Get Festive

Music fills the air throughout the summer with concerts of all genres on the Esplanade, the Greenway, City Hall Plaza and neighborhood centers. Cross cultural festivals are popular with locals and visitors alike — passports not required to immerse yourself in the cuisine, music, dance and artisan works from Italy, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Asia and around the world. There are also festivals celebrating Independence Day, Chowder, Seafood, Jazz and Sand Sculpting. Of course, Dine Out Boston is always on the menu every August.

Sports of all Sorts

For sports fans, catching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park is a must when you're in Boston. Outdoor recreation beckons along Boston’s beautiful Harborwalk, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Lawn on D, and out on the Boston Harbor Islands.

Arts & Culture

All summer long, catch Concerts in the Courtyard at the Boston Public Library and at the Museum of Fine Arts, or listen to live music at city parks, squares and out on the Harbor Islands. Starting mid-July,  Boston Landmarks Orchestra will play harmonious tunes in the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell at the Charles River Esplanade. To pay or not to pay, that is the question. The answer, of course, is not to pay with free Shakespeare on the Common performances mid-July to early August. And don’t forget the Boston Jazz Fest in late August at Boston Maritime Park in the Seaport District.

Tours & Trails

Fun if by land, fun if by sea.  Enjoy both with Boston’s many diverse tours, trails and sails!  Fun if by land, fun if by sea.  Follow the Whale Trail, Walk the Freedom Trail, Black Heritage or Equality Trail. Take a harbor cruise or tour by foot, bicycle, trolley or "duck". Discover it all – your journey through Boston begins here!

See a List of all Tour Operators

Outdoor Dining & More

In the summer, the shops on Boston's Newbury Street prop their doors open and the bars and restaurants set up their outdoor patios.  Greenway Block Parties will get things going, the Food Trucks are out in full force, and the beer gardens are buzzing.

Beyond Boston

North of Boston and on Cape Cod, picturesque New England beaches are frequented by locals and visitors alike, and the colonial towns hum with the bustle of eager explorers.

North of Boston
​Head to the waterfront where Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC) ferry service will take visitors to the Boston Harbor Islands and to Salem, the "witch city" of 17^th century lore, where you can also visit the Peabody Essex Museum and of course the Salem Witch Museum.  Both BHC and Bay State Cruises offer fast service to Provincetown, located on the tip of Cape Cod, an eclectic artists’ community teeming with galleries, restaurants, quaint shops and beautiful beaches.

South of Boston
Head south by car or rail to see Plimoth Plantation, and a replica ship, the Mayflower II, based on the vessel that brought the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620.  Learn about the native Wampanoag Tribe that encountered the Pilgrims, as well as life in a 17^th century English village.  Continue south and arrive on Cape Cod, a summer destination featuring gorgeous locales and beaches from Falmouth to Hyannis, Harwich to Truro. From Falmouth or Woods Hole you can ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.  In Hyannis you can board a ferry to Nantucket. Why rush? Spend a night or two at the award-winning White Elephant.

Summer Weather

What to Wear

Bostonians dress smartly and simply. Prepare for hot and humid days and cool nights.

Day: If you're touring, wear comfy sneakers or sandals. Shorts and T-shirts are common. Bring sunglasses or a hat. Most tourist venues don't have dress codes, but check to be sure.

Evening: Consider your agenda; the theater tends to be dressier.