When to Visit NYC

The best time to visit NYC?  A highly subjective question.

Mall, Central Park Photo: Author

Some love the Holiday Season (mid-November to New Year’s Day), when the city is festooned with lights, dazzling holiday decorations, and incredible cultural events.  Others loathe the massive crowds, frigid temperatures, and whopping expense that season brings.  Summer offers out-of-door pleasures and lots of amazing festivals and events (many free)…along with sweltering heat and humidity.

NYC has four distinct seasons.  December – February can sometimes be bitterly cold and, while relatively infrequent, snow storms can make it difficult to get around.  June – August can be a great time to explore the city, particularly the parks, beaches, and surrounding areas.  However, the heat and humidity can sometimes be intense, greatly impacting one’s comfort.  In general, April-early June and September-early November have the most pleasant weather. (With the caveat that “normal” weather patterns are increasingly a thing of the past.)

Harlem in the Snow Photo: Author

Here are NYC’s “average” climate statistics.  Temperatures are listed in Celsius, and rainfall in millimeters.  Move your pointer over the icon for measurements in Fahrenheit & inches. (I find the high temperatures and humidity indicators milder than often experienced in Summer, but the chart can give you a basic idea of “normal” conditions.)

With so much to see and enjoy in the city, if you are prepared for the extremes of weather conditions, any season can be a wonderful time to visit NYC.

Water Taxi Beach, Governor's Island Photo: Author