The Frog Pond in Boston Common becomes the city's most popular ice skating rink in the winter.

Hotels in this story

Price Dates

The Ritz-Carlton, Boston

Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel

Boston Marriott Cambridge

The Charles Hotel

While the winter weather in Boston does limit the amount of outdoor activities you can partake in, there’s one outdoor activity that’s best enjoyed in winter: ice skating. Boston offers a variety of ice skating rinks — all with their own charm and characteristics. Below, take a look at my three favorites.

The Frog Pond in Boston Common is the most famous and popular of the Boston ice skating rinks, for good reason. It’s in the center of the city, and offers ice skating lessons, skate rentals, public skate/freestyle sessions, and a snack bar. Consider staying in the center of the city, right at the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common or the Nine Zero Hotel Boston. Get to the rink early, as lines on sunny days can be long.Another option is the Kendall Square Ice Skating Rink, located in Kendall Square in Cambridge. It offers skate rentals, ice skating lessons, a snack bar, and validated parking in the nearby Kendall Square South Garage. The Boston Marriott Cambridge is nearby, and is very reasonably priced for Boston.Looking for a more private ice skating option? The Charles Hotel, right in the heart of Harvard Square, offers a 2,900 square foot ice skating rink that is open to the public, but can also be rented for private events. The rink is located right outside of the hotel.