Planning a trip and looking for the best things to do in spring in NYC? If so then you have come to the right place.
Not only is spring a magical time to visit the city – since the weather is warm and the flowers are in full bloom – but there are tons of cool outdoor activities and seasonal events to enjoy.
Yeah, New York City in spring may be a lot of things but boring is not one of them. And since I am a 30+ year local, I have had ample time to check everything out and tell you what to do in NYC in the spring.
So, stop stressing about your upcoming trip and use this amazing guide to plan a kickass itinerary.
If it were me, I would time my visit so that I could enjoy one of the city’s best musical festivals or some of the cool events associated with St. Patrick’s Day/Easter.
Yeah, the city is just super fun during the holiday and always features heaps of fun activities that you can’t enjoy at any other time of year.
Therefore, make the most of your visit and check out this mega comprehensive guide now.
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Table of Contents
1. Attend the Head in the Clouds Festival
Love a good music festival? If so, then attend the Head in the Clouds Festival in Queens. It features Asian-American artists and is typically held at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens.
Just be prepared to spend some serious $$$ on tickets since they usually start at around $260.00 per person.
However, the lineup for this event is no joke and has featured ATARASHII GAKKO!, Thuy, and Young Posse in the past.
So, if you love music and are keen to start attending musical festivals after a long winter then this is one of the best things to do in spring in NYC for you.
2. Ride the Staten Island Ferry
I love hopping on the Staten Island Ferry when the weather warms up. It’s just nice to stand outside with the wind in your hair as you see Lady Liberty off in the distance.
Yes, the views of the Statue of Liberty are much better from Liberty Island. However, the Staten Island Ferry is free and is awesome in the spring when the weather warms up.
The Staten Island Ferry also runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So, there is no bad time to board the ferry. Just try to avoid rush hour (during the week) when the boat is packed with people.
I would also stick around Staten Island and try some of the amazing Sri Lankan food at Lakruwana Restaurant after your trip. They have a nice buffet and serve an excellent Vegetable Lamprais.
3. Explore Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island is easily one of my fave hidden gems in NYC. To start, head over to the Upper East Side (near Serendipity 3) and hop aboard the tram to Roosevelt Island.
The trip costs $2.75(ish) each way and offers epic views of the Manhattan skyline. Then, once on the island, just take some time to walk around.
It’s also a great place to rent a bike since the island is small and there isn’t a ton of traffic over there.
Additionally, there are lots of nice walking trails with great views of Manhattan. The last time we were here we did a a lot
of walking and found some cool outdoor art installations that were surrounded by some not-so-cool Canadian Geese.
You can also go all the way to the tip of the island and see the remains of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse. It’s a great place to take photos and a pretty underrated place in NYC IMHO.
4. Central Park
Easily the most famous park in NYC, you’ll never run out of cool things to do in Central Park.
After all, this stunning oasis of greenery covers an astounding 843 acres of land and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 1860s/70s.
It includes a wide variety of meadows, lakes, castles, European gardens, tree-lined walkways, and outdoor theaters that are super fun to explore.
Cool local landmarks include Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields ( memorial to John Lenon), Sheep Meadow, Bethesda Terrace, The Mall, the Literary Walk, The Conservatory Garden, The Ramble, the Shakespeare Garden, The Boathouse. etc.
Just remember that the further uptown you go, the less crowded the park will be.
Yeah, most people don’t walk too far and stay near Midtown which is why I like to check out the Harlem Meer and the North Meadow.
Local Tip: If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed about exploring on your own then book a themed tour with the Central Park Conservancy. These tours often have cool themes and are very affordable.
5. New York Botanical Garden
I’m not gonna lie to you. The New York Botanical Gardens are awesome – they are also a pain in the ass to get to since they are located ALL the way in the Bronx.
However, if you can force yourself to make the long(ish) trip here, then you’ll enjoy exploring a 250-acre garden that has been around since 1891.
You’ll even find a cool old-growth forest on-site as well as an Azalea Garden, the Children’s Adventure Garden, the Lilac Collection, the Native Plant Garden, the Wetland Trail, the Ornamental Conifers, etc.
Personally, I can’t visit the Botanical Gardens without stopping at the Enid A Haupt Conservatory.
It’s an utterly enchanting, Victorian-era building with a wrought iron/ glass greenhouse that is perfect for some gorg photo ops.
Spring is also the perfect time to visit since you can enjoy all of the flowers as well as cool seasonal events like walking tours, children’s book readings, move nights, lectures, etc.
In particular, my favorite spring event at the Botanical Gardens is the Orchid Show. It’s really cool because you don’t just get to see orchids.
Rather, the event usually has a unique theme, and artists typically do cool things like create beautiful fashion pieces out of these amazing flowers.
So, definitely attend this event if you find yourself in NYC in spring.
Local Tip: Keep an eye out for the garden’s amazing Cherry Blossoms. They usually begin to bloom in late March and can also be seen in Central Park and in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
6. Attend the Easter Bonnet Parade and Festival
I love the Easter Bonnet Parade and Festival in NYC because it’s free to everyone. Additionally, anyone and everyone is welcome to march in the parade down Fifth Avenue.
To participate, all you need to do is make the most outrageous Easter bonnet possible.
Then, get ready to march in the parade at 10:00 am as you make your way down Fifth Avenue, from 49th Street to 57th Street.
However, if you just want to watch, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a solid place to catch all the action.
I love this parade because you will see people wearing the wildest bonnets you have ever seen. You may even see some people wearing historic clothes since the parade first started way back in the 1870s.
7. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of my favorite places in NYC in the spring. Not only is it a lot less crowded than the Botanical Garden in the Bronx, but all of the flowers come into bloom.
So, it is an amazing time to see the garden’s beautiful Cherry Blossoms and to walk through the exquisite rose garden.
Other places I always like to visit include the Japanese Garden with its beautiful red Toril (Japanese Gate), the rock garden, Shakespeare’s Garden (made of plants mentioned throughout his plays), and the Children’s Discovery Garden.
Daily tours (highlights tours and seasonal tours) are also on offer if you want to learn a bit more about the garden’s insane array of plant life.
However, we usually just explore on our own and take a few hours to enjoy this massive garden.
To visit, use the 2 or 3 train and take it to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum. The garden sits right across the street and will be really easy to find.
8. Walk Along the Highline
With Spring comes lots of warmer weather (hopefully). So, this is a great time to get outside and enjoy a leisurely stroll along NYC’s famous Highline.
See, this elevated pedestrian walkway/garden/outdoor art exhibit used to be an old railway track.
Today it has been converted into an awesome, 1.45-mile-long walkway that extends from the Javits Center to the Whitney Museum.
It’s a great place to see beautiful plant life as well as innovative art installations. I like visiting in Spring since the weather is a bit warmer and all of the plant life looks a lot greener.
This place is mega popular though. So, do try and visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Local Tip: Please remember that the Highline is NOT open 24 hours a day. The park usually closes around 10:00 pm. The park can also get very chilly on a windy day, so dress accordingly.
9. Attend Gov Ball
If you like music festivals then Gov Ball is absolutely mandatory. It is basically the biggest outdoor music festival of the spring and takes place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
It is super popular though. So, be sure to grab your tickets right when they go on sale. You’ll also want to be available the first weekend in June since this is USUALLY when the festival is held.
TBH, the festival is always packed but the atmosphere is really good and it’s just a lot of fun to listen to music in the warm weather.
Plus, you can usually see a wide variety of awesome artists since The Killers, Post Malone, Rauw Alejandro, and 21 Savage have all performed at Gov Ball in the past.
10. Enjoy Japan Fes
Japan Fes is a massive Japanese Food festival that is held annually from March through to November.
In total, you can attend 30+ events that are held annually throughout the city. They feature amazing cuisine from upwards of 1,000 vendors who come from NYC and beyond.
I love this event since I have tasted some of the best ramen, teriyaki, and sushi of my life as I made my way to Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and beyond.
It’s also a great event to attend if you are bit sick of the same old same old Japanese food and want to try unique things like takoyaki, yakisoba, karaage, okonomiyaki, and more.
11. Visit the Rooftop Pool at the TWA Hotel
Located in Terminal 5 of JFK Airport, the TWA Hotel is this super fun, 1960s/retro-inspired hotel that pays homage to the TWA airline.
Even if you’re not spending the night, you can still check out some of the cool vintage cars outside the front entrance, as well as a neat exhibition about vintage clothes worn by TWA flight attendants.
TBH, there are a ton of cool things to do here. However, one of my faves is to grab a day pass (you can get one from Resort Pass for $25.00) and use it to visit their heated rooftop pool.
There are bathrooms, lounge chairs, a rooftop bar, and beautiful views of the runway. So, take a dip and enjoy epic views of planes coming into and taking off from the airport.
Personally, I like visiting in Spring since the weather is warm but not hot. This way you can enjoy the heated pool without freezing to death once you get out.
The last time we were here it was in February, and we absolutely froze to death once we got out of the water since there wasn’t really a changing area.
I also probably wouldn’t spend the night here since I have heard mixed things about the hotel’s amenities and service.
12. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Not gonna lie, NYC has one of the best St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the USA. It’s HUGE, features lots of cool bagpipes, and continues all the way down Fifth Avenue.
Just be prepared for A LOT of drunk people all over the place. If you too want to join in on the drinking fun then you NEED to head to McSorley’s.
It’s a super old-school Irish bar that serves two kinds of beer – light and dark. It is also THE place to be on St. Patty’s Day and will be packed with people.
But, if you’re not big into drinking and just kind of want to enjoy some awesome Irish Soda Bread, then head to Mary O’s Irish Soda Bread Shop. All she makes is Irish Soda Bread and it is next level delicious.
Local Tip: Because the Parade route goes right Fifth Avenue, a lot of the streets in Midtown will be closed to pedestrians. So, plan accordingly and give yourself extra time to get around.
13. Explore the Museum of Ice Cream
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream at the Ice Cream Museum in NYC. Okay, real talk? Is the Ice Cream Museum my favorite museum in NYC? No, not a chance.
However, it is fun if you have kids in NYC and want to try some ice cream while you’re in NYC. In total, you’ll get around five small samples of ice cream to enjoy.
You’ll also get to do fun things like hang out in a pool a “sprinkles”, go down a fun tunnel slide, and explore this beautiful pink room filled with every dessert imaginable.
Overall, I feel like this place is more about the Instagrammable photos then about Ice Cream.
However, it’s one of those places your kids will love and where you’ll walk away with lots of super cool photos as part of your souvenirs from NYC.
14. Attend the Macy’s Flower Show
When I think of spring in New York City, I imagine beautiful swaths of flowers coming into bloom across the city.
One of the best places to see some of these amazing blooms is at the Macy’s Flower Show.
While the exact dates vary, this event is usually starts at the end of May and extends until the first week of April. It is FREE to visit and is held right in Herald Square.
I’m not gonna lie, the floral displays are very artistic and usually feature cool designs that are created in tandem with companies like Dior.
Overall, these displays are massive and just a whole lot of fun to see if you are in Midtown. Think of it as a series of holiday window displays that are made of flowers and that are designed to celebrate spring.
Yup, this event puts the awe back in awesome.
15. Enjoy the Queens Night Market
Once April rolls around, all of the night markets in NYC start up again and typically run throughout the summer.
Now, the best night market in the city is the Queens Night Market. It is held on Saturday nights (starts at 4:00 pm) and offers some of the best cheap eats in NYC (most items are no more than $6.00)
Before heading to the New York Hall of Science, grab some cash since a lot of vendors do not accept credit cards.
Oh, and if you’re looking to do a bit of shopping then you’ll definitely be able to find some vintage clothes, ceramics, jewelry, toys, and stationary after you eat.
Also, prepare for large crowds since upwards of 15,000 people visit in one night. Yup, it can feel a bit like mayhem and you should be prepared.
Local Tip: Other cool night markets to try are the Bronx Night Market, the Uptown Night Market, the Brooklyn Night Market, the Vegan Night Market, and the Latin Night Market.
16. Serra By Birreria
Tucked away on the 15th floor of Eataly’s Flat Iron location, Serra By Birreria is this cool Italian-inspired bar with wicked, awesome seasonal decor that changes to reflect the season.
So, in spring, the dining room will be bedazzled with vibrant flowers as far as the eye can see. Yup, it’s even better in person.
The last time I was here I was excited to try the food since the restaurant is run by Mario Batali. However, I thought my farro salad was just okay and nothing to write home about.
Instead, I’d just grab an Aperol Spritz at the bar since there aren’t really any epic views to speak of.
Finally, I would get here RIGHT when they open at 11:30 am. This way you can find a seat and take photos without tons of people in the way since this place gets HELLA crowded.
17. The MET Cloisters
I love love love this Uptown branch of the MET Cloisters for a couple of reasons. First of all, it is WAY less crowded than the Fifth Avenue location.
Secondly, this facility has amazing cloisters for you to explore, in addition to awesome Medieval art and a series of beautiful outdoor gardens with sweeping views of the Hudson River.
Finally, free tours of the collection are on offer and because of the facility’s epic location, you can explore Fort Tryon Park after your visit.
Overall, this museum is at its best in the Spring when the weather is nice and when you can see all the flowers in the park/on-site gardens in full bloom.
Just don’t leave without seeing the Hunt for the Unicorn tapestry. It is the museum’s most famous piece of art and is well worth your time.
You can also enjoy “Pay What You Wish” rates if you are a New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut resident.
18. Brooklyn Flea
I’m not gonna lie, the first time I went to Brooklyn Flea I had very low expectations.
I thought everything was gonna be “Vintage” expensive and that I would hate it because it would be crowded beyond belief.
Well, I am delighted to say that I was totally wrong. Yes, the DUMBO outpost was crowded, but I was able to find a vendor selling cool vintage t-shirts for $15.00.
I actually found this EPIC Nirvana t-shirt and still wear it.
The second thing I love is that you get to shop outside (even in winter), beneath the Manhattan Bridge, as you look for furniture, antiques, jewelry, upcycled clothing, etc.
Not gonna lie, this place is so awesome that Travel + Leisure, Country Living, Budget Travel, and Fodor’s all ranked this flea market as one of the best markets in the USA.
In fact, Brooklyn Flea is so awesome that they now have an outpost in Chelsea too.
Currently, the location in DUMBO is open on weekends from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and the one in Chelsea is open on weekends from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Personally, I think Spring is the perfect time to visit since you can walk around, enjoy the warm weather, and admire sweeping views of Manhattan without getting frostbite.
Not gonna lie, I have visited the Brooklyn location in winter and the spring weather makes the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Map of the Best Things to do in Spring in NYC
That wraps up this guide to all of the best things to do in NYC in spring. I hope you found my tips useful and now know exactly what to do in NYC at this time of year.
If you can, try and take advantage of cool seasonal events. They only happen at certain times of year while things like museums will be open all year long.
I also 100% recommend seeing the Cherry Blossoms bloom in places like Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Other than that, just enjoy your trip to NYC and thanks for stopping by.
