Updated 3 Nov 2026 · recomputed nightly
Is December 2026 a good month to visit Boston?
Calm — the typical December day in Boston is calmer than 76% of its year.
The weather is the trade-off here, not the crowds.
Calm · Lively · Busy · Packed rank a day against Boston's own year — not a headcount.
December is Boston with the crowds gone — Calm on 26 of 31 days — 4 days run Busy or Packed, cool and wet, around 6°C / 43°F with rain on about 11 days.
Yes, if the weather does not put you off. The typical December day in Boston is Calm, and only 4 of the 31 days in our window run Busy or Packed. Expect around 6 °C by day, with rain on about 11 days. Public holidays in Canada and United States add to it. Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026 falls on 1–4 December. No week of December is meaningfully quieter — the typical day is Calm throughout; pick by day instead. The crush is at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market; the quiet is at the Esplanade and the Charles banks. The calmest day is Saturday 5 December, the busiest Tuesday 1 December.
In short, quiet and wide open, if the weather doesn't put you off.
Among the 12 months we forecast for Boston, December ranks 7th for crowd pressure. Its heaviest day is Tue 1 Dec, busier than 69% of the year; its lightest is Sat 5 Dec at 24%.
You won't need skip-the-line tickets here — that's rather the point. A month like this is the one for the longer visit — the guided walk, the food tour, the day out of town, with room and time to enjoy them. see what's on →
Pack for wet first — rain on 11 of 31 days.
A folding one lives in the day bag and weighs nothing.
See umbrellas →
Wet stone is the thing to plan around in a month this wet.
See walking shoes →
How busy is Boston in December?
The busiest days are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Away from those, most days sit Calm. The calmest stretch is the 5th–31st.
The month is not one thing: its lightest day sits at 24% of the year and its heaviest at 69%, so where you land inside it matters. Daylight runs about 9 hours.
Either side of it, November is much calmer and January is far calmer.
Calm apart from 4 days — the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, which run busy or busier. Any other date works.
Tue 01 Dec Busy busier than 69% of days here · Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026
Record Boston on Tue 1 Dec 2026 is forecast Busy. Why: Materials Research Society Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026. Nearest calmer day: Sun 29 Nov (Calm). The day in full, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-01 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 02 Dec Busy busier than 69% of days here · Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026
Record Boston on Wed 2 Dec 2026 is forecast Busy. Why: Materials Research Society Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026. Nearest calmer day: Sun 29 Nov (Calm). The day in full, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-02 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 03 Dec Busy busier than 69% of days here · Boston Common Tree Lighting · Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026
Record Boston on Thu 3 Dec 2026 is forecast Busy. Why: Boston Common Tree Lighting; Materials Research Society Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026. Nearest calmer day: Sat 5 Dec (Calm). The day in full, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-03 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 04 Dec Busy busier than 69% of days here · Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026
Record Boston on Fri 4 Dec 2026 is forecast Busy. Why: Materials Research Society Fall Meeting & Exhibit 2026. Nearest calmer day: Sat 5 Dec (Calm). The day in full, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-04 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 05 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sat 5 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-05 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 06 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sun 6 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-06 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 07 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Mon 7 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-07 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 08 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Tue 8 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-08 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 09 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Wed 9 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-09 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 10 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Thu 10 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-10 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 11 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Fri 11 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-11 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 12 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sat 12 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-12 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 13 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sun 13 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-13 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 14 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Mon 14 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-14 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 15 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Tue 15 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-15 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 16 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Wed 16 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-16 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 17 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Thu 17 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-17 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 18 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Fri 18 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-18 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 19 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sat 19 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-19 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 20 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sun 20 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-20 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 21 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Mon 21 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-21 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 22 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Tue 22 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-22 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 23 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Wed 23 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-23 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 24 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Thu 24 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-24 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 25 Dec Calm busier than 31% of days here · United States public holiday
Record Boston on Fri 25 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. Why: United States public holiday; Canada public holiday. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-25 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 26 Dec Lively busier than 45% of days here · Canada public holiday · Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Record Boston on Sat 26 Dec 2026 is forecast Lively. Why: Canada public holiday; Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-26 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 27 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Sun 27 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-27 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 28 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Mon 28 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-28 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 29 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Tue 29 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-29 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 30 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Wed 30 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-30 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 31 Dec Calm busier than 24% of days here
Record Boston on Thu 31 Dec 2026 is forecast Calm. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/boston-massachusetts/#d-2026-12-31 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 3 Nov 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Which week of December is quietest in Boston?
No week of December is meaningfully quieter — the typical day is Calm throughout; pick by day instead.
The upside of a quiet December
- Walk straight into the sights that sell out in high season — no timed ticket, no queue.
- This is a wing-it month: nothing needs locking in.
- Early on, you can have the busiest spots almost to yourself — bring a camera.
No queues to skip, and nothing to book ahead — that's the whole point.
December weather in Boston
Cold — around 6°C / 43°F, so pack a proper coat, with rain on about 11 days, so keep a layer handy. Daylight is short, about 9 hours, so plan the big sights for the middle of the day.
This is the value month: no need to book far ahead, and the freedom to change plans on the day is part of what you're getting.
More about Boston in December
Based on: United States' public holidays · the official airport-arrivals pattern (BTS T-100, measured 2023–2025; airport-arrivals proxy for visitor volume) · five years of weather records (2019–2023) · confirmed event dates · the published cruise schedule
Every figure is recomputed nightly from real cruise schedules, public and school holidays, and long-run climate normals. Gaps are shown, not filled.
