New York does everything well. It even seems to have perfected its seasons. The city starts to stir in the spring, whilst the summer’s heat is nearly perfect until it gets quite hot (but who cares, as there’s a lot you can do indoors). Autumn then arrives in a blaze of hues. Even winter is great; who doesn’t like a snowstorm?
This begs the question: what’s really the best time to visit New York? The answer of course is any time is a good time to visit New York; each season has something for everyone. Here are some of the things that each season has to offer, to help you decide on the best time to go for you.
Is spring the best time to visit New York for you?
New York in the spring is absolutely beautiful. As the city stirs to life, there is a spring to everyone’s step in anticipation of warmer weather and things to come. The city is adorned in shoots and blossoms, and even the birds seem to get in on the act. This is the perfect time for sightseeing when the weather is pleasant and the city is still quiet.
During the warmer months, things begin to pick up, both in terms of visitors and weather. There are also lots of street parades and festivities, such as the St Patrick’s Day Parade, Harlem Cultural Festival, and the Brooklyn Folk Festival.
Sakura Matsuri Blossom Festival
As spring settles in, the cherry trees start to blossom. They’re in full season towards the end of March and beginning of April, so head to the Botanical Gardens for the Sakura Matsuri Blossom Festival. For a small fee and with canopies and carpets of pink petals, you’ll see performances from J-rock bands,
Taiko drummers, and samurai sword masters, as well as a mini flea market and a Japanese tearoom. Other great places to witness this spectacle of pink clouds are Central Park, The High Line, and Bryant Park.
New York in summer
The summer months in New York see the pulse pick up a beat, and the heat follows suit, with longer days of up to 11 hours. If you are a fan of music, this is the best time to visit New York because the whole city is bathed in festivals and concerts. Many of these are free yet feature incredible artists and bands.
August is the best time to head indoors to some of the city’s museums or head to one of the nearby beaches; yes, you heard that right.
Rockaway Beach
One of New York’s fun beaches, Rockaway Beach, is only about 45 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hop on the OvR Rockaway Beach Bus, which runs every weekend to one of the most laid-back and friendly beaches around. Entrance to the beach is free, where you will find some of the best tacos and lots of cool outdoor bars and vintage shops.
Governors Island
One of the coolest and most luxurious spas in NYC has opened its doors on Governors Island and is the place to head for a relaxing and rejuvenating time from the heat. The spa is open from 10:00-22:00 Sunday to Thursday and 10:00-23:00 Friday to Saturday. You pay a one-off fee that gives you access to all the facilities (but treatments cost extra); included is your round-trip ferry ticket – what’s not to like?
SummerStage
As the heat of the summer cranks up, so does the anticipation of one of the biggest New York summer events: SummerStage. This free festival is hosted in Central Park and amongst other parks across the city, with a big-name lineup of hip-hop artists, indie-rock bands, dance performers and even screen films. The festival usually runs from June through to October.
Central Park
Right in the middle of Manhattan is Central Park, a whole 843 acres of it. You could spend days here and still not exhaust everything. The key to exploring this historic landmark is using the right entrance, so you are not exhausted before you see anything of importance; head to the entrance at 72nd Street and Central Park West. The park has everything from an ice-skating rink to a swimming pool and hosts various events throughout the year, so it’s a perfect place to visit any time you are in New York – don’t miss out on the iconic Bethesda Fountain.
New York in autumn
It could easily be said that autumn, or fall as it’s known in NYC, is the best time to visit New York. The weather is as pleasant as it is in the spring, but without the rain. Head to Central Park, Prospect Park, or Fort Tryon Park to witness the most beautiful natural canvas of gold, yellow and brown shades you’ll see.
October is also one of the best times to beat the queues at New York’s city attractions, with fewer crowds. Get the New York Explorer Pass, which will give you entrance to most of them at a fraction of the cost.
New York in winter
Winter in New York starts off gently, and as seen in recent years, heads into proper snowstorms. But if you bundle up and expect traffic delays, you are in for a fabulous time. Most of the tourist attractions empty out as visitors head home, whilst the city becomes a gigantic snowball, complete with twinkling lights. This makes winter one of the best times to visit New York for a romantic break.
Winter skating
Nothing beats New York in winter with a mug of hot chocolate. The Rink at Rockefeller Center is a classic ice-skating experience, along with the famous Prometheus statue and Christmas tree. Others worth noting are LeFrak at the picturesque Prospect Park, which has both indoor and outdoor skating and other winter sports, and of course the Wollman Rink in Central Park.
Broadway
The city that never sleeps knows how to put on a show, and where better than Broadway. Whilst you can get a ticket any time of the year, some of the most discounted tickets are during Broadway Week, in January, when you can get 2-for-1 tickets.
Museums
January, February and October are the best times to visit museums in New York because you can find reasonably priced tickets. There are also fewer visitors around. It’s a good time to head indoors to avoid the cold outside.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Avenue is home to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere, with a collection of over two million works. It’s open every day except Wednesdays from 10:00-17:00 and closes at 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Otherwise, take advantage of the LES Gallery Nights, which offers free self-guided tours of some of the coolest galleries on the Lower East Side. Check the website for current scheduling.
Shopping
Of course, it makes sense to combine your holiday with a shopping spree. Most high-end boutiques in New York have sales twice a year, in November and December or April and May. You can also get discounted summer clothes in July.
Bagels at Russ & Daughters
And now for the quintessential NYC experience that you can partake in any time you are in New York: the New York bagel. Where better to have yours than at Russ & Daughters? Opened in 1914, this bakery on the Lower East Side, with a newly opened branch in Brooklyn, knows how to do their bagels. They offer classics from bagel and lox to a caviar cream-cheese bagel – doesn’t that sound good with some smoked salmon?
What to pack?
New York experiences the extremes of all seasons, so be savvy with your packing.
Spring in NY
Take a jumper and pack an umbrella for the spring. It’s bound to rain sometime, and the weather fluctuates from cold to warm.
Summer in New York
The summer calls for very light clothes, as it does get sweltering. Don’t forget your walking shoes, as this is the season you are likely to put in a lot of sightseeing.
What to pack: Autumn
Autumn is beautifully pleasant, but again you may require a light jacket for when the temperature dips.
New York: Winter
Because the winters get extremely cold, make sure to take a warm coat and some thermals.
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