Best Time to Visit Brooklyn, New York

September and early autumn: the sweet spot

September is the month our data rates Excellent, and it feels that way. Highs sit around 23°C, the humidity eases, and it rains on only 10 days. You can walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at midday without melting. Evenings in Williamsburg and Fort Greene are mild enough for a patio table.

October stays Good, with highs near 18°C. It's the wettest of the autumn months, so keep a plan B like the Brooklyn Museum. Prospect Park's leaves turn colour, and it's great for a long walk. Halloween is a big deal in Park Slope, with streets full of costumed kids.

June and the summer stretch

June ties with September as our top pick. Days are long and warm, with highs near 23°C. The Brooklyn Cyclones play baseball in Coney Island, and the Mermaid Parade there in June is a loud, joyful, slightly mad day. Expect rain on 13 days, though it's often a short shower.

July and August are the hottest months, both with highs of 26°C. They're also the muggiest and wettest, and July has the most rainy days at 15. Subway platforms get stuffy. If you love beach days at Coney Island or Brooklyn Bridge Park's pier lawns, it's still fun. Just plan the middle of the day for air-conditioned spots like Industry City or a museum.

Winter and spring: quiet but cold

December to March is the low season for visitors. Highs run between 4°C and 7°C, and the sun shows up for only about 3 hours a day in January and December. December is the wettest month, with 142 mm. It's a good time for cosy food stops, like pizza in Bushwick or a bagel in Greenpoint. Dumbo's holiday lights and the Dyker Heights Christmas displays draw crowds in December, so expect queues at the best-known houses.

Spring comes slowly. March is still chilly, and April is only Fair. May is the real turning point, with highs of 17°C and a Good rating. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's cherry blossoms usually peak in April or early May, so a short trip then can be rewarding if you pack a rain jacket.

If you hate crowds, aim for late May or early October. Hotels are busiest in summer and around the holidays, so those shoulder weeks give you the best mix of weather and space.