A sense of déjà vu is bound to happen when you step into New York for the first time. The city has been captured and immortalized in art, movies and media that you cannot help but be overwhelmed by. Iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Times Square all scream for attention, while each road in New York leads to amazing experiences of culture, cuisine, and entertainment. In April the city transforms from the bleak dry winter to a blooming glorious spring, calling for all sorts of gaiety and celebration. Visit New York in April to witness the magic of spring in the culture filled concrete jungle!
What makes New York in April Special?
- Spring is in the air : The vice-like grip of the cold weather loosens in April and sees the beginning of a balmy yet chirpy weather in New York. Central Park starts draping in colors of green and the Cherry trees blossom in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The sunny days call for long walks with a cup of coffee and pizza to go!
- Cultural activities galore : From ethnic parades to crazy pillow fights in the middle of Washington State Park, April is the month to witness the cultural diversity of New York. You have annual film and music festivals to choose from, but the lure of the evergreen Broadway always remains.
- Live the New Yorker life : There is of course no season when New York empties of tourists, it’s a crowded city even without the tourists! However, April is still school year time world over and you have relatively fewer crowds at main attractions. It is the best time to enjoy the restaurants, attractions and explore the city like a local!
New York Weather in April
April heralds the onset of spring in New York. The city experiences four distinct seasons and you will experience sunny days and almost no snow. Although it is one of the wettest seasons, there won’t be more than ten days of slight showers. The average temperature is around 16°C.
New York in April : Top Experiences
1
Central Park
The Central Park is the green lung of New York City, and a wonderful place to watch the seasons change in the city. It has exciting attractions like landscaped gardens, zoo and the conservatory garden. In April, the snow melts and the entire park witnesses transformation to a green wonderland.
April Timings
Open daily from 6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
New York, NY
USA
Getting There ›
2
9/11 Memorial & Museum
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a moving tribute to the victims of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre. The twin pools with names of the deceased are a reminder of the loss America experienced, and the museum has a collection of memorabilia from that fateful day.
April Timings
Daily 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM (Memorial)
Sun to Thu 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Fri to Sat 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Memorial Museum)
Z180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
USA
Getting There ›
3
Statue of Liberty
‘I lift my lamp beside the golden door’, the Lady Liberty is the icon of freedom worldwide and the statue has been standing tall since 1886. A visit to the Statue of Liberty will evoke pride and a tour of the island will give you insight into the significance of the statute.
April Timings
Daily 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Ferry Timings: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (every 25-30 minutes approximately)
New York, NY 10004,
USA
Getting There ›
Recommended Statue of Liberty Experiences
4
Top of the Rock | Rockefeller Plaza
Soak in the fresh greens of Central Park after the overcast wintry months, and watch the sun gleaming over the skyscrapers on the NYC horizon in April. Top of the Rock Observatory Deck, perched on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of the Rockefeller Plaza is the best place to do that!
April Timings
Daily, 8:00 AM - 2:00 AM. The last trip is at 1:15 AM
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112,
USA
Getting There ›
5
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
MoMa is one of the world’s leading modern art museums and has a large collection of paintings, sculptures, books on Modernist Art. In April, you can catch a range of exhibitions including ‘The Value of Good Design’, ‘Joan Miro: Birth of the World’ and Lincoln Kirstein’s Modern.
April Timings
Sat to Thu 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Fri 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
USA
Getting There ›
6
20 Minute Helicopter Tour
Soar above the skyline that has been eternalised in numerous Hollywood movies and identify all the iconic landmarks of New York City in a 20 minute helicopter ride. It will be the best 20 minutes of flying of your life and your pilot-guide will give you a live commentary.
April Helicopter Tour Timings
9:00 AM -12:00 PM
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Helicopter Flight Services Inc, Downtown Manhattan Heliport pier 6
New York, USA
Getting There ›
7
Go On A Circle Line NYC Landmark Cruise
Sail the waters of New York City and spot all the landmarks that have shaped the city’s history. Right from the majestic Statue of Liberty, under the Brooklyn Bridge, and past all the five boroughs, this cruise ship takes you everywhere. The warm April weather makes it ideal to be out on water.
April Timings
1st April – 27th April: 10:00 AM, 1:30 PM
28th April – 30th April: 10: 00 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM
Pier 83, West 42nd Street , New York City
USA
Getting There ›
8
Spring Walk on the High Line
The High Line is a unique public park set high above the streets on an abandoned railway line. The park is a marvel of architecture, design and nature. In April, the 2.3 KM walkway transforms with wild flowers, shrubbery and fresh plants at the onset of spring.
April Timings
7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
New York, NY 10011,
USA
Getting There ›
9
Catch a Broadway Show
Every day is a perfect day to catch a song and dance, and lift your spirits with a Broadway Show. The live entertainment and excellent plays on Broadway keep changing every month. King Lear, Burn This, Oklahoma, Beetlejuice, Tootsie, Ink, and All My Sons are all premiering in April on Broadway.
April Timings
Timings Vary Depending On The Show & Availability
Theater District New York, NY
USA
Getting There ›
10
Chelsea Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
Visit the birthplace of the Oreo cookie in the famous Chelsea Market. Take a tour of the trendiest restaurants and gorge on tasty dishes before heading towards the park in the sky, ‘The Highline’. This is the best tour to experience New York’s culinary heritage.
April Timings
This tour starts daily at 10:00 AM
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
USA
Getting There ›
New York in April: Events to Look Out For
Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: 28th April - 29th April, 2019
Sakura Matsuri is the largest celebration of the Japanese culture and community in NYC. Over 60 performances including martial arts, tea ceremonies and concerts are conducted at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, where more than 200 Cherry trees blossom in their full glory! Don’t forget to book tickets in advance.
Tribeca Film Festival
Date: 24th April – 5th May, 2019
Independent filmmakers and audiences find a common ground at the Tribeca Film Festival. The 18th edition of the festival will bring together storytelling experiences in TV, Film, VR, and Online in a one-of-a-kind event. The festival will have talks, showcases, exhibitions, live performances and installations.
Brooklyn Folk Festival
Date: 5th April – 7th April, 2019
The fun tunes of the accordion and banjo play out of the historic St. Anna’s Church in Brooklyn Heights come April! The Brooklyn Folk Festival in its 10th edition is the ultimate celebration of American Folk Music and brings together over 30 bands in a 3-day event with performances, jam sessions, and workshops.
Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival
Dates : 21st April,2019
Outrageous and creative bonnets come out in attendance at the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York. The Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival is a NY tradition dating back to the 1870s. Today, the parade is a community event where one and all can join in the Easter spirit!
New York Tartan Day Parade
Date: 6th April, 2019
Kilts, Bagpipes, and Vikings! Sixth Avenue swells with Scottish pride in a celebration of the Scottish heritage and culture on National Tartan Day. The parade involves dancers, musicians, and performances by artists from across the globe. It is one of the most exuberant and colorful parades in NY.
Greek Independence Day Parade
Date: TBA
Spring is the season of parades and this year the Greek Independence Day Parade commemorates the 198th year of Greece’s Independence. The parade held at Fifth Avenue brings together the largest gathering of Greek-Americans and involves performances which highlight the Greek culture, right down to traditional costumes!
Pillow Fight in Washington Square Park
Date: 6th April, 2019
The International Pillow Fight Day is celebrated each year with a massive pillow fight where thousands gather with their pillows to create awareness about homelessness. The pillows are usually donated to local homeless shelter afterwards. One of the weirdest events in NYC, this is one fight you certainly don’t wanna miss!
Orchid Show New York Botanical Garden
Date: 23rd February – 28th April, 2019
For 17 years the New York Botanical Gardens have showcased the exquisite beauty of orchids in an annual Orchid Show. This year, they are collaborating with the Singapore Botanical Garden and Gardens by the Bay, to bring thousands of orchids to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory in an ode to Singapore’s Garden design.
NYC in April : 5-day Itinerary
5-7 Days in New York Itinerary
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3
NYC April Essentials
LanguageEnglish
Time zoneGMT-4
Country Code917 | 212 | 718
Socket Type A & B
CurrencyDollar ($)
New York Weather in April
The average temperature ranges around 16°C with daytime highs of 21°C and nighttime lows of 3°C, especially in the first two weeks of April. City experiences almost 12 hours of daylight with sunrise at 6:30 AM and sunset at 6 PM. It is generally sunny with about ten days of rainfall.
NYC Accommodation In April
New York is an expensive city with a high cost of living all year-round; however the city has a range of accommodation options from five-star hotels to hostels and AirBnBs to cater to all budgets and tastes.
- Luxury Hotels - The Standard, Crosby Street Hotel, The Towers at Lotte New York Palace, Archer Hotel, The Kimberly Hotel, The Sherry-Netherland Hotel
- Budget Hotels - The Lex NYC, Hilton Garden Inn, Garden Suites Hotel, Hyatt House Chelsea, Roger Smith Hotel, Hotel Mulberry
- Hostels - The Local NYC, HI NYC Hostel, NY Moore Hostel, Q4 Hotel, American Dream Hostel, International Student Centre
NYC Packing List April
The first half of April is colder and you will need warm clothing including a sweater, woollen scarf, and gloves. If you are visiting over a longer period then its best to pack layers that can be used depending on the weather for the day. Carry an umbrella or a waterproof jacket for the occasional rain. Wear sturdy footwear, because it’s all about walking in New York!
Getting Around New York in April
The traffic in New York is legendary and if you want to get somewhere on time then taking the subway and going on foot is your best option. Here are all the options you have in NYC –
- Underground Metro/Subway: The New York Subway has 27 lines and 472 stations, one of the largest in the world! Of course, you will experience peak hour rush even in the subway.
- Bus : Buses are very cheap and run on more than 300 routes; however chances of getting stuck in traffic are high.
- Car : The best option if you don’t want to bother with subway routes and street maps, is to get into an iconic yellow taxi. However, a more economical version of cabs exist in the form of apps like Uber or the more popular Lyft.
New York in April: Seasonal Delicacies
Trust a New Yorker to vote for a bagel over a doughnut any day! April is the perfect time to bite into a savoury fresh mozzarella and tomato bagel or even treat yourself to a decadent strawberry cream cheese bagel, stuffed with spring’s best produce.
Where to eat: Absolute Bagels, 2788 Broadway
Just don’t ask for pineapple toppings and you will be fine at any pizza place in New York. The New York style Pizza is unique, and the perfect food to grab on the go, while enjoying the spring season of New York in April.
Where to eat: Lombardi’s Pizza, 32 Spring Street
New York is a melting pot of cultures and one of the best dishes you can sample there is the spicy Japanese dish ‘Ramen’. The steaming hot bowl of meaty broth with thin noodles is topped with eggs, and a variety of sauces. Vegetarian options are easy to find too!
Where to eat: Ippudo, 65 4th Avenue
Nothing screams an American classic like the cheeseburger. New Yorkers have taken the burger to the next level and you will find every kind from good ol greasy cheeseburgers to gourmet and artisanal burgers. Digging into a juicy cheeseburger is the perfect end to a spring day in NY!
Where to eat: J.G. Melon, 1291 3rd Ave, NY 10021
The milkshake has gone from a simple mix of ice cream, milk and fruits to an Instagram-worthy delight of thick shake with outrageous toppings ranging from unicorn-beads to decadent chocolate trimmings. New York has the best pick of milkshakes that will blow up your Insta-post and pant-size at the same time!
Where to eat: Black Tap, 529 Broome Street
Tips for Visiting New York in April
- Smorgasburg is an open-air food market that opens up every weekend starting April, in Williamsburg and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The market features over 100 local food vendors offering a range of cuisines.
- New York is buzzing with spring events in April and one of the events is the Macy’s Flower Show. Running from 24th March to 7th April, the flower show is displayed at the Herald Square.
- April is also the start of the baseball season and you can catch the New York Mets and New York Yankees battle it out. It’s one of the last sporting months when you can catch basketball, hockey and soccer games in the city.
- Car enthusiasts can rejoice as the New York International Auto Show will be held at the Javits Centre from 19th April to 28th April. The annual show has been going on since 1900 and this year over 1,000 cars and trucks with the latest technology will be showcased.
- April has the right weather to venture outdoors and you can make the best use of it by going on walking tours. Sample food along the way on a Dubai and The Great Food Tour of New York, or head out to Central Park for Roller Blading, and if you are missing TV then catch up on some nostalgia on this New York TV and Movie Sites tour.
Planning to Visit New York in April?
For more fun things to do in NYC, check out our detailed guides and plan your trip better!
The post Visiting New York In April – The Definitive Guide appeared first on Headout Blog.
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