Things to Do in New York in November: Your Guide

November is peak fall in New York. The trees have dropped almost all their leaves and the increasingly cold wind signals the arrival of the holiday season. It's a month packed with events! Keep reading so you don't miss a single one.

A big plus of traveling in November is that it's low season. Prices for New York hotels and airfare drop significantly.

Events in New York City in November 2025

In November the cold is manageable as long as you dress for it. Snow hasn't arrived yet, and there are plenty of activities and events that happen every November in New York.

On top of that, there are fewer tourists and huge discounts in stores during Black Friday!

Personally, it's one of my favorite months to travel to New York. There's more room to get around the city, smaller crowds at the attractions, and honestly, I love the cold 🥶 .

1. The New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon is run on the first Sunday in November: in 2025, the NYC Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 2.

That day the city fills with runners from all over the world, and one of New Yorkers' favorite things to do is head out into the streets to cheer them on. If you want a great time, go root for the runners. Here are the best spots to watch the New York City Marathon.

I really do recommend going out to applaud the athletes. It's a lot of fun, and on several corners there are even live bands playing to pump up the runners. One year, for example, I caught the marathoners crossing Greenpoint in Brooklyn, and the energy was so good it made me forget how cold November mornings can be.

If you're running the marathon or tagging along with a runner, here's a list of hotels near the finish line so you can go straight to bed afterward.

2. Walking through Central Park in November

Central Park is worth visiting every single trip. It looks different month to month, and it's so big that there's always a new corner to discover.

But in early November it's genuinely gorgeous: the leaves explode with color as the season turns.

I recommend crossing the most famous bridges in Central Park. From up there you get fantastic views of the woods in New York's most important park.

New York has plenty of parks where you can enjoy the leaves changing color 🍁 🍂

Take a look at this list of movies filmed in Central Park and go hunting for the spots immortalized on screen.

3. The Rockettes show

From mid-November through January 1 every year, the famous Rockettes holiday musical Christmas Spectacular runs at Radio City Music Hall.

It's a thrilling show set at the North Pole, with more than 130 performers on stage, jaw-dropping choreography, 1,300 costumes, ice skating and Santa Claus. Another New York Christmas icon you shouldn't miss 🙂

4. Ice skating in New York

By November, the main ice skating rinks in New York are already open.

A preview of the holiday season and of winter that you can enjoy if you're in New York in November.

5. The Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan

The famous New York Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place on the last Thursday in November. The 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade falls on Thursday, November 27.

It marks the arrival of Christmas in New York and across the United States. Don't miss it, especially if you're traveling to NYC with kids.

6. Black Friday

The Thanksgiving sales run from November 21 to 28.

That's when Black Friday happens: the famous sale held the Friday after the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Black Friday 2025 falls on November 28.

But even before Black Friday, stores across the city are loaded with discounts (read more about where to shop in NYC), up to 60% off!

Black Friday kicks off around 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day (everything is closed before that) and runs through the following Friday.

You'll notice people lining up very early to wait for the doors to open, especially outside electronics and appliance stores.

But if you're shopping for clothes, the sales in the days before Thanksgiving are fantastic, so I wouldn't waste your time standing in line.

If your trip doesn't line up with these sales, you can shop at Woodbury Common Outlets, the famous outlet mall north of New York where there are deals year-round on premium, first-quality brands.

7. Santaland at Macy's

From the day after the Thanksgiving Day Parade until Christmas Eve, you can visit Santaland at Macy's.

If you're traveling to New York with kids, or if you just want a thoroughly American experience chatting with Santa Claus, don't miss this North Pole set, complete with elves, reindeer, trains, Mrs. Claus and Santa himself waiting to hear your wishes.

Visiting Santaland is free. It's on the 8th floor of Macy's Herald Square (151 W 34th Street).

8. The Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Garden

A perfect holiday activity if you're traveling as a family is the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. It opens the last week of November each year and runs well into January.

There are more than 1,300 feet of toy train track winding past 150 scale models of New York landmarks, all built entirely from leaves, twigs and seeds gathered from the garden's trees.

It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory inside the garden.

Admission is $30 for adults and $18 for kids. It's worth it (weekdays are cheaper). More information on the garden's website.

9. New York's Christmas markets

By November, the main Christmas markets in New York are already open.

A great stop for picking up nice gifts to bring home and soaking up the holiday atmosphere.

10. Veterans Day

Every November 11, the United States marks the end of World War I and honors war veterans. It's a public holiday, but most NYC tourist attractions stay open.

That day there's a march up Fifth Avenue, from 26th Street to 52nd Street, from 11 am to 3:30 pm.

11. NBA season

November means the NBA season (National Basketball League) is in full swing after tipping off the last week of October (you can also read what to do in October in NYC) and it runs through April of the following year.

Catching a game in the top professional basketball league in the United States, one of the most famous on the planet, is a very American experience that you have to see live alongside the fans.

New York has two NBA teams, so pick your side:

1. Tickets for New York Knicks games: the New York Knicks are one of the most iconic teams in the league and they play at Madison Square Garden, in the heart of Manhattan.
2. Tickets for Brooklyn Nets games: the Nets are based in Brooklyn and play at Barclays Center.

Both teams have die-hard fan bases and add to New York's rich basketball history.

Check the schedule for the Knicks or the Nets, and if the game is at Madison Square Garden it'll make the whole sports experience even better.

12. Ice hockey season

November also keeps the ice hockey season in New York going, which started in October and likewise runs through April.

Whether you choose to see a New York Rangers game at the legendary Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, or the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, easy to reach by train, the excitement and adrenaline are guaranteed.

13. Free tours of New York

Did you know there are free tours in New York? They're short guided walks, and at the end you just tip the guide based on how much you enjoyed it 😀.

You can do all the free tours if you plan well! The key is booking your spot in advance (they fill up fast):

👻 Free mysteries tour of New York

🏙️ Free tour of Downtown Manhattan

🇮🇹 Free tour of Chinatown and Little Italy

🏢 Free tour of the Village in Manhattan

🎨 Brooklyn street art tour

14. See a Broadway musical

No trip to New York is complete without seeing a Broadway show, and you'll love the warmth of the theaters on cold November days:

Here are a few musicals I recommend:

🧙‍♀️ Wicked: you'll find out what happened in the land of Oz before Dorothy arrived from Kansas.

👞🎶 At MJ the Musical you'll get to know Michael Jackson's life and musical legacy.

🔵 Blue Man Group: an off-Broadway show worth seeing at least once

🦁 The Lion King: the box office record holder, perfect for families

🎩🇺🇸 Hamilton: the famous Lin-Manuel Miranda musical told through hip-hop.

New York weather in November

November is peak fall in New York, but temperatures are still pleasant enough to explore the city as long as you bundle up (between 6°C and 12°C).

The days are much shorter (it gets dark around 5 pm) and you'll need warm clothes.

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As you can see, just like every other month in this magnificent city, there's plenty to do in November in New York as long as you dress warm 🙂

Cheap hotels in New York in November

Take a look at this selection of central, decent and cheaper places to stay in Manhattan. They'll stretch your budget when you travel to New York in November.

Here's some other info that might help: these are the 5 most booked hotels by the NewYorkando travel community 😉:

📍 West Side YMCA on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

📍 HI New York City Hostel also on the Upper West Side.

📍 NY Moore Hostel very well located in Brooklyn.

📍 Pod Times Square in the heart of Manhattan.

📍 Holiday Inn in Chelsea, an iconic NYC neighborhood.

Traveling at a different time?

Check out the guide Best month to travel to New York. There I break down what happens in New York during each season.

If you can't travel in November, October in New York is a similar month. It's also low season and a little less cold, plus it's one of the prettiest fall months in NY.