In my opinion, the Boston Ballet is one of the art gems of the city. The Boston Ballet dancers and choreography are among the best in the world. Throughout the season, the Boston Ballet Company has several programs ranging from contemporary to classics. The most well-known and popular of these is the Boston Ballet Nutcracker. Performances run every year.
Whether you are visiting Boston or are a local, we think going to the Boston Ballet is among the best things to do in Boston! The Boston Ballet is an excellent Boston date idea too!
This guide will help you plan your visit, have a great time, find a place to eat beforehand, and discuss other tips and logistics. Let’s jump in!
About the Boston Ballet
The Boston Ballet started to form in the 1950s. The first commercial company was formed here in the 1960s. The Boston Ballet School in Boston and Boston Ballet Newton serve thousands of students. Their website provides an interesting history overview.
Mikko Nissinen has been the artistic director of the Boston Ballet since 2001. His decades of experience bring a mix of classical and contemporary works. The repertoire includes his versions of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
The Boston Ballet theater is the beautiful Boston Opera House, also called the Citizens Bank Opera House. The Boston Opera House was built in 1928 and is a stunning building. It has gorgeous stonework, marble, fixtures, and carvings at every turn. The building adds so much to the experience of attending the ballet.
The Boston Opera House and Boston Ballet performances are located in Boston’s Theatre District on Washington St.
Why should you go to the Boston Ballet?
The Boston Ballet Company is one of the premier ballet companies in the world. Seeing them perform amazed me with their level of artistry and beauty. It’s beyond impressive to see the movements the dancers can perform while making them look effortless.
Beyond the skill of the Boston ballet dancers, the set and costume design are stunning. They combine to pull you into the performance and make you feel like you’re there in the moment being portrayed. The Boston Ballet Orchestra provides beautiful live music to frame and enhance the performance. We were impressed by how captivating their performances were throughout the evening.
You’ll also get to explore the gorgeous Boston Opera House on your visit. The area around the Boston Opera House has many places to eat, have a drink, get a coffee, kayak on the Charles River, walk in the park, see flowers in Boston, and explore the city.
Example Boston Ballet calendar
In the course of a season, the Boston Ballet performs a selection of multiple ballets that change with the year. You’ll commonly see
- The Nutcracker every year near Christmas. This is where you can see the famous Boston Ballet Bear! Amie has seen many performances of The Nutcracker and this is her favorite. The Boston Ballet Nutcracker runs for about 4 weeks.
- 1-3 classics like Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, etc. These tend to have shorter runs of 1-2 weeks.
- 1-3 contemporary ballets. These tend to have shorter runs of 1-2 weeks.
We also saw the Boston Ballet Sleeping Beauty and were awestruck at the beauty, skill, and difficulty of the performance.
The Boston Opera House
When was the Boston Opera House built? The Boston Opera House opened in 1928 originally operating as a movie theatre. In 1980 it was rededicated as the home of the Boston Opera. Today touring Broadway shows perform here in addition to being the Boston Ballet location.
Also known as the Citizens Bank Opera House, it is located in the Theatre District on Washington St. in Boston. The building is built in a Vaudeville style with stunning stone, wood, glass, and metal works throughout.
Historic tours are offered frequently if you’d like to explore further.
What to wear to the Boston Ballet?
There is no official Boston Opera House dress code. The general attire of the ballet patrons tends to be on the dressier side. Think slacks with a button-down/sweater or dress. During our visits, we saw outfits ranging from shorts and jeans though to full black-tie and gowns. Most were in a dressy but just shy of formal range.
How to get to the Boston Opera House and Boston Ballet
The Boston Opera House is in Boston’s Theatre District very close to the Boston Common. The closest subway stops to the Boston Opera House are Downtown Crossing, Park Street, Boylston, and Chinatown. All are less than a 5-minute walk!
Driving is also an option as there are multiple Boston Opera House parking options nearby.
Citizens Bank Opera House parking
Boston Opera House parking is available in multiple garages nearby. Generally, your best bet is to look for parking on apps like SpotHero, ParkWhiz, and SpotAngels. They let you can pre-purchase parking and easily explore rates, which are usually discounted compared to drive-up.
Nearby Boston Opera House parking options include
and more.
The Citizens Bank Opera House website lists some more options with promo codes. If you eat nearby, ask the restaurant if they validate parking.
Restaurants near Citizens Bank Opera House
Wondering where to eat near the Boston Opera House? The Theatre District and nearby Chinatown provide many options for some of the best restaurants near the Boston Opera House. Tell your server that you’re headed to a show and the showtime so they can keep you on schedule!
Here are some ideas
Legal Crossing (map) has great seafood options in a slightly upscale setting. Ask about parking validation.
French Quarter (map) has tasty Louisiana-inspired food and drinks in a fun setting. Open-air windows are available in nicer weather. Their sweet tea with a bit of mint is a treat!
Yvonne’s (map) has classy food in a fun dinner club setting.
Fajitas & ‘Ritas (map) is a classic for informal Mexican food in Boston.
Sip Wine Bar (map) has a great wine selection with small plates.
Shabu Zen (map) serves delicious Japanese hot pot. It is good for groups. Give yourself at least 2 hours if you go here to enjoy the meal and experience. Don’t forget to use the sauce and flavoring cart!
Windsor Dim Sum Cafe (map) is a popular made-to-order dim sum restaurant.
George Howell Coffee (map) is a must-visit for coffee lovers. Their beans and coffees are delicious! The pastries and the vibe are great as well.
Tips for having a great visit
Seating
When looking at seating charts and buying Boston ballet tickets consider how close you’d like to be to the stage. Depending on proximity, the orchestra can be loud for some. So that may influence your seat choice.
If you can accept a partial view, you can get potentially significant savings. We took such seats when we saw The Sleeping Beauty and got a great deal with little to no degradation in the experience.
Deals
In addition to discounts for seat selection, promo codes are often available for the Boston Ballet. Have a quick search to see if you can find something active.
The Boston Ballet website also lists other discount programs they have like military discounts, rush tickets, and Card tO Culture discounts. A Boston Ballet student discount is available through their Rush tickets. They also have some parking promo codes listed there!
Visit the downstairs bar and water fountains
The bars on the main floor tend to be quite crowded. If you’re looking for a refreshment or snack, know there is a downstairs bar that tends to have much shorter lines! The decor downstairs is also different with darker wood tones and beautiful paintings. If you’re enjoying the Opera House, then continuing your exploration downstairs is recommended.
You’ll find the restrooms and water fountains on this level if you’d like to avoid buying a beverage.
Many Boston Ballet programs have short runs
Many of the programs put on by the Boston Ballet have relatively short runs of around 10 days. If you see something appealing, you need to be proactive to ensure you don’t miss out. We missed a performance of La Mer in 2023 because we didn’t heed this advice!
Wrapping up
We hope you’re excited to see the Boston Ballet! We sure are! Have you been to a performance? What was your favorite? Are you ready to go? Tell us in the comments below!
