New Year's Day Boston 2025: Best things to do

Whether you’re waxing poetic about the past year or you’re making plans for the one you’re facing, raising a mimosa with friends and family is never a bad idea. Hit one of the best places for brunch and start the year off right.

Take a deep breath of fresh air to start the new year. Boston has a wealth of green space and parks that are beautiful even in winter. New Year's Day is a perfect time to stroll one of Boston's best parks, assess the year that was, and plan for a great 2025.

If you’re aiming for more than just a stroll, get out and take a hike. There are plenty of worthy hikes near Boston that are easy to get to, whether it’s climbing a lung-busting hill or exploring trails through scenic wooded preserves. Check out the nearby Blue Hills Reservation, Middlesex Fells Reservation, or Harold Parker State Park, or drive up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

There’s nothing like a great escape into a good movie, especially after the bustle of the holidays. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema does brunch and dinner in the Seaport, or grab seats and a bucket of popcorn at a familiar luxury theater such as Showcase SuperLux or a small indie one like Somerville Theatre in Davis Square or Capitol Theatre in Arlington. Who knows? You might have the entire theater to yourself.

Didn't make it to SoWa or the Snowport holiday market this season? Plan ahead this year and make a list of all the things you want to explore in Boston—whether it’s revisiting sites you love or finding new ones. Follow Time Out Boston for ideas throughout the year.

One of the many delights of living in Boston is that great powder is only a short trip away. Barring crazy traffic, many ski areas are within a two-hour drive. While the region’s most in-demand slopes are farther out from the city—in other words, more in line with the best winter day trips from Boston—these ski spots offer well-groomed trails for all skill levels, plus terrain parks, lessons, and good base camp facilities.

One of the best ways to look at the future is to take a glimpse into the past. One way to do this is by hitting the Freedom Trail. The 2.5-mile tour, clearly marked by a red line on the sidewalk, winds its way past several of the Hub’s best-known historical sites and attractions. It’s an easy self-guided tour (volunteer-led tours are available, but not on New Year's Day nor Christmas).