Boston's Best Places To See New Year's Eve Fireworks

New Year's Eve is not complete without a fireworks display, especially when you are in a city with a gorgeous view of the water and the oldest park in the country. Finding a great place to watch the fireworks in Boston is easy as the city has several displays. The hard part is finding a place to watch that is not already overrun by revelers. The best places to view the show in the city are those with plenty of room for everyone or that attract fewer people and still offer a clear shot of the fireworks.

Hill At Boston Common
Courtesy of Mayor Menino and the Mugar Foundation
Charles Street
Boston, MA 02108
(888) 733-2678
www.cityofboston.gov

Boston Common is one of the best places to be during most celebratory days in the city. Visitors will likely get a chance to see shows on the bandstand, street performers and more. At 7 p.m., a great family fireworks display begins. This gives people time to get home before the raucous night crowd really gets rowdy without missing out on all of the fun. The best place to see this display, which launches from the ball field on the common, is on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument's hill facing toward the Public Garden.

Memorial Drive
3.9 miles along Charles River
Cambridge, MA 02142

Memorial Drive, which is part of Route 3 in Cambridge, offers one of the most complete views of the Boston skyline available. Therefore, revelers will get an amazing view of the fireworks from virtually any point of the drive that looks toward the skyline. There are also hotels nearby for people who prefer to enjoy the view from indoors and retreat immediately to the safety of a warm bed.

Boston Harbor
New Year's Even Fireworks Dinner Cruise from Spirit Cruises
200 Seaport Blvd.
Boston, MA 02210
(866) 310-2469
www.spiritofboston.com

The harbor offers the best views of firework displays for a few reasons. The lights of the city are a little distant, the water reflects the flashes of light from the show and the crowds are on the shore. Aboard the fireworks dinner cruise from Spirit Cruises, visitors get a buffet dinner, music from a DJ, room to dance and drinks. There is also a toast at midnight to ring in the New Year. This experience stands out as being the most different from other fireworks views in the city.

Castle Island
2080 William J. Day Blvd.
Boston, MA 02127
www.mass.gov

Castle Island is situated on Pleasure Bay and overlooks Boston Harbor. This gives visitors a great opportunity to see the fireworks over the water without paying to go on a cruise or crowding on any of the numerous waterfront spots in the city. There is ample room to sit in the grass, so bring along some snacks, several blankets and someone to snuggle with.

Related: Boston Area's Best Places To See Fireworks

East Boston Memorial Park
143 Porter St.
Boston, MA 02128
(617) 635-4505
www.bostonharborwalk.com

According to First Night Boston, the organization responsible for the festivities in Boston, East Boston is a good place to view the midnight fireworks display. The East Boston Memorial Park offers plenty of places to sit and face the harbor for the show. This is one of the few good spots away from central Boston that might offer a smaller crowd. Traffic coming in and out of the area is likely just as bad, though, so remember to plan ahead.

Related: Boston's Best New Year's Eve Parties