Things to Do in New York in April: Events and Weather

New York in April is wonderful, one of the best times of year to visit the city. The cold gives way to flowers, colors and the scents of springtime in New York. It's the best month to catch the pink explosion of the cherry blossoms.

April is also low season, so you'll find better hotel rates and you can take your time at the attractions in New York, since the crowds of summer in New York haven't arrived yet.

Weather in New York in April

The weather in New York in April is springlike, but it still feels cold, especially at night, so bring layers and something warm. The good news is that February, the harshest month of winter, is behind you.

April in New York is a very rainy month, so come prepared for that. Always check the forecast in the days before your trip on apps like The Weather Channel or Accuweather.

Temperatures in New York in April range from a low of 45°F to a high of 61°F. If you'd like a little more warmth while still enjoying the beauty of springtime in New York, plan your trip for New York in May.

What time does it get dark in New York in April?

The clocks went forward an hour in mid-March, so you get more daylight for exploring the city: the sun sets around 7:30 pm.

What to do in New York in April 2025

As the weather starts to improve, the parks of New York, the outdoor patios and the city streets fill with life, so there's plenty to do:

1. Head up to New York's newest observation decks

The Edge observation deck is the observatory at the 30 Hudson Yards building in Manhattan's trendiest neighborhood, Hudson Yards, one of the newest neighborhoods in New York and still very much growing and under construction.

It's the highest outdoor observation deck in New York (the tallest observatory in Manhattan is still One World Observatory). Since it's no longer so cold, you'll actually enjoy the open-air terrace and hear the sounds of the city below.

This platform at Hudson Yards juts 65 feet out from the building and has a section of clear glass floor for looking straight down. Vertigo guaranteed!

As soon as your travel dates are locked in, buy your ticket. It's one of the more recently opened Manhattan attractions and the most popular time slots sell out (go up just before sunset so you can watch the lights of New York come on!).

Edge is steps from The Vessel, the climbable monument of endless staircases, which has been closed for a couple of years over safety concerns (since it opened there was a string of suicides from inside the structure 🥲). They promise the stairs will reopen in late 2024, and I'll confirm!

For now you can go into the base of the structure, where you can take in its striking design.

Summit is the newest observation deck in New York (it opened in 2021). It sits on the upper floors of the One Vanderbilt building, right next to Grand Central Terminal.

It has outdoor terraces too, but here the real fun is inside. You'll see when you visit!

2. Visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

How about stepping aboard the Titanic on a trip back in time to 1912?

You can do exactly that at «Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition«, at the Liberty Science Center in Liberty State Park, New Jersey.

You'll walk through exact replicas of the cabins and other areas of the legendary RMS Titanic while taking in dozens of authentic artifacts recovered from the wreck.

On arrival you get a replica boarding pass and become a passenger, following the chronological journey of life aboard the Titanic: from its construction to the moments of impact and sinking, and the modern efforts to recover and preserve the remains.

Getting to this exhibition in New Jersey from Manhattan is easy by riding the PATH.

The exhibition runs through September 1, 2025. Work it into your plans!

If the story of the Titanic and transatlantic travel interests you, I recommend visiting the South Street Seaport Museum, dedicated to New York's maritime past.

3. Catch an MLB baseball game

The MLB season (Major League Baseball) starts every year in April. At the link you can check dates and prices for tickets for the whole MLB season.

If you're a baseball fan you have to see the New York Yankees live, the city's legendary team, at their new stadium in the Bronx, or catch a New York Mets game.

There are several games a week, so your trip will almost certainly line up with a game from one of these famous Major League teams.

Keep in mind that you'll find cheap MLB tickets if you buy in advance (from $30!).

4. Fly over New York: Rise NY

RiseNY is an immersive experience in the best Disney World style, right on Broadway (160 West 45 St). It's a recently opened attraction and I recommend it.

You'll simulate flying over the city's most famous landmarks and also walk through galleries devoted to New York's recent history, especially its pop culture and the development of Times Square.

You'll come across quirky exhibits like the costumes of the famous Village People.

Tickets to this new New York exhibition are included in the New York Pass discount card, but you can also buy RiseNY tickets separately.

5. Macy's Flower Show 2025

Among the events in New York in April, the Macy's flower show always stands out. This annual tradition announces the arrival of spring in New York.

For those days the Macy's Herald Square department store fills with floral arrangements, plants and even trees from around the world.

This year the Macy's flower show runs from April 27 to May 18, 2025. You can find more details on the event website.

6. The Orchid Show

Staying with the beautiful blooms, all through April you can visit the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden, an annual exhibition dedicated to orchids.

This year the exhibition has been open since February 17, and you can visit it through April 22, 2025.

I recommend buying your New York Botanical Garden tickets online. Admission includes entry to the Orchid Show. You can check all the visit details on the official website.

Oh, and don't miss the rest of the Botanical Garden. April is one of the most beautiful times to enjoy the rebirth of plants and flowers after the harsh winter.

7. See cherry blossoms in New York

By mid-April, most of the gorgeous cherry trees planted across New York and in neighboring New Jersey are in bloom (for example at Liberty State Park, one of the best New York viewpoints in New Jersey).

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has one of the largest cherry blossom collections in the city. You can check the garden's «Cherry Tracker» to see the bloom status of each of its trees.

Another park with more than two hundred cherry trees is the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. They also track the spring bloom, not just the cherries but also their magnolias, azaleas, peonies, daffodils and roses.

Central Park has cherry blossoms too, mostly between 72nd and 96th Streets. And of course it has its own Cherry Blossoms Tracker, a real-time map so you don't miss a single pink petal.

8. Hanami Nights 2025: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Contemplating cherry blossoms has its own name in Japanese: hanami. It's a centuries-old custom that teaches us about the fleeting nature of beauty and how transitory life is.

At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden you can take part in this tradition, either strolling on your own among the more than 200 blooming cherry trees or buying a ticket for Hanami Nights between 5 pm and 8:30 pm (this year they run from April 22 to 25, but tickets are already sold out. Put it on your list for next year!

During those sessions there's music, dance, art workshops and tea ceremonies. There are also food stalls serving ramen, mochi and takoyaki. All of it under the trees of the garden's Cherry Esplanade.

9. Bike rides around New York

April is a great time to explore New York by bike. You can rent one for a few dollars to see huge Central Park by bike or take a bike tour across the Brooklyn Bridge and see the highlights of another of the city's major boroughs.

At the link I give you more details and tips for seeing New York by bike.

10. Season opening at Luna Park

The season opened on March 29 at Luna Park in Coney Island, the amusement park where you can ride the classic attractions, including the oldest roller coaster in the United States.

You can't visit New York in April without seeing this Brooklyn neighborhood frozen in time.

11. Broadway musicals

Since it's still a bit cold, seeing a Broadway show in a nice warm theater is a great idea.

Another option is an Off-Broadway show, smaller productions staged in other parts of the city, like Blue Man Group New York. Fun guaranteed!

New York in April is still low season, so you'll find good seats for your favorite shows and better chances of scoring cheaper tickets.

Learn how to get discounted Broadway tickets.

12. Tour New York's museums

On the colder days, take the chance to visit one of New York's hundreds of museums.

Read the guide to New York museums to plan your visit, learn how to get the most out of the discount passes and save by taking advantage of free or reduced-admission days.

I especially recommend visiting the rooftop of the Met, on the museum's top floor, which opens from April to October. From up there you'll get fabulous views of Central Park.

13. Guided tours in New York

New York weather in April is ideal for getting to know the city more deeply alongside expert guides.

The New York Contrasts tour, for example, is perfect if you're short on time and want to see the other boroughs instead of sticking to Manhattan.

There are other versions of the Contrasts Tour, like the Contrasts tour with a gospel service and the Contrasts + Roosevelt Island tour, where you'll ride the Tram, New York's only aerial cable car.

Take a look at the many guided tours you can do in the city and around it.

14. Free tours of New York in Spanish

Did you know there are free tours in Spanish in New York? They're short guided walks, and it's customary to tip the guide depending on how you felt about the experience 😀.

You can even book all of the free tours! The key is reserving your spot ahead of time (they fill up fast):

🏙️ Free tour of Downtown Manhattan

🇮🇹 Free tour of Chinatown and Little Italy

🍎 Free tour of Midtown Manhattan

🏢 Free tour of Manhattan's Village

⛲ Free tour of Central Park in Spanish (it's new!)

Traveling on different dates?

Check out the guide Best time to visit New York. There I walk you through what happens in New York each month of the year, weather details and other tips so you can pick your perfect dates.