🇺🇸Best Time to Visit Guide

New York

United States

The city that never sleeps

13°C avg

10 rain days/mo

3.6 crowds

See Monthly Breakdown

Best Time to Visit

Sep – Jun

Score: 43/100 • Perfect conditions

Consider Avoiding

Apr – Dec

Score: 0/100 • Less ideal

Overall Score Scale

100

Climate Overview

Weather in New York

Monthly temperature ranges and rainfall patterns to help you pack right

Jan

4°

-3°

10d

Feb

5°

-2°

Mar

10°

1°

11d

Apr

17°

7°

11d

May

22°

12°

11d

Jun

27°

18°

10d

Jul

29°

21°

10d

Aug

28°

20°

Sep

24°

16°

Oct

18°

10°

Nov

12°

4°

Dec

7°

-1°

10d

Jan

4°

-3°

Feb

5°

-2°

Mar

10°

1°

Apr

17°

7°

May

22°

12°

Jun

27°

18°

Best

Jul

29°

21°

Aug

28°

20°

Best

Sep

24°

16°

Best

Oct

18°

10°

Nov

12°

4°

Dec

7°

-1°

Cool

Mild

Warm

Hot

Best months

Crowds & Prices

When to Save Money

Monthly crowd levels and price indices for New York

Avg Crowds

3.6

Avg Prices

3.8

Quietest

Jan

Cheapest

Jan

Low

Feb

Low

Mar

Moderate

Apr

High

May

High

Jun

High

Jul

Very High

Aug

Very High

Sep

High

Oct

High

Nov

Moderate

Dec

Moderate

Jan

Low

Feb

Low

Mar

Moderate

Apr

High

May

High

Jun

High

Jul

Very High

Aug

Very High

Sep

High

Oct

High

Nov

Moderate

Dec

Moderate

1-2: Best value

3: Moderate

4-5: Peak season

Sweet spot month

Pro Tip

Months marked with a star offer the best balance of low crowds and affordable prices. In New York, consider visiting in January, February, March.

Month by Month

What to Expect Each Month

Detailed month-by-month guide to help you plan the perfect trip to New York

Low CrowdsBudget Prices

Weather

Cold winter. Average -3 to 4°C. Snow possible.

Highlights

Broadway Week deals
Winter sales
Restaurant Week
Ice skating

Consider

Very cold
Some attractions less crowded
Bundle up

Packing

Heavy winter coat
Warm layers
Boots
Hat and gloves

Low CrowdsBudget Prices

Weather

Cold winter. Average -2 to 5°C. Snow likely.

Highlights

Fashion Week
Valentine's Day
Restaurant Week
Fewer tourists

Consider

Coldest month
Fashion Week raises some prices

Packing

Heavy winter coat
Warm layers
Boots
Hat and gloves

Moderate CrowdsModerate Prices

Weather

Transitional spring. Average 2-11°C. Variable weather.

Highlights

St. Patrick's Day parade
Broadway Week
Spring arriving
Hotel deals ending

Consider

Weather unpredictable
Can still be cold

Packing

Medium coat
Layers
Umbrella

Moderate CrowdsModerate Prices

Weather

Spring weather. Average 7-17°C. Cherry blossoms.

Highlights

Cherry blossoms in Central Park
Baseball season starts
Earth Day events
Perfect walking weather

Consider

Spring rain common
Easter week busy

Packing

Light jacket
Layers
Umbrella
Comfortable shoes

Moderate CrowdsModerate Prices

Weather

Pleasant spring. Average 12-22°C. Warm and sunny.

Highlights

Memorial Day weekend
Ninth Avenue Food Festival
Fleet Week
Outdoor dining

Consider

Memorial Day weekend crowded
Prices rising

Packing

Light layers
Sunscreen
Comfortable shoes

High CrowdsHigh Prices

Weather

Early summer. Average 17-27°C. Warm and humid.

Highlights

Pride Month celebrations
Shakespeare in the Park
Governors Island opens
Rooftop bars

Consider

High season beginning
Humidity increasing

Packing

Light clothes
Sunscreen
Comfortable shoes

Peak CrowdsPeak Prices

Weather

Hot summer. Average 21-30°C. Hot and humid.

Highlights

July 4th fireworks
SummerStage concerts
Beaches accessible
Outdoor movies

Consider

Very hot and humid
Crowded attractions

Packing

Light clothes
Sunscreen
Hat
Water bottle

High CrowdsHigh Prices

Weather

Peak summer. Average 20-29°C. Hot and sticky.

Highlights

US Open begins
Restaurant Week
Summer streets program
Beach days

Consider

Hottest month
Can be oppressive

Packing

Light clothes
Sunscreen
Hat
Water bottle

Moderate CrowdsModerate Prices

Weather

Early autumn. Average 16-25°C. Perfect weather.

Highlights

US Open tennis
Fashion Week
San Gennaro Feast
Beautiful weather

Consider

Fashion Week busy
UN General Assembly affects Midtown

Packing

Light layers
Light jacket for evenings

High CrowdsHigh Prices

Weather

Beautiful fall. Average 10-18°C. Crisp and colorful.

Highlights

Fall foliage
Halloween celebrations
Village Halloween Parade
Columbus Day

Consider

Very popular time
Book ahead

Packing

Medium jacket
Layers
Comfortable shoes

Moderate CrowdsModerate Prices

Weather

Cool autumn. Average 5-12°C. Cooling down.

Highlights

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Marathon
Christmas decorations start
Black Friday

Consider

Thanksgiving week very busy
Getting cold

Packing

Medium coat
Layers
Warm accessories

Peak CrowdsPeak Prices

Weather

Cold winter. Average -1 to 6°C. Festive atmosphere.

Highlights

Holiday windows
Rockefeller Tree
Radio City Christmas
New Year's Eve

Consider

Extremely crowded
Premium prices
Cold weather

Packing

Heavy winter coat
Warm layers
Boots
Hat and gloves

Events & Festivals

What's Happening in New York

Major events, festivals, and celebrations throughout the year

Jan

January

Restaurant Week

2 weeks

Prix fixe menus at top restaurants across the city.

food

Feb

February

New York Fashion Week

1 week

Major fashion shows and industry events.

cultural

Mar

March

St. Patrick's Day Parade

World's largest St. Patrick's Day parade on Fifth Avenue.

cultural

Apr

April

Tribeca Film Festival

10 days

Major film festival in downtown Manhattan.

cultural

May

Fleet Week

1 week

Navy ships dock in Manhattan with public tours and events.

cultural

Jun

June

Pride March

One of the world's largest LGBTQ+ pride events.

cultural

Jul

July

July 4th Fireworks

Macy's fireworks over the East River.

holiday

Sep

September

US Open Tennis

2 weeks

Grand Slam tennis tournament in Queens.

sports

Oct

October

Village Halloween Parade

Massive costume parade through Greenwich Village.

festival

Nov

November

NYC Marathon

World's largest marathon through all five boroughs.

sports

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

Iconic parade with giant balloons and floats.

holiday

Dec

December

Times Square New Year's Eve

World-famous ball drop celebration.

holiday

Local Tips

1September and October offer the best combination of weather and atmosphere.
2Winter (January-February) has the lowest prices but challenging weather.
3Book Broadway shows at TKTS booth for same-day discounts.
4Restaurant Week (January and July) offers great dining deals.
5Avoid Times Square on New Year's Eve unless prepared for extreme crowds and cold.

Explore More

Related Tools

More tools to help plan your perfect trip to New York

Golden Hour Times

Perfect photography lighting

Discover the exact sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour times for New York. Plan your photography sessions with precision timing data.

Sunrise timesGolden hourBlue hourSunset

View golden hour times

Travel Budget

Plan your expenses

Calculate your daily budget for New York including accommodation, food, transport, and activities. Get realistic cost estimates for your trip.

Daily costsHotelsFoodTransport

Calculate budget

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Seasonal Journaling

Capture the Season in New York

Thoughtful prompts to help you journal about how the season shaped your experience

Autumn

Describe the magic of Central Park in fall—the colors, the crisp air, the energy.

Iconic autumn foliage

Summer

How did you handle the summer heat and humidity in Manhattan?

Hot NYC summers

Winter

What was it like experiencing your first New York winter or snowfall?

Cold winters and snow

Spring

How did spring transform the city after a long winter?

Cherry blossoms and renewal

Winter

Describe the holiday season in New York—the lights, the windows, the crowds.

Christmas in NYC

Any Season

How did the seasons affect your approach to walking the city?

Walkable city

Photo Checklist

Perfect Photo Moments in New York

Know exactly when to capture the best shots based on season and timing

Nature

Fall foliage in Central Park

Late October - Early November

Bethesda Fountain and Bow Bridge for iconic shots

Festival

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

Late November - January

Early morning or late night for fewer crowds

Golden Hour

Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise

Any season

Manhattan side for city backdrop

Nature

Cherry blossoms at Central Park

Mid-April

Cherry Hill and Reservoir are prime spots

Weather Shot

Snow in Times Square

January - February

During active snowfall for magic

Golden Hour

Summer sunset from Top of the Rock

June - August

Late sunsets mean fewer crowds at golden hour

Nature

High Line in spring bloom

April - May

Native plantings and city views

Crowd Timing

Empty Grand Central at dawn

Any season, before 7am

Sunbeams through windows in winter

Festival

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Fourth Thursday of November

Balloon inflation night before on UWS

Activity

Summer Movies in Bryant Park

June - August

Blankets on lawn, Manhattan skyline

Weather Shot

Foggy morning on the Brooklyn waterfront

November - March

Manhattan emerging from mist

Golden Hour

Blue hour from DUMBO

Any season

Manhattan Bridge frames Empire State

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Data Source

Climate and weather data sourced from World Bank Climate Data. Historical climate data from weather stations and climate models

View source details Visit World Bank Climate Data

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