Best Time to Visit NYC | Ideal Seasons and Months
Discover the BEST time to visit NYC! Learn what to expect for weather, crowds, events, and prices for each month and season.
NYC is one of the most iconic tourist destinations in America. It's a bucket-list city that most travelers will visit at least once...and for good reason. There's plenty to keep a visitor (and local) busy: museums, restaurants, shopping, rooftop bars, broadway, live shows, and more!
Like most tourist destinations, when you visit Manhattan can make or break your trip, which is why you're smart for researching the best time to visit NYC.
Go at the wrong time and you may find yourself battling insane crowd levels and peak hotel prices. Visit at the right time and you’ll find the perfect mix of lower crowds and nice weather.
It’s important to take events, holidays, weather, and peak tourist season into consideration before booking your airline tickets.
I’ll take you through each season and my personal favorite months to visit New York City. Don’t start planning your trip to the Big Apple before learning the BEST time to visit NYC!
Short and sweet: early fall and late spring are the best time to visit NYC
Fall in NYC – September through November
hands down the BEST TIME of year to visit New York City
Fall in NYC is glorious! Early fall is by far the best time to visit NYC in general.
Temperatures in early September hover in the 70s, while October is mid-60s. Perfect weather for sightseeing and walking around town without breaking a sweat.
Patios are filled with locals enjoying the last bit of sunny weather before winter arrives.
Central Park is bustling with runners and bikers taking advantage of prime workout temperatures. The parks are gorgeous in late September and October, showcasing a display of yellows and oranges with the changing leaves.
I’ve gotten lucky and found a few hotel deals here and there in early fall, but don’t expect it. After Labor Day weekend, prices and crowd levels are average.
The combination of weather, crowd levels, and prices, makes this my personal favorite and the absolute best time to visit NYC.
Go for November if you put a higher importance on lower hotel prices and crowds (outside of Thanksgiving). Hotel prices will skyrocket during Thanksgiving weekend with tourists coming to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Temperatures are ok for sightseeing in November with lows in the low-40s and highs in the low-50s.
Events to watch out for, cue high crowds and hotel prices, are the NYC Marathon and the Thanksgiving Day Parade, both in November.
Visit in late August/early September for the US Open if you’re a tennis fan.
Broadway lovers will want to schedule their trip to coincide with NYC Broadway Week (2-for-1 tickets).
See the NYC Official Guide for all noteworthy events of the year.
Spring in NYC – March through May
Spring is the second-best time to visit NYC for good weather and decent crowds
Spring in NYC is my second favorite and the next best time to visit NYC. The only reason spring in NYC is a step below fall is that there’s a higher chance of rain and grey skies.
Since this is a place where you're outside walking from place to place constantly…that can really make a difference in your experience.
If you visit NYC in spring, aim for late April and May. March is still very cold with temperatures in the high-30s to high-40s and the days are still short.
April and May see a higher chance of rain than March, but the temperatures are much more enjoyable. April sees lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s while May stays in the 60s with a few days in the low 70s.
If you’re looking for patio weather, definitely opt for May.
No matter what month you visit in spring, be sure to pack an umbrella.
I’ve visited NYC in spring several times. I've only experienced a downpour once, but almost always see a few days where it’s drizzling here and there and the sky remains gloomy.
Tourist levels are a bit lower in spring compared to fall, but not substantially so. March will be the least crowded since it’s still cold.
Avoid Memorial Day (May) as the city feels especially touristy that weekend. Locals leave for the Hamptons or other destinations outside the city and tourists use the long weekend as an excuse to visit NYC.
Avoid holidays like St. Patrick’s Day and Easter weekend if you want to skip high crowds.
NYC in Summer – June through August
NYC in summer can be uncomfortably hot and humid with a guarantee of high crowds...perks include lots of events, many of which are free
Downsides to NYC in summer
Summer is NOT the best time to visit NYC when it comes to weather, crowds, and prices. Weather is hit or miss. Temperatures look perfect, ranging from the high-70s to low-80s, but what most tourists don’t take into account is the high humidity.
80 degrees in NYC can quickly become a hot, sticky mess. The underground metro can be stifling at times and a crowded rooftop bar no longer sounds like a fun night.
Add the guarantee that crowds and hotel prices will both be high and you’ll be wondering why you didn’t visit NYC in spring or fall.
Another thing to note is the smell. Businesses and restaurants pile their trash on the sidewalks since there are no alleyways. You can imagine what those mountains of waste smell like on extra hot days.
Jake and I have visited NYC in summer several times because of last minute flight/hotel deals. We’ve had some trips where the weather was amazing and not humid at all. We’ve also had several experiences where we were changing clothes every few hours because we were literally drenched in sweat.
Unless you get lucky and find some crazy good travel deals and are willing to risk hot temperatures and humidity, I would save your visit for spring or fall.
Biking traffic-free Park Ave. during Summer Streets
UpSIDES TO NYC IN SUMMER
If you decide to chance it and visit NYC in summer, you’ll be rewarded with some fun summer events. Shakespeare in the Park is held from late May to early September, 4th of July is celebrated with a bang, and the New York International Fringe Festival is in August.
One time Jake and I stumbled upon Summer Streets. From 7:00 am to 1:00 pm on three Saturdays in August, much of Park Avenue is closed to traffic and open for bikers and pedestrians. This is one of my favorite summer memories.
Jake and I rented Citi bikes (we usually do a 24-hour pass), and rode from Midtown to Central Park. We loved seeing everyone out enjoying the traffic-free zone!
Other events to note in summer are NYC Restaurant Week (usually late-July through August), NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, and Museum Mile Festival.
Winter in NYC – December through February
winter in NYC is fun for the holidays…and freezing
NYC in winter can be blustery and cold. Temperatures range from the 20s to low-40s. If seeing the Rockettes, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and enjoying the Christmas decorations along Fifth Avenue are high on your priority list, then it might be worth it to bear the cold temps.
Keep in mind that the holidays are also peak tourist season and come with some of the highest hotel prices of the year.
When I think of NYC, I picture enjoying views of the city from rooftop bars, biking over Brooklyn bridge, enjoying the sunshine in Central Park, and strolling the streets. None of these activities are enjoyable in frigid temperatures and icy winds.
Save your visit for a time of year that offers trees covered in leaves, busy rooftop bars, and weather suitable for exploring the city by foot.
Also, keep in mind that winter is not the best time to travel to New York if you're worried about flight delays and cancellations. This is the time of year where weather can really have a negative impact on flight schedules.
Visiting NYC in winter really only makes sense if you plan on spending a lot of time indoors at museums, shows, etc., and finding a hotel steal is a priority (after NYE). Consider booking your trip in late January/early February to sync with NYC Restaurant week, NYC Must-See Week (2 for 1 tickets to popular attractions), and NYC Broadway Week (2 for 1 tickets).
In Summary
I hope this guide on the best time to visit NYC helps you decide the best season and month for your trip.
Fall in NYC brings ideal sightseeing weather and decent crowd levels. Spring is next best with good (possibly gloomy) weather and lower crowds than fall.
Winter in NYC is cold but is fun for holiday events. After New Years, winter brings the lowest hotel rates of the year and has several events with 2 for 1 tickets to broadway shows and other attractions.
NYC in summer can be beautiful or miserable weather wise. This is a great time of year for outdoor events, many or which are free.
No matter when you go, Manhattan is sure to keep you busy with sights and events. If you’re like me, you might choose to visit during each season so you can decide for yourself the best time to go to NYC.
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Best Time to Visit NYC | Ideal Seasons & Months
