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New York in November 2025 | Fall chills, marathon thrills & Thanksgiving delights

November bridges golden-leaf days and glittering holiday lights. You’ll cheer the world’s largest marathon, browse the first Christmas stalls, then warm up with jazz or a late-night slice. Mornings stay mild enough for park runs, but evenings call for a coat—last Staten Island Ferry leaves heated cabins open all night.

New York in November 2025 at a glance

🌦️ Weather

13 °C / 55 °F early month; down to 8 °C / 46 °F by Thanksgiving, light rain every 4–5 days.

☀️ Daylight

~10 h 10 m; sunrise 6:40 am, sunset 4:40 pm after Nov 2 clock change.

🎉 Key events

NYC Marathon (2 Nov), Veterans Day Parade (11 Nov), Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (27 Nov).

👥 Crowds

High on event weekends, moderate mid-week; holiday shoppers spike after Thanksgiving.

🧳 What to pack

Warm layers, waterproof shoes, thin gloves for dawn spectating.

🍴 Seasonal treats

Hot apple-cider doughnuts, roasted chestnuts on 5th Ave, truffle-topped mac & cheese pop-ups.

How November compares

Category

October

November

December

Weather

15 °C / 60 °F highs; crisp, mostly dry.

Starts 13 °C / 55 °F, ends 8 °C / 46 °F; first frost possible.

0 – 5 °C; chance of snow, brisk winds off Hudson.

Crowds & vibe

Leaf-peepers and Halloween revelers; busy but balanced.

Marathon surge, mid-month lull, holiday buzz after Thanksgiving.

Peak tourist season; Rockefeller crowds daily.

Key events

Village Halloween Parade, Comic Con.

Marathon, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Parade.

Tree lighting, Radio City Spectacular, NYE prep.

Best for

Photographers, theater premieres.

Sports fans, early shoppers, budget seekers mid-month.

Holiday romantics, families with kids.

Book early?

Hotel deals OK except Halloween week.

Reserve rooms for Nov 1–3 & 27 – 29 now; other dates flexible.

Yes—book hotels, Rockettes tickets months ahead.

Transport notes

Occasional UN traffic lock-downs.

Marathon street closures Nov 2; subways run extra trains.

Midtown gridlock; allow 30 min taxi buffer.

Budget

Moderate rates.

Lowest hotel prices Nov 10–20; surge Thanksgiving week.

Highest winter prices; expect 20 %+ on dining.

Top things to do in New York in November

Central Park foliage walks

When: First two weeks
Tags: Outdoors, Family-friendly
Crunch through russet oaks on the 4-mile Loop—peak color lingers until mid-month. Enter at 72nd St, detour to the Ramble, then refuel with cider at Loeb Boathouse (closes 4 pm weekdays). Earlier sunsets make golden-hour photos pop.

Summit One Vanderbilt’s mirrored sunset

When: Daily, last entry 8:30 pm
Tags: Tour, Adventure
Chillier air sharpens skyline views. Reflective floors amplify twilight hues, while enclosed decks spare you the wind. Book the 4 pm slot for daylight-to-neon transitions without peak crowds.

Recommended experiences:

  • SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Tickets
  • SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Night Experience Tickets

Met Museum on a pay-what-you-wish Wednesday

When: Wednesdays after 5 pm
Tags: Cultural experience, Indoors
Off-peak lines disappear by dusk, and galleries feel hushed. November’s new costume-institute show makes a cozy evening; grab headphones—the Met’s free app replaces crowded group tours.

Recommended experiences:

  • The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Tickets
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Access
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art Private VIP Tour

Jazz at Village Vanguard

When: Nightly, 8 pm & 10 pm sets
Tags: Cultural experience, Night-owls
Dark streets, warm trumpet tones. Arrive 45 minutes early for seat choice; November’s shoulder season means better odds for walk-ins. Two-drink minimum—swap summer spritz for spiked cider.

Staten Island Ferry for chilly-clear Statue views

When: Anytime; best 9–10 am mid-week
Tags: Family-friendly, Outdoors
Cool, drier air = sharper harbor vistas. Sit starboard outbound for Lady Liberty, grab indoor seats heading back. No cost—just remember the 30-minute schedule after morning rush.

Recommended experiences:

  • Skip-the-Line Tickets + Ferry: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry

Broadway matinee + Stage Door chats

When: Wed & Sat 2 pm shows
Tags: Tour, Cultural experience
Post-strike 2-for-1 offers drop mid-November. Wait by the stage door (Shubert Alley) for autographs around 4:45 pm; actors linger longer before holiday rush begins.

Green-wood Cemetery twilight tour

When: Fri–Sun 4 pm slots
Tags: Explorer, Seasonal
Low sun silhouettes Gothic arches and Manhattan’s distant skyline. Guides weave Revolutionary-war lore with modern art installations; bring a flashlight for the catacombs. Dress warm—wind whistles across the ridge.

Chelsea gallery hop & Wine-bar warm-up

When: Thurs evening openings
Tags: Explorer, Indoors
Galleries unveil new shows on “Chelsea Thursday.” Stroll 10th–11th Ave between 19th–27th St from 6 pm; free wine often offered. Finish at a snug 20th St wine bar for mulled red.

Offbeat experiences in November

Ride the Holiday Nostalgia Train

Vintage subway cars with rattan seats and ceiling fans run Sunday afternoons after Thanksgiving. Hop on at 2nd Ave and time-travel to the 1930s as buskers play swing tunes.
📍Where: ​IND 6th Ave line

Candlelight kayaking on the Harlem River

New York Outrigger lights floating lanterns for a one-night paddle honoring Veterans Day. Wetsuits provided; hot cocoa follows on the dock.
📍Where: ​Pier 66 Boathouse

Browse the Tunnel Book Fair

90 indie presses set up under the Park Ave viaduct, sheltered from drizzle. First-editions and risograph zines make quirky gifts.
📍Where: ​125th St Viaduct

Supper club in a restored speakeasy

A secret door in Midtown leads to a three-course Jazz-Age menu—think duck confit and bourbon pumpkin pie—only on November Fridays. Advance password required.
📍Where: ​49th St & 8th Ave

Forest bathing in Inwood Hill Park

Certified guides lead silent two-hour walks among NYC’s last old-growth trees; fallen leaves muffle city noise. Ends with herbal tea by the Hudson.
📍Where: ​Dyckman St entrance

Festivals and events in New York this November 2025

Event/Festival

Dates

Event type

Location

What to expect

New York City Marathon

2 Nov 2025

Sporting Event

Five-borough course; finish ​Central Park

Watch 50,000 runners plus roaring crowds. Secure a spot on First Ave by 9 am; subways skip some local stops until noon.

Veterans Day Parade

11 Nov 2025

Parade

Nation’s largest veterans parade steps off 12:30 pm. Arrive 25th St for elbow-room and coffee trucks; some crosstown buses detour until 4 pm.

Bryant Park Winter Village

1 Nov 2025 – 5 Jan 2026

Holiday Market

Skate free (bring your own blades) and browse 170 craft huts. Weeknight evenings stay quieter; locker rentals sell out after 6 pm.

Union Square Holiday Market

14 Nov – 24 Dec 2025

Holiday Market

Hand-poured candles, Nepali dumplings, and live brass bands. Go before 11 am for space to haggle; subway exits get congested weekends.

Balloon Inflation Event

26 Nov 2025

Exhibition

See Snoopy inflate 6–10 pm. Best entry: 79th St & Columbus. Security lines move faster with small bags only.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

27 Nov 2025

Parade

Arrive by 6:30 am for rail-side curb between 68th–72nd St; portable restrooms scarce south of 59th St. Dress for 5 °C dawn chill.

NYC Black Friday Sales

28 Nov 2025

Shopping Event

Citywide flagship stores

Doors open 6 am; electronics sell out first. Subway runs on weekend schedule—leave extra time if heading to Woodbury bus at Port Authority.

Holiday Window Unveilings

24–30 Nov 2025

Exhibition

Saks’ light show every 10 min after dusk, Bergdorf’s haute-fantasy windows debut 8 pm 24 Nov. Sidewalks jam—view from opposite curb after 10 pm.

Plan ahead: Must-book experiences

  • American Museum of Natural History Tickets
  • Empire State Building: General Admission Tickets
  • SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Tickets
  • Whitney Museum of American Art Tickets
  • Bronx Zoo Tickets

Highlights for different traveller types

Families with kids

  • NYC Marathon bleachers – Free grandstand at 26th Mile bleeds excitement without moving far; pack snacks and mini flags.
  • Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights – Evening lantern trails reopen mid-month; stroller-friendly and crowd-light on school nights.
  • Bryant Park bumper cars on ice – Post-Thanksgiving novelty lets kids glide in inflatable rings; reserve a 20-minute slot online.

Couples

  • TwilightTop-of-the-Rock – Sunset at 4:45 pm means early dinner after skyline cuddles.
  • Jazz candlelit cruise – Heated 1920s yacht circles the Statue with live trio and hot toddies.
  • Dyker Heights preview lights – Some houses switch on right after Thanksgiving—beat December bus-tour crowds.

Foodies

  • Midtown ramen crawl – Cold nights justify back-to-back bowls along 46th St’s “Ramen Row.”
  • Union Square truffle market – Late-season white truffles appear; vendors shave samples over farm eggs.
  • Queens Night Market Holiday Edition – One-weekend pop-up in Flushing Meadows serves global comfort stews till midnight.

Your perfect 3-day New York in November itinerary

  • Morning: Cheer elite runners at 1st Ave & 62nd St; energy peaks 10–11 am.
  • Breakfast: Grab hot bagels and schmear at Ess-a-Bagel, 3-min walk from viewing spot.
  • Midday: Subway to 59th St, stroll Central Park foliage to Bethesda Terrace.
  • Lunch: Shake Shack’s Madison Ave kiosk—shorter lines on marathon Sunday.
  • Afternoon: Tour the Met’s quiet galleries; warm up in the Temple of Dendur hall.
  • Evening: Early dinner at an Upper West jazz bistro, then walk to Columbus Circle for parade-balloon trucks rolling in.
  • Morning:Ferry to Statue of Liberty at 9 am; thinner security queue.
  • Breakfast: Ferry café coffee and croissant en route—views beat any diner.
  • Midday: Explore Ellis Island archives; hunt for family names.
  • Lunch: Stone St pubs offer shepherd’s pie weekday specials.
  • Afternoon: Oculus shopping for early Black Friday previews; subway to Chelsea.
  • Evening: High Line stroll at dusk, then reserve Summit One Vanderbilt 8 pm slot for mirrored night panoramas.
  • Morning: Union Square Greenmarket opens 8 am; taste hot cider doughnuts.
  • Breakfast: Market stand breakfast burritos with local eggs and salsa.
  • Midday: Browse Strand Bookstore holiday sale—three floors of gift-worthy reads.
  • Lunch: Korean hot-pot lunch in K-Town (32nd St) warms chilled bones.
  • Afternoon: Bryant Park skating and chocolate-babkas; finish gifts at craft kiosks.
  • Evening: Walk Fifth Ave window unveilings after 9 pm; finish with rooftop mulled wine overlooking Empire State Building .

Best day trips from New York in November

Hudson Valley wine & foliage

🚄 Travel time: ~90 min by Metro-North to Cold Spring Vineyards host final harvest tastings; late-turning oaks paint river bluffs gold until mid-month. Pack a scarf—breezes off the Hudson bite during cliffside walks.

Storm King Art Center

🚌 Travel time: ~1 h 20 m by bus from Port Authority Outdoor sculptures rise from frost-tipped meadows; thin weekday crowds give clear photo angles. Café closes 4 pm—carry snacks.

Princeton University town

🚆 Travel time: ~70 min NJ Transit train + Dinky Collegiate Gothic quads glow under leaf carpets. Art-museum pop-ups run Thanksgiving week; cozy chimneyside lunch at Nassau Inn.

Go shopping in New York in November

Bryant Park Winter Village

When: 1 Nov 2025 – 5 Jan 2026
Where: ​Midtown, 42nd St
170 alpine-style huts sell hand-poured candles, NYC-map scarves, and raclette bowls. Weeknight visits mean shorter checkout lines and clearer rink-side selfies.

When: Year-round (peak 18–24 Nov)
Where: ​Broadway, Prince to Spring St
Designers clear fall stock before holiday turnover. Bring a tote and wear layers for fast try-ons—fitting rooms are curtains, not walls.

When: Weekends Nov–Mar
Where: ​Williamsburg, 25 Kent Ave
Vintage varsity jackets, mid-cent lamps, and vinyl bins fill a toasty loft. Arrive at 10 am opening for best picks, exit with pastrami grilled cheese downstairs.

When: 14 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
Where: ​Union Sq
Red-roof stalls peddle Baltic amber and NYC-themed pet sweaters. Warm up with peppermint mochas from nearby café—lines form once work crowds spill out at 6 pm.

Pro tips for visiting New York in November

  • Mind the clock change: Daylight Saving ends Nov 2; sunset jumps to 4:45 pm, so plan outdoor photos before 4.

  • Layer smart: Mornings feel mild but marathon-day winds drop to 5 °C on bridges—stash a packable puffer.

  • Pre-load OMNY: Contactless taps beat MetroCard queues, especially after Veterans Day tourists arrive.

  • Marathon Sunday streets: Many crosstown buses suspend till 4 pm—use subways below 59th St or walk.

  • Parade strategy: For Macy’s balloons, choose ​Central Park West 68th–72nd St: broad sidewalks, nearby restrooms at Tavern on the Green.

  • Holiday markets hack: Shop weekday mornings; vendors often knock 10 % off before lunchtime lull.

  • Restaurant Week preview: Winter edition dates drop late November—set calendar alerts for 2-for-1 fine-dining seats.

Frequently asked questions about visiting New York in November

Is it cold enough for snow?

Snow is rare but possible late month; flurries fell Thanksgiving weekend in 2018. Pack a warm coat just in case.

Will I need parade tickets?

No—both Veterans Day and Thanksgiving parades are free curbside. Arrive 90 minutes early for front-row viewing.

Are tourist attractions open on Thanksgiving?

Most museums close; observatories and some ​Broadway shows open late afternoon. Check individual sites and book ahead for 27 Nov.

Does the subway run on Thanksgiving?

Yes, on Sunday schedule. Expect crowded trains pre-parade and post-meal.

What time do holiday windows light up?

Saks launches its 5-minute light show every 10 minutes from 5 pm to 11 pm starting 24 Nov.

Can I ice-skate without renting skates?

Bryant Park rink is free if you bring your own skates; rentals cost $18–$55 depending on date.

Where’s the best budget hotel window?

Book Nov 10–20; rates dip 25 % between marathon and holiday surge, especially in Long Island City hotels one stop from Midtown.

Is tap water safe to drink?

Absolutely. NYC’s reservoir water tastes crisp in cool weather—carry a refillable bottle and skip pricey bottled options.

What public restrooms are open late?

Bryant Park’s attendants-managed facilities stay open until midnight, spotless and warm—lifesaver after window-viewing.

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