Your NYC travel advisor
Your NYC travel advisor
Visiting New York in April is undoubtedly one of the best choices you can make. The weather improves dramatically compared to the cold previous months (read my Blog to find out all about the New York Holiday Season). In addition, there are so many interesting things to do in New York in April. Among them, my favorite is definitely walking outdoors among the city’s most famous parks to admire the blossoming trees.
Spring in New York is really something special. Many of the more than 8.5 million people who live in New York often choose it as their favorite season to enjoy the city.
So let’s find out together the best things to do in New York in April.
In this article in my NYC BLOG we will cover the following topics:
The weather in New York in April is really pleasant. Temperatures are no longer as cold as in the winter months. Spring in New York City makes long exploratory walks of the city possible. Minimum temperatures, especially in the second half of the month, never fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Then during the day, and especially in the afternoon hours, the thermometer rises significantly. So pack comfortable shoes and get ready for some beautiful, long walks. New York City’s parks, especially Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, await you with lots of colorful flowers, including beautiful cherry blossoms.
For lots of info on temperatures in New York in April, the likelihood of rain and snow, and also help you figure out how to dress and what to pack, read my Blog on Weather in New York in April, which you can also find by clicking on the image below.
Now, though, let’s focus on the coolest and most fun things to do in New York in April. This list was made based on what I prefer to do, not only in Manhattan but also in Brooklyn. it’s a mix of exploring the city and its parks, some indoor events and even culinary choices. I hope you enjoy it.
If you love walking outdoors and visiting one of the most beautiful parks in New York City, then I recommend going to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. This botanical garden is private and consequently you need an entrance fee to visit it. However, in my opinion, it is really worth it…. especially in the spring time.
In fact, one area of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is completely dedicated to cherry blossoms. There are so many of them and of various species.
What I love most about this park in New York in April is that you can visit the Brooklyn Botanical Garden Website where they regularly update the bloom status of their cherry trees.
I definitely recommend you visit it before you go to Brooklyn so you know exactly what to expect and which areas of the park to focus on during your visit.
Be prepared to take lots of iconic photos. In fact, at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden there are avenues completely blooming with cherry trees, as you can see in the image below.
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. In spring, though, to celebrate the blossoming of their cherry trees, it opens earlier on some days and closes later. On the website of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden you can discover all their updated opening and closing hours.
If visiting New York in April, in my opinion, a stop at this botanical garden in Brooklyn is a must.
If you want to take unmissable photographs of the cherry blossom trees in New York City without visiting paid parks, in my opinion, there are two options. The first is definitely Central Park, where there are some areas where there are so many Cherry Trees that you don’t know where to stand to take the most beautiful picture. The second, less known from the tourist point of view but in my opinion equally iconic, is Roosevelt Island.
On Roosevelt Island, as soon as you get off the cable car that connects it with Manhattan, head left along the river. There you will find a beautiful tree-lined avenue that during the springtime is filled with lots of cherry blossoms. My advice is to visit it at two specific times of the day:
– The first is during the week, Monday through Friday. In fact, on these days the probability of finding real New Yorkers exploring Roosevelt Island is definitely lower than on weekends. Don’t forget that going in search of cherry blossoms is one of the things Big Apple residents love to do most in New York in April.
– The second is to go early in the morning. Roosevelt Island continues to get more acclaim from New Yorkers and beyond and as a result is increasingly being included in guidebooks, NYC BLOGS, and even on social media. Therefore, avoid going in the afternoon.
My advice then, if you want to admire the beautiful Flowering Cherry Trees on Roosevelt Island is to go Monday through Friday mornings, preferably early.
If you want to know more about how to reach Roosevelt Island by cable car, I recommend you read the article in my NYC BLOG devoted exclusively to this. You can find it by clicking on the image below.
The view of Midtown Manhattan that can be enjoyed either from the cable car that connects Manhattan with Roosevelt Island or from the island itself is truly unparalleled. So if you come to New York in April, put a good visit to Roosevelt Island on your bucket list. You will definitely enjoy it!
The Easter Parade is really one of the most fun things to see (and, why not, you can even participate in) to do in New York City in April. Thousands of people flock to the streets of New York to see the beautiful and colorful New York Easter Parade. Below is all the info that can help you plan your visit to New York City
When is the Easter Parade in New York?
The Easter Parade is always held on Easter Sunday. So in 2023 the parade will be on Sunday, April 9.
What time is the Easter parade in New York City?
The Easter parade starts at 10 a.m.
Where best to go to see the New York Easter Parade?
The parade takes place on 5th Avenue between 49th Street and 57th Street. In my opinion, the best place to go to see the parade is in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Why does everyone have a Bonnet during the Easter Parade in New York City?
Bonnets are iconic to the Easter Parade. In fact, you too can participate in the parade, as long as you bring a Bonnet with you. The more colorful and fancy your Bonnet, the better!
New York is famous for its parades. In my Blog I have discussed some of the most iconic ones. Among them I remind you of some of my favorites.
The first is definitely the one on Thanksgiving Day. Every year in late November, the Thanksgiving Day Parade makes NYC an outdoor celebration. The parade floats and balloons are truly unbeatable. This parade also marks the beginning of the Christmas season in New York City. In fact, the Santa Claus float is the one that officially closes the Thanksgiving Day parade.
If you want to know all about this parade, then I recommend that you click on the image below to be able to read my article dedicated to the New York Thanksgiving Day Parade
Another parade that I think is really worth a visit is the one for St. Patrick’s Day. This is one of the most famous and fun events to celebrate in New York City in March. In the article linked below you can find out everything there is to do in New York in March, including the Parade to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Among the most interesting and fun things to do in New York in April is definitely the Macy’s Flower Show. This event takes place every year inside the Macy’s mall. Macy’s is located in Herald Square in Manhattan, New York City.
What I love most about the Macy’s Flower Show is that it is completely free. Macy’s used to hold iconic events for free. Another one that comes to mind is Macy’s Santaland.
In 2023, the Macy’s Flower Show will happen from March 26 to April 10.
I recommend you read my NYC BLOG on the best things to do in New York in March in which I have already included info on Macy’s Flower Show. Click on the image below to read it.
A short distance from Macy’s is another very famous Shopping Center in New York City. Its name is Hudson Yards, which, in addition to housing a mall, is also a brand new residential neighborhood in NYC. I recommend that you read 2 articles in my NYC BLOG about Hudson Yards. The first one is about its Christmas decorations: over 2 million Lights decorate Hudson Yards at Christmas time. The second is about The Vessel, one of NYC’s most famous and controversial architectural structures. Click on the images below to find the direct LINK to the two articles on my blog.
Are you planning a trip to NYC? Then I’m sure these BLOG articles will definitely be very helpful to you!
