Autumn in New York feels like it’s straight out of a movie. The air turns crisp, trees dress up in reds, oranges, and yellows, and townhouses and brownstones became even more beautiful with their fall and Halloween decorations. Pumpkins, fall leaves, and cute little ghosts take over the city, seasonal drinks make you feel warm and cozy, and I finally get to step into some of my favorite outfits… I love fall in NY!
I’ve been living in NYC for 18 years now, and here are some of my autumn rituals: long walks through Central Park and Prospect Park, fall cruises (I love Oktoberfest sails and classic yachts), taking photos of the most beautifully decorated houses (both in Manhattan and in Brooklyn), enjoying weekend getaways Upstate NY for breathtaking fall foliage, and joining the Village Halloween Parade – I’ve done it EVERY SINGLE YEAR except 2012, when it was cancelled because Hurricane Sandy, and 2020 due to COVID-19. Honestly, it’s one of the best things you can do in NYC!!!
Some of my other favorite October moments: taking in Little Island’s fall beauty from Pier 57, listening to live jazz in Central Park, and watching the suggestive Pumpkin Flotilla afloat across the Harlem Meer.
Pro Tip: Upstate New York hits peak color within the first 10 days of October (perfect for fall cruises and weekend escapes), while NYC itself usually peaks late October into early November.
This guide gathers all my go-to fall favorites that make October and November in NYC pure magic, it’s all about the best fall activities and autumn vibes. You won’t see every classic NYC attraction (like the Top of the Rock or the Statue of Liberty) unless they’re tied to fall in a special way… ready to dive in???
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✨ Before you dive into the magic of fall foliage, here are my go-to tools to plan your NYC Christmas trip effortlessly:
✈️ Flights: Kiwi / Expedia
🏨 Stays: Booking.com / Vrbo
🚇 Transport: MTA / Discover Cars
🎟️ My Favorite Passes & Activities on Viator
📶 eSIM I use it every time I travel: Airalo / Yesim
🧳 All My Packing Hacks on Amazon
📸 Creator Must-Haves on Amazon
1. Stroll the Most Instagrammable Fall Foliage Spots in NYC
New York offers some of the best fall foliage in the United States! it’s a dream come true for anyone chasing that perfect autumn shot. These are my favorite walks and photo spots when the leaves start showing off.
Central Park
Central Park is the fall-obsessed dream. Here are some of my favorite spots: The Mall, Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Umpire Rock, Gapstow Bridge, my favorite rock overlooking the pond (pinned in the map below), and Harlem Meer. If you’re feeling whimsical, rent a rowboat on the lake 🧡
Renwick Triangle
Renwick Triangle is one of those hidden gems in the East Village that will leave you speechless. It’s a small diagonal block formed where Stuyvesant Street meets East 10th, with a row of Anglo-Italianate townhouses designed by James Renwick, Jr. in 1861.
📍100-138 E 10th St, New York
Washington Square Park
The heart of Greenwich Village and always buzzing with life! NYU students, street artists, and musicians fill the square while fall colors wrap the famous arch in gold. It’s lively yet still magical in October, perfect for people-watching, grabbing coffee nearby, and snapping that iconic arch & leaves shot. Come at golden hour for warm light and a true Village vibe.
📍Greenwich Village, Waverly Pl. & 5th Ave, New York
Pier 17 Pumpkin Arch
The Pumpkin Arch at Pier 17 returns on October 22 transforming the Heineken Riverdeck into a seasonal photo dream with the Brooklyn Bridge as its backdrop. Made from hundreds of pumpkins and draped in fall foliage, it glows at night with soft lights, making it perfect at golden hour or after dusk
🗓️ Oct 22 – Nov 17, 2025
📍Heineken Riverdeck, North Side of Pier 17 – 89 South Street, , New York
Pier 57 Rooftop Park
Pier 57 is a quiet, elevated waterfront space with rooftop gardens and public access just south of Little Island… it offers beautiful views of Downtown Manhattan, Little Island and over the river.
📍25 11th Ave, New York
Little Island
Little Island (at Pier 55) is a floating park that feels magical year-round, and fall gives it a whole new dimension. Because the park is elevated, you get mesmerizing views of the water and Manhattan’s edge all framed by autumn foliage.
📍Little Island, Pier 55 at Hudson River Park, New York
High Line
The High Line is an elevated park built on old rail tracks, and in fall, it turns into one of NYC’s most cinematic walks. Take in the plants’ warm tones, art installations pop up along the way, and endless city views. Take in the season’s colors, pause for unexpected art, and admire sweeping city views.
📍Enter at Gansevoort St or 23rd St, Manhattan
The Edge
The Edge – the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere – this fall it’s dressed up for Garden of Shadows. Dramatic floral installations by Fleurs de Villes take over the sky deck, turning it into a darkly romantic dreamscape. Sip seasonal cocktails like a Pumpkin Patch Margarita or Apple Cider Sangria, snap incredible photos with the city glittering behind you, and step onto the glass floor 1,100+ feet up for that heart-stopping view.
🗓️ Sept 26 – November 3, 2025
📍30 Hudson Yards, New York
Hunters Point South Park, Long Island City
This waterfront park in LIC is a quiet gem for fall. Its long boardwalk gives you unobstructed skyline views framed by fiery trees and the East River, especially stunning at golden hour. Take a peaceful walk, bring your camera, or just sit and watch the city lights turn on as the sun sets behind Manhattan. It’s romantic, photogenic, and feels worlds away from midtown crowds.
📍Center Blvd & 50th Ave, Long Island City, Queens
Manhattan Bridge (Overlooking Brooklyn)
One of NYC’s quietest and most breathtaking views. Walk the Manhattan Bridge pedestrian path for stunning scenes of Downtown Manhattan and the East River any time of year, and don’t miss capturing the fall foliage toward the Brooklyn side! Autumn colors around Jane’s Carousel and Pebble Beach, contrasted with the Manhattan Skyline, are just sooo pretty!!!!
📍Entrance at Manhattan Bridge, access from Manhattan side at Bowery & Canal or from Brooklyn at Jay St & Sands St.
Pebble Beach, Time Out Market & Harriet’s Rooftop
This DUMBO trio is fall magic. Start at Pebble Beach for riverfront views framed by autumn trees and the Manhattan skyline. Ride or photograph Jane’s Carousel before heading up to the Time Out Market terrace for mesmerizing scenes of the bridges and city, then finish with a cocktail at Harriet’s Rooftop at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge – perfect at sunset when the skyline glows and the river reflects all those warm fall tones.
📍DUMBO & Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn
Squibb Park Bridge, Brooklyn Heights Promenade & Pier 6
Three of my favorite spots to capture Lower Manhattan’s skyline and fall foliage from unique angles. Walk the zigzagging Squibb Park Bridge, with its wooden planks and steel cables framing colorful trees against the city. Continue to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for wide, cinematic views of the skyline glowing behind rows of autumn color, especially dreamy at golden hour. Then head down to Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, where lawns, trees, and riverfront paths open to one of the best, less crowded views of the harbor and skyline.
📍Bridge entrance at Columbia Heights & Middagh St; Promenade runs along Columbia Heights; Pier 6 at the southern end of Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn.
Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
I lived in Boerum Hill for 13 years, and it’s still one of my favorite neighborhoods to wander when the leaves turn. Brownstones here feel straight out of a movie: quiet, elegant, and so photogenic. I’m still very often in neighborhood as I can’t resist having authentic Neapolitan pizza at Luca’s Sottocasa
📍Dean Street, Brooklyn
Prospect Park & Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Everyone knows the beauty of Central Park, and as your New York insider let me tell you: Prospect Park in Brooklyn is equally stunning, especially in fall!!! Designed by the same architects (Olmsted & Vaux), it’s full of secret escapes! Enter through Grand Army Plaza for a cinematic moment with the arch, wander the Ravine (meant to echo the wild Adirondacks), cross historic arches, and pause at the Boathouse for breathtaking views.
Right next door, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden also turns into a fall wonderland. Every path dresses in golds and reds, and the layered gardens feel like stepping into a painter’s world.
📍Prospect Park: Brooklyn; Brooklyn Botanic Garden: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn
Green-Wood Cemetery
One of Brooklyn’s most breathtaking and hauntingly beautiful places in fall. Founded in 1838, this 19th-century Gothic Revival cemetery also offers sweeping skyline views from Battle Hill (you can spot the Statue of Liberty on clear days). It’s also the resting place of cultural icons like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horace Greeley, and Boss Tweed. Take a self-guided stroll or join one of the historic tours offered in October. The mood is magical and a little eerie in the best way.
📍500 25th St, Brooklyn
Map It Out
To make planning easy, I created an interactive map with all these fall foliage spots pinned, from Central Park classics to hidden gems in Brooklyn and Queens. Save it to your phone so you can plan your walks, photo stops, and day trips in seconds.
2. Can’t-Miss Fall Events & Seasonal Installations
Fall in NYC isn’t just about the leaves, it’s packed with seasonal magic, festivals, and pop-up experiences that make October and November unforgettable. These are my go-to picks every year (plus a few new ones to add to your list!).
Luna Park Halloween Harvest at Coney Island
Coney Island doesn’t go quiet after summer, it transforms into a Halloween wonderland every fall. Stroll the boardwalk with crisp ocean air, ride the coasters lit up in pumpkin-orange glow, and explore the park’s Halloween Harvest with hay bales, seasonal treats, and fun activities like pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating. The mix of seaside nostalgia and spooky décor makes it a one-of-a-kind October escape.
📍Luna Park, 1000 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
🗓️ September 19 – November 2, 2025. Rides run on select fall weekends, so check the schedule before you go.
Insider Tip: Plan to stay until sunset, the boardwalk gets moody and photogenic when the lights flicker on against the autumn sky.
Blessing of the Animals at St. John the Divine
Every fall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine hosts a beautiful Blessing of the Animals. Hundreds of New Yorkers bring their pets (everything from dogs to parrots, snakes, mouses and camels – yes, really!) for a special outdoor procession and blessing. It’s joyful, quirky, and visually unforgettable.
📍1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York
🗓️ October 5, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM
Pumpkin Point at Governors Island
Every October, Governors Island transforms into a harbor-front pumpkin paradise. Stroll through thousands of pumpkins, sip hot cider, and look back at the Manhattan skyline framed by autumn colors. It’s family-friendly, super photogenic, and one of the most unique pumpkin patches you’ll find anywhere.
📍Nolan Park, Governors Island
🗓️ Mid–late October weekends
NYBG: Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
The New York Botanical Garden goes full Tim Burton this year with a Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired trail. Wander through 8,300 sq ft of Jack Skellington’s world: glowing tunnels, spooky light projections, and the Oogie Boogie lair. It’s delightfully creepy, playful, and perfect for photos that feel straight out of a movie.
📍New York Botanical Garden, Bronx
🗓️ September 25 – November 30, 2025
New York Comic Con
NYCC is back October 9-12, 2025 at the Javits Center and will be a four-day pop culture explosion. Expect cosplay, collectibles, fan meet-ups, and panels with your favorite creators. Even if you’re not attending, the street style, energy, and photo ops around Javits, Hudson Yards, Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, and Times Square are next-level.
📍Javits Center, 429 11th Avenue, New York
🗓️ October 9-12, 2025
Cathedral of St. John the Divine: Halloween Extravaganza
Every year, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral turns spooky for its Halloween Extravaganza & Procession of Ghouls. Think live organ music, a silent film screening, and a parade of creepy creatures down the aisles. Dramatic, historic, and so New York.
📍1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York
🗓️ Friday, October 24, 2025, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Do the ‘Time Warp’: Rocky Horror 50th Anniversary Screenings
Halloween season in NYC wouldn’t be complete without a little Rocky Horror Picture Show chaos. This year marks the film’s 50th anniversary, and you can join the fun with live shadow casts performing alongside the movie, complete with costumes, props, and all the iconic audience callouts!!! Catch the cult classic on Oct 25 at Coney Island USA in Brooklyn, or at City Winery in Chelsea on Oct 29–30 for an indoor, cozy-but-wild vibe. Perfect if you want something festive, theatrical, and totally New York.
📍Coney Island USA, Brooklyn – Oct 25
📍City Winery, Chelsea – Oct 29–30
Go Outdoor Ice Skating Before It Gets Too Cold
Kick off skating season while the leaves are still turning! The rinks start opening in October, and it’s such a fun way to soak in the crisp air and city vibes:
✔ Rockefeller Center – opens October 11, 2025. Glam and iconic, but smaller than you might imagine and usually crowded. Book an early slot to enjoy it with fewer people 🙂
🎟️ Tickets start at $22 adults / $12 kids; skate rentals $12.
✔ Bryant Park Winter Village Rink – opens October 24 2025. The only rink in Manhattan with free admission: just bring your own skates or rent them.
🎟️ Skate rentals range $18–$55 depending on day/time.
✔ Wollman Rink, Central Park – season begins in October (exact day TBD). Classic New York vibes; bring your camera for those dramatic park frames.
🎟️ Tickets range $15–$38 adults, $10 kids & seniors; skate rentals $12.
All of these are set in iconic NYC spots, so plan time to wander the neighborhoods, grab a cozy drink, and enjoy that magical fall-meets-winter crossover.
Insider tip: weekday mornings usually mean lighter crowds and lower rental rates.
Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade
One of NYC’s cutest (and wildest) fall traditions. Hundreds of pups strut their stuff in hilarious, creative costumes, from tiny tacos to full-on dragons. The crowd energy is pure joy and the photo ops are endless.
📍Tompkins Square Park, East Village
🗓️ October 26, 2025
Día de los Muertos at Rockefeller Center
Immerse yourself in vibrant tradition at Rockefeller Center’s Mexico Week (Oct 27–Nov 2), when Center Plaza transforms with a grand ofrenda built to honor those we’ve lost. The unveiling takes place at 11:00 AM on Oct 27, and through the week you can pin photos or letters, stroll under colorful altars, and experience Mexican art, music, and food. Highlights include a Puya Tacos de Puebla pop-up and a spotlight on Mexican artist Daniel Valero…. and it’s free!!! Perfect for late October’s mood of remembrance and celebration.
📍30 Rockefeller Plaza, NYC
🗓️ October 27 – November 2, 2025
Central Park Pumpkin Flotilla
A magical fall night where hundreds of glowing jack-o’-lanterns float across the Harlem Meer. Families, couples, and photographers line the water for that dreamy, candle-lit moment. Arrive early: it gets packed and you’ll want front-row views.
📍Harlem Meer, Central Park
🗓️ Friday October 31, 2025, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Village Halloween Parade
The most iconic Halloween night in NYC –> read all my insider tips here. Thousands of costumed New Yorkers take over 6th Avenue, joined by massive puppets, marching bands, and pure theater energy. Dress up and join the parade, or just grab a spot to watch the spectacle.
📍6th Avenue from Spring St. to 16th St.
🗓️ October 31, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation
The night before Thanksgiving, the Upper West Side turns into a giant backstage pass. Watch the iconic parade balloons come to life as crews inflate them with helium along the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History. It’s free, magical, and one of those “only in New York” moments, but also crowded, so arrive early. The inflation zone runs from 77th to 81st Streets between Columbus Ave and Central Park West, with entry points around 72nd & Columbus.
📍Upper West Side, around the American Museum of Natural History
🗓️ Wednesday, November 26, 2025, from 12 PM to 6 PM
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Every late November morning, NYC feels legendary as the giant parade balloons rise above the streets. The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off at 8:30 AM on Thursday, November 27, starting on Central Park West (77th St), rolling past Columbus Circle, down 6th Avenue, and finishing at Macy’s Herald Square. Expect incredible helium balloons, floats, marching bands, Broadway numbers, and surprise celebrity performances. It’s free to watch, but the magic only happens if you plan ahead.
📍Route: Central Park West → Columbus Circle → 6th Avenue → Herald Square
🗓️ Thursday, November 27, 2025, from 8:30 AM to noon
Insider Tips:
• Best viewing: Central Park West between 60th–70th Streets (early, calmer than midtown).
• Arrive by 6-6:30 AM (I KNOW!!!!) if you want a front-row spot – or watch it on TY, lol!
• Dress warm… you’ll be standing still for hours.
• Bring a thermos of coffee or cider for the full cozy fall vibe.
Run or Cheer at the TCS New York City Marathon
Even if you’re not a runner, the NYC Marathon is one of the city’s most electric moments, and it usually happens during peak fall foliage in NYC. More than 50,000 runners race through all five boroughs, starting in Staten Island, running across the Verrazzano Bridge, and finishing in Central Park, while millions of spectators line the streets to cheer them on. Grab a coffee, bundle up, and stake out a spot along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, First Avenue in Manhattan, or near the Central Park finish line for peak energy. The music, signs, and strangers shouting encouragement create goosebump magic only New York can pull off. It’s free, inspiring, and worth experiencing at least once!
📍All five boroughs, finish in Central Park
🗓️ Sunday, November 2, 2025, morning to early afternoon
3. Dive Into NYC’s Spooky & Seasonal Fun
Fall in New York wouldn’t be complete without a little Halloween magic and cozy autumn energy. From streets lined with over-the-top decorated brownstones to hidden bars that go full haunted glam, these are my favorite ways to soak up the spooky season… and sneak in a few fall treats while you’re at it 😎
Halloween-Decorated Brownstones
NYC’s townhouse game goes WILD every October, with skeleton armies climbing façades, glowing pumpkins, and entire homes turned haunted. My full Halloween Decoration Guide (coming soon!) shares exact streets and photo spots in the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, West Village, and Brooklyn so you can plan your own Halloween stroll.
Chelsea Market
Already one of NYC’s coolest food halls, Chelsea Market leans into spooky season with cobwebs, pumpkin stacks, and moody art. Stop for hot cider or a seasonal latte after a High Line walk: it’s a cozy, camera-ready vibe.
📍75 9th Ave, Chelsea
Themed Halloween Bars
If you love a moody night out:
- Beetle House: Tim Burton–themed cocktails and dark whimsy (East Village).
- Oscar Wilde: dramatic Victorian décor and giant Halloween displays (Chelsea).
- Lillie’s Victorian Establishment: candlelit, spooky elegance (near Union Square and near Times Square)
- Black Lagoon Pop-Up: goth & horror cocktails on the LES.
Oktoberfest Spots
If you’re craving steins and pretzels over jump scares:
- Stone Street (FiDi): long communal tables, live music, and big beer mugs in a cobblestone alley.
- Watermark at Pier 15 (Seaport): waterfront drinking with skyline views and hearty German eats.
Smorgasburg Fall Markets
NYC’s legendary food market Smorgasburg keeps running through the last weekend of October. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the last weekend of October for the best bites and perfect sweater-weather wandering vibes.
- Fridays at World Trade Center, Downtown Manhattan
- Saturdays at Marsha P. Johnson State Park, Williamsburg
- Sundays at Prospect Park, 11 AM–6 PM: comfort eats, sweet treats, and perfect fall street photography.
Rolf’s
The city’s most over-the-top holiday bar starts getting cozy before Christmas madness hits. Twinkle lights, vintage ornaments, warm drinks, and far fewer crowds than December.
📍281 3rd Ave, Gramercy
Go on a Haunted NYC Walking Tour
NYC is full of ghost stories and haunted corners — from old cemeteries hidden under park benches to eerie alleyways in Greenwich Village. Try Ghosts of New York (popular Village route, ~90 mins) or Haunted Manhattan (multi-stop tours in East/West/Village neighborhoods).
4. Easy Day Trips for Fall Foliage
When the city can’t contain your fall wanderlust, hop just a little outside NYC and you’ll find golden trees, pumpkin-lit nights, and crisp air that feels like a full reset. These are my go-tos when I need a quick escape.
Fall Foliage Cruises
Seeing the leaves from the water is next-level.
- Classic Harbor Line: cozy, yacht-style boats with glassed-in lounges (perfect if it’s chilly) – 🎟️ BOOK IT HERE
- Circle Line: larger, classic sightseeing vessels with panoramic decks – 🎟️ BOOK IT HERE
Viator guarantees the lowest price. If you find the same product cheaper online up until 48 hours before your trip, they’ll refund the difference!!! 😊
Both sail up the Hudson past the Palisades cliffs, where fall colors spill dramatically over the rock faces. Go early October for upstate peak or late October for NYC.
Upstate NY Getaway
Rent a car (or take the train) and chase peak foliage just a couple hours away. Hudson Valley towns like Cold Spring, Beacon, or New Paltz explode with reds and golds the first two weeks of October. I also love Hunter Mountain and the Kaaterskill Falls: my go-to spots to recharge (we have our second home there, and Luca teaches ski in the winter!). Expect apple picking, cider donuts, and mountain views without a long drive — the perfect quick escape when the city feels too busy.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
One of the most magical fall nights you can have near NYC. More than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins light up the historic Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, with tunnels of glowing gourds, pumpkin planets, and new themed worlds each year (2025 adds Wizard of Oz vibes + the Headless Horseman’s Hideaway for spooky sips). The trail is about half a mile and takes 45–60 minutes; perfect for slow strolling and photos. Tickets are timed-entry only and sell out fast, so book early (no onsite sales). Free parking is included, and it’s an easy 1-hour drive or train ride from Grand Central.
📍Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
🗓️ September 12 – November 16, 2025, Timed entry
🎟️ Tickets from $24
5. Insider Tips for October in NYC
- 🍂 Peak Foliage Timing: Upstate New York usually peaks the first 10 days of October. NYC parks hit their most dramatic reds & golds late October into early November.
- 🧥 What to Wear: Layers are everything. Mornings and nights can be chilly, but afternoons still warm up… and NYC weather is famously unpredictable. One day can feel like summer, the next like winter, so be ready to adjust. And don’t worry, if you didn’t pack right, New York is always the perfect place to shop for extra layers – LOL.
- 🎟️ Book Early: Big seasonal events sell out weeks ahead.
- 🚇 Getting Around: Subway and walking are still the easiest in the city. For fall escapes, take the train or rent a car, or hop on a foliage cruise up the Hudson for a scenic ride north.
- 🚙 Need a rental? I recommend Discover Cars: they have great customer service and a price comparison tool that helps you save up to 70%.
Wrap Up & Save for Later
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