Best Things to Do in Boston in July

Top 10 Boston events for July

The most exciting things to do in Boston in July center around celebrations - fireworks and the Boston Pops concert for the Fourth of July, the huge Boston Harborfest with more than 200 events daily, and mega-star concerts.

Concert tickets for Bon Jovi, the Doobie Brothers, BB King, and Melissa Etheridge compete with Red Sox tickets as the hottest commodities at the box office.  But keep in mind that some of the best things to do in Boston in July are free...enjoy the greenery in Boston's many gorgeous parks, catch the Friday Flicks on the Esplanade, and even catch a few rays on a city beach.

Hot July days and warm nights make this one of the best months of the year in Boston.  So keep reading to find out the top July activities.

Christopher Columbus Park, near the Boston Marriott Long Wharf and the North End

10 best things to do in Boston in July

1.  Celebrate Independence Day

Boston is arguably where the Colonies' fight for independence began - and attending the Pops Fireworks Spectacular is one of the top things to do in Boston in July.  It's also the biggest July 4th celebration in the country.  If you're visiting Boston for this holiday, you'll have a very special experience.

On both July 3rd and 4th, Conductor Keith Lockhart leads the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in playing familiar favorites and rousing patriotic music, complete with real cannon fire, on the Boston Esplanade.  On July 4th, a spectacular display of fireworks above the Charles River follows the concert.  Sit on the grassy embankments along the Boston or Cambridge side of the Charles River, and enjoy this huge celebration.  For details, see the Boston Events Calendar for July.

2.  Continue celebrating independence during Boston HarborFest

HarborFest gets bigger and better every year as more and more events and participants join this gala celebration of Independence, Boston, and summer.  With over 200 events daily from June 30 through July 5, you'll find something going on almost all the time at City Hall Plaza, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Downtown, Beacon Hill, and the Waterfront.  

Although many of the events such as concerts are free, some do charge fees, while still others request donations.  Lots of the events are history-related, so you'll see many participants in Colonial dress, especially along the Freedom Trail.

What's the best part?  Many Boston locals would vote for ChowderFest, held on July 5 at City Hall Plaza, when Boston areas restaurants and pubs face off against each other in the annual competition to see who has the best chowder.  You get to sample, and decide for yourself!

Or, head straight to one of Boston's top seafood restaurants for choices beyond chowder - definitely one of the best things to do in Boston in July!

3.  Watch the Red Sox 

Winning or losing, the Boston Red Sox put on the best show in town.  If you're visiting Boston and love baseball, attending a home game at Fenway is a "must do."  No matter which team you root for, being in Fenway Park on a balmy evening is one of the best things to do in Boston in July.

If attending a game is the focus of your trip, you may even want to stay in one of the hotels near Fenway Park.  You'll also find a great range of Fenway restaurants for a bite before or after the game, plus of course the famous Fenway bars and nightspots near the stadium.

Getting tickets for good seats can be tricky, unless you're lucky enough to inherit season tickets.  Home games have sold out since 2003, and although Fenway's ticket office does sell some game day tickets, you have to have the time and patience to stand in line for them. 

I usually find the best seats at reasonable prices at StubHub, which the Red Sox recommends as the place for season ticket holders to sell tickets they can't use.  It's a buyer-seller marketplace owned by eBay, so if you don't see what you want initially, look again even a few hours later, as offerings change constantly.  Likewise, if you see a deal you like, it's best to grab it before someone else does.

4.  Tour Boston Harbor

One of the best ways to tour Boston is by boat, especially since you'll see many interesting things that you won't even notice on land.  Be sure to check out all the different options for Boston cruises.

One of my favorites is 15-minute ferry ride to the Boston Harbor Islands.  Once there, you can explore, hike, take photographs, swim, bird watch, go on free tours led by the Park Rangers, picnic, and much more.  You can even take another ferry to several smaller islands.  You'll feel like you're in a different world - and you are!

5.  Or, take a 15-minute boat ride in the city . . .

The Swan Boats in the Public Garden have been delighting Bostonians and visitors ever since 1877.  Anytime I'm even close to the Public Garden and have 15 minutes to spare, I head over to the Swan Boats - one of my favorite things to do in Boston in July, or for that matter, anytime.  

The ride around the Lagoon allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the view of trees, ducks, water, and the cityscape beyond.  You'll even go by the island where Mr. and Mrs. Mallard raised their young ducklings. 

After the ride, wander over to the northeast corner of the park, near the corner of Charles Street and Beacon Street, and you'll see the famous "Make Way for Ducklings" statue. 

6.  Go for dim sum in Chinatown

Relaxed summer Sundays in the city provide the perfect excuse for enjoying brunch at a dim sum restaurant in Boston's Chinatown. 

Afterwards, stroll along the nearby Rose Kennedy Greenway or enjoy sea breezes along Harborwalk.  Both the Greenway and Harborwalk pass by Christopher Columbus Park, shown in the photo at the top of the page (be sure to stop by the Kennedy Rose Garden, a special spot in the park near the Greenway).

7.  Escape the heat in a cool theatre

July days can be steamy - so escape the heat indoors at the movies, one of the most popular things to do in Boston in July.  Two non-movie theater venues:  the annual Boston French Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, and the free Monday night flicks at the Boston Public Library. 

Cool off on Friday evenings under the stars at Free Friday Flicks on the Esplanade.  Bring a blanket, a snack, and relax at these family-friendly favorites.

Find details for all on the Boston Events Calendar for July.  Also, check out more Boston movie theaters.

8. Cruise to Bermuda

For a quick change of scenery from Boston during mid-summer, consider Bermuda. 

Bermuda cruises from Boston depart weekly from April through September.  Boston's cruise port, the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal located in the South Boston Waterfront neighborhood, is so easy to get to, plus you can leave your car in their parking lot while you're away - or even better, get there on the T's Silver Line. 

You have a couple of days each way to enjoy the amenities and ocean views from the 11-deck Norwegian Spirit cruise ship, plus 3 days on land in Bermuda to explore the famed pink-sand beaches, great shopping, and other fun activities. 

9.  Go sailing

For water adventures closer to home, go sailing in Boston's rivers or the Harbor.  Even if you're visiting the city for just a short time, renting or chartering a sailboat or even getting a quick sailing lessons is easy and convenient to arrange, and one of the best things to do in Boston in July.  As a waterfront city, Boston offers lots of access to water activities - so this can be a great way to enjoy a different side of the city.

For other water adventures, check out Boston whale watching cruises and Boston beaches.

10.  Go to a concert (and shop)

You'll usually find some of the biggest concerts of the summer at Gillette Stadium, just 22 miles south of Boston.  The Bon Jovi concert on July 24 takes top billing for 2010, but you'll also find plenty of others.  

Patriot Place, where Gillette Stadium is located, is packed with interesting shopping, nice restaurants in all price ranges, the only Bass Pro Shop in New England, a cool sports museum, a theater, and much more.  You can stay over at the spectacular new Renaissance Hotel right next to the stadium. 

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets are nearby - shop enough, and your savings can pay for the whole weekend!