21 Must-Do Activities in NYC This Fall

There’s just something so magical about New York City in the fall.

The fresh air, colorful foliage and the particular energy of New York make for the ideal moment to get out.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely seeking ways to enjoy this season in one of the world’s most storied cities.

And that’s why I’ve written this article to help you with the best things to do that embody NYC in the fall, from classics to those hidden gems.

Below are 21 must-do activities that will make your autumn visit to NYC memorable.

1. Stroll Through Central Park

Central Park is beautiful yearYround, but it really comes into its own in the fall.

The trees in the park exploded into red, orange and yellow, giving it a picture-book setting.

Stroll or rent a bike and ride around the park’s 843 acres.

Be sure not to miss iconic spots like Bow Bridge, Bethesda Terrace and the Mall, all tarted up by autumn leaves.

It’s a great way to experience the fall foliage in the middle of the city.

2. Head to the New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden, in the Bronx, is a fall destination.

There are hundreds of trees and plants at the garden, making for a breathtaking display of autumn hues.

Fall means seasonal events, including the annual Giant Pumpkin Weekend with the biggest pumpkins on the planet.

To be fully enmeshed in fall foliage, take a walk through the Thain Family Forest, the largest remaining tract of old-growth forest in NYC.

For a nice fall day, the garden provides a peaceful retreat from the busy city.

3. The Village Halloween Parade

The Village Halloween Parade is a classic NYC tradition, happening each year in Greenwich Village.

And it is a great fun, everybody dresses up and joins the fun.

The event includes thousands of costumed marchers, enormous puppets and live music, making it one of the most distinct Halloween celebrations in the globe.

Whether you march in the parade or just watch it, it’s an experience you can’t forget.

It is a great way to get into the fall spirit with all the creativity to match.

4. Explore the High Line

Another great place to enjoy fall in the city is the High Line, an elevated park built on a former railway line.

Strolling along the park’s pathway means you’ll be surrounded by fall foliage and one-of-a-kind views of the city.

The High Line also includes art installations, gardens and seating areas in which to relax and admire autumn.

It’s a quiet escape within the city, providing a unique view of NYC.

For a particularly magical experience, be sure to visit at sunset.

5. Take a Fall Foliage Cruise

For a new angle on the fall colors, here’s a fall foliage cruise around Manhattan.

These cruises provide magnificent views of the city’s skyline and the colorful autumn foliage along the Hudson River.

Some visit north to the Palisades, where the fall foliage is particularly stunning.

Seasonal beauty shares more than a few homographs while enjoying a boat ride with a hot drink.

It’s a quiet way to see the leaves transform without leaving the city.

6. Go to the American Museum of Natural History

A visit to the American Museum of Natural History is also a good indoor option for a cool fall day.

The museum’s exhibits, which range from dinosaur fossils to dioramas of natural habitats, prove fascinating for visitors of all ages.

Fall is also a big reveal time for special exhibitions and events, so it’s an exciting time to visit.

Afterwards, stroll through the nearby Theodore Roosevelt Park to enjoy the fall foliage.

It is a quintessential mix of culture and nature in the center of the city.

7. Go to the New York Film Festival

For cinephiles, the fall season is highlighted by the New York Film Festival.

This festival, which runs at Lincoln Center, highlights the best of international cinema, with features, documentaries and shorts.

It’s an opportunity to catch premieres of some of the year’s most anticipated films and participate in question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers.

Whether you’re a lover of cinema or just searching for something out of the ordinary, the festival provides a distinctive cultural experience.

Check the schedule and get tickets early; screenings often sell out.

8. Go Apple Picking at an Orchard Near You

While it’s not in the city, apple picking is a classic fall activity that’s worth leaving the five boroughs for.

Many orchards in the Hudson Valley and Long Island are all within the drive or train ride from NYC.

Pick your own apples and sip on fresh cider and apple cider donuts for a day.

These regions are also breathtaking during fall, so it makes for a beautiful day trip. It’s a playful and festive way to welcome the fall harvest season.

9. Explore Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park has breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and is even more gorgeous during the fall.

The park’s numerous green spaces, gardens and waterfront paths are perfect for a stroll or bike ride.

As you explore, you’ll be surrounded by colorful fall foliage and crisp autumn air.

You can also stop for a nostalgic ride on Jane’s Carousel or have a picnic with a view.

Its location makes it easy to pair with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, another can’t-miss of a thing to do.

10. Visit the Cloisters

More In: The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to medieval European art and architecture, is in Fort Tryon Park.

The museum is in itself a work of art, featuring beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of the Hudson River.

During autumn, the park that surrounds the island is vibrant with foliage, creating a beautiful and quiet atmosphere.

The Cloisters has tapestries, stained glass and sculptures, offering a specialized cultural experience.

It is a quiet oasis to explore away from the hustle of the city.

11. Enjoy a Broadway Show

Autumn is a terrific time to see a Broadway show, with new productions opening and long-running favorites returning for the new theater season following the summer hiatus.

If you enjoy musicals, dramas, or comedies, there’s something for everyone on Broadway.

The theaters themselves also contribute to the experience, with their historic architecture, intimate settings.

Once the show is over, stroll through Times Square, the city’s famous lights mingling with the fall night sky.

That’d be a classic NYC experience and perfect for a cozy fall evening.

12. Take in the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a poignant place of commemoration acknowledging those who perished on September 11, 2001.

The memorial includes two reflecting pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers, with the names of the dead surrounding them.

The museum contains exhibits documenting that day’s events, the aftermath and its lingering influence on the world.

In fall, when the air is crisp and the crowds thinner, visiting is a more contemplative experience.

It is a site that you must visit and gives you an insight into a turning point in history.

13. Ice skate at Rockefeller Center

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center is a quintessential activity to do in NYC in the wintertime, however, the rink actually opens in the fall, so this is something you can do early in the season.

The iconic rink, set beneath the city’s high-rise buildings, is one of the most magical places to skate in the city as it moves into winter-holiday mode.

Warm up with a hot chocolate at one of the nearby cafes after skating, or stroll around the Rockefeller Center area to see the well-known shops and decorations.

It’s a quintessential NYC experience that’s enjoyable for all ages.

14. Chelsea Market — Explore the Shops and Food

Chelsea Market: A foodie’s paradise filled with gourmet food vendors, specialty shops, and artisanal goods.

The market’s industrial-chic venues make it a fun place to wander, even on a brisk fall day.

Taste fresh seafood, enjoy a coffee or a sweet thing as you stroll through the market.

There is an entrance to the High Line inside the market, so don’t skip stopping by if you’re headed to the elevated park.

It’s a wonderful place to while away an afternoon perusing shops, eating or just taking in the surroundings.

15. Go to an NFL Game at MetLife Stadium

Fall means football season and there’s nothing quite like an NFL game to get a taste of the excitement in person.

One stadium is MetLife Stadium, which is outside the city and where the New York Giants share the field with the New York Jets.

Tailgating before games forms an influential part of the experience here, with supporters congregating in carparks to get grills going, play games, and flaunt their team pride.

The atmosphere in the stadium is electric and provides a great experience for sports fans and newcomers alike.

Be sure to dress warm as fall weather can be brisk especially in the later part of the season.

16. Staten Island Greenbelt

For an escape from nature within the city, visit the Staten Island Greenbelt, a network of parks and natural areas that covers 2,800 acres (dense with trees, wildlife and local flora) spread across the center of the island.

In autumn the Greenbelt’s forests and wetlands are transformed by bright fall colors and this time of year is a nice time to hike, bird watch or just enjoy the great outdoors.

The variety of trails in the Greenbelt, from simple strolls to more vigorous hikes, provide an attracting experience.

It’s a soothing escape where you can enjoy NYC’s natural beauty that many visitors overlook.

Also make sure to visit the Greenbelt Nature Center for more information about the area’s ecology and wildlife.

17. Lower East Side Tenement Museum

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum provides a unique window into the lives of the immigrants who once populated this historic area.

The museum’s guided visits explore restored apartments and storefronts, sharing the stories of the families who lived and worked there during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Fall is a wonderful time to go, since the museum frequently runs special events and walking tours focused on the neighborhood’s historic past.

It’s a quirky cultural experience and offers a more in-depth insight into New York City’s varied heritage.

18. Visit the Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest and most well-known zoos in the world, and fall is a particularly fun time to visit, with cooler weather and animals often more active.

You can see everything from lions and tigers to reptiles and birds at the zoo’s expansive exhibits, allowing you to get up close to a variety of wildlife.

Fall also heralds special events such as Boo at the Zoo, a family-friendly Halloween celebration featuring costumes, crafts and more.

It’s a lovely way to spend a day outside amongst nature and animals.

19. Attend a Fall Food Festival

There are myriad food festivals across NYC, most of which take place when the weather is beautiful in the fall, just in time for foodies to gorge.

From the New York City Wine & Food Festival to neighborhood street fairs, plenty of opportunities abound to sip, eat and taste all that the city has to offer.

Fall-themed food, from pumpkin-spiced goodies to hearty stew, and craft beers and wines dominate fall festivals.

It’s a fun and festive way to experience the city’s food scene, all while frolicking in the crisp autumn air.

So take your appetite and your courage because there’s always something you haven’t tried before.

20. Visit the Frick Collection

Set in a stately mansion on the Upper East Side, the Frick Collection is one of NYC’s foremost elegant art museums.

Its collection holds works by European masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Gainsborough, all seen in an environment that conjures the opulence of a time long gone.

Fall is an excellent time to visit, when the museum’s hushed atmosphere and lovely indoor garden offer a calm counterpoint to the city.

After the collection, stroll nearby along Fifth Avenue, where you can enjoy autumns colors and classic NYC architecture.

21. Go on a Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village is one of NYC’s most historic and most haunted neighborhoods, making it a perfect spot for a ghostly tour.

Led by knowledgeable guides, the walks visit some of the Village’s most infamous hauntings, including Washington Square Park and the former home of Edgar Allan Poe.

The crisp autumn air and the Village’s narrow, winding streets only enhance the spookiness, so it’s a fun way to spend an evening.

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the tour is a fascinating glimpse into the darker side of NYC’s history.

Summary, 21 Things to Do in NYC This Fall

Three Fall and autumn season in New York City As Fall in New York City is a season to be savored.

Its autumnal spirit shines brightest whether you’re strolling through Central Park, visiting world-class museums or soaking up the vibrant energy of a Broadway performance.

I hope this list of 21 awesome things will help you make the most of your visit and create memories that last well past the falling of the leaves.

So tack on your favorite fuzzy sweater and check out what NYC-class all the relishments and or bnstraxis have to offer this fall!