A first weekend in Boston
Downtown Freedom Trail: choose your historic stops
Boston Harborwalk or Charlestown: choose your waterfront outingAn example packing list for Boston in December
Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.
Clothing
- Underwear
- Bras (if worn)
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Thermal long-sleeved base-layer top
- Comfortable trousers
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Insulated wind-resistant coat
- Water-resistant insulated boots with grip
- Thermal leggings (for long outdoor stops)
- Warm hat
- Scarf
- Insulated gloves
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shaving supplies (if used)
- Menstrual products (if needed)
- Contact lens solution (if used)
Essentials
- Passport or accepted travel ID
- Travel tickets and booking confirmations
- Wallet and payment cards
- Phone
- Charging cable and charger
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- Medication (if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses (if used)
- Refillable water bottle
- Day bag
- Power bank (if needed)
- Water-resistant pouch
- Compact umbrella (if preferred)
Monthly weather and packing notes
December needs a proper insulating coat, sweater, scarf, hat and gloves. Boots with grip help when snow or ice affects historic streets, and a bag can hold removed layers indoors. Use daylight for garden and harbor views and confirm holiday opening before relying on an interior visit.
- Daytime
- 4–8°C
- Evenings
- -4–0°C
- Rain
- Rain, snow or slush possible
- Daylight
- Shorter days: use daylight for garden and harbor views.
- Packing style
- Insulating layers and weather-resistant walking footwear
NOAA NCEI Boston Logan International Airport station USW00014739, 1991–2020 normals: mean daily maximum 42.2°F (5.7°C), minimum 29.2°F (-1.6°C); monthly precipitation 4.3 inches (109.2 mm). Clothing bands convert to Celsius, round and expand 2°C each way; these are outfit prompts, not forecast limits. Precipitation includes water-equivalent snow. Airport exposure differs from sheltered city streets and harbor decks; check your actual travel dates.
Outfit ideas for your outings
December on the downtown Freedom Trail
- Thermal long-sleeved base-layer top
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Comfortable long trousers
- Walking footwear with grip
- Insulated wind-resistant coat
Public Garden and a quieter street walk
- Thermal long-sleeved base-layer top
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Insulated wind-resistant coat
- Comfortable trousers
- Walking shoes with seasonal grip
Harbor viewpoint or available boat outing
- Thermal long-sleeved base-layer top
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Insulated wind-resistant coat
- Hat and warm gloves
- Secure comfortable footwear
What to leave behind
- Stiff unworn shoes: test footwear before historic brick paving, park paths and transit steps.
- Only thin indoor clothes: winter waits and harbor wind need insulating layers.
Reviewed 2026-10-13
NOAA NCEI: Boston Logan airport monthly normals · NPS: visitor access and weather · MBTA: current fares and transport