Rainy Day Guide: 12 Indoor Attractions in Boston
Author: Derian Restrepo, Multi Unit Assistant General Manager
I’ve lived in Boston long enough to know that the forecast can’t always be trusted. “Light showers" can quickly turn into a Nor'easter that turns your umbrella inside out. But with so many indoor things to do in Boston, you don’t have to let cold weather or rain ruin your weekend vibe.
Whether you're a local looking for new weekend plans or a visitor whose walking tour just got cancelled, there are plenty of indoor attractions in Boston to keep you busy. From world-class museums to thrilling games and sporting events, here’s my list of the best things to do in Boston on a rainy day (or when it’s just plain freezing out).
1. Eat Your Way Through The Lineup
Located right in the heart of downtown (inside the Winthrop Center), The Lineup isn’t your typical food hall. It’s an elevated, "culinary living room" where Michelin-starred Chef John Fraser has thoughtfully designed multiple restaurant concepts under one roof.
If it’s a gloomy morning, grab a latte and a proper breakfast sandwich at Day Shift. For lunch, you can’t go wrong with a wood-fired Neapolitan pie from Gatto Pazzo, a juicy smash burger from Big Grin, or a fresh Mediterranean bowl from IRIS Mezze. It’s the perfect spot to sit, dry off, and people-watch through the floor-to-ceiling windows while you plan the rest of your rainy-day itinerary.
They regularly host pop-ups, collabs with other local businesses, and run seasonal specials, so there’s always something new to savor. Check out their menus or order online.
2. Indulge at Vermilion
Just upstairs from The Lineup is Vermilion, a modern chophouse also led by John Fraser. The first thing you’ll see is a massive red-orange glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly in front of a backdrop of Boston’s downtown buildings. It hangs right over a stunning 55-foot bar and makes the whole space feel like it’s golden hour, even if there are only gray skies outside.
While it definitely leans into the steakhouse vibes, the menu takes New England classics and adds a fun twist. The French onion dumplings are my favorite (they’re like little pockets of truffle joy in a rich shiitake mushroom consommé), and you can’t go wrong with the Mezze Rigatoni. They also host Happy Hour every weekday from 3-6 pm, featuring their legendary Beverage Book that has over 70 handcrafted creations.
This place fills up fast and walk-ins aren’t always guaranteed, so make sure to book your table ahead of time
3. Go Museum Hopping
One of the best things to do inside in Boston is explore our many museums. We aren't just talking about the Boston Tea Party ships and our many revolutionary historical sites. We have everything from art museums to IMAX to interactive, immersive experiences.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Museum of Science: This place is huge, featuring over 700 interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and the world’s largest Van de Graaff generator that creates indoor lightning storms.
The Mugar Omni Theater: Tucked inside the Museum of Science, this is a five-story domed IMAX theater that wraps around you so you feel like you're actually inside the movie. This is a great place for spending a few captivating hours inside.
Museum of Ice Cream: Everyone should experience this multi-sensory playground with unlimited ice cream treats and a giant sprinkle pool you can actually dive into. I’ve taken lots of people here, from first dates to when family’s in town.
Boston Children's Museum: The holy grail for parents with high-energy kids who need to burn off steam with hands-on exhibits and a three-story climbing structure. You’re welcome.
Museum of Illusions: Get ready for holograms and gravity-defying rooms designed to trick your brain (and provide some great photo ops). If you want inside activities in Boston that boggle the brain, this one’s for you.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Modeled after a Venetian palazzo, this museum houses a world-class art collection and a stunning interior courtyard perfect for rainy days. Plus, if your name is Isabella, you get in for free.
The Paul Revere House: This is the oldest remaining structure in downtown Boston, built in the 1680s. This is a great choice for rainy days because after you’re done reliving colonial life (with original 17th-century furnishings and Revere family artifacts), you can pop over to the North End for cannolis.
The Boston Public Library isn’t technically a museum, but it’s great if you’re looking for cozy, low-key Boston rainy day activities. Plus, residents can often snag free or heavily discounted tickets with museum passes.
4. Sloomoo Minimoo
Maybe I watched too many people get “slimed” on Nickelodeon as a kid, but the Sloomoo Institute is one of the most unique (and messy) things to do on a rainy day in Boston. This place is a total fever dream of color and texture. It’s an immersive playground where you can dig your hands into slime, walk across a lake of "ooze" (it feels like walking on marshmallows), and even get slimed yourself if you’re brave enough.
It is the perfect antidote to a gray, rainy day with its high-energy, neon-colored adventures. Naturally, this place is great for kids, but literally anyone can have fun here. You also get to customize your own slime souvenir at the DIY bar, which is great for families visiting Boston.
5. See a Live Performance
One of my favorite rainy day activities in Boston is treating myself to a live show. We have some of the best music venues and most historic, gold-leafed theaters in the country. Whether you’re looking for a Broadway hit or hoping to see a local band, there are plenty of places to see a show:
Citizens House of Blues: Located right across from Fenway, this venue hosts everything from touring rock bands to the latest hits in a large, eclectic space.
MGM Music Hall at Fenway: This is one of the city's newer venues. It’s a massive, state-of-the-art theater with incredible sightlines and acoustics, so there isn't a bad seat in the house.
Boston Opera House: This is arguably the most beautiful theater in the city, with crystal chandeliers and gilded ceilings. This is where you’ll find the Boston Ballet and major Broadway tours, so get ready to pay a little more for these tickets.
Emerson Colonial Theatre: Built in 1900, this is the oldest continually operating theater in Boston and is famous for being the "birthplace" of many Broadway legends before they hit New York.
Boch Center: The Wang is a showstopper modeled after Versailles, while the Shubert across the street is more intimate. Both host everything from world-class dance to stand-up comedy.
Charles Playhouse: Tucked down a side street, this is the permanent home of Blue Man Group. They put on lots of different shows, so check out what’s playing in this historic theater.
Check TodayTix or hit the Bostix booth in Copley Square for half-price, same-day tickets.
6. Play a Round of Indoor Mini Golf
Who said you can’t get out on the green on a rainy day? Puttshack in Seaport does it big with high-tech tracking, cocktail service, DJ booths, and more. But no more tiny pencils and paper scorecards — you’ll use "Trackaball" technology that keeps score for you. Sorry, no cheating here.
SPIN is technically a ping-pong place, but it fits the "indoor sport with a drink in your hand" theme. This is a massive underground space in Seaport with ping pong tables and an Insta-worthy bathtub full of orange ping-pong balls. Most of these spots become 21+ after 7 PM, so if you’re planning a family day, aim to go in the morning or afternoon.
7. Catch a Game at TD Garden
In Boston, indoor activities can get real competitive, real fast. If you haven’t heard, we take our sports very seriously. TD Garden is the heart of Boston sports, and there are plenty of things to do inside and around the building while you wait for the game to start.
The Sports Museum: Located right inside the Garden on levels 5 and 6, this is a half-mile of history featuring massive exhibits on the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots.
The Hub on Causeway: This is the massive entertainment district attached to the arena. It’s got everything from a huge AMC Theatre to Big Night Live, a music hall that puts on some pretty big names.
The North End: Explore one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods in Boston before heading to the game. You can pop in and out of cafes and bars if it’s raining or too cold.
If you’re taking the T or the Commuter Rail, use the underground pedestrian tunnels at North Station to walk directly from the platform into the TD Garden lobby.
8. Explore the New England Aquarium
The New England Aquarium is one of the best indoor activities in Boston because you can spend hours here on a rainy day — especially if you have kids to entertain. Don’t miss the Giant Ocean Tank, a four-story tank with a spiral ramp for great views. This is also the home of Myrtle, the famous green sea turtle who has lived here since 1970, and hundreds of tropical fish, sharks, and stingrays.
Simons Theatre has New England’s largest screen (it’s six stories tall!). They play immersive 3D films that make you feel like you’re actually diving with whales or great whites. Other indoor activities at the aquarium include the Penguin Exhibit, the Amazon Rainforest, the Marine Mammal Center, and the Shark and Ray Touch Tank.
If you’re willing to brave the weather, you can also see the Boston harbor seals in their outdoor tank right in front of the building for free.
9. Shop Till You Drop (& the Rain Stops)
Just because you can’t stroll the streets of Back Bay doesn’t mean you can’t get a little retail therapy in. You can easily spend an entire afternoon bouncing between high-end boutiques and dusty vintage bins without ever needing to pop open your umbrella.
One of my favorite things to do in Boston when it rains is hit the shops:
Copley Place: Think marble floors, two levels of high-end brands like Neiman Marcus and Louis Vuitton, and a glam vibe.
The Shops at Prudential Center: Known as "The Pru," this massive complex is connected to Copley Place by a glass skybridge. It’s more laid-back with over 75 stores and plenty of spots to grab a bite.
SoWa Vintage Market: I love this year-round indoor market for the one-of-a-kind finds. It’s open every Sunday, rain or shine. You’ll find a maze of antiques, mid-century furniture, and weirdly specific collectibles you didn't even know you needed.
CambridgeSide: Just across the river, this is a more traditional (but very hip) indoor mall that’s just a few blocks from the Museum of Science.
The Garment District: Don’t let the name fool you — this is an indoor thrift-shopping legend. It’s two floors of vintage and contemporary clothing in Cambridge, including the famous "by the pound" pile where you can score major deals if you're willing to dig.
10. Test Yourself at an Escape Room
If you’re not sure what to do in Boston when it rains, why not challenge yourself and a group of your closest friends? Honestly, the first time I did an escape room, I was nervous. But with the right group of people, escape rooms are a great time. Some places really go big with movie-quality sets, high-tech sensors, and storylines that actually make you feel like you’re in a heist movie or a thriller.
Trapology: Located right across from the Common, this is a local favorite. Their rooms are notoriously difficult and creative, like "The Institute," where you're trapped in a creepy 1950s asylum. (This one’s not for the lighthearted.)
Boda Borg: This is "Questing," not just an escape room. It’s a massive complex with dozens of different rooms that each require a mix of mental puzzles and physical agility. Think of it like a real-life video game where you can try, fail, and restart as many times as you want. Note: You will need to head to Malden, so prepare to drive or take public transit.
Escape the Room: This one’s located right in the Theater District and great for large groups. They switch out the rooms they have with different storylines, from finding your way out of a submarine to traveling through time to save a friend.
These rooms aren’t great for last-minute plans, so make sure to reserve your room ahead of time. Besides, you need to choose your crew carefully!
11. Hit the Arcades
This might be one of the most popular things to do in Boston on rainy days among us locals. We’re a sentimental bunch, and Boston’s arcade scene delivers a packed punch of old-fashioned nostalgia. From classic arcades to "barcades" to high-tech racing simulators, you can find whatever game you’re looking for here.
Here are a few options:
F1 Arcade: This Seaport location takes the arcade experience beyond Mario Kart and racing games. Get ready for professional-grade motion simulators that vibrate and react exactly like a Formula 1 car. If you have a need for speed, this is your spot.
A4cade : Tucked behind a secret door in a grilled cheese shop (Roxy’s), this is a classic underground barcade packed with vintage cabinets, pinball, and Skeeball. It’s loud, cramped, and serves cocktails while you play.
Versus: This downtown spot is the ultimate nostalgia spot, covered in 80s and 90s pop culture murals. It’s a flat-fee-to-play model, so you can spend hours hopping between Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and modern consoles without digging for quarters.
Lucky Strike: This spot is mostly famous for its bowling, but their arcade floors are massive. The Fenway location is a local staple for pre-game fun, featuring everything from giant Connect 4 to VR experiences and air hockey.
If you’re not into arcade games, many of these spots also offer bowling, karaoke, and more so you can play your way.
12. See the City from the Trolley
If you’ve completely run out of things to do indoors in Boston, good news: you don’t have to stay inside. The Old Town Trolley is technically a "hop-on/hop-off" tour, but on a rainy day, you can just stay on for the full loop. The trolleys are covered and enclosed so you stay dry while the driver narrates your way through the city with fun facts and Boston trivia.
It’s also a great way to see the best architecture in the city. You’ll pass through the North End, Beacon Hill, and get the history of the Freedom Trail without having to walk it in the rain. Plus, because it’s hop-on/hop-off, you can also use it as a way to get around the city and explore the other indoor spots on this list, like Copley Place and the Aquarium.
You should definitely buy your tickets in advance to save on prices and skip waiting in a long line.
Join Us at The Lineup
When people hear "indoor fun,” they usually picture a cramped pub or a crowded museum they don’t actually care about. My favorite inside thing to do in Boston when it rains? Eat and chill.
That’s what makes The Lineup one of the best indoor attractions in Boston, MA. It’s got multiple high-quality restaurants (led by a Michelin-starred chef) in an elegant food hall setting so I can grab a little something of everything, post up, and enjoy the cozy vibes.