One of the most visited cities in the world, New York is certainly not your average city. Towering skyscrapers, oodles of art and culture, and Broadway, there's truly nothing like a trip to the city of dreams. New York City is a beautiful symphony of colours in October with the onset of fall. Remember all those romantic comedies set in New York City which end with the couple meeting in a strikingly golden yellow and scarlet Central Park? That's exactly what you'll get to see during your trip to the city in October.
The fall colors are in full display across the city and add even more character to the already happening city of New York. Apart from all the visual beauty that encapsulates the city, October is also a great month to visit the Big Apple since the city is not overwhelmingly crowded with tourists and the weather can be best described as warm and pleasant. Here's your all-inclusive guide to visiting New York in October.
What makes New York in October special?
- October in New York City is part of the "shoulder season", which is understood to be the period when the city isn't teeming with tourists but isn't completely empty either. This of it as the transition months between peak tourist season and off season. If you're not too fond of large crowds, visiting NYC in October is a great option.
- Since there's a considerably lower number of tourists that visit New York City in October, the time you spend waiting in queue for popular attractions like the Empire State Building and The Statue of Liberty also reduces by quite a bit. You can make good use of this extra time by exploring the city at your own pace and not rushing too much.
- One of the main reasons why you should visit NYC in October is the weather. The mild weather is perfect for exploring the city on foot and you can actually stroll through the lively streets without the weather getting in the way. Also since the weather is so pleasant, you can enjoy a lot of outdoor attractions the city is famous for which would have been otherwise out of reach.
- There are a lot of events that take place in New York City in October, including Columbus Day Parade, New Yorker Festival, New York Wine & Food Festival and countless others. If you visit the city at the end of October, you can also experience Halloween in New York and attend some fabulous parties.
New York in October: Weather
Autumn is a pleasant time to visit any city, but there's something strikingly magical about New York in October that makes it a great time to visit the city. October is New York's driest month and features the tantalizing mix of mild to chilly temperatures and crisp autumn air. The average high for the month is around 18 degrees Celsius and average low of 10 degrees Celsius. The days are pleasantly warm and the nights, tolerably chilly, making October a great time to explore the city on foot.
New York in October: Things to do
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Central Park
One of the most breathtaking and markedly different sights in New York City is Central Park. Covering around 843 acres, Central Park is the fifth largest park in the city and attracts over 37 million visitors annually. Central Park in October is something straight out of a dream with orange and scarlet hues encapsulating every conceivable surface. Go for a leisurely stroll through the defining NYC landmark to bring your trip to a great start.
October Timings
Daily from 6 AM to 1 AM
New York, NY, USA
Getting There ›
2
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Pay your respects to the fallen heroes of September 11 with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial. The memorial is constructed at the base of where the Twin Towers once stood. The memorial also houses a museum to commemorate the ghastly attack on American soil. The memorial is operated by a non-profit institution. A trip to the memorial is a somber reminder of the trauma and loss caused by war and terrorism.
October Timings
Daily from 7:30 AM to 9 PM (Memorial)
Sunday – Thursday from 9 AM to 8 PM
Friday – Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM (Memorial Museum)
Z180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007, USA
Getting There ›
3
One World Observatory
Witness breathtaking views of the iconic New York City skyline at the One World Observatory. Officially the tallest building in the Western hemisphere, the One World Observatory is home to to the the fabulous sky pod which can take you from the ground floor to the 102nd floor within merely 60 seconds. Once you reach the 102nd floor you'll get to see stunning 360 degree views of the city. If you're short on time, opt for a skip the line ticket to avoid waiting in queue.
October Timings
Daily from 10 AM to 9 PM
285 Fulton St, New York, NY 10006, USA
Getting There ›
4
Statue of Liberty
Officially one of the most popular tourist spots in the United States of America, the Statue of Liberty is also a glorious reminder of America's rich history. Make your trip to New York memorable with a visit to the Statue of Liberty. We would recommend opting for a guided tour where a professional guide will accompany you along the way and provide you with interesting bits of information about the statue, its conception, and what means in the history of America.
October Timings
Daily: 11:30 AM onwards
New York, NY 10004, USA
Getting There ›
5
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is the largest natural history Museum in the world. Located across the street from Central Park, the Museum features 28 interconnected buildings with 45 permanent exhibition halls. There is also a planetarium and a library guests can enjoy. With over 33 million specimens of animals, minerals, plants, rocks, human remains and cultural artefacts, the Museum is literal paradise for any history aficionado.
October Timings
Daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM
Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024,
USA
Getting There ›
6
Circle Line NYC Landmarks Cruise
After a city tour, it's time to hit the waters of New York. This Manhattan Island cruise is as glamorous as Manhattan itself and will give you a good peek at all the iconic landmarks available in the borough. Your cruise will begin at luxury boat as it circumnavigates the island of Manhattan and you will be visiting other famous sites in the city as well, including the other burrows like Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. During the fun cruise, you'll also get an opportunity to get up close with the statue of Liberty as well
October Timings
Daily: 10 AM, 12 PM & 1.30 PM
Pier 83, West 42nd Street , New York City, USA
Getting There ›
7
Chelsea Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
A 117 year old historic landmark building, which also happens to be the place where Oreo cookies were born, Chelsea Market is a food market unlike any other. During this food walk inside Chelsea Market, you will get to try speciality food from around 7 shops, including Creamline Lucy's Hue Tuckshop, Chelsea Market Baskets, Chelsea Wine Vault and many others. You'll also visit NYC's only elevated outdoor park and get stunning views of the Hudson river.
October Timings
This tour starts daily at 10 AM
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
USA
Getting There ›
8
Broadway Shows
Just like a trip to New York city has to include a visit to the Empire State Building, it needs to include a Broadway show experience as well. Broadway has become one of the biggest attractions in the City and part of its cultural identity as well. There are tons of shows you can watch, including Aladdin, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Frozen, Chicago and many others! Trust us, there's no experience quite like watching an opulent production unfold in front of you, live!
October Timings
Timings vary depending on the show & availability
Theater District
New York, NY, USA
Getting There ›
9
NYC Helicopter Tour
Remember all the now iconic shots of New York skyline you have seen in countless movies and TV shows? Well, this is your opportunity to witness the same breathtaking sights but from a helicopter, while you are in New York city! A helicopter tour is a perfect way to end your time in New York as you to fly over iconic landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and many more.
October Helicopter Tour Timings
9 AM -12 PM
12 PM - 3 PM
3 PM - 5:30 PM
Helicopter Flight Services Inc, Downtown Manhattan Heliport pier 6
New York, USA
Getting There ›
10
The Ride
Looking to experience New York city in a wildly offbeat way? The Ride is the perfect way to do just that. Essentially you will be taken on a tour of the city and its many landmarks on theatrical bus where the boundaries between tour and performance are blended seamlessly. Your custom motor coach is equipped with the latest technology and features over 40 TV screen 3000 LED lights! This 75 minute, top-quality bus ride is all you need to know New York like a local!
October Timings
4:30 PM to 9:15 PM, each ride lasting 75 minutes
42nd St &, 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, USA
Getting There ›
New York in October: Events to look out for
New York Film Festival
29th September - 15th October, 2023
The New York Film Festival is one of the longest running and most prestigious film festivals in the United States. The festival was founded in 1963 and features different sections, namely main slate, spotlight on documentary, projections, revivals and retrospectives, shorts, special events and convergence.
New York Comic Con
October 12th - 15th, 2023
The New York Comic Con is an annual fan convention that focuses on graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, movies, toys, Western comins, and television. First held in 2006, the convention has substantially grown in size and popularity with over 2,00,000 attendees annually.
Columbus Day Parade
October 9, 2023
With around a million spectators and 35,000 marchers annually, NYC's Columbus Day parade is the biggest celebration of the American-Italian culture in the world! Be a part of this historic procession as school marching bands, traditional folk groups and professional musicians perform all the way from Midtown to Upper East Side.
The New York City Wine & Food Festival
12th October – 15th October 2023
Presented by Capital One, The Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival is a star-studded event where world famous chefs organize cooking demos, workshops, seminars, and more. The festival also conducts celebrity dinners and wine tastings.
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Monster Ball NYC
October 27, 2023
If you're in New York City in October, it makes complete sense to attend one of the many fabulous Halloween parties that are organized in the city. One of these premiere events is the Monster Ball NYC. The concept for the party was founded in 2013 and over the years, the event has become extremely popular, with over 10,000 people in attendance on an average!
White Light Festival
31st October, 2023
One of the newer additions to the New York City art scene, the White Light Festival is an annual event organized by the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The White Light Festival is described as a multidisciplinary fall festival which focuses on music's capacity to illuminate our interior lives.
New York in October: 5 day itinerary
5-7 days in New York itinerary
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New York in October: Essentials
LanguageEnglish
Time zoneGMT-4
Country Code917 | 212 | 718
Socket Type A & B
CurrencyDollar ($)
New York weather in October
The weather in New York in October can be best described as pleasant. As autumn season kicks in, the days are sufficiently warm and the nights are reasonably chilly. The average high temperature in October is 18 degrees Celsius while the average low is around 10 degrees Celsius. There's a decent amount of rainfall as well with average precipitation of 84 mm.
NYC accommodation in October
New York is a massive city and sees millions of visitors annually. To accommodate all the tourists, there are plenty of hotels, boarding houses, hostels, etc available. Here are our top picks across three different budget types:
- Luxury : The Ritz Carlton, The Peninsula, The Plaza, The Crosby Street Hotel
- Moderate : Hotel Edison, Pod 51 Hotel, Candlewood Suites, Pod 39 Hotel, La Quinta Inn and Suites
- Budget : Blue Moon Hotel, Giorgio Hotel, Q4 Hotel, The Local NYC
NYC packing list October
If you're planning on visiting New York City in October, you'll need to be appropriately packed. Bring long pants, jeans, slacks for the chilly nights. Pack both long sleeve shirts and short sleeve tops since the weather changes considerably during the day and the night. Also pack a medium weight coat or jacket and a warm sweater. Since the weather is perfect for walking around, remember to pack a pair of good, closed toe walking shoes. Also carry a small umbrella just in case it rains when you're out and about.
Getting around New York in October
New York is notorious for the amount of traffic its systems have to handle. So make sure you do not try to figure things out on the fly and have some knowledge beforehand. New York has an elaborate public transport network. The MTA has, over time, managed to sufficiently tie the five boroughs together. The fastest way of getting anywhere would be the subway. You may also opt for buses, which are economical, but a tad slower. Cabs are available aplenty in New York, but the travel time will depend on the traffic situation. If you want sightseeing coupled with transportation, take the ferries.
Read more about public transportation in New York and learn how to travel around the city like a local!
New York in October: Seasonal delicacies
A pile of hand-carved beef pastrami, a dab of yellow mustard and freshly baked rye bread; there's nothing more "NYC" than this sinful creation.
Where to eat: Katz's Delicatessen
Bagel has come to be associated with New York just like pizza is to Italy. With everything from a plain bagel to ones with toppings like smoked fish, cream cheese, lox, etc available in the city, you'll be truly spoilt for choice. Where to eat: Russ & Daughters
Ramen has quickly become one of the most popular foods in NYC and there are many delicious variants you can choose from, including triple pork triple garlic mazemen, bacon and egg ramen and many others!
Where to eat: Ivan Ramen
A fine example of the trendy food, a cronut is, like the name suggests, a mix of croissant and donut. There are still lines to get good cronut in the city, which should tell you a little something about the item's popularity.
Where to eat: M&M's World
One of the most popular desserts in the city, a New York cheesecake features a sponge cake bottom instead of the regular graham cracker crust and tastes just as amazing!
Where to eat: Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
New York in October: Visiting tips
- Like we mentioned previously, the weather in New York in October is perfect for outdoor activities. You can either just head out on your own and take in the magic of the Big Apple or opt for an evening walking tour.
- There are tons of events and festivals that take place in NYC in October, including the Columbus Day parade. While this is another thing you can experience, it also increases the number of tourists in the city considerably. This directly impacts the prices of flights and hotels, so plan your trip accordingly.
- Take some time out from your itinerary to visit Central Park. The iconic landmark is a sight to behold in the month of October with autumn in full swing and various shades of red, yellow, purple and brown everywhere.
- If you're planning on watching a Broadway show, (as you should!) don't wait until the last minute to book your tickets. Broadway is very popular in the city and for popular shows, tickets sell out months in advance.
- When figuring out your itinerary for New York, look for discounts on combo experiences. Headout, an online concierge for exciting experiences around the world, offers great deals and discounts for combo and individual experiences in the city.
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Planning to visit New York in October?
For more fun things to do in NYC, check out our detailed guides and plan your trip better!
