Month guide · Boston · United States
Boston in September
What September is really like in Boston: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fcb981 , this edit (cropped to pano, corrected distortion) by mixpix 18:33, 28 December 20, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
September is one of the best months to visit Boston. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 12.4 hours of daylight. Warm, settled weather and a lively city as students return; conferences make it one of the priciest months for hotels.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 18°C (64°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in September
September is the 4th-warmest month in Boston: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 30 days. Compared with August (27°C (81°F)), September is cooler; by October highs drop to around 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:24
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 18:55
- Daylight
- About 12.4 hours
- Sea
- 18°C (64°F)
Autumn (September–November). Students return, the leaves turn in October and the weather is crisp and sunny; hotels are at their most expensive until early November.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in May). Book accommodation early: September is one of the pricier months.
Events in September
- Student move-in weekend around 1 September, when streets fill with moving vans
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in September
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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
Garden · Beacon Hill
Boston Common and Public Garden
Boston Common, set aside in 1634, is the oldest public park in the US.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Gallery · Seaport District
Institute of Contemporary Art
Find the Mediatheque, a stepped room whose single window frames nothing but the water below.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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Garden · Jamaica Plain
Arnold Arboretum
Harvard's 281-acre arboretum, designed with Frederick Law Olmsted as part of Boston's Emerald Necklace of parks, has free paths through collections of lilacs, magnolias, conifers and bonsai.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 14°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit Boston?
One of the best months to visit Boston, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are May–June and October. Compare every month.
Boston in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Boston?
It is one of the best months to visit Boston. Warm, settled weather and a lively city as students return; conferences make it one of the priciest months for hotels.
+How warm is Boston in September?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Boston in September?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.