Best time to visit New York City
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in New York City
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.
- 1
Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise - 2
"The Met" Metropolitan Museum of Art Exclusive Guided Tour - 3
Top Rated Luxury Private VIP Tour by vehicle, Select 3 or 5 hours - 4
Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise - 5
Original NYC Guided Food Tour of Chinatown and Little Italy - 6
Greenwich Village Walking and Food Tasting Tour - 7
Private Central Park Pedicab Tour - 8
Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights - 9
New York City Mafia and Local Food Tour led by NYPD Guides - 10
9/11 Memorial Tour with Optional Museum and One World Access - 11
Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour - 12
The Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York - 13
9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket - 14
Central Park Pedicab Guided Tours - 15
NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey - 16
Official NYC Horse Carriage Rides in Central Park since 1979 ™ - 17
The Big Apple Helicopter Tour of New York City - 18
Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour - 19
New York City Sunset Cocktail Cruise on Small Yacht - 20
New York Sunset Schooner Cruise on the Hudson River - 21
Manhattan Evening Jazz Cruise - 22
The Original Greenwich Village Food & Cultural Tour Since 1999 - 23
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour with Reserved Ferry Entry - 24
NYC: Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour with 6 Flavorful Dishes - 25
All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory - 26
Greenwich Village Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC - 27
9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum Ticket - 28
True Crime NYC: Mafia Walk w/Ret. NYPD Detective and Local Food - 29
Gilded Age Mansions Tour in New York - 30
Chelsea Market and High Line Guided Food Tour
Last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Similar climatesBoston95% · Washington D.C.92% · Chicago91%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to New York City (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against New York City's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -2–6 | 1 | 11 | 120 | 10.9 | 60% | 23 | 134 | 1 | Quiet | 4 |
| Feb | -2–7 | 2 | 10 | 123 | 12.3 | 61% | 23 | 142 | 2 | Quiet | 4 |
| Mar | 2–11 | 7 | 11 | 113 | 10.3 | 56% | 25 | 189 | 3 | Quiet | 6 |
| Apr | 6–16 | 12 | 12 | 126 | 10.5 | 54% | 25 | 200 | 5 | Quiet | 7 |
| May | 11–21 | 19 | 11 | 111 | 10.1 | 55% | 22 | 245 | 6 | Quiet | 8 |
| Jun | 17–27 | 27 | 9 | 90 | 10.0 | 55% | 22 | 262 | 6 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jul | 21–30 | 32 | 14 | 136 | 9.7 | 59% | 20 | 273 | 7 | Quiet | 5 |
| Aug | 20–29 | 30 | 13 | 133 | 10.2 | 60% | 20 | 250 | 6 | Busy | 6 |
| Sep | 16–25 | 24 | 10 | 111 | 11.1 | 60% | 20 | 204 | 5 | Moderate | 8 |
| Oct | 11–19 | 18 | 8 | 106 | 13.3 | 61% | 20 | 187 | 3 | Moderate | 8 |
| Nov | 4–13 | 9 | 8 | 79 | 9.9 | 58% | 21 | 169 | 2 | Peak | 7 |
| Dec | 0–7 | 3 | 11 | 117 | 10.6 | 66% | 20 | 134 | 1 | Busy | 5 |
UV Index in New York City by Month
UV index in New York City peaks at 7 (high) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in December. June, July, August have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.
Best months in detail
June
9/1017–27°C · 9 rain days (90h) · 262 sun hours · 55% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
May
8/1011–21°C (feels 19°C) · 11 rain days (111h) · 245 sun hours · 55% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
September
8/1016–25°C · 10 rain days (111h) · 204 sun hours · 60% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
4/10-2–6°C (feels 1°C) · 11 rain days (120h) · 134 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
4/10-2–7°C (feels 2°C) · 10 rain days (123h) · 142 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
March
6/102–11°C (feels 7°C) · 11 rain days (113h) · 189 sun hours · 56% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
April
7/106–16°C (feels 12°C) · 12 rain days (126h) · 200 sun hours · 54% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
July
5/1021–30°C (feels 32°C) · 14 rain days (136h) · 273 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
August
6/1020–29°C (feels 30°C) · 13 rain days (133h) · 250 sun hours · 60% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
October
8/1011–19°C (feels 18°C) · 8 rain days (106h) · 187 sun hours · 61% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
November
7/104–13°C (feels 9°C) · 8 rain days (79h) · 169 sun hours · 58% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 2 (low)
December
5/100–7°C (feels 3°C) · 11 rain days (117h) · 134 sun hours · 66% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 1 (low)
Comparisons people search for
Pairs validated by Google Autocomplete demand — only pairs people actually compare.
- New York City vs London
- New York City vs Nashville
- New York City vs Paris
- New York City vs San Francisco
- New York City vs Vancouver
- New York City vs Beijing
- New York City vs Rio de Janeiro
- New York City vs Dubai
- New York City vs Las Vegas
- New York City vs Tokyo
- New York City vs Montreal
- New York City vs Rome
- New York City vs Chicago
- New York City vs San Diego
Frequently asked questions about visiting New York City
When is the best time to visit New York City?
June is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 17–27°C (9 rainy days). The top three months by score are June, May, September.
What is the worst time to visit New York City?
January is the lowest-scoring month (4/10). Typical conditions: -2–6°C (11 rainy days).
Is New York City too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in New York City?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in May and peaks in November. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in New York City have good weather but fewer tourists?
June (climate 9/10, crowd index 5) and May (climate 8/10, crowd index 0) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in New York City by month?
UV peaks at 7 (high) in July and is lowest in December at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 5, May 6, Jun 6, Jul 7, Aug 6, Sep 5, Oct 3, Nov 2, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in New York City in July?
July is the peak UV month in New York City, with a daily-peak UV index of 7 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
How high can UV get in New York City on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 6 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in New York City bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 12 months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 20 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 33 µg/m³ (unhealthy) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.