New York is home to so many incredible sights, that even locals haven’t exhausted all there is to do here. This is a city that rewards inquisitive travelers with a treasure trove of museums, restaurants catering to every palate, lush urban parks, captivating shopping spots, and postcard-worthy landmarks.
It’s not so hard to see how New York remains the most popular travel destination in the United States!
However, deciding the best time to visit the city can be tricky, as there are many factors to consider such as weather, prices, and the activities you’re planning to do.
To help you plan your trip, we’ve created a comprehensive guide breaking down the best times for visiting New York. Whether your focus is to save money, or go sightseeing as much as possible, we’ve got the answer you’re looking for.
Keep reading to learn more!
The New York City Weather
New York has a humid subtropical climate, meaning it receives four distinct seasons. The city can be prone to extremes, with very warm and humid summers, and extremely cold, snowy winters.
The summer lasts for 3.5 months (June to September), while the cold season lasts for 3.3 months (December to March).
While there’s plentiful rainfall all year round, the rainy season in New York usually starts in the month of April and goes on till June.
Snowfall in New York occurs 12 days per year.
New York is also prone to strong winds, as it’s a coastal location and is exposed to the Atlantic.
The Seasons in NYC
Spring
Spring in New York City runs from March to May and brings crisp weather and moderate rainfall. In March, temperatures are still low, averaging 11ºC. From April onwards, temperatures increase and reach a pleasant 22°C.
During the springtime, New York benefits from an average of eight hours of sunshine each day, rising to nine daily hours as the season progresses.
April and May are two of the rainiest months of the year in New York, both of which typically have around 12 rainy days and accumulate over 4 inches of precipitation each.
Summer
Summer, which lasts from June to September, is the hottest season of the year in New York. During that time of the year, heat can be overwhelming, so expect temperatures to start out with highs in the 28ºC.
In June, the average temperature in the city is 26ºC, which rises up to 29ºC in July, which is the hottest month of the year. In August, temperatures slightly drop to 27ºC.
New York City also generally has high humidity, which can make the summer heat a bit uncomfortable.
In September, when fall is approaching, the summer humidity decreases and the weather slowly becomes more moderate, with temperatures averaging a pleasant 24Cº. The
Summer boasts the highest quantity of sunshine hours in New York, and the city enjoys an average of 10.5 hours of sunlight every day.
Fall
New York City’s fall technically begins in late September, which brings comfortable temperatures and less rainfall compared to the summer months.
In October, the weather is chillier, and temperatures drop down to 14ºC. This is also the driest month in the city, with an average of 6 rainy days.
Temperatures drop down even more in November, with temperatures averaging 9°C during that month.
During the fall season, New York enjoys an average of 7.5 hours of daily sunshine which is a major decrease compared to summer.
Winter
Winter (December to March) is the coldest season in New York. In December, the average highs stay around 7ºC and average lows at around 0ºC.
January is the coldest month in New York City. The average temperature in that month is 4ºC, but it can drop down to freezing -4ºC.
In February, highs stay at around 6ºC and lows at -2ºC.
In March, as Spring approaches, temperatures increase and can reach up to 11ºC.
Also, winter is the driest season of the year in New York, each month experiences an average of 71mm of precipitation divided between ten rainy days.
Snowfall, however, is very common during the wintertime in New York. December receives five snowy days, January eight snowy days, and February six snowy days.
The Best Time To Visit New York City
For Pleasant Weather
When it comes to pleasant weather, the best time to visit New York is late spring throughout the summer. From June until late September, the city benefits from warm weather, less rainfall, and longer days, which creates the most perfect conditions for sightseeing.
Just beware that the summer high season brings crowds of tourists to the city, so expect to encounter packed tourist attractions.
Also, the summertime in New York can bring temperatures rising up to 30ºC, which can be overwhelming for some travelers. So, in case you want to enjoy more comfortable temperatures, visit NYC from April to June.
The fall (specifically from late September to early November) is also a great time to visit NYC. The weather is chilly, but not too cold, the rainfall is low, and you’ll be able to marvel at a stunning fall foliage display.
For the Lowest Prices & Fewer Crowds
Since Spring and Summer are the most popular times to visit New York City since the weather is at its finest, you’ll find that these months are typically high season. This means higher rates for flights and accommodations, as well as thicker crowds of tourists.
With that being said, you will generally find most off-season deals during the wintertime. But beware to avoid visiting NYC during the busy holiday season, as Christmas and New Year’s are some of the most popular times to visit New York.
So, in case you want to avoid larger crowds at New York’s top attractions and benefit from lower hotel prices, plan your trip for early December, and January through March.
For Bucket-List Activities
New York offers incredible activities and experiences all year round. So it doesn’t matter in which season you visit the city, you’ll always have an array of amazing things to do.
Spring and Summer, however, are the best times to explore New York’s outdoor attractions. Thanks to their pleasant temperatures, and bright sunny skies, these seasons provide plenty of opportunities to visit NYC’s lush parks and gardens and to explore the city on foot.
During the Springtime, typically from late April to early May, the city’s parks and gardens are in full bloom with beautiful cherry blossoms, making it a prime time for hanami (flower viewing).
The New York Botanical Garden (or Brooklyn Botanic Garden), and the iconic Central Park are amazing locations to see the trees as well as other spring flowers and plants.
Visiting New York during the fall? Then, prepare to be rewarded with gorgeous views of the city covered in beautiful fall foliage.
Winter is also a prime time for a trip to New York. In December, the city comes alive with twinkling holiday lights and dreamy decorations. Some of the tried and true activities in NYC during the winter include ice skating at The Rink At Rockefeller Center and visiting the local Christmas Markets.
For Amazing Events & Festivities
New York has a variety of bustling events citywide running throughout the year. During the Spring, there’s the dreamy Cherry Blossom Festival, in the New York Botanical Garden, and the alluring Macy’s Flower Show, a floral exhibition in the city’s iconic department store.
Summer is when the LGBT Pride March — one of the largest pride events in the world — attracts jostling crowds of people to the streets of NYC.
From September to October there’s the New York Film Festival, and in November the city hosts two iconic events: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Lighting at Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
In December, as Christmas approaches, the holiday spirit takes over New York and a series of joyful events take place. Some of the bucket-list festivities include the GingerBread Lane—the world’s largest gingerbread village— which happens until January, and the Amaze Light festival, one of the biggest light shows in the United States.