18 Incredible Things to Do in NYC in Spring

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Looking for the best things to do in NYC in spring? Well, you’re in the right place! This is one of our favorite seasons, and we’re here to share why you should consider a trip to New York in spring, or to help you enjoy it more if you’re a local.

New York City is incredible year-round, but there is something about spring that makes it feel extra special. The parks come back to life, the rooftops reopen, the flower markets are bursting with color, and the whole city seems to radiate after months of winter.

Whether you are visiting for the first time or you are a regular, spring in NYC offers a completely different experience from any other season. From cherry blossoms and botanical gardens to outdoor dining and waterfront walks, here is everything you need to make the most of it!

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Things to Know About Visiting NYC in Spring

There are so many great things to do in NYC in Spring. But first, let’s talk a bit about the season, and what you can expect overall.

🌤 Is Spring a Good Time to Go to NYC?

Spring is one of the best times to visit New York City, and here is why.

The weather between March and May is so enjoyable. Temperatures typically range from the mid-40s to the low-70s Fahrenheit, which makes it perfect for walking, exploring neighborhoods, and spending time outdoors without the intense heat and humidity of summer, or the chilling cold of the winter.

Crowds are noticeably lighter than summer, which means shorter lines at popular attractions, easier restaurant reservations, and a more relaxed pace overall. Prices for flights and hotels also tend to be lower than peak summer season or NYC during the holidays, making spring a smart time to visit if you are looking to get more for your budget.

On top of all that, spring brings some truly incredible events to the city, from world-class art exhibitions to outdoor concerts and neighborhood festivals. We have a full guide to the best spring events in NYC if you want to plan around something specific!

🌸 What to Do in New York in Spring

Spring opens up a whole new side of New York City. The parks fill with cherry blossoms and tulips, the waterfronts come alive with activity, and the city’s incredible dining and cultural scene spills outdoors in the best possible way.

Whether you are into nature, food, art, music, or just wandering beautiful streets with nowhere particular to be, experiencing spring in NYC is something everyone can enjoy. Read on for all of the best things to do in NYC in spring that we think you absolutely should not miss!

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Things to Do in NYC in Spring

Now that you know what experiencing spring in New York is like, let’s explore all of the fun things to do in NYC in spring time!

🌸 Enjoy the Cherry Blossoms

The number one reason we love spring in New York is just how beautiful it is. While everyone is flocking to Washington DC for cherry blossoms, a lot of people don’t realize that there are actually so many incredible spots for cherry blossoms in NYC itself.

The whole city bursts into bloom during April, and while it’s a fleeting experience, it’s certainly one for the bucket list.

Have time? You can also experience the cherry blossom festival at Branch Brook Park in the nearby city of Newark, NJ!

🌼 Explore the Botanical Gardens

Spring is hands down the best time of year to visit New York City’s botanical gardens, and they are absolutely worth going out of your way for. The combination of cherry blossoms, tulips, magnolias, and seasonal blooms makes them some of the most beautiful spots in the entire city during March, April, and May.

🌷 Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of our favorite places in the city in spring, and if you only visit one garden during your trip, make it this one. The cherry blossom season here is genuinely breathtaking, with over 200 cherry trees bursting into bloom usually around late April. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is especially stunning and makes for some incredible photos.

The garden also hosts Sakura Matsuri, an annual Japanese cherry blossom festival that is one of the most popular spring events in NYC. It gets busy, so arriving early is definitely worth it!

🌺 New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is equally stunning and well worth the trip uptown. Spring bloom season transforms the grounds into an explosion of color, with tulips, magnolias, and flowering trees throughout the 250-acre landscape.

One of the highlights of spring at NYBG is the Orchid Show, a world-renowned annual exhibition that transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into an extraordinary display of tropical orchids.

💐 Wander the NYC Flower District

One of the most underrated things to do in NYC in spring is a morning walk through the 28th Street Flower District in Chelsea. For several blocks, wholesalers and florists display their stock out onto the sidewalk, and in April and May the array of seasonal blooms are absolutely stunning.

It is not a formal attraction, it is just a working neighborhood of flower sellers going about their day, and that is exactly what makes it so charming. It is a great photo opportunity and a lovely way to start a spring morning in the city!

📸 Do a Flying Dress Photoshoot

Spring in NYC is the perfect time for a flying dress photoshoot. The mild weather, blooming parks, and incredible backdrops make it one of the most photogenic times of year in the city, and the flowing dresses look absolutely magical against cherry blossoms, waterfront skylines, and colorful street art.

If you are visiting between May and July, Flying Dresses New York is also offering something really special! There will be World Cup flying dress photoshoots featuring flag dresses representing different nations, which is a really fun and unique way to celebrate the tournament while getting some incredible photos.

It is one of those experiences that is completely unique to this moment in NYC and we are so excited to share it with you!

🧺 Have a Picnic in the Parks

As soon as temperatures hit 60°F, New Yorkers flood the parks with blankets, snacks, and good company, and joining them is one of the most quintessentially New York spring experiences there is. The parks are stunning in spring, with blooming trees and fresh green grass, and the energy is enjoyable and relaxed in the best possible way.

Here are some of our favorite spots for a spring picnic in NYC:

🚴 Rent a Bike or Do a Bike Tour

Spring is one of the best times of year to explore New York City on two wheels, and with the mild temperatures and blooming scenery it is an absolute experience in itself. Renting a Citi Bike and heading along the Hudson River Greenway gives you miles of car-free waterfront path with incredible views of the river, New Jersey, and the city skyline.

If you would rather have a guide, there are some really great bike tours that take you through Central Park, across the Brooklyn Bridge, and through neighborhoods you might not discover on your own. It is one of the most enjoyable ways to cover a lot of ground in NYC without feeling rushed!

🚢 Take a Springtime Boat Cruise

Being on the water in spring in NYC is genuinely one of life’s great pleasures. The temperatures are mild enough to stand outside comfortably, the skyline views are crisp and clear, and there is something magical about seeing the city from the water when the trees along the banks are just coming into bloom.

There are lots of great options to choose from, whether you want a sightseeing cruise around the Statue of Liberty, a relaxed sunset sail, or an epic yacht ride. Spring is the sweet spot before the summer crowds – just remember to bring a sweater!

⛴ Ride the NYC Ferry

Want to explore the city by water but want a more affordable alternative? Riding the NYC ferry is the city’s best kept secret, and also our favorite of all of the transportation options in New York.

For just slightly more than riding the subway in NYC you can hop on the ferry and have amazing views, fresh air, and less people.

Here’s How to Get Around NYC Like a Local – It’s More Fun & Budget-Friendly!

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⚾️ Enjoy a Baseball Game

Baseball season is in full swing, and the temperatures are perfect to enjoy the games without breaking a sweat. Both the Mets and Yankees play here, so you have the opportunity several days of the week to check one out!

🎡 Walk the Coney Island Boardwalk

Spring is when Coney Island starts coming back to life after a quiet winter, and there is something really special about visiting before the summer crowds arrive. The boardwalk is breezy and beautiful, the Wonder Wheel is spinning again, and the whole place has a nostalgic, slightly chaotic energy that is completely unique to New York.

Grab a classic hot dog from Nathan’s Famous, walk the length of the boardwalk, and soak in the atmosphere. It is one of those NYC experiences that is hard to explain but impossible to forget!

🌆 Visit the Rooftop Bars When They Reopen

Spring means rooftop season officially begins in New York City, and it is one of the most exciting times to be here. Many of the city’s best rooftop bars reopen or expand their outdoor seating in April and May, and the temperatures are absolutely perfect for enjoying a drink with a skyline view without sweating through your outfit.

Some of our favorite rooftop spots in NYC open back up in spring, and they tend to be less crowded than in peak summer. If you have been wanting to try one of the city’s iconic sky-high bars, spring is honestly the best time to do it!

🌿 Explore Governors Island

Governors Island is one of NYC’s most underrated destinations, and spring is one of the best times to visit before the summer crowds descend. The island sits in New York Harbor with stunning views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn, and it has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere that feels like a complete escape from the city.

You can rent bikes, relax in hammocks strung between trees, explore the historic fort buildings, and enjoy some of the best skyline views in the entire city. The ferry runs from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and it is absolutely worth building into your spring itinerary!

🚶🏻‍♀️ Stroll Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is also an excellent place to disconnect from the chaos of the city. Full of flowers, scenic paths, and beautiful views, visiting here is one of the most underrated things to do in NYC in spring.

🛥 Walk the Waterfront

Spring is the best time of year for a long waterfront walk in NYC. The breeze is mild, the skyline views are clear, and the parks and paths along the water are at their absolute prettiest with fresh greenery and blooming trees. It is one of the simplest but genuinely best things to do in NYC in spring.

Here are the waterfront stretches we love most in spring:

🍽 Enjoy Outdoor Dining

One of the best things about spring in NYC is watching the city’s incredible restaurant scene pour back outdoors. Sidewalk cafes reopen their terraces, rooftop dining comes back to life, and the neighborhoods that are already beautiful become even more magical with tables lining the streets and fairy lights strung overhead.

Some of our favorite neighborhoods for outdoor dining in spring are SoHo, the West Village, Williamsburg, and the Upper West Side. Each one has a completely different atmosphere, from cobblestone streets and boutique-lined blocks to waterfront views and lively local crowds. Pick one and just wander until something catches your eye!

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☕️ Hang Out at the Floral Cafes

If you need to work remotely or just need a bit of time inside from a chillier day or the rain, you can still enjoy spring indoors. There are various flower and plant shops that double as cafes, and they’re some of the best places to grab coffee in the city.

Here are a few of our favorites:

🏛 Visit the Museums

Spring weather in NYC can be unpredictable, which actually makes it the perfect time to mix outdoor exploring with some world-class indoor culture. On rainy or cooler days, the city’s incredible museum scene is right there waiting for you, and spring is actually a fantastic time to visit as the summer tourist rush has not yet arrived.

Spring in New York is ideal for balancing museum time with park time, and with some of the best institutions in the world a short subway ride away, you are never short of options.

Here are a few we would always recommend:

🎭 Catch a Broadway Show

Spring is a sweet spot for Broadway, and if you have been thinking about catching a show this is honestly one of the best times to do it. You will often find better seat availability and slightly lower prices compared to peak summer travel season, and the energy in the theater district is wonderful when the weather is nice and the streets are lively.

Whether you are after a classic musical, a new drama, or something completely unexpected, the Broadway lineup in spring is always impressive. We would recommend booking a few weeks in advance to get the best seats at the best prices!

🚐 Take a Spring Day Trip From NYC

One of the best things about visiting NYC in spring is how easy it is to escape the city for a day. The weather is mild, the landscapes are green and blooming, and the small towns and natural areas within a couple of hours of the city feel completely fresh and lively after winter.

Here are some of our favorite spring day trips from New York City:

Experiencing the Best Things to Do in NYC in Spring: Final Tips & What’s Next

Spring in New York City is really something special. The energy shifts, the city opens up, and everywhere you look there is something beautiful happening. Whether you are here for a long weekend or a full week, you are going to leave wanting more!

Make sure to pack layers, book your tickets in advance, and keep your plans flexible in case the weather shifts.

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👀 What’s Next?

Now that you know all of the fun things to do in NYC in spring, here are some other guides to help you plan your trip:

So are you ready to enjoy all of the fun things to do in NYC in spring? We hope this guide has helped you organize your trip or the upcoming season if you’re a local!

Looking for more info about visiting NYC? Don’t miss out on our other New York travel guides! Also, make sure to join to our newsletter so you can get updates on our most recent articles every week, along with exclusive discounts on our shop.

Ready to start planning the most magical trip to NYC? We can help! As locals, we love designing customized New York itineraries and also can take care of all of the stressful travel arrangements. To learn more, take a look at our travel planning packages.

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