Month guide · Boston · United States
Boston in January
What January is really like in Boston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -5°C (23°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 9.4 hours of daylight. The coldest month, with snow and biting wind; museums are quiet and hotel rates are among the lowest of the year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -5°C (23°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 5°C (41°F)
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Boston: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about -5°C (23°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (6°C (43°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 4°C (39°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:10
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:36
- Daylight
- About 9.4 hours
- Sea
- 5°C (41°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, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown (January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Museum · Fenway–Kenmore
Museum of Fine Arts
Look up in the rotunda and main staircase at the murals Sargent painted for the museum in the 1920s.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Fenway–Kenmore
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Isabella Stewart Gardner built a Venetian-style palazzo to display her Titian, Rembrandt, Botticelli and Sargent paintings around a glass-roofed courtyard that is in flower all year.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Aquarium · Downtown and the Waterfront
New England Aquarium
Whale-watching trips to Stellwagen Bank take about three to four hours; take seasickness precautions if you need them.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Architecture · Back Bay
Boston Public Library, Central Library
Opened in 1895, Charles McKim's Renaissance-palace library on Copley Square belongs to the first large free municipal library system in the US.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- History
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -5°C and 11 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 January 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 January a good time to visit Boston?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. The coldest month, with snow and biting wind; museums are quiet and hotel rates are among the lowest of the year.
+How warm is Boston in January?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -5°C (23°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Boston in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.