73 Unique Ways To Explore New York City In Fall

By Michele Herrmann & Jessie Festa. This guide to autumn in NYC contains affiliate links to trusted partners.

When Does Fall Start In New York?

Technically, fall in New York starts in late September and runs until late December; however, changing weather patterns mean the warm shorts-and-tank top weather can run into October.

Of course, visiting NYC in October feels much different than visiting NYC in December.

This is the northeast, after all, so don’t be surprised if you’re wearing flannels in October and then having a snowball fight during the holiday season!

Known for its bohemian charm by day and eerie legends by night, Greenwich Village is one of New York City’s most haunted neighborhoods.

On a Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village, you’ll explore landmarks like Washington Square Park and the NYU campus as your guide shares spine-tingling tales of lost souls, celebrity ghosts, and tragic pasts that still linger in the Village’s historic brownstones.

You’ll pause by the infamous Hanging Tree, hear about the area’s ghostly residents, and see a side of Manhattan few visitors experience.

5. Celebrate the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy

Looking for fun fall events in New York? The 11-day Feast of San Gennaro is based on the tradition of honoring a patron saint brought over by immigrants from Naples.

That being said, this September festival along Mulberry Street is equally noted for tons of food stalls selling Italian-American staples.

Beyond the festival itself, you can venture around and dine within this Manhattan neighborhood or head up to the Bronx to their Little Italy along Arthur Avenue. In this section of the Bronx, the FERRAGOSTO Festival happens in early September and celebrates this Italian national holiday.

6. Walk along special streets

While walking is the norm here, the streets of New York are not created equal.

In DUMBO, Washington Street is a stunning spot for a photo featuring the Empire State Building framed by the archway of the Manhattan Bridge.

In Greenwich Village, Minetta Street is lined with 19th-century architecture and has a curve because of an underground stream shaping its bend.

There is a lot of notable history here, too. Its chronology runs from being Dutch farmland to becoming a home for freed blacks to turning into a (no longer) rough and rowdy area.

Also, what is now a Mexican restaurant on Minetta had been known as Fat Black Pussycat, where Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

Finally, Harlem’s Convent Avenue showcases homes linked to Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway, while Brooklyn Heights’ Cranberry Street had screen time in Moonstruck.

7. Head to a beer hall for Oktoberfest

Raise a glass in NYC to this German tradition by ordering some bratwurst or schnitzel and a stein.

Bring your party to: 

• Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria, Queens
• Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
• Spritzenhaus in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
• Bierhaus NYC in Midtown Manhattan
• Lindens in SoHo, Manhattan (their beer garden also has a pumpkin patch!)

8. Explore NYC eateries with seasonal fall decor

A fun way to celebrate autumn in NYC is eating and drinking at local establishments with festive decor.

Sister restaurants Lillie’s Victorian, Oscar Wilde, and Papillon always go all-out every season with their over-the-top decorations.

Additionally, SERRA by Birreria is a greenhouse-inspired rooftop with beautiful seasonal floral displays.

11. Tour an urban farm

From May through October, tour Brooklyn Grange’s rooftop farm locations at the Brooklyn Navy Yard or Long Island City, Queens.

In the East River, Randall’s Island Park has events for learning more about what grows at its Urban Farm and seeing its resident chickens.

12. Discover another kind of farm living

Visit farms from another time that are still around, like Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park, which has a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and a traditional county fair in early October.

Moreover, the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is the oldest remaining farmhouse in Manhattan, while the Wyckoff House Museum in Brooklyn has a Saturday farmer’s market from June until November.

Then, there’s Decker Farm in Staten Island’s Historic Richmond Town, the oldest continuously operating small farm in New York City, where you can pick pumpkins, tour the 200-year-old grounds, see farm animals and enjoy hayrides. This interesting site makes Staten Island worth visiting, especially in the fall.

13. Admire architecture via Open House New York

Every October, Open House New York provides access to participating architectural sites of all types throughout the five boroughs — with a good number of them usually not open to the general public.

The weekend-long event celebrates the city’s architecture, design, and urban planning, offering tours, talks, and behind-the-scenes access to some of NYC’s most fascinating spaces.

Check their website for a complete schedule and information on sites requiring advanced reservations.

14. Cheer on runners in the TCS New York City Marathon

If you’re visiting New York in November, you can watch the New York City Marathon as participants embark on a 26.2-mile course across the five boroughs on the first Sunday in November.

The best observation areas extend to Fourth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn; the Long Island City, Queens side of Pulaski Bridge; or Fifth Avenue from East 90th to 105th streets, before the runners enter Central Park.

15. Pay your respects at cemeteries

Interested in learning more about some of NYC’s non-living tenants and doing one of the best walking tours in Brooklyn?

The borough’s Green-Wood Cemetery holds various public tours and events relating to those who are no longer with us. It’s also the final resting place for famous New Yorkers, among them Jean-Michel Basquiat and Leonard Bernstein.

Cypress Hill Cemetery, a burial site linked to Brooklyn and Queens, is where Mae West and Jackie Robinson lie.

The Bronx’s Woodlawn Cemetery schedules walking and trolley tours connected to its occupants and history, with notable names ranging from Irving Berlin to NYC Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (yes, that’s who the airport is named after).

Need help capturing the best of NYC — with you in the photos? Book one of our Private Photo Journeys, a walking tour that includes photos of your group to keep. Or get a styled, custom shoot that tells your unique story through an NYC Influencer Shoot or Professional New York City Shoot. Email [email protected] with inquiries.

16. Take a scenic bike tour

With a slight chill and the scent of pumpkin spice in the air, a bike tour is an enjoyable way to explore NYC. Best of all, there are several options to choose from, like:

• Brooklyn Bridge & Waterfront Bike Tour
• New York Highlights Bike Tour
• Electric Bike Tour of Central Park & Waterfront Greenway
• A Day In Manhattan Bike Tour
• NYC Electric Bike Tour of Midtown, Central Park & Times Square

18. Catch flicks at the New York Film Festival

Presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the New York Film Festival — which runs from late September through early October — screens the best cinema in the world as well as interesting lectures and presentations.

25. Bike along greenways

There are many NYC greenways to enjoy! Manhattan’s Hudson River Greenway follows the river from Battery Park to Fort Tryon Park, while the Bronx Greenway passes through all of its parks.

Additionally, the Eastern Queens Greenway also goes past parks, while the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway traces the borough’s working waterfront.

27. Gaze along the High Line

This elevated railway turned public green space has great photo angles at the Washington Grasslands and Woodland Edge (at 13th Street), Chelsea Grasslands (between 18th and 19th streets), and the Wildflower Field (between 28th and 30th streets).

Through October, Tuesday nights at dusk are for stargazing at Little West 12th.

The High Line is full of art, gardens, and history! To get a better understanding of this unique New York attraction, consider booking a Small-Group High Line Tour.

28. Ride an aerial tram

For the cost of a round-trip subway ride, the Roosevelt Island Tramway provides sweeping overhead views of the East River from Manhattan to the island and back.

On the island, see Franklin Delano Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, the remains of a smallpox hospital, a Cornell Tech campus, and a 19th-century lighthouse.

29. Shop for apples at Greenmarkets

Autumn in NYC is all about the apples!

Get your Honeycrisps, Empires, Galas, and other varieties without having to leave the Big Apple by buying from regional farmers at Greenmarkets throughout the five boroughs.

30. Get out of the city for some apple-picking

It’s a 90-minute trip from NYC to the Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard in North Salem, New York.

From Grand Central Terminal, head southeast on Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem Line train and get off at Croton Falls; then take a two-mile cab ride.

Another great day trip from New York City is Warwick, which is only 1.5 hours away by car — 2.5 hours by train — and is one of the top places for apple picking in New York State.

31. Take in the scenic beauty at Mohonk Mountain House

Fun fall getaways from NYC abound. One suggestion: the Mohonk Mountain House.

This New Paltz resort within the Hudson Valley dates back to the 18th century and is one of the most romantic Upstate New York hotels.

Even if you can’t stay the night, the Mohonk Mountain House has day guest packages for visitors, where they can explore its grounds or book spa treatments.

To get there, take the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central or Amtrak via Penn Station. Get off at the Poughkeepsie Train Station and then take about a half-hour cab ride or Uber from there.

Pro tip: Hiking Bull Hill in Cold Spring is another scenic and worthwhile Hudson Valley experience. Nearby, you can also hike Breakneck Ridge for incredible Hudson River views.

34. Bite into freshly made chocolate chip cookies

Is it just us, or does your sweet tooth come out in fall?

Get a gooey baked goodie from the decadent Levain Bakery, a local bake shop favorite known for its giant chocolate chip walnut cookies.

Maman is known for its nutty chocolate chip cookies, while Chip City offers creative flavors like Cinnamon Roll, Red Velvet Hot Chocolate, and Sweet Potato S’mores.

35. Hop on the Staten Island Ferry

Along with enjoying a free round-trip ride, the Staten Island Ferry provides a different take on New York City’s fall foliage by boat.

Leaving from terminals in Lower Manhattan and Staten Island, you’ll see views of Battery Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, along with trees rooted along Staten Island, Liberty and Ellis Islands, and Governors Island.

37. Dig into some mac and cheese

MacShack offers a huge array of options, whether you want to change up your cheeses or your inclusions.

Order the “Mac Daffy featuring smoked duck confit, caramelized onions, and fontina cheese, or the “Pizza Mac aka Fort Greene” with fresh tomato sauce, basil, parmesan, mozzarella cheese, and your choice of bacon or pepperoni.

Additionally, S’MAC has gluten-free and vegan options, while Murray’s Cheese Bar serves a secret four-cheese recipe.

38. Get a much-needed laugh at the New York Comedy Festival

Every November, the crème de la crème of comedy gathers for the seven-day New York Comedy Festival.

Get a chuckle from up-and-coming comedians and catch bits by noteworthy headliners.

39. Gaze at Jack O’Lantern displays

Get out of the city and head to Van Cortland Manor in Croton-on-Hudson for “The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze,” an elaborate and electrifying display of structures using real Jack O’Lanterns observed by passing along a walkway.

The event runs from September through November. If you’re set on going, buy your tickets in advance ASAP as they sell out quickly.

From Grand Central Terminal, take the Hudson Line to Croton-Harmon Station, then get an Uber to the manor.

Need help capturing the best of NYC — with you in the photos? Book one of our Private Photo Journeys, a walking tour that includes photos of your group to keep. Or get a styled, custom shoot that tells your unique story through an NYC Influencer Shoot or Professional New York City Shoot. Email [email protected] with inquiries.

40. Get inspired at Photoville

If you’ll be in NYC in September, Photoville is held in Brooklyn Bridge Park over two weeks during the month.

This annual festival involves repurposed shipping containers being turned into photography exhibitions and outdoor installations.

Speaking of photos, Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of the best Brooklyn Bridge photo spots in NYC, so bring your camera!

41. Watch parade balloons inflate

While there are many great Thanksgiving getaways from NYC, there is also a lot to do in the city.

In fact, the day before Thanksgiving, the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side are where Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade crews get parade balloons ready for the big day.

Watch them working from 1pm to 8pm, with the entry access point being West 74th street and Columbus Avenue.

From there, the public can watch the balloons being inflated on West 77th and 81st streets.

42. The next day, get a good viewing spot for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Early risers should camp out starting at 6am along the west side of the street on Central Park West from 59th to 75th streets, where the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade runs from about 9am until 10:30 am.

If you’re running late, venture further down the route on 6th Avenue, as the parade reaches here around 9:30 am.

43. Take a tour of top NYC breweries

In Queens, the adjacent neighborhoods of Long Island City and Astoria are home to some of NYC’s best breweries. Each space is unique and introduces you to the seasonal flavors of fall through beer.

While SingleCut Brewery is probably the most famous, other local breweries not to miss include:

• Alewife
• Fifth Hammer
• Focal Point Beer Co
• Rockaway Brewing Company

44. Take a trip to Niagara Falls from NYC

The falls themselves are breathtaking, and a must-have experience when visiting New York State.

What many people don’t realize is that there are other things to do in Niagara County, like seeing the murals of Art Alley, tasting terroir along the Niagara Wine Trail and seeing seasonal plants at the Botanical Gardens.

Short on time? You can actually visit Niagara Falls in one day from New York City on a tour.

45. Visit Long Island during harvest season

Visiting Long Island is one of New York’s best fall activities. It’s harvest season, and you can meet local winemakers while exploring some of Long Island’s 50+ wineries — like Macari Vineyards, Coffee Pot Cellars, and Paumanok Vineyards.

Fun fact: Brooklyn and Queens are physically on Long Island, though Long Island is not technically part of New York City’s five boroughs.

You can take public transportation, though the easier way to do this trip is through a Long Island Winery Tour with Lunch from Manhattan. This way, you have a designated driver and can easily get from winery to winery.

46. Savor dishes at top farm-to-fork eateries

One of the best ways to experience New York City in fall is dining at local restaurants renowned for their creative use of seasonal ingredients.

A few to try:

• Blenheim Restaurant (The West Village, Manhattan)
• abc kitchen (Union Square, Manhattan)
• Blue Hill Farm (Greenwich Village, Manhattan)
• Sfoglia (Upper East Side, Manhattan)

Need help capturing the best of NYC — with you in the photos? Book one of our Private Photo Journeys, a walking tour that includes photos of your group to keep. Or get a styled, custom shoot that tells your unique story through an NYC Influencer Shoot or Professional New York City Shoot. Email [email protected] with inquiries.

47. Have your fill of apple pie

There’s more than one way to eat an apple. If having it as pie is part of your dessert MO, NYC has a plateful of options.

In Midtown, Little Pie Company puts out their Sour Cream Apple Walnut and Sugarless Apple pies plus their Salted Caramel Apple pie.

Four & Twenty Blackbirds, with locations in Prospect Heights and Gowanus, is also known for their Salted Caramel Apple pie and makes a Brown Butter Apple Streusel.

A different take, the Astoria cookie shop Chip — which now has grown to have multiple locations — bakes an apple oatmeal pie cookie that’s got a sweet and chunky apple filling.

48. Get pumped up for pumpkin

If you’re craving some pumpkin pie — or pumpkin in another tasty format — there are plenty of places to find this seasonal squash.

Billy’s Bakery in Chelsea, Tribeca, and the Upper West Side makes a delicious pumpkin cupcake featuring cinnamon-spiced batter and cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

Donut-lovers can bite into pumpkin flavor with selections from Doughnut Plant and Dough Doughnuts.

Additionally, pumpkin ice cream gets scooped out at places like the Lower East Side and Union Square’s il Laboratorio del Gelato, or the East Village’s Sundaes and Cones.

Oh, and you definitely shouldn’t miss the chance to get a fall festive Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll pint from Van Leeuwen, which has multiple locations around NYC.

49. Pursue Edgar Allan Poe’s NYC life

Did you know that the poet — known for his tales of mystery and the macabre — lived in New York City for a while?

And some of the places tied to him still stand. In Greenwich Village, the Northern Dispensary, a triangular building which can be seen from the outside along Christopher Street and Waverly Place, was once a medical clinic that Poe went to.

In the Fordham section of the Bronx, the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage was rented by Poe in the spring of 1846 in the hopes of helping his wife, Virginia, recover from tuberculous; though sadly, she died the following year. Today, it’s managed by the Bronx Historical Society and can be visited.

Brennan Farm House, another home that Poe rented from, was torn down; but, a plaque at its former location at 215 West 84th Street  — now the Eagle Court Apartment Building — marks where he wrote The Raven.

Or so we think. There’s a conflicting claim of the no-longer-around house’s location and where Poe’s famous poem was penned.

This place is said to be along what’s named Edgar Allan Poe Street — a section of West 84th Street that meets West End Avenue.

The poet-inspired Edgar’s Café was once based near this intersection but now sits farther up on Amsterdam Avenue between West 91st and 92nd streets.

50. Get bookish

For those who love literature, get some title suggestions at the Brooklyn Book Festival in mid-September, which features reading events, author appearances, and other page-turners.

Readers of The New Yorker can attend The New Yorker Festival in October, which features the publication’s writers and editors in conversation with noted politicians, entertainers, and other well-recognized names.

The Printed Matter‘s NY Art Book Fair features artists, book buyers, collectors, dealers, curators, independent publishers, and other enthusiasts.

51. Swoon over costumed canines

Humans aren’t the only creatures that can participate in NYC’s Halloween events.

In October, the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in Alphabet City’s Tompkins Square Park gives dressed-up pooches their moment to shine.

Moreover, Carl Schurz Park in Yorkville is the location for the annual Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair, a furry procession of pets and their owners.

In Fort Greene in Brooklyn, the yearly Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest puts pups and their humans to the test with creativity.

52. Spice up your chai tea

Go beyond chai tea lattes at coffee chains and instead head to establishments serving unique styles of this spicy drink.

On the Lower East Side, the Hideout Chai Bar offers masala chai — among other teas — all brewed in pots.

Gasoline Alley has a recipe for dirty chai, Intelligentsia Coffee has a high-marked version of this latte, Black Cat LES has a chocolate chai, and Saltwater Coffee puts out a kickin’ masala chai as well as a vanilla chai, both of which are great for an autumn pick-me-up.

53. Hike through marshlands

Nature spots in NYC don’t always have to be green. Marshlands also make for places for hiking.

While you need a car to get to the Marine Park Salt Marsh in Brooklyn’s Marine Park, an almost one-mile loop gives a small preview of this 500-acre preserve with distant views of Manhattan and Gerritsen Creek.

Inwood Hill Park is home to the last remaining salt marsh in Manhattan. Its Shorakapok Preserve contains a combination of natural forest and salt marsh along with glacial geological formations.

Across from the Shorakapok Preserve, Muscota Marsh is a green space and ecological conservation site offering a good look at the Henry Hudson Bridge.

You can also learn about the marsh from the wildlife observation deck, or by venturing out on to a wooden deck stretching out to the waterway through the native water gardens.

There are places to sit and host picnics across the river from the towering cliffs of the Spuyten Duyvil and the Palisades, which blush under the Manhattan sunset, especially in autumn.

54. Be surprised at Brooklyn’s BAM Next Wave Festival

From October through early December, this annual series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music – commonly known as BAM – puts the avant-garde in art through musical, theatrical, operatic, and dance performances.

55. Tour the grounds of Snug Harbor

On Staten Island in November, the staff at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden conducts fall foliage tours leading into its pond garden and the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden.

During October, there are ghost-themed tours of the property that was once a retirement home for sailors.

Another neat find:

Produce grown at its 2.5-acre Heritage Farm is sold at the Saint George Greenmarket at St. Mark’s Place and Hyatt Street.

56. Walk along the street fairs

During the fall, busy streets in the boroughs get a break from vehicles and get transformed into block parties.

On Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue, the Atlantic Antic Festival in late September features food and merchandise vendors as well as live music performances. During this time, restaurants and bars set up special seating in front of their businesses.

Also in September, the Sixth Avenue Autumn Fair takes over the Avenue of the Americas from 42nd to 56th streets. And the Hester Street Fair on the Lower East Side happens on Saturdays until the end of October.

57. Honor Native American culture

While NYC hosts a fall Columbus Day Parade, you can opt to learn more about Native Americans at the National Museum of the American Indian – New York.

Based inside the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, this Smithsonian museum holds permanent and temporary exhibitions along with public programs — including music and dance performances, films, and symposia — exploring the diversity of the Native people of the Americas.

Need help capturing the best of NYC — with you in the photos? Book one of our Private Photo Journeys, a walking tour that includes photos of your group to keep. Or get a styled, custom shoot that tells your unique story through an NYC Influencer Shoot or Professional New York City Shoot. Email [email protected] with inquiries.

59. Recognize the Day of the Dead

This Mexican holiday honors the deceased through displays and pageantry.

At El Museo Del Barrio, their family-friendly celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos involves face painting, art-making, performances and more.

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum also offers a similar family-friendly event.

60. Come across interesting finds at flea markets

Outdoor flea markets allow for fun browsing and possible buys of just about anything that catches your eye.

Brooklyn Flea splits its weekends by having its Saturdays in Williamsburg — at Kent Avenue and N. 6th Street — and Sundays in DUMBO under the Manhattan Bridge.

If you want to make the Sunday experience more active, consider walking the Manhattan Bridge to or from the market, which also rewards you with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

On Sundays on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Grand Bazaar NYC is one of the oldest flea markets in the city, with indoor and outdoor shops.

61. Head to historic military forts

NYC’s history includes being a military stronghold, with many sites having a second use these days and can be visited. Some are part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Fort Tilden National Park in the Rockaways was built as an emergency protection site during World War I, and during the Cold War held nuclear missiles.

In Bayside, Fort Totten Park was used during the American Civil War, and Castle Clinton National Monument — in what is now Battery Park — was adapted as an entertainment forum, once home to the New York City Aquarium (which later moved to Coney Island) and then a pre-cursor to Ellis Island as an immigrant depot.

Then there is Fort Wadsworth, constructed by the British troops on Staten Island, who held their ground here during the American Revolutionary War.

62. See who is buried in Grant’s Tomb

The actual answer to this question is Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia. They are entombed in what is called “the largest mausoleum in North America.”

In Upper Manhattan, specifically within Morningside Heights, see the General Grant National Memorial and learn more about his time as a Civil War general commanding the Union Army, a president, and more.

63. Marvel at park art

In Queens’ Long Island City, Socrates Sculpture Park is a waterfront green space and outdoor museum with exhibitions and programs such as an annual Halloween festival that features cultural activities, costume making, and a doggie costume contest.

Its tree varieties, from birches to weeping willows, add extra color.

64. Do some thrift store and vintage shopping in NYC

Forgot your sweater, but don’t want to spend a fortune on shopping? New York City is home to some incredible second-hand stores!

With various locations, Housing Works has some hit-or-miss wardrobe items, interesting books, and unique housewares, though you’ll always leave feeling good in supporting this nonprofit fighting HIV/AIDS and homelessness.

L Train Vintage, also with more than one location, is a goldmine for discounted designer clothing.

Plus, Beacon’s Closet — with storefronts in Manhattan and Brooklyn — is a buy/sell/trade store with a lot to offer. They also help out local charities. 

Don’t miss the $5 jean wall at Monk Vintage in Brooklyn.

65. Check out new Broadway shows

Fall is a special time for Broadway, as the theater scene in NYC welcomes in new shows. You can see what’s playing here or book a Broadway-themed tour here.

Also, for those who like to head off Broadway, the city’s tourism board puts on a September-October promotion each year called Off-Broadway Week where you can snag two-for-one tickets.

66. Look at the Little Red Lighthouse

This light-emitting structure under the George Washington Bridge in Fort Washington Park is the only remaining lighthouse in Manhattan.

It also has its own little festival in early October showcasing art and food vendors, live music and readings of the book it’s the subject of.

67. Visit a community garden in the East Village

Communal green spaces within this NYC neighborhood are a little oasis.

The 9th Street Community Garden at East 9th Street and Avenue C is a botanic garden with a gazebo, community space, and a composting setup.

Nearby, the Creative Little Garden on East 6th Street between Avenues A and B is a National Wildlife Federation Habitat.

Another suggestion: Venture even further by checking out New York’s other community gardens through the GrowNYC website.

68. See street art

Once an illegal nuisance, street art has grown into a respected medium, fostering partnerships between artists and community leaders and business owners. Visitors to and locals of NYC see the end results.

The 100 Gates Project started on the Lower East Side through agreed-on street art murals painted on storefront security roll-down gates. It now includes works done in East Harlem, North Shore Staten Island, Manhattan’s East Village and Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean, aka Flatbush.

Also on the Lower East Side, along East Houston Street and 1st Avenue, First Street Green Art Park is where artists can create work without worry, though they must submit their ideas to the park’s curators first.

In Brooklyn, the Bushwick Collective is an open-air graffiti art gallery and popular NYC photo spot that you can wander through.

69. Pay tribute to veterans

On Veteran’s Day in early November, a major parade happens along Fifth Avenue from 26th to 46th Street starting at noon.

Want to wander on your own instead?

Stop at stations and memorials recognizing veterans from New York, like the New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza — honoring those who served in the Vietnam War.

Moreover, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch in Grand Army Plaza both pay homage to those who died in the Civil War.

Also don’t miss the American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial in Battery Park, an extremely moving site based on a photograph of a marine vessel sunk during World War I.

70. Get a drink at these Halloween bars

There are bars in NYC where Halloween happens year-round.

Beetle House NYC in East Village is a Tim Burton-themed bar with a Goth-whimsical theme.

In the Gramercy district, the Headless Horseman NYC is a wooden tavern where the likes of Ichabod Crane would hang out, and Barely Disfigured is a risqué cocktail bar in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

71. Walk among Wave Hill’s gardens

Wave Hill is a public garden and cultural center in the northwest portion of the Bronx that has great views of the Hudson River and the Palisades along its Pergola, plus its Flower, Wild, and Aquatic gardens.

Garden highlights focus on seasonal blossoming, especially during fall. 

72. Bite into scrumptious grilled cheese

Find cheesy goodness between bread slices with inventive pairings.

Our favorites:

• Grilled cheese French toast from Shopsin’s in the Lower East Side’s Essex Street Market
• The “Loaded Grilled Cheese” at Harlem Public in Hamilton Heights
• Numerous unique ingredient options — from truffle oil to maple-glazed bacon — at MELT SHOP, with locations around NYC
• In Brooklyn’s Bushwick, The Wheelhouse has a build-your-own menu with bread, protein, veggies —and, yes, cheese — choices

Where To Stay In New York City In Fall

There are many great hotels to choose from when visiting NYC in fall, a few of which include:

🏨 Crosby Street Hotel. This boutique SoHo hotel blends luxury with creativity. You’ll find endless opportunities to take photos in the rooms and common spaces thanks to the carefully curated art and design pieces — not to mention a sculpture garden. Plus, their onsite restaurant and bar serves beautifully-plated food and expertly crafted drinks.

🏨 The High Line Hotel. This stylish landmark hotel resides on the very grounds where Clement Clark Moore wrote “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The vibe is 19th century with numerous original touches, including stunning stained-glass windows. Opt for in-room views of either the High Line or the hotel garden.

🏨 The William Vale. This hip Williamsburg property features onsite Italian eatery, stunning gym, and seasonal pool. It’s also home to one of our favorite New York City rooftops, Westlight, which offers a true 360-degree view and delicious craft cocktails.

➡️ Click here for a full list of top-rated NYC hotels.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fall In New York City

Q) When is autumn in New York?

Autumn in New York starts in late September and runs until late December.

Q) What do I do in New York in the fall?

You can do plenty of fun activities like booking a private fall photoshoot, taking a tour of the New York Botanical Garden, enjoying events like Halloween or NY Cider Week and going on hikes to enjoy the beautiful foliage.

Q) Is fall cold in New York?

The temperatures in September and October are comfortable. They range between 50 and 75ºF.