enjoy winter sports inside? TD Garden, conveniently located adjacent to North Station, provides an almost non-stop schedule of Boston Bruins hockey games and Boston Celtics basketball games during January.

You can easily get to TD Garden on the T (Boston's subway) - just take the Green or Orange Line to North Station, and enter directly from the station.

Driving? You'll find a number of parking garages nearby. Rates vary, but some are reasonable.

Even better - stay in a hotel near the Garden.


Boston Bruins	Boston Celtics	TD Garden	Nearby Sports Bars

For most fans, attending as many of these games as possible tops the list of things to do in Boston in January.

With the New England Patriots in the playoffs for the Superbowl, football season extends longer this year. To get to the Patriots' games easily, take the Patriot Train.


Patriots Schedule	Hotels near Gillette Stadium	Gillette Stadium	Getting to Gillette Stadium from Boston

4. Visit the warm spots along the Freedom Trail

If you're visiting Boston for the first time and looking for things to do in Boston in January, don't let cold weather stop you from visiting the historic Freedom Trail.

Too cold to walk the entire Trail? Head for the warmer indoor sites - go inside Paul Revere's house in the North End, join a free tour of the USS Constitution, aka "Old Ironsides," in Charlestown, or explore history in the Old State House and Old South Meeting House museums in downtown Boston.

Even better - visit Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where you'll find Freedom Trail site Faneuil Hall plus plenty of great shopping. Festive holiday decorations usually provide good cheer until the end of the month.

Ice Skating on Frog Pond on Boston Common

5. Capture some winter scenes

Right after a snowfall, the city can be at its most beautiful. Bundle up and go out with your camera to photograph the seasonal beauty. Check out Boston weather in January to know what to expect (hint: not every January day is cold!).

Boston Common in the snow, with Beacon Hill and the golden dome of the Massachusetts State House in the background, taken on January 14, 2008 / Things to Do in Boston in January - www.boston-discovery-guide.com

More photos from this talented photographer

6. Eat, drink, and be merry

Q. What are good things to do in Boston in January when weather gets really, really miserable? You know . . . howling winds, sub-zero windchill, and lead-gray skies?

A. Stay inside and feel miserable - no, wait! That's the wrong answer! The right one is to eat, drink, and be merry. The weather outside may still be lousy - but you'll no longer care.

How to do this? Here's the easy 3-step process:

1. Eat - Make reservations in one of the warm and inviting Boston Italian restaurants.

2. Drink - Participate in one of the Boston wine festival events underway this month - the Boston Wine Festival gets January off to an exciting start, and the annual Boston Wine Expo toward the end of the month gives you the chance to sample wines from the best wineries from around the world.

3. Be merry - Do Steps 1 and 2, and you'll feel quite merry.

7. Get theater tickets

The Boston theater season flourishes during the winter, with all kinds of wonderful shows and productions. Start your evening with dinner in a Theatre District restaurant, and check out more Boston nightlife afterwards.

Boston theaters along Washington Street in early evening, with holiday decorations still up

8. Go gallery-hopping

January can be the coldest month of the year, but that's no excuse to not get exercise and fresh air!

Back Bay is my favorite neighborhood for walking during January because it's flat - unlike, for example, the icy slopes of Beacon Hill - and along the commercial stretches, shop owners keep the sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

Even so, you need to build in some warming-up breaks - so pop into some of the Newbury Street art galleries. You'll see lots of wonderful art as well - and maybe you'll fall in love with something that you have to bring home with you.

And while you're in Back Bay, check out the fabulous Newbury Street shopping as well - especially since lots of big "SALE" signs usually appear up and down the street.

Return to Top - Things to Do in Boston in January

9. Plan a cruise

Did you know that most people book cruises during January? Must be the dismal weather. Leaving for cruises from Boston from the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal couldn't be easier, and you can pick from exciting itineraries.

Cruise from Boston to . . .


Bermuda	Europe	Caribbean

10. Check out free and cheap performances at local colleges

Among the 60+ universities and colleges in Boston and nearby areas, a number specialize in or offer strong performing arts programs. What that means to you, if you're visiting Boston, is a large number of free or very affordable performances, sometimes a dozen or more each night.

Best schools to check: Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Emerson College, Longy School of Music, New England Conservatory - find their urls on our colleges page, and then look for the Events or Calendar link or listing on their home pages.

Return to Top - Things to Do in Boston in January