If you didn’t already know, NYC in the fall is just amazing! Offering some of the best fall foliage in the United States, New York offers tons of autumn vibes and activities. So, if you are planning on heading to the Big Apple during my favorite months, here is your ultimate bucket list of things to do!
Keep in mind this list covers some of the best fall activities, so it will not include some of the traditional staples such as Top of The Rock, The Statue of Liberty, etc, unless they tie into fall.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I may make a small commission at no cost to you!
Stroll through Central Park
Central Park should easily be at the top of your Fall NYC bucket list! It’s arguably great all year round, but the fall foliage is a chef’s kiss.
Central Park offers 843 acres situated between the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan. Some of my favorite fall spots include The Mall, Bow Bridge, Bethesda Fountain Umpire Rock, and Gapstow Bridge. “The Mall” is arguably the most famous fall spot, so don’t miss it. The trees make the perfect leaf-peeping canopy.
For a more romantic experience, I suggest renting a row boat! Furthermore, the Central Park Foatilla is a really cool free event where you can see pumpkins float across the Harlem Meer!
Explore the High Line
Similar to Central Park, the Highline is nice all year (maybe not as much in Winter) and is especially beautiful during the Fall!
The Highline was once a railroad track that was transformed into a 1.45-mile elevated green space. Oh, and it’s totally free to enjoy!
Now, with the city’s newest additions of the Edge and Vessel at Hudson Yards, you can easily enjoy all 3 at the same time since the High Line starts right after.
From the Vessel, you can walk all the way down the Highline to Gansevoort St. However, if you don’t feel like walking the full stretch, I’d suggest walking it to the Chelsea Market at the very least! They will surely have fall treats, including apple cider donuts and pumpkin lattes.
See Brooklyn Botanic Gardens fall Blooms
Many think gardens are only for spring and summer, but that’s not true! Add the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Prospect Park to your Fall bucket list for their fall blooms!
This gives you a chance to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy 52 acres of beautiful blooms. They even have a bloom calendar you can check before your visit.
After making your way through the garden, you can explore Prospect Park. During the month of October, they are also running their Fall-O-Ween, which includes pumpkin carving, apple cider, and more.
Take a Hiking Day Trip from NYC
Hiking is one of the most popular fall activities, and for good reason. Because the weather in during this time is so pleasant, it makes the perfect excuse to get out of the city for a day to enjoy the great outdoors.
There are quite a few places you can go hiking close to NYC. Some popular places to consider are Bear Mountain, the Appalachian trail to Anthony’s Nose, Breakneck Ridge, many Greenways on Long Island, and hiking in upstate New York.
Some helpful apps to use for hiking in NYC are AllTrails and Maps.Me.
Experience Fall Foliage From A NYC Observation Deck
Walking through all the fall foliage in the city is all well and good, but an even cooler way to see fall colors is with the thrilling activity of being at the top of one of the observation decks!
This will allow you to get a birds-eye view of the incredible fall foliage throughout the Manhattan skyline! Two of the best observation decks to do this is at the Summit One Vanderbilt and the Top of the Rock. Both of these towers should give you lovely views of Central Park from above.
The Empire State Building and the Edge do fall decor, but you won’t see Central Park.
Go Apple Picking
Another favorite activity to do is apple picking! There are quite a few orchids near NYC, including those in the Hudson Valley, and tons of apple-picking locations out East on Long Island!
Some of my favorite farms include:
- Lewin Farm in Calverton, Long Island
- Harbes Orchard in Riverhead, Long Island
- Daves Orchid in Warwick, NY
Apple picking is generally from the beginning of September through October. It is always best to check with the farm before visiting!
New York Botanical Garden
If you’re looking for some more beautiful fall colors, you can also consider adding the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) to your fall festivities. It is also great for those looking for things to do with kids. NYBG usually has fall events, including pumpkin patches, and all their fall flowers are in bloom.
Last year, the NYBG had Spooky Garden Nights, Halloween at the Garden, Bales and Ales, and pumpkin carving.
Queens County Farm Museum
The Queens County Farm Museum is a great place to head with the family. The farm celebrates 325 years of agricultural roots and has a lot of fun fall activities this year. Plus, they usually set up some cool photo displays.
Each year, they have a pumpkin patch, Corn Maze, Hayrides, fall decorations, and a Halloween event. In the past, they have also held trick-or-treat events for families.
While you’re there, don’t miss the farm stand for some fresh produce or apple cider donuts. To get tickets to the special events, head to the Queens County Farm Museum website.
Experience the Halloween Parade
Spending Halloween in the city? If you are not already attending a Halloween party, make your way over to the Halloween parade in the Village! Everyone, including their pets, gets dressed up and celebrates down the streets!
The Parade is usually on Halloween, October 31st, from 7 PM to 11 PM. Afterward, you will find tons of parties and events happening all over the city.
Pumpkin Experiences
While you can enjoy tons of pumpkin treats while in the city, like pumpkin spiced lattes, basic, I know, you should also enjoy some actual pumpkin experiences. Therefore, I’d recommend checking out one of the Jack O’ Lantern events.
Rise of the Jack O’ Lanterns at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts in Melville has around 5,000 hand-carved Jack O’ Lanterns creatively placed down a walking path with music and all the spooky feels! It is one of the best fall activities to do on Long Island, NY.
Long Island also has a handful of Haunted Houses and pumpkin patches where you can do U-Pick pumpkins. Check the Jack O’ Lantern website here for tickets.
Or you can head to The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze in the Hudson Valley. They are planning over 7,000 Jack O’ Lanterns this year.
The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze is happening from October- November, and you can learn more about the Jack O’ Lantern Blaze here! There is also one on Long Island as well!
Check Out the NYC Fall Festivals
The city has tons of festivals in the fall that you might want to consider checking out! These fall festivals are happening from September through December. Here are some of the best fall festivals to check out.
Electric Zoo Music Festival – Ok, this one is technically the end of summer, but once September hits, I am in fall mode. September 1st-3rd. EZoo Tickets
New York Fashion Week – People from around the globe come to NYC for this fall event. September 7th – 13th, 2024. If you are staying in New York during these dates, book a hotel ASAP. See the NYFW Shows.
Feast of San Gennaro Food Festival (Italian food galore!) in Little Italy on September 14th, 2024
New York Comic Con – An extremely popular event in NYC. October 17th – 19th, 2024. Comic-Con Tickets. If you are staying in New York during these dates, book a hotel ASAP.
New York Film Festival – September 27th – October 24th. NY Film Festival Info.
Columbus Day Parade – October 10th
New York Marathon – a lot of streets shut down. November 3rd.
New York Comedy Festival – get your laugh on from November 7th – 17th.
Brooklyn Botanic Lightscape: An Outdoor Color and Light Experience at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Tickets on sale for November 17th – January 1st.
NYBG GLOW: Mid-November
Discover Haunted Houses
If you really want to get into spooky season, why not enjoy some of the most haunted places to visit in New York! These are, by far, some of the best Halloween activities to enjoy!
This year, the pop-up Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares will test your fears with immersive creepy and scary things “coming for you.” You can find tickets here.
The Ridgewood Asylum may be the “scariest” escape house mixed with a haunted house to experience this year. This one is located in Brooklyn. Enter if you dare. Get Tickets Here.
If you don’t mind heading out to Long Island, there are also several haunted houses to choose from, including Bayville Scream Park Bayville, Chambers Of Hell Hauppauge, and F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm Melville.
Enjoy A Drink At The Cantor Roof Garden Bar Inside the MET
Here’s a little secret. If you plan on visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), you would be remiss to skip the 5th floor to the Cantar Roof Garden to enjoy some small bites, drinks, and beautiful views of Central Park’s fall colors! Many don’t even realize it exists.
The roof will be open until October 27th this year, so if you visit the MET, make sure to add a stop at the roof!
Join in on Oktoberfest
Fall doesn’t have to be all about leaf-peeping. Enjoy some great beer by participating in Oktoberfest around the city. Tons of Biergartens will be joining in!
Although the name makes you believe this is an event that only happens in October, this is not the case. This year, you will find beer festivities from early September through the end of October.
Some of the best places to enjoy this German tradition are:
- Stone Street
- Watermark Bar
- Loreley Beer Garden
- TorchFest in Union Square
- Oktoberfest Long Island
Go on A Haunted NYC Walking Tour
Did you know NYC has a ton of haunted places? In fact, there are even landmarks that were built on top of cemeteries. One of the more “haunted” neighborhoods is Greenwich Village.
So, join a fun and yet spooky walking tour that will go over some of the darker sides of this city.
Check Out a Fall or Halloween Inspired Restaurant or Bar
Besides hitting up all the cozy and cute cafes in NYC, you might want to check out some fun bars and restaurants.
Go Leaf-Peeping in NYC Parks
Aside from the famous Central Park, there are other beautiful parks in the city to enjoy fall colors and leaf-peep. Some additional parks you should consider adding to your bucket list include Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, Brooklyn Bridge Park (by the Promenade), and Battery Park.
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Around the city for the Thanksgiving break? Then, you should consider adding the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to your Fall activities list!
This parade is one of the largest in the world and the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the USA. Watch giant balloons make their way through NYC from 9 AM – 12 PM on Thanksgiving, starting by Macy’s in Herald Square. If you want a good spot, they suggest getting to the west side of Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st Streets by 6 AM. This is where some of the best views can be found.
Fun Fact: I actually used to work at Macy’s Herald Square in Men’s shoes in my college days!
After Thanksgiving, you can also join in on the madness of Black Friday, when people will be storming the stores.
Eat Your Way Through Eataly
One of the trending places to visit during the beginning of each season is Eataly. They offer high-quality Italian food and go all out on their seasonal decorations!
So, after you finish obsessing over their fall decor, enjoy some gelato at the Flat Iron location!
While you are in the area, you should also check out the Flat Iron building, one of the most unique buildings in NYC! From there, you can digest all the pasta and gelato in Madison Square Park (right across the street).
See the Cloisters at the MET
The Cloisters is easily an underrated gem and has wonderful fall colors surrounding it! Located in Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights, this charming place boasts European medieval art and architecture, with a focus on the Gothic Romanesque periods.
It is a bit of a hike from mid-town, just to keep in mind. You will have to take public transportation or a car service.
Experience Smorgasborg
If you are a foodie, you will definitely want to add Smorgasborg to your list of fall activities! Basically, they are an outdoor food hall with tons of great stands to choose from.
There are 3 locations that often rotate. They are located at the Oculus Center, Prospect Park, and Williamsburg. Smorgasbord is not open every day, so you will want to double-check.
Smorgasburg is generally open starting in the Spring and throughout the Fall. For more about visiting them, stay up to date with the Smorgasburg website! I personally like the Williamsburg location the best.
Attend a Football Game
Football is probably my favorite sport, and lucky for you, New York has 3 teams to cheer for, 2 in the immediate vicinity during the fall. Head over to MET Life Stadium to see the Football Giants or The New York Jets play. The football season starts in September.
We are a split family of who our favorite teams are as New Yorkers, lol.
Indulge in Restaurant Week
Twice a year, NYC has Restaurant Week, one of the most coveted times for locals. This is because some of the best restaurants in the city put together fixed prices, making meals exciting and more affordable.
One of these times is in September, and it usually lasts a couple of weeks. It has already ended this fall – so if you missed it, you can try back around January/February.
Go Outdoor Ice skating Before it Gets too Cold
Exploring the City around the end of October? You have several outdoor ice skating rinks to choose from!
Outdoor skating rinks include Wollman Rink in Central Park (October 28th), Rockefeller Center (Opening October 12th), and Bryant Park Rink (October 25th)! All of which are in amazing areas in the city, so enjoy!
See the Winter Village at Bryant Park
So why would a winter village be a part of a fall bucket list? Well, because it’s awesome, and it starts soon after Halloween.
The Ice skating rink opens, their European holiday shops emerge, the winter village bar opens, and tons of other amazing food vendors open up shop! Plus, the Winter Village is also across the street from the NYC Public Library, so you can take a peek there.
Experience the Holiday Displays Without The Crowds
If you are visiting after Thanksgiving, you have the opportunity to see a lot of the Christmas window displays without huge crowds!
While you might not get the full effect (like you would closer to Christmas time), the tree at Rockefeller Center will likely be up (but not lit). Holiday villages will open, and Big stores will start to put up their decorations, such as Saks 5th Ave, Cartier, and Macy’s.
Christmas Attractions in the Fall
Just like holiday window displays, you also have the opportunity to enjoy Christmas attractions in the Fall. These usually open up the week of Thanksgiving in November or just after Thanksgiving.
Some events you should look to see include The Christmas Spectactical Rockettes at Radio City, The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center, and the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights.
Wrap-up
This concludes with some of the best fall activities and events to check out, with a sprinkle of holiday cheer at the end. As always, I hope you have the best time exploring Manhattan and all the fall has to offer!
If you found this guide helpful, I would truly appreciate it if you could share it below!