Season guide · Boston · United States
Boston in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rick Berry, Public domain
Quick answer
Warm days cooled by sea breezes, outdoor dining, harbour cruises, island ferries and Red Sox games; busy but less hectic than the big autumn weeks. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 28 rainy days across June–August. June is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 15°C (59°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 28
- Sea
- 16°C (61°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 25°C (77°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 | 15.3 h | 5/5 |
| July | 28°C (82°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 9 | 15 h | 5/5 |
| August | 27°C (81°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 9 | 13.9 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 27°C (81°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 28 of the year's roughly 123 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Bunker Hill Day parade in Charlestown (usually mid-June)
- June: Boston Harborfest (usually late June to early July)
- July: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade (4 July)
- August: Saint Anthony's Feast in the North End (usually the last weekend of August)
- August: Dine Out Boston restaurant week (usually August)
Good choices for summer
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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
Museum · Charles River
Museum of Science
Book planetarium and Omni shows when you buy entry; the lightning show is included with admission.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Fort Point
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
A floating museum at the Congress Street Bridge, with replica 18th-century ships and costumed actors who re-create the night of 16 December 1773, when colonists dumped British tea into the harbour.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
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
Day trips in summer
- Lexington and Concord (About 40 minutes by car) — The first battles of the American Revolution were fought here on 19 April 1775.
- Provincetown, Cape Cod (About 1 hour 30 minutes by fast ferry (seasonal)) — At the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown has a lively main street of galleries and seafood restaurants, the Pilgrim Monument, long dune beaches in the Cape Cod National Seashore and whale-watching trips.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Boston?
Yes: June is among the best months. Warm days cooled by sea breezes, outdoor dining, harbour cruises, island ferries and Red Sox games; busy but less hectic than the big autumn weeks.
+What is the weather like in Boston in summer?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 28 rainy days over the season.