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May is when Boston's outdoor season opens: the Swan Boats are back on the Public Garden lagoon, Lilac Sunday fills the Arnold Arboretum, the SoWa Open Market starts its Sunday season, ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands resume in mid-May, and the Red Sox are playing at Fenway Park. It is a good month to visit, quieter than summer, though Boston's spring arrives late, so pack a layer for cool evenings.
Here is what runs in May, when it starts, and what it costs, with 2026 dates as a guide to the pattern for 2027.
Boston in May at a glance
| What | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan Boats | Daily from mid-April, weather permitting | Public Garden | Adults $4.75 |
| Free Public Garden tours | May through September | Make Way for Ducklings statue | Free |
| SoWa Open Market | Sundays from early May (May 3 in 2026), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | South End | Free entry |
| Lilac Sunday | One Sunday in May (May 10 in 2026), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain | Free |
| Harbor Islands ferries | From mid-May | Long Wharf | Ferry fare |
| Boston's Run to Remember | Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (May 24 in 2026) | Starts and finishes on Seaport Boulevard | Race entry |
| Red Sox home games | All season | Fenway Park | Tickets vary |
Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum
Lilac Sunday is the Arboretum's annual day for its lilac collection, with ongoing lilac tours, art and family activities. It is also the only day of the year picnicking is allowed on the grounds. Admission is free, as it is every day, and the Arboretum is in Boston, at 125 Arborway in Jamaica Plain. Take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and leave by the exit marked Arnold Arboretum; parking fills quickly on the day, so the T is the easier choice.
The Public Garden and Beacon Hill in spring
The Swan Boats, family-run since 1877, pedal around the Public Garden lagoon from mid-April to early September; tickets are sold at the dock with no advance booking. From May, the Friends of the Public Garden run free one-hour tours that meet at the Make Way for Ducklings statue at Beacon and Charles streets, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons, Wednesday evenings and some weekend mornings. From there, Beacon Hill's gas-lit streets and the State House are a short walk uphill.
SoWa Open Market opens for the season
The South End's open-air market runs every Sunday from early May to mid-November, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more than 250 local and regional artisans, food trucks, farmers and a rotating brewery takeover. Entry is free and the market operates rain or shine. The market says it is a 10-minute walk or less from Back Bay and Tufts Medical Center on the Orange Line and from Broadway on the Red Line.
Sports in May: Red Sox, and maybe playoffs
May falls in the Red Sox regular season, so check the home schedule before you plan a day around a game. On non-game days, and before games, the ballpark runs hour-long tours ($30 for adults). The Bruins and Celtics play at TD Garden, and May games there happen only if a team is still in the playoffs, so treat them as a bonus rather than a plan.
On the water: Harbor Islands ferries return
Public ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands run from mid-May to mid-October, leaving Long Wharf beside the New England Aquarium: about 30 minutes to Spectacle Island and 45 to Georges Island. The islands charge no entrance fee, but the ferry is ticketed. The New England Aquarium also sells whale watch trips; see whale watching from Boston.
Memorial Day weekend
Boston's Run to Remember, a half marathon and 5-miler that honors fallen first responders, starts and finishes on Seaport Boulevard early on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, so expect closed streets downtown that morning. On Memorial Day itself, the Institute of Contemporary Art opens with free admission for everyone.
Is May a good time to visit Boston?
Yes, for walkers and anyone who wants the outdoor sights without summer crowds. Hotels fill around college commencement weekends in May, so book early if your dates overlap one. For the rest of the season, see spring activities in Boston and things to do in Boston in the spring.
Sources: Arnold Arboretum, Lilac Sunday and visit; Swan Boats; Friends of the Public Garden tours; SoWa Open Market and FAQs; Fenway Park tours; Boston Harbor Islands ferries; Boston's Run to Remember; ICA. Checked September 30, 2026.