If you’re planning on visiting New York, you have to plan ahead and organize your time the best way possible to enjoy your trip as much as you can! That means, among other things, checking the weather in New York to decide on the best time to go.
In this article, we will go over the diverse weather conditions in New York during the different times of the year (we’ll disclose them in Fahrenheit and Celsius so you can get used to understanding the weather). This way, you can choose the vibe for your trip, pack accordingly and plan the best itinerary!
Let’s find out when the best time is to visit New York!
The weather in New York during the year
A bit of context and general knowledge: New York City is located in the northern hemisphere, and has a humid subtropical climate. It has four well distinct seasons with their specific weather conditions:
- NYC’s winter takes place between December and February: it can be really cold and is usually snowy, with average temperatures ranging from 25 to 40°F, meaning -4 to 4°C.
- Then comes spring, from March to May: if the weather is nicer, the spring temperatures will be either cool or warm, located between 40 and 70°F (4 and 21°C). Take into account that NYC’s spring is often rainy, so bring your umbrella and waterproof clothes and makeup.
- In New York, summer goes from June to August: the summers in the city are usually hot and humid. The average temperatures range between 70 and 85°F (21-29°C). New Yorkers are used to heat waves in the summer, which make temperatures possibly exceed 90°F (32°C).
- Finally, New York’s fall is from September to November: surprisingly, the fall in New York is in general mild and pleasant. The temperatures are between 40 and 70°F (4-21°C). New York City is very beautiful during fall as the trees take pretty autumn colors: it is a popular attraction.
New York City is pretty big, so the weather conditions could change from one side to another. Take into account that as NYC is located by the sea, its weather is also impacted by the ocean’s mood.
Going to New York for spring
If you plan on traveling to New York city for spring, you can make some space in your itinerary to enjoy outdoor activities, but bring an umbrella and a raincoat just in case.
First, don’t miss out on visiting Central Park: it is very beautiful, with spring colors in the trees and flowers blooming. You can plan on wandering around, but also on settling down for a picnic or even taking some time to rent a boat and enjoy the beautiful scenery from the water. Very romantic!
Then, you can take a walking tour: the spring season is a great moment to explore New York City walking. There are several guided walking tours in NYC, which take you for example to historic neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village or Lower East Side. You can also go on a food tour so you can discover the city’s great cuisines.
In New York City, spring season rhymes with festival season! You can check some of the many festivals taking place in the city during spring, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival or the Macy’s Flower Show.
If the day is rainy, don’t hesitate to explore New York City’s museums: some of them are part of the world’s best museums. You can get to the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), and the Museum of Modern Art (the MoMA) among many other great options.
Finally, you have to know that spring is a great time for Broadway shows in New York. There are always new productions to see, and some of them get pretty popular!
Going to New York during the summer
If your trip to New York is planned during the summer, then you should definitely plan a lot of outdoor activities. But be careful: as we saw before, there can be some heat waves, so don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, water bottle and cool clothes so you can stay healthy and energized!
New York City is great to visit during the summer: it offers its visitors countless outdoor activities and events. First of all, you can go to the beaches: NYC has some great beaches, such as Coney Island, Rockaway Beach or Brighton Beach. NYC’s beaches allow you to swim, sunbathe, play beach-volley…
Then, you have the possibility to attend a concert or festival outdoors: during summer, New York City offers many concerts in Central Park, and you can also attend the Governor’s Ball music festival with its great programme or the Shakespeare in the Park theater performances.
Then, we highly recommend you to enjoy a rooftop bar or restaurant: there are plenty of them in New York City, and they offer stunning views of the skyline and sunsets.
Finally, you can enjoy taking a bike ride: the city has many bike lanes and rental services. You can ride through Central Park, join a guided bike tour to explore several neighborhoods, or visit the High Line, an elevated park built on an old railway track with beautiful peaceful views.
Visiting New York during winter
Two great reasons to visit NYC during the winter is to soak in the Christmas and New Year’s Eve vibes. There are plenty of related activities to do in snowy New York, despite the cold weather!
First, you can visit the Christmas markets, like the ones in Bryant Park, Union Square or Columbus Circle. They offer many fun things to see in a magical atmosphere, and you can enjoy great food while wandering around with beautiful crafts and gifts. Be careful not to buy everything!
Then, you absolutely have to go ice skating, or at least watch the ice skaters. There are several ice skating rinks in the city during winter, like Central Park, Bryant Park and even at the Rockefeller Center.
After going ice skating, you have to warm up with an NYC special hot chocolate: there are many great spots to cozily enjoy a warm hot chocolate during the winter. Jacques Torres Chocolate, City Bakery, and Max Brenner are particularly popular!
NYC is magical around Christmas time because of its lights: the neighborhoods of 5th Avenue or Dyker Heights are particularly famous for their great lights. You can even take a walking or bus tour to go see the lights and Christmas decorations!
Finally, you can escape the cold by visiting a museum (museums in New York City are always a great option no matter the weather). We recommend the ones cited above, as well as the Guggenheim Museum.
Going to New York during the fall
Visiting New York City during the fall is a great idea. You’ll enjoy nice cool weather and beautiful colorful foliage: indeed, NYC has many parks and gardens with stunning trees with bright fall colors. You can see them in Central Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or the New York Botanical Garden.
To stay on the topic of nature, a fun activity to do is to visit a pumpkin patch: there are several of them around New York City, where you can pick your own pumpkins and enjoy seasonal treats and sweets.
Then, you can get back to the city and attend the New York Film Festival which takes place every year in September and October. You’ll be able to enjoy a great selection of films and events.
If you’re traveling around Halloween, you can plan on getting the thrills and chills by visiting a haunted attraction. Halloween is big in New York City! There are many haunted houses and spooky things to enjoy, such as the Blood Manor or the Haunted History Tour.
Finally, we recommend you take a food tour: you can explore New York City’s great and diverse culinary scene and enjoy a variety of comfort foods. There are even food tours available. Don’t miss out on the warm international cuisine!
So what is the best time?
Actually, determining the best time of the year to go to New York City really depends on your wishes on what to do during your trip! That’s right, you’re deciding. Your trip to NYC will be beautiful any time of the year: you just have to choose the moment, based on your budget, the activities you want to do, and what you want to see. We hope this article helped you have a clearer and broader view of NYC’s weather!
However, we can say that according to tourism rates and weather likeability, the best times of year to visit New York City are from mid-May to early July and then from mid-August to the end of September. This way, you can enjoy warm weather without melting, and avoid the biggest crowds.
You can also travel to New York off-season, which is typically around January-February or October-November when the big holiday crowds are gone. You can enjoy shows and museums, as well as sample sales, usually at the beginning of the year, where you can find designer items at discounted prices!
But you can also travel to New York for Christmas and New Year’s Eve: even if the city is cold and more crowded, it is a magical time. If you want to travel on a budget, you should go to NYC off-season: the weather might not be the nicest, but you’ll get to experience the city without tourists and do activities made for the locals!
Now, you know everything about NYC’s seasons and their respective activities! We hope this article will help you plan your best itinerary for visiting New York.
Remember that with Trazler, you can book your trip to NYC very easily: our website lets you book your accommodation, traveling and car rentals on the same page and with the best prices.
We wish you a lovely time in New York City, whichever season you choose, and that you see the magic of the city with any weather!
