Autumn is my favorite time of the year and Autumn in NY – my favorite state of mind. When the summer heat is gone and Central Park is full of colors: orange is everywhere. And here they come, these cozy nights in curled up by a warm fire, hot chocolate on the way to work, dream-like weather … both nostalgic and romantic!
Autumn in the Big Apple: New York Mood
Colors and smells
Seriously, how not to love autumn?! It blinds you with colors and smells while giving you this bitter-sweet feeling of gone summer mixed with new plans for the upcoming year. It is time to pause and start again. Warm drinks and seasonal smells feel deliciously intoxicating. The changing trees look like rainbows and leaves are crackling underfoot.
New Beginnings…
But above all, autumn is a time for new beginnings, new stories, and new hopes. In New York, there are always more beginnings and stories and the hopes are always bigger. This is probably the reason why the fall in New York brings to your heart this unique feeling. Not as hot as summer, not as cold as winter – just a perfect mix of warm days and chilly nights. Therefore, there is nothing like a walk in Central Park with the purple-blue sky and soft breeze of a fall afternoon.
I love experiencing the seasons changing in the city of New York. But I´d say New York in winter and Autumn NYC are two of my all-time favorites. What about you?









Tops thing to do in New York in Autumn:
- start with the Central Park, make a stop at Bow Bridge, Belvedere Castle, The Mall, Bethesda Fountain, Central Park Zoo, Bethesda Terrace, Conservatory Garden, Gapstow Bridge
- check the High Line Park (a modern park, elevated above the city on a former rail line) you can also spot here one of the most beautiful sunsets around the world along the Hudson River
- check some of the local festivals – Atlantic Antic Street Festival and New York Fashion Week in September, New York Film Festival, Coffee Festival and Oktoberfest in October, New York Comedy Festival in November
- visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- take the Ferry to Governors Island and enjoy the slower pace of life, as well as some amazing Manhattan skyline views
- depending on your visit date you can also check the big events like New York City Marathon, the Halloween parade in lower Manhattan, or The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Also read: Christmas in New York
Top things to feel Autumn in New York:
- have a picnic in one of the NY parks and collect some fall leaves with your kids
- take a sip of Pumpkin Spiced Latte or Pumpkin Beer brewed at some of New York’s microbreweries
- if visiting in September, you can rent a bike or enjoy a gondola ride (you’d need to book in advance at The Loeb Boathouse)
- eat at one of the local Farmers’ markets, fall is the harvest season and the best time for foodies
- nature lovers could escape the city buzz for a while to enjoy one of the Hudson Valley hikes
- be the first one to hit Ice Skating Rinks in Central Park and Rockefeller Center (open since late October)
- go apple picking at one of the farms near New York
Pin it:

I’ve only been to New York once during the summer. But I love autumn and I’ve always wanted to see Central Park during that season.
New York is always a good idea 😉 but fall season there is especially dream-like!
Oh my god, already time for autumn? Can’t believe it!! I’m still celebrating summer;-) But the photos look awesome and I totally understand that you are in love with this time of the year!
Hey, Claudi! I´m also here in Spain feeling in the middle of summer… [lol] we never get this kind of “orange” autumn! So need to use the pics from one in NY to remind myself of this season´s existence!
Oh autumn in the Big Apple sounds so dreamy. Being from New York State, whenever I introduce myself I always have to do this whole introduction how I am from the state and how big New York State – inclusive of the Big Apple – actually is! I imagine strolling through Central Park would be so pleasant. Also, I left you an extra shout out in my post for #FlyAwayFriday. Nice to connect! 🙂
And I imagine myself being one of these people asking: ” Really? You´re from NY?! OMG… so awesome…” [lol] I guess this is what you get instead of classy “Hi! How are you?” It´s hard to stay indifferent to the NY vibes. Great to connect!
Oh I love reading about NYC! If I’ll have a second life I’m spending it in Big Apple! Most definitely agree with you that Autumn in NY is a state of mind. Feeling it right now and want to re visit this beautiful city.
NYC is something I also plan not to miss out in any of my lives [lol] Meantime, want to visit it again and again every time I see the pics from the Big Apple! its is truly such a state of mind…
I’ve never been to NYC but autumn looks like a great time to visit! #FlyAwayfriday
Hey, Courtney! It really is my favorite time to visit!
I also haven´t been to NYC till the last year, the world is just so big and there are always so many places left in your bucket list, no matter how much you travel!
Such great photos! I have not yet been to NY but it’s in bucket list. Thanks for sharing! #Flyawayfriday
Thanks a lot! Hope to see your pics from New York one day, it is always inspiring!
Beautiful photos! Autumn in New York looks gorgeous, I’ve always wanted to see the fall foliage on the East Coast – it’s not quite the same where I’m from in California. I’ve been to New York during the winter and it was lovely as well, although so so cold haha. 🙂
I know what you mean![lol] I´m living close to Valencia, Spain and the weather is much like the one you have in California! It is, probably, the best climate to live in – lots of sunny days and nice weather in general. However, sometimes we all miss to see the leaves cracking underfoot or snow on a “White Christmas”….
Oh I love New York! Reading this post makes me nostalgic for seasonal living. In Kuwait we have pretty much no seasons, summer, hot and hotter! So I have to say whilst I love it, I miss autumnal days and your pics show exactly why. Beautiful
Thanks for stepping by! I´m feeling the same here in Spain. It is not as hot as Kuwait [lol], but we still don’t have this seasonal living either: no snow and no autumn colors. You´d need to head to the North of Spain for this and yet autumn is not the same…
Wow! Gorgeous photos! Motivation to go to Manhattan in fall! I’ve only been in summer & winter.
Thank you Mara! I guess it´s the perks of seasonal living in places like NY – every season has something unique! I so wanna go there in winter with snow, but last time I went around Dec it was not snowing 🙁 although it was defenitely really cold…
This is high on my list of places I so want to visit and your photos have not reduced my desire! Your photos are simply stunning, especially the first one. I think Autumn sounds like the perfect time for a visit.
Thank you Lyn! I guess Autumn is a great time to explore – summer heat is gone and it´s not that cold yet! You don´t really enjoy the walks in Central Park when it´s freezing outside [lol]
Beautiful photos – thanks very much for the reminder that EVERY season has its reasons to travel!
Thanks for stopping by and your kind words! Every season really has its reasons to travel…
Oh my gosh, just the photos are making me feel SO cozy even though I’m in scorching Southern California. I really want to visit NYC during the Autumn and Winter season! Your photos are BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing and joining Fly Away Friday! xo
Thank you, Kana! Glad to take part #FlyAwayFriday
Absolutely stunning!!! I love the fall, it’s my absolute favorite season and I love how beautiful is it. I can only imagine how beautiful NYC is during the fall and hopefully I’ll be able to go one day! Thank you for sharing on #FlyAwayFriday and cannot wait to see what you post for Week 7!!!
Thanks Chloe! I so love fall too <3 can´t wait for the next #FlyAwayFriday, got a lot of inspiration from the last one…
Lovely photo selection.
xx
https://theonethattravels.wordpress.com/
Cool. With cool temperatures and autumn leaves blowing around Central Park, autumn is an attractive time to visit the Big Apple – and the city’s diverse schedule of events provides many more reasons to take a trip…
New York’s favorite place is Central Park. It’s a breathtaking natural park where you can get green among the grand buildings of New York. Its beauty cannot be explained by words.
Ah yes autumn is my favorite season, and the north east is truly one of the prettiest places in the fall. Great snaps!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
I swear New York City gets prettier and prettier with every season! I love how pretty central park always looks.
xo Logan
https://peculiarporter.com/