Lonely Planet New York City

New York City

Contents

Plan Your Trip

Welcome to New York City

Our Picks

Perfect Days

When to Go

Get Prepared for NYC

Dining Out

Bar Open

Showtime

Museums of NYC

Treasure Hunt

Active NYC

All Things LGBTIQ+

The Guide

Neighbourhoods at a Glance

Lower Manhattan

Brooklyn Bridge

Statue of Liberty

One World Observatory

Ellis Island

Governors Island

South St Seaport

Tribeca

Staten Island

SoHo, Chinatown, Nolita & Little Italy

Mahayana Buddhist Temple

Doyers Street

Color Factory

Mulberry Street & Little Italy

Mott Street

East Village & Lwr East Side

Tenement Museum

Tompkins Square Pk

New Museum

Orchard Street

Jewish History

West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

Washington Square Park

Highline

LGBTIQ+ culture

Union Square, Flatiron & Gramercy

Strand Bookstore

Gramercy Park

Irving Place

Midtown

Times Square

Koreatown

Fifth Ave Shopping

Skyscraper Observation Decks

Upper East Side

Museum of the City of New York

Guggenheim Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Neue Galerie

Roosevelt Island

Upper West Side & Central Park

Lincoln Center

American Museum of Natural History

Central Park

Harlem & Upper Manhattan

The Met Cloisters

Cathedral of St John the Divine

Harlem Streets

Washington Heights

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Brooklyn Bridge

Prospect Park

Coney Island and Brighton Beach

Queens

Long Island City

Astoria

Flushing

The Rockaways

Day Trips from NYC

Toolkit

Arriving

Money

Getting Around

Accommodations

Food, Drink & Nightlife

Family Travel

Health & Safety

Responsible Travel

LGBTIQ+ Travelers

NYC on a Budget

Accessible Travel

Nuts & Bolts

Storybook

A History of New York City in 15 Places

Meet the New Yorkers

The Vanishing Gayborhood

Exploring New York’s Literary Past

NYC’s Proud Asian American Community

This Book

WELCOME TO NEW YORK CITY

THE JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

West Village | LittlenySTOCK/shutterstock ©

My favorite experience is walking the streets of the West Village, where I live. I try to take a different street each time I run an errand – you never see the same thing twice.

Name a city that can match New York’s glorious mosaic of neighborhoods, cultures and communities. Energy courses

through every block here – in the canyons of Midtown, certainly, but also in the street parties on Grand Concourse in the Bronx; at the Chinese food stalls of Flushing, Queens; in the human spectacle that is the Boardwalk at Coney Island, Brooklyn; and in the fiercely competitive pizzerias of Staten Island. I love feeling that hustle, and feeling that joy. Monuments and museums abound, but it’s the people that truly give New York City its buzz.

At specialty shops and businesses, at art classes and on side streets, you can expect slices of urban living you’ll find only here. After all, 8.5 million folks call this city home. And they wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else.

Brian Healy

@bhealynyc

A New York City native, Brian is a writer, cyclist, culture lover, urban wanderer and occasional cabaret singer.

WHO GOES WHERE

Our writers and experts choose the places that, for them, define New York City.

Kamira/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Biking around Manhattan’s southern tip is like pedaling through an outdoor museum. There’s the granite grandeur of the Brooklyn Bridge and the peaceful passage through the Battery (pictured). FiDi’s skyscrapers kiss clouds along the Hudson River Greenway, and the Statue of Liberty waves from the water. While tracing the coastline, imagine the city’s seafaring origins.

John Garry

@garryjohnfrancis

John is a travel journalist and teacher based in Brooklyn Heights.

Alexander Spatari/GETTY IMAGES ©

Nothing says New York City to me more than the Empire State Building. Like everyone else, I grew up seeing this architectural icon in movies. It was one of the first sights I visited on my first trip to New York, and years later there are hundreds of photos of the Empire State Building on my camera roll. It’s a view that never gets old.

Meena Thiruvengadam

@meenathiru

Meena writes about travel, culture, art and more, and is the founder and editor in chief of travelwithmeena.com.

Julio Macias/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Summer in New York City has a reputation for being a swampy hellhole, but it’s my favorite time of year. People tend to forget that it has beaches just a subway or ferry ride away. One of my favorite spots is the beach at Jacob Riis Park, where you can swim in surprisingly clean water and soak up the sun alongside a smorgasbord of New Yorkers.

Teddy Minford

@teddyminford

Teddy is a travel writer and editor who lives in Queens with her husband and their giant dog.

Sneaky Buddy/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Tompkins Square Park is my all-season go-to. I’ll bring my coffee or lunch, and in the evenings stroll and listen to musicians. Winter is my favorite time, for the inevitably crooked Christmas tree and because when it snows, there are dozens of snow sculptures. Sometimes I meet friends, sometimes strangers. To me, this is quintessential NYC.

Caroline Trefler

@carolinetrefler

Based in NYC, Caroline Trefler is a writer and editor with a passion for the unexplored.

anaglic/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

My defining NYC experience is walking in Central Park and stopping by the Flower Garden and the lake near the Dana Discovery Center (pictured). It’s a big part of the city’s identity. Everyone knows Central Park, but they don’t realize how many different spots there are to explore inside. It is one of the best experiences in Manhattan, especially for peace and quiet.

Dana Givens

@danawritesalot

Dana is a travel journalist and a New Yorker living in New Jersey.

Awana JF/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Settling into a chair in the Rose Reading Room in New York Public Library’s main building is one of the great privileges of living here. That such gilded and polished splendor – fit for royalty or a robber barron – is accessible to anyone off the street feels hard to believe. Its grandeur, only amplified by the enforced silence, encourages contemplation.

Michael Grosberg

Michael writes about travel and culture and is cofounder of travel startup LikeLocal.

f11photo/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

The allure of bright lights drew me across the country and continues to fuel me. I still feel the shock and awe of stepping into Times Square (pictured) and finding a new delight every time. But nothing is more magical than Broadway. I love popping into theaters or entering online lotteries to score last-minute cheap seats to the greatest shows on earth.

Rachel Chang

@rachelschang

Travel and pop-culture journalist and editor Rachel has lived in the NYC area since 2003.

Hector Palma Tellez/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

New York’s diversity is one of its greatest assets, and nowhere is that more apparent than in its neighborhoods – and its food. Traveling by train, you could be noshing on fresh-filled cannoli (pictured) in the Bronx and sampling Russian fare in Brighton Beach 90 minutes later; but I much prefer a long, meandering stroll.

Maya Stanton

@mayastanton

A Brooklyn resident for more than 20 years, Maya is a writer and editor.

SKYLINE VIEWS

Nothing summons the energy and promise of New York City like the tableau of its dazzling towers. Does anyone live up there? What world-changing deals are being negotiated late into the night? Is anyone looking back at us? As the glass-fronted skyscrapers shimmer in early morning, high noon and the wee hours, the mysteries compound and the opportunities inspire. Whatever takes place in those glass towers makes the city – and the world – hum.

Midtown Manhattan view from Summit One Vanderbilt | 365 Focus Photography/shutterstock ©

Looking Up

In NYC’s crammed streets, it’s hard to take the measure of the buildings rising all around. Head to somewhere like Central Park (pictured) to take in the scope of it all.

pokku/shutterstock ©

Looking Down

Equally sensational are the views from one of the city’s skyscraper observatories. The view from the Empire State Building (pictured), shows just how big this place is.

Tomas Parizek/shutterstock ©

Looking Around

Buildings of all shapes, heights and ages are squeezed in between all the cloud-touching towers. Gaze in all directions to see how styles collide.

BEST SKYLINE EXPERIENCES

Take the view to multiple, new, 360° levels at Summit One Vanderbilt 1, some 1400ft above the Midtown clamor.

Look out at views opening up to the Financial District from Hudson River Park 2 – they’re especially fetching from Little Island.

Visit the Empire State Building 3, one of the top city attractions for good reason. Its 86th-floor observatory offers unparalleled views of Gotham.

Head to Brooklyn 4 and hop from Williamsburg to Red Hook to Sunset Park for exhilarating views of the Manhattan skyline across the river.

Admire Midtown’s wall of density from Roosevelt Island 5. The views of the UN complex are especially lovely.

GREEN SPACES

Greenery is the universal antidote to stressful city living (and exploring). Thankfully, New York’s many parks are among its glories. Ranging from the serene, so-small-you-might-miss-them ‘pocket parks’ to huge expanses containing landscaped lawns, near-wild woods (really!) and miles of beaches, these green spaces are a crucial part of the city’s ecosystem, both natural and man-made. Sit down on a bench and recharge for a while.

Washington Square Park | Kit Leong/shutterstock ©

Lush Landscapes

You’ll find elegantly designed parks throughout NYC, with sloping lawns, snaking walkways, peaceful water features and countless benches, such as in Bryant Park (pictured)..

Creative Family/shutterstock ©

Urban Forests

New York contains hundreds of acres of woodlands, teeming with trees and wildlife. Escape from the clamorous streets with a true urban hike in Central Park (pictured).

mapman/shutterstock ©

Sun & Sand

Amid New York’s skyscrapers, it’s easy to forget that the Atlantic Ocean is just over yonder. A fabulous beach day is only a (long) subway ride away.

BEST PARK EXPERIENCES

Find whatever recreation you’re looking for in the 843 acres of Central Park 1, a masterpiece of landscape design.

Leave Manhattan’s hustle far behind with a five-minute ferry ride to the hammocks, food trucks, outdoor art and zero traffic of Governors Island 2.

Enjoy the 7 miles of sand at wonderfully diverse, readily accessible and surprisingly beautiful Rockaway Beach 3.

Share Greenwich Village’s unofficial town square,Washington Square Park 4, with artists, activists and other wonderful weirdos.

Hike through the dense woods of Inwood Hill Park 5 for a bird-watcher’s heaven, with red-tailed hawks, blue herons and even bald eagles.

ON THE WATERFRONT

Once a byword for decay and despoliation, New York’s waterfront has become a site of restoration, recreation and relaxation. Where piers once rotted, parks have sprouted. On water that once burned the skin, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders now pass. And where the shipping trade once built vast fortunes, historic sites and redeveloped pavilions are today home to newer forms of commerce. It’s an ongoing thrill to see how New Yorkers keep reimagining their port city.

South Street Seaport | Maremagnum/getty images ©

Maritime History

Throughout the city, urban thinkers have revivified warehouses, piers and other port infrastructure, turning them into trendy historical attractions like St Anne’s warehouse under Brooklyn Bridge (pictured).

Felix Lipov/shutterstock ©

From Piers to Parkland

Much of New York’s waterfront was once an inaccessible, post-industrial wasteland. No longer: huge new littoral parks like Hudson River Park (pictured) have become instant treasures.

rblfmr/shutterstock ©

Urban Water Sports

If you’re an active type craving more than a ferry ride, consider hiring a kayak, stand-up paddleboard or sailboat to enjoy the newly clean harbor.

BEST WATERFRONT EXPERIENCES

Discover just how central the water is to New York’s identity with a two-hour Circle Line 1 cruise around Manhattan.

Visit historic ships, nosh at the Jean-Georges Vongerichten–curated Tin Building and soak in the Brooklyn Bridge views at South Street Seaport 2.

Head to Pier 94 if you’re keen for a paddle in the Hudson: kayaks and SUPs are available to rent 3.

Enjoy the sports facilities, fields of wildflowers, lawns and stellar skyline views of new-ish Brooklyn Bridge Park 4, already a beloved institution.

Cross the High Bridge 5 from Manhattan into the Bronx, and gaze down on the narrow ribbon of the Harlem River.

GLOBAL EATS

For centuries, immigration has defined NYC – and the millions arriving from all over the world have continued to bring with them every flavor under the sun. At fine-dining establishments, food carts and humble joints in New York’s immigrant enclaves, you’ll find out that this place tastes like nowhere else.

Fried Polish potato pierogi (dumplings) | Brent Hofacker/shutterstock ©

Sit Down to Dinner

Dining out is practically a religion in New York. Whatever you’re craving – such as Uzbek kebabs or Ghanaian fufu – there’s a restaurant serving it.

Hop from Stall to Stall

If you can’t decide on one dish, food halls by famous chefs are a tasty new trend. Long-established hawkers all over NYC know the format satisfies all comers.

BEST EATING EXPERIENCES

Taste world cuisine from Burmese tea-leaf salad to Polish pierogi in the East Village 1.

Dig into chicken yassa and the Sernegalese fish-and-rice thiebou dienn, in Harlem’s Little Senegal 2.

Try a classic dim sum and check out Hong Kong dishes and much more in Chinatown 3.

Find bites from across the Caribbean – from cheap Trinidadian treats to upscale Haitian fare – in Brooklyn 4.

Slurp your way through Flatiron 5 noodle restaurants such as TsuruTonTan, famous for its udon noodles.

FABULOUS FESTIVALS

New Yorkers sure love a party – and given their proclivity for being extra, the public festivals here might be the biggest and most fun in the world. It’s an essential New York experience to cheer on a parade, or wander a street fair, sampling new food, hearing live music and learning about different cultures.

NYC Pride march | Raphael Rivest/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Parade Brigade

Almost every weekend, a giant parade wends its way down Fifth Ave to celebrate NYC's communities. Wave to the marchers, and join in for the afternoon.

Food Fiestas

Street fairs offer funnel cakes and grilled sausages aplenty – but also dumplings, samosas, empanadas and much more. Just follow the smell of the grill.

BEST FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES

Admire the spooky costumes on Oct 31 at the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade 1.

Be Italian for the day at the San Gennaro Festival 2, filled with massive meatballs and creamy cannoli.

Kick off summer at Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade 3, led by King Neptune and Queen Mermaid.

Close out the holiday season in East Harlem with the Three Kings Day Parade 4.

Expect thumping music, political passion, rainbow everything and throngs of people at June’s NYC Pride March 5.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HISTORY

In this city, there’s a story around every corner. From the Lenape people – the first New Yorkers – to the thousands of new residents who arrive every day.

The never-ending flow of people and ideas has remained a constant for centuries, enriching the country and the world. Sites of significance lie all over town, while walking tours through vibrant neighborhoods bring the past into the present. These history lessons require no textbook.

Chinatown | Darryl Brooks/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Walk the Talk

Numerous walking tours around New York City contextualize and connect important sites all over town, many of them little known, including tours of Sixth Avenue, (pictured).

Albert Pego/shutterstock ©

Museums of Memory

Gotham-oriented exhibitions at the city’s world-class museums showcase stunning art and objects that bring the past to life, such as at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, (pictured).

marcobrivio.photography/shutterstock ©

Living History

No need to dwell in the past: walking around ever-changing neighborhoods, you can practically feel the winds of change. History is always being made in NYC.

BEST HISTORY EXPERIENCES

Uncover New York’s colonial past in Lower Manhattan 1, at Fraunces Tavern, Wall Street, the African Burial Ground National Monument and more.

Explore the rich history of the Jewish community at the Tenement Museum 2 and other sites around the Lower East Side.

Wander the packed, narrow streets of Chinatown 3 to trace a story of exclusion, activism and resilience.

Admire some stately brownstones and follow in the footsteps of the luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance on long walks through Harlem 4.

Visit the New-York Historical Society 5 to take in a timely exhibition on the populations that have made the city what it is.

BUILDING TO THE SKY

New York City never stops changing, and the built environment is like none other in the world. Beyond the architectural showstoppers, the pleasure of the city’s buildings lies in their details: a terra-cotta cornice, a collision of styles, the texture of the bricks of a warehouse wall. Slow down and look.

One World Trade Center | blueskies9/GETTY IMAGES ©

Classically Inspired

At many of the city’s best-known monuments, the beaux-arts style rules. Architects even added classical columns, balustrades and pediments to early skyscrapers.

Modern Marvels

New York is also where the ultramodern skyscraper first achieved stratospheric heights. The forests of glass-and-steel towers continue to reach ever upward.

BEST ARCHITECTURE EXPERIENCES

Stroll Central Park West 1 to take in some of the most majestic apartment buildings in the world.

Admire the chrome finishes, marble lobby and terraced crown of the art-deco Chrysler Building 2.

Crane your neck along 57th St 3, where supertall, super-skinny towers have lately sprouted.

Inspect the turrets, arches and stained glass of Jefferson Market Library 4, a triumph of neo-Gothic style.

Get inspired by the soaring One World Trade Center 5, symbol of renewal after New York’s darkest day.

NYC WITH THE KIDS

New York looks a little different when you’re only waist-tall. Luckily, options for kids abound. Art shows, performances and creative hands-on experiences will rivet younger participants, while outdoor options include sports fields, playgrounds, carousels and zoos across the five boroughs.

Dinosaur, American Museum of Natural History | Sergii Figurnyi/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Magical Museums

On rainy days, the city’s great museums offer little ones the chance to blow off some steam – and even learn a thing or two.

Playgrounds & Parks

If you never want to be far from a playground, you’ll be in luck in New York. Carousels at select city parks take the imagination up a notch.

BEST EXPERIENCES WITH KIDS

Savor the dinosaurs, giant bugs and a life-size blue whale at the American Museum of Natural History 1.

Soak in more family-friendly pleasures on the Upper West Side at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan 2.

Let the kids run wild at an ecology-oriented jungle gym after a spin on the SeaGlass Carousel at the Battery 3.

Taste the joy of SoHo’s Museum of Ice Cream 4, with interactive exhibitions and tasty treats.

Head to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum 5 for a kid-sized ‘neighborhood,’ with a tots-only zone, mini golf and more.

FOR FREE

New York has never been cheap, yet as any New Yorker knows, low-cost pleasures abound around town if you know where to look. Some of the city’s most iconic attractions charge no fees at all, while many museums offer free or reduced admission on certain days. And people-watching in parks, along sidewalks or on the subway doesn’t cost a cent.

Borough Crossings

You’ll see both the skyline and a panoply of commuters by taking to the bridges and ferries (pictured) that stitch New York together. They’re free for locals and visitors alike.

Drop of Light/shutterstock ©

Galleries for Less

Several museums are free year-round, while most have designated hours with free or pay-what-you-wish admission. The city’s countless commercial art galleries never charge.

pio3/shutterstock ©

10,000+ Steps

What has two legs, and operates at no cost? You. Pounding the pavement across New York’s neighborhoods is perhaps the most economical activity in town.

BEST FREE EXPERIENCES

Hop on the Staten Island Ferry 1 for a 25-minute cruise by the Statue of Liberty and through New York Harbor.

Join artsy types at First Saturdays at theBrooklyn Museum 2 for a free celebration of art, live music, culture and community.

See what’s on, then set up your own free tour at galleries in Chelsea 3. No need to shell out to see work by famous artists.

Cross the catwalk across the Brooklyn Bridge 4 for dazzling views of Manhattan and Brooklyn – and of the iconic bridge itself.

Crack open a novel at the Rose Reading Room at the New York Public Library 5.

UNDER THE RADAR

Many of New York’s most appealing attractions are lying in plain sight. Yet for some of the most unique, memorable and just plain delightful experiences, plan on digging a bit deeper to find slices of New York life you won’t see in the movies. The city rewards curiosity.

Roller skating, Central Park | Yo_Co/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Surprising Subcultures

In a city this big, there’s a scene for every interest, from magic to burlesque. Whatever floats your boat, you’ll find other New Yorkers aboard, too.

Class Acts

Whether you’re curious about improv comedy, salsa dancing, pottery making or something else, there’s a class for that – try finally picking up that new skill.

BEST UNDER-THE-RADAR EXPERIENCES

Visit Tannen’s 1, the oldest magic shop in the city and explore NYC’s magic scene.

Find NYC’s festive side in Dyker Heights 2, where neighbors compete with lighting displays.

Unleash your inner artist with an acting, pottery or ballet class at a Greenwich Village 3 arts venue.

Lace up your skates at the weekly roller-skating party in Central Park 4 or the rink at LeFrak Center 5.

Venture out to Flushing to snack your way through Asia in the food court of New World Mall 6.

Perfect Days

The scope of New York City is thrilling – and overwhelming. While it would take more than a lifetime to experience everything the metropolis has to offer, here’s our stab at where to begin.

The High Line | Clare Louise Jackson/shutterstock ©

DAY 1

West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

Start the day with a gallery tour of West Chelsea, before taking to the High Line, a landscaped park two stories above the street. Finish up an aesthetically delightful morning by checking out homegrown works at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Lunch Chelsea Market’s vendors will satisfy whatever flavors you’re craving.

West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District

Continue the pavement pounding by poking around the historic streets of the Meatpacking District and the West Village, filled with literary history, radical politics, tiny byways and more. Settle in for the ultimate people-watching at Washington Square Park, the Village’s historic and vibrant heart.

Dinner You’ll have worked up an appetite – and borscht, schnitzel and other hearty fare at East Village standby Veselka will be your reward.

East Village & Lower East Side

The East Village might be the city’s most nocturnal neighborhood, with patrons at restaurants and bars spilling out into the street. Check out what’s happening along St Mark’s Place and around Tompkins Square Park, then settle in for a cocktail at Death & Co.

DAY 2

Harlem & Upper Manhattan

The beaux-arts campus of Columbia University and the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St John the Divine provide spaces for contemplation. Continue your day the Harlem way, with a stroll along the wide sidewalks, grand brownstones and inspiring houses of worship.

Lunch At Red Rooster, the elevated comfort food and superb cocktails never disappoint.

Upper East Side

Enter Central Park at its North End, and stroll south past Harlem Meer, the North Woods, the Conservatory Garden and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. The wonders of the Metropolitan Museum of Artawait: a plethora of Impressionists, galleries of Greek and Roman sculpture, a full Egyptian temple… If you’re up for more, check out the Guggenheim Museum.

Dinner Reserve a table at theater-world canteen Joe Allen to bump into show people from all over.

Midtown

It’s show time. You’ll have your pick of musicals, plays and more at the 41 theaters that make up Broadway theater; visit the TKTS booth in Times Square for last-minute tickets on discount. The energy of live theater will leave you exhilarated; calm down with a nightcap at Refinery Hotel’s Refinery Rooftop.

DAY 3

Brooklyn

Start the day with views from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, then soak up the historic neighborhood’s charm as you head toward the planted piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Poke around the cobblestone streets of Dumbo, and consider a spin on the waterside Jane’s Carousel.

Lunch Join the queue for a crisp, coal-fired pizza at Grimaldi’s. It’ll be worth the wait.

Lower Manhattan

A walk across a New York icon awaits: the steel cables and peaked-arch towers of Brooklyn Bridge are as photogenic as you’ve imagined. In Manhattan, get lost in the winding alleys and vertiginous towers of the Financial District as you make your way to the Staten Island Ferry for a free round-trip cruise across New York Harbor. Consider looking down at the city from the observatory at One World Trade Center.

Dinner Simple yet atmospheric Wo Hop boasts a menu of classic Chinese American fare.

SoHo & Chinatown

Head north to take in the lively, stylish scene of Nolita, perhaps stopping for a shot with the regulars at Mulberry Street Bar. Make your way past the cast-iron facades of atmospheric SoHo to the historic Ear Inn, which has been serving up nightcaps since 1817.

WHEN TO GO

NYC is best in fall and spring, though it has year-round appeal – even in the ultra-sticky days of summer.

An autumn stroll through Central Park, leaves crunching underfoot; a wintery wander down Fifth Ave to see the cleverly themed holiday windows; an early spring afternoon, warm breeze ushering out the previous months’ chill – New York has something special to offer in each season. Even in summer, when it can be stuffy at street level – and more so underground as you wait for the subway – slushy beverages beckon from rooftops and boats, and restaurants are less crowded, so reservations are easier to score. (Just bring a handheld fan.)

Finding Discounts on Accommodations

Hotel occupancy rates and room demand are at their lowest between January and March and dip again in July and August, according to NYC Tourism & Conventions and STR, so those are likely the best times to find a deal. You’ll have better odds if you’re open to a less trendy neighborhood or a less charming property, like a chain.

Central Park | GagliardiPhotography/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

I LIVE HERE

SPRING AWAKENING

Milliner and visual artist Emperor Vanity is a lynchpin of the Easter Parade, for which he’s worn rabbit-topped hats, painted his beard and even dressed as Jesus. @emperor_vanity_society

‘For me, the Easter Parade is about the symbolism and meaning of spring: of regrowth and rebirth, a continuation and a cleansing. It’s more a community event than a typical structured parade, where you stand and watch. This is more casual. It’s strolling, hanging out, some dance parties on the side – everybody just welcoming spring.’

CENTRAL PARK

Scan to see a full calendar of events and more.

NOT SO WINTERY WONDERLAND

Winter brings to mind twinkling lights and gently falling snow, but New York’s cold-weather enthusiasts haven’t had much to love lately. The city endured record-high temperatures in 2023, racking up just 2.3in of white fluffy stuff for the season – the least since 1869.

High-Profile Parties

Lunar New Year Parade The exuberant parade winds through Manhattan’s Chinatown, from Canal St to Sara D Roosevelt Park. A firecracker ceremony and cultural festival with folk dancing kick things off. January/February

New York Fashion Week One of the haute-couture world’s cornerstone events; the biggest-name shows are industry-only, but some runway struts, parties and events are open to the public. February and September

Tribeca Film Festival With star-studded premieres and buzzy Q&As, the Robert De Niro–cofounded festival has some pedigree. As glitzy as it sounds, you can still catch a screening – provided you manage to score a seat. April

NYC Pride Launched the year after the Stonewall riots, Pride is now a global experience, with rainbow-bedecked events taking place all month in the buildup to the March, the main event. June

Offbeat Gatherings

Easter Parade Though bonnets are still donned, they’ve come a long way from the frilled and furbelowed chapeaus memorialized by Irving Berlin in the 1930s. Expect an elaborate array of headpieces – the more over-the-top, the better. April

Mermaid Parade The artsy, ocean-themed showcase of Coney Island weirdness at its finest, with participants dressed as merfolk and celebrities wearing the King Neptune and Queen Mermaid crowns. June

New York Comic Con One of the country’s biggest pop-culture conventions features panels, meet-and-greets with artists, photo ops with stars, vendors hawking comics, collectibles, games and merch and, of course, cosplay galore. October

SantaCon Holiday boozehounds channel the jolly big man and his elves in a costumed bar crawl across the various boroughs – a guaranteed day of debauchery. December

I LIVE HERE

SEASONAL RELIEF

Leader and program coordinator at Latino Outdoors, Morgan ‘Mo’ Wordes helps host free bilingual events, including kayaking, birding and yoga. @guerachicana718

‘Fall and spring are my favorite seasons, because they are seasons of relief. In spring, I love the first warmer days – when the daylight stretches out, it feels like triumph over cold and darkness. Likewise, I love those first fall mornings – the cool breeze feels delicious.’

Youssou N’Dour, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival | A katz/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

HOT TIME, SUMMER IN THE CITY

Summers in NYC are hot, muggy and breeze-free. There’s a payoff, though: free entertainment all around town. Heavy hitters include Shakespeare in the Park, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, Broadway in Bryant Park and Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City.

Weather through the Year

JANUARY

Avg daytime max: 40°F

Days of rainfall: 4

FEBRUARY

Avg daytime max: 42°F

Days of rainfall: 3

MARCH

Avg daytime max: 50°F

Days of rainfall: 4

APRIL

Avg daytime max: 62°F

Days of rainfall: 4

MAY

Avg daytime max: 71°F

Days of rainfall: 4

JUNE

Avg daytime max: 80°F

Days of rainfall: 5

JULY

Avg daytime max: 85°F

Days of rainfall: 5

AUGUST

Avg daytime max: 83°F

Days of rainfall: 5

SEPTEMBER

Avg daytime max: 76°F

Days of rainfall: 4

OCTOBER

Avg daytime max: 65°F

Days of rainfall: 4

NOVEMBER

Avg daytime max: 54°F

Days of rainfall: 4

DECEMBER

Avg