Month guide · Boston · United States
Boston in February
What February is really like in Boston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Matthew R. Fairchild/Released) 140704-N-OG138-866, Public domain
Quick answer
February is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -4°C (25°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.5 hours of daylight. Still deep winter and the snowiest month in many years; good for indoor museums and hockey.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / -4°C (25°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 4°C (39°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in February
February is the 11th-warmest month in Boston: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about -4°C (25°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 28 days. Compared with January (3°C (37°F)), February is about as warm; by March highs climb to around 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 06:41
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 17:16
- Daylight
- About 10.5 hours
- Sea
- 4°C (39°F)
Winter (December–February). Cold and often snowy, with nor'easter storms that can disrupt travel, but festive lights, ice skating and the lowest hotel rates.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, February rates 1 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes February one of the better-value months to book.
Events in February
- Beanpot college ice-hockey tournament (usually the first two Mondays of February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Gallery · Seaport District
Institute of Contemporary Art
The ICA's glass building by Diller Scofidio + Renfro cantilevers out over Boston Harbor, and its top-floor galleries end in a full-width window onto the water.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Dorchester
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Take the Red Line to JFK/UMass and use the free shuttle bus to the museum.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Experience · Back Bay
Mapparium
Inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library, the Mapparium is a three-storey stained-glass globe from 1935 that you walk through on a glass bridge, showing the world's political borders as they were then.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Historic site · Downtown
Freedom Trail
Walk it north from Boston Common in the morning and break for lunch in the North End; most sites can be seen from outside for free, and a few charge entry.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 4°C, lows near -4°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February a good time to visit Boston?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Boston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is February a good time to visit Boston?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Still deep winter and the snowiest month in many years; good for indoor museums and hockey.
+How warm is Boston in February?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Boston in February?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.