Best Time to Visit Manhattan, New York

Spring and early summer: May is the sweet spot

April is cool but pleasant, and the cherry trees and magnolias start to bloom in Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's neighbours. By May it's mild enough to walk the High Line or sit on a Bryant Park lawn without a coat. Rain falls on about 13 days, but it's usually in short bursts. Don't let that put you off.

June is warmer and still good. Look out for the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Fifth Avenue and the Governors Ball music festival on Randall's Island. Hotels get pricier as the weather improves, so May and June feel busy.

Summer: hot, sticky and packed

July and August are the hottest months, tied at a high of 29°C. July is also the wettest of the summer, with rain on 14 days. Subway platforms feel like saunas, and afternoon thunderstorms can pop up fast. Still, the city has its own ways of coping. Catch free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater, or watch a movie on the grass at Bryant Park. Ride the Staten Island Ferry at sunset for a cool breeze and a view of the Statue of Liberty.

Travelling with kids? Summer school holidays mean long lines at the Empire State Building and the Intrepid Museum. Plan indoor stops like the Natural History Museum for the hottest afternoons.

Autumn: the other best season

September and October are the easiest months to enjoy. Days are warm in September and crisp in October, with fewer sticky afternoons. Early September brings the US Open tennis in Queens, just a subway ride away. October is the rainiest month by total rainfall at 124 mm, though it only rains on about 10 days. Autumn colour in Central Park usually peaks late in the month. The Village Halloween Parade on October 31 is a huge, fun street party.

November is cooler and greyer, but the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is worth it if you like crowds and balloons.

Winter: cold, cheap and cosy

December through February is cold, with highs from 2°C to 5°C and little sun. December is crowded because of the Rockefeller Center tree, the ice rink and the shop windows on Fifth Avenue. Times Square is packed on New Year's Eve. January and February are the quietest months, with better hotel deals. If you love museums, Broadway and warm bagel shops, it's a good time to go. Just bring a proper coat.