New York in Late October – Early November: What to Expect, Weather & Tips
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Thinking of visiting New York City in late October or early November and wondering what the weather is like, how busy it gets, and what you can actually do at this time of the year?
In this guide, you can read all about what it’s really like in NYC in late autumn. What kind of weather to expect, is it a good time for fall colors, what to wear, what to see, and more. We also share seasonal tips for your trip.
We’ve visited New York City several times in different seasons and recently spent a week exploring the city at the end of October – beginning of November. This guide is based on our firsthand experience of what it’s like to visit NYC around Halloween.
Is Late Fall a Good Time to Visit NYC?
Yes, late autumn is one of the best times of the year to visit New York. The weather is mild and pleasant, the fall colors are beautiful, and the city feels very alive but not overwhelmingly crowded. There are also lots of things going on, including concerts, sports games, etc.
You can still enjoy plenty of sunshine, and temperatures are comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor activities. At the same time, late October – early November is a great time to experience both the fall colors and the early holiday atmosphere. You can see Halloween decorations everywhere, and the first Christmas lights and ice rinks start to appear across the city.
The main downside is that the days are shorter, and it can be busy around Halloween. But overall, this is an excellent season to see New York without the heat, humidity, or big crowds.
READ ALSO: New York City Travel Guides
Weather
Late October and early November in NYC bring mild daytime temperatures and crisp mornings and evenings. You can expect everything from sunshine and blue skies to strong winds and sudden downpours.
Also, keep in mind that the ‘real feel’ varies a lot depending on where and when you are. Mornings are a lot colder than afternoons, and even on sunny days, it can feel much colder on the shady streets between tall buildings than in open areas.
- Average highs: around 55-60°F (13-16°C).
- Average lows: around 40-47°F (4-8°C).
- Rain: about 7–8 days per month, usually short showers rather than full rainy days.
Our experience: We spent a week in NYC, and despite a mixed and changing forecast on our travel dates, it only rained on one day. We had several sunny days with blue skies and a few cloudy, gray days as well. When it did rain, it poured, but luckily, the downpour only lasted a few hours. (For context, we’ve experienced the same kind of torrential rain during previous visits in late May and July.)
What to Wear
Packing for New York at this time of year is actually quite simple. Bring a few layers, a jacket, and don’t forget an umbrella. Here’s what we recommend packing:
- Jeans or long pants (or warm skirts, dresses, etc.).
- T-shirts, shirts, or long-sleeve tops.
- A few sweaters.
- A puffer jacket or mid-weight coat.
- A scarf (the city can be very windy).
- Comfortable, water-resistant shoes for walking.
- A small sturdy travel umbrella.
Our experience: Most days, we wore long pants and sweaters with a mid-season jacket. The kids wore down hoodies, and my husband and I wore light wool coats, and it was perfect. On a few occasions, any jacket was too warm, but just for an hour or two during the warmest hours of the day. Overall, you’ll definitely need a jacket at this time of the year. It can feel chilly in the mornings and evenings, and even more so on open-air observation decks.
Important: Wear comfortable shoes! NYC is a walking city, and you’ll likely cover miles without realizing it. We averaged 18,000-23,000 steps per day, and even with the most comfortable sneakers, our feet were sore by the evening. Walking on hard city pavement is very different from walking on soft ground in nature.
Is It Busy?
Crowd levels in New York drop after summer, but the city never really feels empty. Late October – early November is a shoulder season – it’s busy enough for a lively atmosphere but not uncomfortably packed.
That said, I found that it felt busier in New York at the end of October than on my recent trip at the end of May. This could be due to Halloween festivities and the NYC Marathon, and the fact that many European countries have school holidays around All Saints’ Day (and New York is one of the most popular city break destinations at that time). So if you want fewer crowds, you may want to avoid the very end of October and the first few days of November.
The crowds at most museums and minor attractions are manageable or even nonexistent, especially on weekdays. But the top sights are really busy, and not just on weekends. Even with reservations and timed tickets, we wasted quite a lot of time queuing at all the top attractions (usually at the security checks, but also elevators, etc.).
PRO TIP: I highly recommend pre-booking tickets for the top observation decks (especially the SUMMIT and Top of the Rock). If you want to visit the Statue of Liberty, it’s best to book in advance too – especially if you are visiting on a weekend or want to go up the Pedestal or the Crown.
If you want good seats at the best Broadway shows and sports games, I’d also book ahead. We booked everything we absolutely didn’t want to miss in advance. We also checked for some last-minute Broadway tickets when already in NYC, and while there were some options available, the prices were about the same as we had paid weeks ahead. Plus, the seats were much worse, and there was nothing available where the five of us could sit together.
READ ALSO: Best New York City Passes
Daylight Hours
In late October, the sun sets around 6 PM. After the clock change on the first Sunday in November, sunset is around 4:45-5 PM.
This still gives you plenty of daylight hours for sightseeing, and a good excuse to take it easier in the evenings. We spent our nights enjoying Broadway shows, concerts, and even an NBA game. We also visited SUMMIT One Vanderbilt after dark, and I actually preferred it at night rather than during the day!
Shorter days with late sunrises and early sunsets also mean softer light – perfect for photography. Plus, you don’t have to stay up late for those iconic New York night views.
Good to know: Daylight saving time in the U.S. ends on the first Sunday in November, when clocks go back one hour. In Europe, the switch happens a week earlier, on the last Sunday in October. When we flew to NYC, we had a 6-hour time difference, and when we came back home, it was only 5 hours.
Things to Do
In the fall, you can do everything you’d normally do in New York – from sightseeing and exploring local neighborhoods to visiting museums, parks, Broadway shows, and concerts. On top of that, there are several fun seasonal events and activities to enjoy.
Even if you get a few rainy days, there’s plenty to do indoors. You can visit museums, observatories, or interactive experiences like RiseNY, Mercer Labs, or The FRIENDS™ Experience, to mention just a few. There are plenty of shopping and dining options, too.
That said, try to keep your itinerary somewhat flexible so you can adjust based on the weather. Visit museums or go shopping when it’s raining, and save outdoor spots like Central Park or the Brooklyn Bridge for dry days.
Here are some seasonal activities not to miss in NYC in the fall:
- Bryant Park Winter Village. Opens in late October, featuring the first ice rink and holiday market of the season.
- Central Park. Beautiful fall colors, and the Wollman Rink usually opens in late October.
- Rockefeller Center Ice Rink. Typically opens in late October – a classic NYC winter experience.
- Halloween (Oct 31). Expect seasonal decorations all over the city and the famous Halloween Parade downtown.
- NYC Marathon (first Sunday in November). Even if you’re not running, it’s fun to watch (head to the streets near Central Park and the Upper East Side).
- NBA Games. The basketball season starts in mid-October, and both the New York Knicks (at Madison Square Garden) and the Brooklyn Nets (at Barclays Center) play home games during this time. The atmosphere is fantastic, even if you’re not a big basketball fan. Check game dates and reserve tickets in advance!
- Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes. Begins in early November at Radio City Music Hall and marks the start of the holiday season in New York. It’s one of the city’s most beloved annual shows and is great for all ages. Check dates and ticket availability here and book well ahead!
PRO TIP: When planning your NYC itinerary, start by checking the dates of any special events you don’t want to miss. Then build the rest of your schedule around them. For example, our teens really wanted to see an NBA game. Since the only option during our visit was the Brooklyn Nets, we planned our day in Brooklyn around it. We also booked tickets for a few Broadway shows before fixing the rest of our itinerary.
Fall Colors in NYC
Fall foliage in New York is usually at its best in the second half of October, but it usually lasts into the first weeks of November.
Here are some of the best places to enjoy the fall colors:
- Central Park: Especially around The Pond and Gapstow Bridge, The Mall, and Bow Bridge.
- Little Island: Beautiful views from the Pier 57 Rooftop Park.
- The High Line and the area around The Vessel: Colorful trees and great skyline views.
- Brooklyn Bridge Park: Plenty of scenic spots for photos with the Manhattan skyline.
- Prospect Park in Brooklyn, if you want to escape the crowds.
READ ALSO: Best Spots in Central Park
Halloween in New York City
Halloween is a big deal in New York! If you visit at the end of October, you’ll feel the excitement all over the city. Many neighborhoods, especially the West Village, Upper West Side, and Brooklyn Heights, go all out with decorated brownstones, carved pumpkins, and spooky displays.
Many shops, cafés, restaurants, and hotels have creative decorations, window displays, seasonal treats, and themed menus. It’s fun to wander around and take in the atmosphere all over the city.
The biggest Halloween event is the Village Halloween Parade, a lively evening celebration with costumes, music, and crowds lining the streets.
Good to know: If Halloween isn’t your thing, it’s actually a great evening to see a Broadway show. Many locals are at parties or the parade, so you can sometimes find last-minute tickets at lower prices.
Start of the Holiday Season
New York starts gearing up for the holidays at the end of October and really comes alive in November. The first decorations appear in shop windows and department stores, and you’ll start seeing Christmas lights and trees popping up around the city.
Ice-skating rinks open toward the end of October, and Christmas markets begin to take shape soon after. When we visited in the last week of October, the Bryant Park Winter Village was already open, and people were ice skating at Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Bryant Park.
It’s not yet the full-on holiday rush, but you can get a feel of New York’s early festive atmosphere without the holiday crowds or December prices.
Dining & Restaurant Reservations
We didn’t have any trouble finding places for lunch. However, dinner is a different story, especially on weekends, and at popular restaurants like Hard Rock Cafe on Times Square. If you are short on time or want to dine at a specific restaurant, it’s best to reserve a table in advance.
Outdoor dining is still possible in late October and early November, especially during the day. Many restaurants have heated patios, and we even enjoyed a few drinks on rooftop bars and outdoor terraces at some of the highest observation decks. That said, it’s often much cozier indoors, especially in the evenings.
TIP: Some restaurants have fall-inspired menus and seasonal specialties. You’ll find plenty of pumpkin dishes, autumn cocktails, and apple desserts across the city. Pumpkin spice lattes seem to be the unofficial drink of the season. We saw them advertised everywhere in New York and, of course, couldn’t resist trying one ourselves.
Where to Stay
For first-time visitors, I recommend staying in Midtown Manhattan, within 10-20 minutes walking distance of Times Square. Staying here, you’ll be near Broadway theaters, many tourist attractions, tons of restaurants and shops, and have easy subway access to quickly access other areas.
On this trip, we stayed at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South. It’s a good-value 4* hotel located near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, and about a 15-minute walk from Times Square. Breakfast is included, which saves a lot of time and money in the mornings.
TIP: You can find more info and detailed recommendations in my guide to where to stay in New York City.
So, this is our guide to visiting New York City in the fall. Late October and early November are a great time to go. You can experience fall colors, Halloween celebrations, ice-skating rinks, and early holiday decorations without the biggest crowds, high holiday prices, or cold winter weather.
Pack smart, keep your plans somewhat flexible, and book your main tickets in advance, and you’ll have an unforgettable trip.
We really enjoyed New York at this time of the year. It’s one of the most colorful and relaxed times to visit the city. Hope this guide inspires you to visit too. Have a great trip!
More Travel Inspiration for New York City:
- NYC Travel Tips
- Where to Stay in New York
- Tips For Visiting the Statue of Liberty
- Best Musicals to See on Broadway
- Best Observation Decks in Manhattan
- Itineraries:
TIP: Did you find this guide helpful? Bookmark this post for later, share it with your friends, and save it to Pinterest to inspire your next trip.
