Boston Best Holiday Lights Walkabout
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Experience the magic of the holiday season with a night time stroll through the twinkling lights of Boston’s historic streets and squares. Holiday spirits will soar trekking past festive shop windows and towering Christmas trees. Our Boston best holiday lights evening walkabout takes in the finest of the city’s glimmering seasonal displays.
Boston holiday lights change from year to year, but the areas outlined in our walk are perennial favorites. The 3.3-mile loop winds past some of the city’s most popular sights, and will take 2-3 hours to complete. Enjoying the colorful glow of the city after dark is one of the best things to do in Boston at Christmas.
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Parking
The walking loop begins and ends at Faneuil Hall. There are several private parking garages in the area. We like to park on State Street due to its proximity to Faneuil Hall and Interstate 93. Both the 75 State Street and 60 State Street Garages offer competitive rates.
When to Go
Most Boston holiday decorations will be hung in the last week of November. It is generally safe to assume that full displays will be in place between December 1st and January 1st.
Tours
For those who cannot (or do not want) to walk around the city, Old Town Trolley Tours offers a Holiday Nights and Festive Sights Tour.
Boston Best Holiday Lights Walkabout Map and Route
Faneuil Hall
Begin your evening at Faneuil Hall. The stores inside of South Market, Quincy Market, and North Markets are festively decorated. In the public spaces between the malls the trees will twinkle with lights as buskers roam the cobblestones. Come in the late afternoon to shop and eat. Then, start your walk a half-hour after sunset.
Use the public restrooms in Faneuil Hall before you hit the road. Locate the red Freedom Trail line painted on the sidewalk, and follow it until reaching Boston Common.
Boston Common
As you approach the Common, a Christmas tree will come into view. Each year, a huge spruce tree is gifted to the people of Boston from the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Wander through America’s oldest park taking in the ice skating rink, kiosks hawking holiday gear, and sea of lights illuminating the trees. By mid-December, a 22-foot menorah can be found by Tremont Street.
Boston Public Garden
After crossing the Common, head into the Public Garden. Stroll the swan boat lagoon, footbridge, and the garden’s monuments. The path will continue to be lit by a wonderland of sparkling trees (over 80 between the Common and Public Garden!). Walk to the side of the park that borders Charles Street, and enjoy the decorations strung up for the season. End you exploration at the George Washington statue by the Arlington Street entrance.
Commonwealth Avenue Mall
From the Public Garden cross Arlington Street onto Commonwealth Avenue. Walk the pedestrian mall past the Hamilton, Adams, and Morrison monuments. The walkway is bordered by rows of trees elegantly bedecked in tiny white lights. On each side of the mall, there are rows of Boston Brownstones (many with stoops decorated for the season). After a half-mile, follow the map to Copley Square.
Copley Square
Spend a bit of time in beautiful Copley Square. Around the historic square independence-era churches coexist with modern-day skyscrapers. In the middle of the park there is a grand Christmas tree. Bordering the square the Trinity Church, Boston Public Library, and Old South Church are decorated for the season.
Walk the lobby of the stylish Fairmont Copley Plaza for gorgeous holiday displays. Then, go inside to check out the store windows at the Copley Place and Prudential Center shopping malls. When you are done in this area take Boylston Street over to Newbury.
Newbury Street
Slow down to trek along Boston’s tony Newbury Street shopping district. Along the way, you will pass the lovely Church of the Covenant and some of the most elaborately decorated store windows in town. Look for the displays at Ralph Lauren, Chanel, and Burberry. From Newbury Street, follow the map to Downtown Crossing.
Downtown Crossing
Next, you wander the streets and alleys of Downtown Crossing. The avenues are lined with brightly lit trees and the store displays are mini-works of art. Macy’s on Washington Street has a grand Christmas tree and elaborate holiday windows. The Old South Meeting House offers a tranquil oasis away from the hustle of the city.
From Downtown Crossing, follow the map back to your starting point. End your evening at Faneuil Hall, Or, meander down to Union Street and finish the evening with a drink at one of the pubs.
Don’t slip on the ice and make sure to have a chow-dah before you head home,
Laura and Randy
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