Best time to visit Boston
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Boston
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.
- 1
The Full Revolutionary Story Epic Small-Group Boston Walking Tour - 2
Boston’s North End Food Tour: Italian Flavors and Heritage Walk - 3
Boston's Freedom Trail and Charming Beacon Hill Tour - 4
Boston Seafood Tour: Behind the Scenes at the Historic Fish Pier - 5
North End Food Tour: Taste Boston's Italian Heritage - 6
Boston Private 3-Hour Tour by Car - 7
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum Admission - 8
Boston Freedom Trail History Pub Crawl Small-Group Tour - 9
Boston City View Bicycle Tour: Historical E-bike/City Bike Tour - 10
Boston's Revolutionary and Drunken Past with Beer Included - 11
Boston North End Food Tour with Authentic Local Flavors & Dishes - 12
View Boston Observation Deck Admission Tickets - 13
Boston Freedom Trail Walking Tour: Revolutionary History - 14
New England Aquarium Admission Ticket in Boston - 15
Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour - 16
Boston: Freedom Trail History Small Group Walking Tour - 17
Boston's Food and History: North End, Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill - 18
Freedom Trail Walking Tour with Bunker Hill and USS Constitution - 19
Boston's Freedom Trail: A Revolutionary Walking Tour - 20
North End Boston Food Tour: Pizza, Pasta, and Pastries - 21
Boston Sweet Treats Food Tour: Fresh Donuts, Cider & Much More - 22
Boston Freedom Trail Self-Guided Tour with Audio Narration & Map - 23
Tour of Historic Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark - 24
Boston’s Politically Incorrect North End Food Tour - 25
Harvard University Campus Guided Walking Tour - 26
Boston North End Food Tour with Wine and Limoncello Tasting - 27
Boston Private City Tour - 28
Sightseeing Day Sail around Boston Harbor - 29
Boston's 250th Freedom Trail Tour - 30
Boston Pizza Lovers Food and History Walking Tour
Last refreshed 2026-10-18.
Similar climatesNew York City95% · Chicago93% · Philadelphia92%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Boston (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Boston's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4–4 | -1 | 11 | 128 | 11.6 | 62% | 21 | 131 | 1 | Quiet | 4 |
| Feb | -5–5 | 0 | 9 | 119 | 13.2 | 60% | 22 | 140 | 2 | Quiet | 4 |
| Mar | -1–9 | 5 | 12 | 122 | 10.2 | 57% | 23 | 188 | 3 | Quiet | 5 |
| Apr | 4–13 | 9 | 10 | 122 | 12.2 | 58% | 24 | 190 | 4 | Peak | 6 |
| May | 10–20 | 18 | 10 | 101 | 10.1 | 52% | 21 | 252 | 5 | Peak | 8 |
| Jun | 15–26 | 25 | 11 | 109 | 9.9 | 55% | 20 | 257 | 6 | Busy | 9 |
| Jul | 19–29 | 30 | 13 | 128 | 9.8 | 58% | 19 | 260 | 6 | Quiet | 6 |
| Aug | 18–28 | 29 | 12 | 110 | 9.2 | 58% | 18 | 248 | 6 | Moderate | 8 |
| Sep | 14–23 | 23 | 10 | 112 | 11.2 | 63% | 18 | 199 | 4 | Moderate | 8 |
| Oct | 9–18 | 16 | 9 | 103 | 11.4 | 65% | 19 | 181 | 3 | Moderate | 8 |
| Nov | 3–12 | 8 | 7 | 74 | 10.6 | 59% | 21 | 161 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Dec | -2–6 | 2 | 11 | 118 | 10.7 | 66% | 20 | 131 | 1 | Quiet | 4 |
UV Index in Boston by Month
UV index in Boston peaks at 6 (high) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in December. July have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.
Best months in detail
June
9/1015–26°C · 11 rain days (109h) · 257 sun hours · 55% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
May
8/1010–20°C (feels 18°C) · 10 rain days (101h) · 252 sun hours · 52% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
September
8/1014–23°C · 10 rain days (112h) · 199 sun hours · 63% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
4/10-4–4°C (feels -1°C) · 11 rain days (128h) · 131 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
4/10-5–5°C (feels 0°C) · 9 rain days (119h) · 140 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
March
5/10-1–9°C (feels 5°C) · 12 rain days (122h) · 188 sun hours · 57% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
April
6/104–13°C (feels 9°C) · 10 rain days (122h) · 190 sun hours · 58% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
July
6/1019–29°C (feels 30°C) · 13 rain days (128h) · 260 sun hours · 58% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
August
8/1018–28°C · 12 rain days (110h) · 248 sun hours · 58% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
October
8/109–18°C (feels 16°C) · 9 rain days (103h) · 181 sun hours · 65% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
November
6/103–12°C (feels 8°C) · 7 rain days (74h) · 161 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
December
4/10-2–6°C (feels 2°C) · 11 rain days (118h) · 131 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Boston
When is the best time to visit Boston?
June is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 15–26°C (11 rainy days). The top three months by score are June, May, September.
What is the worst time to visit Boston?
December is the lowest-scoring month (4/10). Typical conditions: -2–6°C (11 rainy days).
Is Boston too hot in summer?
1 month (July) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Boston?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in January and peaks in May. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Boston have good weather but fewer tourists?
August (climate 8/10, crowd index 49) and September (climate 8/10, crowd index 47) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Boston by month?
UV peaks at 6 (high) in July and is lowest in December at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 4, May 5, Jun 6, Jul 6, Aug 6, Sep 4, Oct 3, Nov 2, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in Boston in July?
July is the peak UV month in Boston, with a daily-peak UV index of 6 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
How high can UV get in Boston on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 6 (moderate), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Boston bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 7 months: January, February, June, July, August, September, December. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 14 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 24 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.