Best time to visit New York
- Best time
- Mid-Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Late Dec–Jan
- Warmest month
- July · 85°F
- Wettest month
- July · 4.6 in
- Peak crowds
- Jun · Jul · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
New York never closes, so the question is not what is open but what the city feels like. Spring and fall are the walking seasons, summer is hot and sticky but full of free outdoor events, December is magical and packed, and January–February are cold, grey and the cheapest time to book a hotel.
New York month by month
Average high / low and rain are NOAA 1991–2020 normals (New York Cntrl Pk Twr, Ny Us). Crowd levels and what is open are our reading of each season, not official counts.
January
Mixed- High / low
- 40° / 28°F
- Rain
- 3.6 in
- Crowds
- Moderate
Everything; outdoor rinks
Cold, occasional snow. Cheapest hotel rates of the year after New Year. Winter Restaurant Week usually runs late January–February.
February
Mixed- High / low
- 42° / 30°F
- Rain
- 3.2 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Everything
The coldest stretch; museums and shows are uncrowded, flights and hotels at their lowest.
March
Good- High / low
- 50° / 36°F
- Rain
- 4.3 in
- Crowds
- Moderate
Everything
Changeable: snow one week, spring the next. St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue (March 17).
April
Good- High / low
- 62° / 46°F
- Rain
- 4.1 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything; parks bloom
Cherry blossoms in Central Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue.
May
Best- High / low
- 71° / 55°F
- Rain
- 4.0 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything; outdoor season begins
Our favourite spring month: long, mild days, outdoor dining, Fleet Week around Memorial Day.
June
Good- High / low
- 80° / 64°F
- Rain
- 4.5 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything; free outdoor events
Warm, getting humid. Free summer concerts and Shakespeare in the Park start; Pride March at the end of the month.
July
Mixed- High / low
- 85° / 70°F
- Rain
- 4.6 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything; beaches
Hot and humid with thunderstorms; fireworks on the Fourth of July. The subway platforms are saunas.
August
Mixed- High / low
- 83° / 69°F
- Rain
- 4.6 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything; beaches
Hottest and stickiest; many New Yorkers leave town. The US Open tennis starts late in the month.
September
Best- High / low
- 76° / 62°F
- Rain
- 4.3 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
Heat breaks mid-month; the UN General Assembly week fills Midtown hotels.
October
Best- High / low
- 65° / 51°F
- Rain
- 4.4 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
Crisp, sunny, fall foliage in the parks late in the month; Halloween Parade in the Village.
November
Good- High / low
- 54° / 42°F
- Rain
- 3.6 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything
NYC Marathon on the first Sunday; Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; holiday windows go up.
December
Good- High / low
- 44° / 34°F
- Rain
- 4.4 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything; holiday markets
Rockefeller Center tree, store windows, holiday markets. Crowded and expensive, especially the last two weeks.
Temperatures and rain
Seasons and events to plan around
TCS New York City Marathon
First Sunday of November
Tens of thousands of runners across all five boroughs; streets close along the route and hotels fill up.
Source: New York Road Runners · checked Oct 27, 2026
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday of November)
Giant balloons down Central Park West and Sixth Avenue from the morning; arrive very early for a spot on the route.
Source: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade · checked Oct 27, 2026
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
Lit in late November or early December, until January
The tree lighting is on a Wednesday evening around the start of December; the tree and the rink stay up into January.
Source: Rockefeller Center · checked Oct 27, 2026
When hotels are cheapest
Hotel prices in Manhattan follow demand, not the weather: the cheapest weeks are usually January after New Year to February, plus parts of July and August when business travel drops. The most expensive are the second half of December, Thanksgiving week, Marathon weekend and the UN General Assembly week in late September. Our New York hotel picks explain where to stay by neighbourhood.
The verdict
Best month
Mid-Sep–Oct
Comfortable walking weather, low humidity, fall color in Central Park late in October, and the cultural season starting up. Hotels are busy but less frantic than in December.
Avoid
Late Dec–Jan
Not unpleasant if you love winter, but late December is the priciest week of the year and January is cold and grey. If you want the Christmas lights, come in early December instead.
When to visit New York: your questions
What is the best month to visit New York?
Late September to October, or May. Mild, mostly dry weather for walking, with everything open.
What is the cheapest time to visit New York?
January (after New Year) and February: cold, but hotel rates are at their lowest of the year.
Is New York worth visiting in summer?
Yes, if you can handle heat and humidity: free concerts, outdoor movies, rooftop bars and beach days. Plan museums for the hottest afternoons.
When should I go to New York for Christmas?
The first two weeks of December: the tree, the windows and the markets are all up, and prices are lower than just before Christmas.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Event dates move from year to year: always confirm on the organiser’s site.