Find out when is the best time to visit New York. After reading this article, you’ll understand everything about high and low season in the city. That way, you’ll be able to choose the best time for your trip.
High and low season in New York
First of all, be aware that New York is one of the most popular cities in the world. As such, the city is full all year round, with many tourists making the most of it. However, there are still some factors that help define the city’s high and low seasons. The main one is the weather, because when it’s colder, the city tends to have fewer attractions available and is emptier.
The good thing about low season in the city is that everything tends to be cheaper, meaning you can enjoy the whole city at a great savings and avoid queues and crowded tourist attractions.
Mid and high season months in New York
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
What is high season like in New York?
The period between April and December defines the high season in New York. During all these months, the city is full of tourists.
Between June and August, there are school vacations. This is the time when parents will be traveling with their children, as well as enjoying the summer in the city, which also takes place at this time. At this time, New York receives more tourists than ever.
In the last months of the year, November and December, there are many special Christmas and New Year’s themed events. There are also various promotions in stores (such as Black Friday) to finish off the clothing collections, bringing even more tourists to the city.
IMPORTANT: In high season it is even more important to buy all tickets, shows and tours in advance. To buy it, simply visit this website. It’s the best website for selling all the tickets and tours in the city. With them, we were able to save a lot on all the tours.
Events in the high season months in New York
April in New York
During this month, the annual cherry blossom festival takes place at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It’s a great event to enjoy nature and the beauty of the more than 200 trees that are traditionally from Japan but have come to adorn the city.
And if you’re a car nut, don’t miss the International Automobile Fair, which takes place in the city in April. Here you can see all the latest and greatest in automotive technology. There, you’ll see the most famous brands in the business at the exhibition, such as BMW, Volkswagen, Ford and Mercedes-Benz.
Finally, to celebrate Easter, go to the Easter Parade on 5TH Avenue.
May in New York
In May, you can take part in Fleet Week, an event that honors marines and the US Coast Guard. For a week, it will be very common for many professionals in the field to be in the city. You can visit various ships and cruises that will be open for free tours of the Hudson River. You must be over 18 to take part.
Another important event of the season is Memorial Day, which honors military personnel who have died serving in the American Armed Forces. This day is a great time to go shopping, as many stores offer great deals on this holiday.
And on the 9th Avenue, the International Gastronomic Festival takes place. The event serves a little bit of every cuisine on the planet: Italian, Asian, Spanish, German, Greek and many others. The festival, which began more than 35 years ago, is a huge success and attracts thousands of visitors to the city on a weekend in May.
June in New York
First of all, there’s the Museum Mile Festival, an original and accessible event that allows you to enter the famous museums on 5TH Avenue for free. During this period, the site is closed off to cars. This way, all visitors can stroll peacefully while visiting each museum.
The aim of the event is to promote the possibility of museums becoming open-access public institutions.
Plus, american Father’s Day takes place on the third Sunday in June. The best thing about this time of year are the discounts on men’s clothing and gift items for dads. And in the world of gastronomy, the Smogasburg fair takes place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It features food from all over the world, spread over more than 100 stalls.
There is also an unmissable free event linked to cinema: the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film. The festival screens several Hollywood classics outdoors on a big screen, hosted by the HBO channel.
July in New York
July 4th is Independence Day in the United States. The date is celebrated with many parties, fireworks shows and various other attractions. As on Memorial Day, retailers offer a number of excellent promotions to honor americans.
And Lincoln Center hosts one of the best festivals for classical music fans. The Mostly Mozart Festival is a series of concerts featuring music by Mozart, which lasts throughout the summer. To find out more, just check out the event’s official website.
August in New York
Queens is home to the US Open, a world tennis tournament that takes place in August. To get to the tournament, simply take the 7 (purple) subway line and get off at Flushing Meadows station.
Another great August attraction in the city is Summer Street, an event in which Park Avenue and Lafayette St are closed to promote sports in the area. There’s everything from running and walking to cycling and more.
In Brooklyn, there’s a super festival for beer lovers. The Brooklyn Brew Fest is an event in the borough where you can taste more than 100 samples of beer brands. In addition, there are several snack stands to enjoy alongside your drink.
In Central Park, there is a screening of classic films that is perfect for watching with the family. The event takes place between August 13th and 15th.
Finally, there’s the Giglio Feast of Saint Antonio, a huge festival celebrating Italian culture with lots of music and food. It takes place between August 8th and 13th.
September in New York
In September there is Brazilian Day, an annual festival that brings a bit of Brazilian culture to the city. On September 4, several Brazilian singers perform in public throughout the United States.
The celebration brings together many Brazilian tourists, who can enjoy the music and typical food. Many streets are decorated in green and yellow, and many wear the country’s jersey, in a climate very similar to the World Cup.
This month also sees one of the country’s few official holidays, Labor Day. You can enjoy the festivities with the outdoor events taking place around the country or by doing a lot of shopping with the discounts available on the day.
There’s also Oyster Week, an event dedicated to oyster lovers. If that’s your thing, you can’t miss this exclusive event. Visit the event’s official website for more information.
In one of New York’s busiest neighborhoods, the San Genaro Festival takes place. For 10 days, the best of Italian cuisine will be on offer in the best restaurants in New York’s Little Italy.
October in New York
For those interested in architecture, engineering and construction, there is an event called Open House during a weekend in October. In the 5 boroughs of New York, many historic buildings open their doors for visitors to see more about their architecture.
The same month is Columbus Day, a colorful and lively parade that brings thousands of people to 5TH Avenue. The event includes bands, floats and lots of excitement. In addition, the famous Halloween takes place during this period, more precisely on October 31st. Many children take to the streets in costume, knocking on doors and saying the classic phrase “trick or treat”.
November in New York
This is when one of the most anticipated days of the year takes place, Black Friday. Many stores offer unmissable promotions of up to 90%, attracting many shoppers. The event is so important that many locals travel to New York so as not to miss out on the discounts.
Another even more important date is Thanksgiving Day, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month in the United States. On this day, an incredible parade by Macy’s department store takes place on 77th Street.
There is also the Veterans Day Parade on November 11th. It takes place on 5th Avenue and brings together more than 500,000 people. It’s a great festival to take the whole family to.
December in New York
Throughout the month, you can enjoy many art events at Lincoln Center.
On the 4th, the Christmas atmosphere begins in the city when the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit. Many locals and tourists flock to the site to celebrate the event.
Around the 16th, there is the excellent Latke Festival, where you can try a variety of creative and tasty foods at this charity event.
And for those who like to enjoy live music, Make Music Winter takes place in City Hall Park. The event brings a little bit of each musical style for you to enjoy all the best. There’s also an unmissable fair in Bryant Park, where you can buy a range of quality products and enjoy great ice skating, which is available during the event.
For the end-of-year festivities, you can celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square. The avenue brings together thousands of people to celebrate, watch excellent shows and count down the hours, with a beautiful fireworks display at the end.
Low season months in New York
- January
- February
- March
What’s the low season like in New York?
During the first three months of the year, New York will experience winter, bringing a lot of cold and snow to the city. As such, the season attracts fewer visitors to the city. However, it’s not completely empty, just less busy.
It’s during this period that the low season in New York begins, when you’ll find the best prices on hotel rates, airline tickets and much more.
Events in the low season months in New York
January in New York
At the beginning of the year, there is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, which honors the achievements of the activist and defender of black rights. Another event well worth checking out is Restaurant Week. During this period, many of the city’s restaurants participate by selling their dishes at fixed prices. It’s a great opportunity to try renowned dishes for much less.
During Broadway Week, tickets to the big Broadway shows are sold for much cheaper. Finally, it’s common for ice rinks to be set up during the month for everyone to enjoy. But, be aware, since there is a charge for the use of the skates and time on the rink.
Our main recommendation is to check out the rinks in Central Park and Rockefeller Center, which are some of the most famous in the city. In Bryant Park, there is FrostFest, a festival that features igloos, a skating show, ice carts, ice sculptures, live music, food and lots of drinks. It’s worth checking out!
February in New York
For fashion lovers, February 7-12 is Fashion Week in New York, bringing you everything that’s new in the area. The month also sees Chinese New Year, usually on a different date each year. But on this day, there is an incredible celebration with lots of parties, parades, music and typical food. The festivities take place in Chinatown and Little Italy, the city’s tourist districts.
In mid-February, Valentine’s Day is celebrated. The city will be decorated with flowers and there will be lots of promotions in stores and restaurants to give and celebrate with your loved one. There’s also one of the most important events in sport, the Super Bowl. This event will decide who will be the champion of the NFL league. If you’re in town, be sure to enjoy the experience in one of the city’s bars.
One of the national holidays celebrated during the month is President’s Day, which honors all the presidents of the United States. On this day, there are many unmissable promotions in the city’s stores. Another creative event in the city is the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. There are dog competitions where owners enter their pets in contests and the winners receive cash prizes.
March in New York
This month is St. Patrick’s Day, a typical Irish holiday that is celebrated around the world. In New York, it is celebrated with many traditional Irish parades and concerts, as well as many exclusive promotions in the city’s Irish pubs.
An exclusive event for adults is the New York Whiskey Festival, where you can try more than 100 types of whiskey, bourbon, gin, tequila and vodka. All this with lots of music and snacks.
And for those who enjoy a good wine, there’s NYC Winter Wine, with 250 options of wine to enjoy with delicious accompaniments, to the sound of lots of jazz.
Finally, there’s a lovely Macy’s event in the city called the Macy’s Flower Show. On this day, various flower arrangements are displayed, making a visit to the store a lovely outing. For more information, visit the event’s official website.
Save money on your trip to New York:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to New York cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for Broadway, tours, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 42%!
Mobile chip: We always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in New York. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Transfer: do you need one, from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
