20 Most Fun Indoor Activities in Boston to Experience in 2025
Take the fun inside with these fun indoor activities in Boston! Beantown is a city well-adapted to its climate, which luckily for you means that there is a wealth of options when the weather turns sour.
So, what can you do in Boston on a rainy day? Follow the locals to the pub or sign up for something a bit more fulfilling, like a pottery or cooking class; you truly are spoiled for choice. Read on as we take you through the best options for indoor activities in Boston this year.
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- Best Indoor Activities in Boston for Adults
- Fun Indoor Activities in Boston
- Winter Indoor Activities in Boston for Families
- Free Indoor Activities in Boston
Best Indoor Activities in Boston for Adults
1. Cooking Classes
Fire up your taste buds for a supremely satisfying rainy day in Boston, where you'll learn to cook like a pro and expand your repertoire. At a local cooking class, you'll discover a passion for a variety of styles of cuisine and hone the ability to source fresh, local produce.
Take your indoor activities in Boston to the next level with this supremely satisfying culinary experience.
2. Escape Room
Delight in solving a mystery with your friends or colleagues at Red Fox Escapes. Games are the best indoor activities in Boston to cure boredom and escape rooms are the ultimate evolution of that. Red Fox Escapes offers multiple immersive puzzles that will require you and your group to use the best of your problem-solving abilities to make it out.
Plus, when winter settles in and your colleagues need a bit of a pep up, an escape room also offers a great team building activity in Boston.
3. Museum of Fine Arts
Visiting the works of the masters at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best indoor date ideas the city has to offer. This indoor activity in Boston is a great way to nurture your creative side and enjoy quality time with your sweetheart. Discover new interests and whether your tastes in art align at the biggest Boston art gallery!
4. Visit The Pub
Beantown Pub is a classic Boston haunt and a must-visit if you haven't already. The food and drinks are wonderful and they're served from mid-morning through to the wee hours. For an action-packed day of indoor activities in Boston, it is also a great stop before or after any of the other ideas on this list. Feel free to take in a show after a lovely dinner or stop in at the arcade or a museum, then finish your evening drinking at the pub.
5. Boston Museum of Science
Family-friendly fun is the name of the game at this beloved Boston museum. The Boston Museum of Science has a rotating offering of feature exhibitions along with an expansive permanent collection. Whatever is on display, the museum is an indoor activity in Boston that never fails to be interactive and entertaining!
It’s easily one of the most engaging things to do in Boston with kids and it's the perfect place to dive into the curiosities and potential of science.
Fun Indoor Activities in Boston
6. Paint and Sip
Dip your toes — or your brush — into artistic waters when you enjoy this exhilarating evening out. Drink and be merry as you learn to paint from world-class instructors who will guide you through the creation of a stunning artwork. If you're looking for indoor activities in Boston for adults, try your hand at a nearby paint and sip.
Research published in Science Direct, has found that creative expression plays a significant role in nurturing emotional and psychological well-being. Practicing an art form such as painting helps those who take part to connect with the world and the people around them.
7. Art Classes
If you're less interested in the social aspect and want to focus on developing your painting techniques, dive into a local art class led by a professional Boston artist. You'll love exploring the potential of painting and mastering any existing art skills you may have in this rewarding indoor activity in Boston.
8. Pottery Classes
Discover a passion for hand-crafting your own pots, cups and more at a local pottery class. Boston's best potters will lead you on a step-by-step journey through the basics of pottery for beginners and beyond, to the masterful skills involved in creating beautiful pottery. This indoor activity in Boston will have you coming back time and again.
9. Skating
Glide around the rink at Chez Vous for a nostalgic and fun indoor activity in Boston. This classic date idea in Boston need not be reserved for romantic occasions, offering boundless fun for all. Hire a pair of skates or pull on your own and get rolling!
Winter Indoor Activities in Boston for Families
11. Craft a Candle
Feeling a little drab and dreary in the cold of Winter? Light up the freezing nights with bespoke scented candles, made by you! At a candle-making class, you'll be guided by a pro through the process of melting wax and composing your unique candles and aromas. This indoor activity in Boston will form a beautiful memory that will be sparked with every flame.
12. Dine at Cheers!
An everlasting favorite among things to do in Boston is visiting the famed location of Cheers!. You'll find a mini museum dedicated to the show, as well as both the original dive bar at one level and a working restaurant set up to look like the TV show set of the bar on another level.
You won't want to miss your chance to take a photo with a cut-out of some of the main characters of the now “classic” show.
13. Boston Opera House
Taking in a show at the Boston Opera House is a treat! Of all the indoor winter activities in Massachusetts, a visit to the opera must be a contender for the most memorable. Enjoy a musical, play or concert at this architectural marvel for an indoor activity in Boston you won't soon forget.
14. New England Aquarium
Explore Beantown's rich maritime history at the New England Aquarium. Gaze in wonder at the wonders of the ocean, including animals such as sea lions, penguins, octopus and so many more. With this indoor activity in Boston, you can rest easy knowing that the aquarium plays an active role in the conservation of the marine environment and protection of vulnerable species.
15. Mapparium
Whether you're taking your children out to break their case of cabin fever or looking for you're looking for interesting winter date ideas, this unique Boston museum is always a hit. Learn about the history of the world and how the globe itself has changed over time by taking a guided tour through the massive glass reconstruction at the Mapparium.
16. Faneuil Hall
Any list of indoor family activities in Boston would be incomplete without this historic marketplace and home to many classic Boston foods. While Faneuil Hall houses a family-friendly museum, it is most famous as a food marketplace rarely rivaled by other cities, if at all.
Free Indoor Activities in Boston
17. Volunteering
Join one of the many fantastic charitable foundations and groups around the city to give back to the community. There are smaller options like Haley House soup kitchen or various events year-round that help to raise money or help others. See where you can make the most impact with the time you have to offer!
18. Boston Public Library
Certainly a reader's favorite way to escape the doldrums of gray days in the city, the Boston Public Library is a local gem. All Boston residents are entitled to borrow and research at this gorgeous public institution, though an afternoon spent among the books may be a pleasure enough for many.
19. Children's Library at the Boston Athenaeum
Aside from weekly storytime sessions and an extensive collection of picture books, this section of the Boston Athenaeum also hosts several game groups throughout the week. No matter what indoor activities in Boston your children normally enjoy, you can find something to keep them entertained on a rainy day at the Athenaeum.
20. Free Concerts
The Boston Cultural Council organizes a wide range of local indoor activities in Boston, including musical and theatrical events that you can attend for free. Events occur throughout the year, so check out their website to find out what's coming up.
So, is Boston fun in the winter? Try some of these magnificent opportunities and find out! You'll love romping around the Children's Library at the Boston Athenaeum with your children or sharing a drink as you paint and sip with your best friend. Indoor activities in Boston are diverse and offer abundant opportunities to explore new sides of the city.
For even more fun things to do in Boston, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
