New York City in November - Weather, Events & Things To Do

Last Updated on 28th August 2024

This post about visiting New York City in November contains affiliate links.

Are you planning a winter trip to NYC and wondering what to do in NYC in November? My guide below includes everything you need to know about visiting New York in November!

November marks the official start of the festive season in NYC, and while the emblematic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree won’t be lit until the 4th of December in 2024, many places throughout the city will be gearing up for the holidays.

If you’re planning a trip to New York, this guide is for you as it includes all the best New York City events in November, the best seasonal things to do in NYC, and what you can expect from the weather in November in NYC!

***Please note that this guide will be continuously updated throughout the year with up-to-date opening dates/times for each event***

Do you still need some help planning your November NYC trip? Get a copy of my Ultimate New York City Travel Guide Ebook and join my New York Facebook Group for more FREE travel tips, advice, and inspiration!

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Check out all my other New York monthly guides here!

Is November a good time to visit New York City?

Visiting New York City in early November is a good idea as flights and accommodation will be cheaper than December, but you’ll still be able to experience some of the festive magic of the city. While New York won’t be completely decorated for the holidays until the end of November, you will still see various decorations and lights around the city.

New York City in November weather

Temperatures in NY in November really start to drop, with daytime averages between 10°C and 15°C (50°F and 59°F), and nighttime temperatures as low as 3°C (37°F). It’s not quite as cold as December and January, but there is definitely a chill in the air in November in New York City, so it’s a good idea to pack warm clothing and dress appropriately for the weather.

There is an increased chance of rain in NYC in November, especially towards the end of the month and you may even experience a little snowfall, although this is more likely to happen from December to February.

I would recommend checking the Weather Spark website for the best historical weather data in New York City and download the Meteoblue weather app for the most reliable weather forecasts.

Best things to do in November in New York City

New York City starts to come alive with festive magic in November, especially towards the end of the month. There are ice skating rinks to be discovered, Broadway shows to be watched, and Christmas markets to be enjoyed!

Here are just some of the best things to do in New York City in November.

Go ice skating at one of the city’s famous rinks

Many of New York’s famous ice skating rinks open at the end of October/beginning of November, and while 2024’s dates haven’t been confirmed for all of the ice rinks just yet, you can expect dates and tickets to be released within the next couple of weeks, so I’ll be sure to update this guide with accurate dates as soon as they’re released!

For now, here are some of NYC’s best ice skating rinks that should be on your November itinerary:

Wollman Rink in Central Park
Bryant Park Ice Rink
Rockefeller Center Ice Rink

Read more: 10 Best Ice Rinks In NYC

Head to one of NYC’s observation decks

New York’s observation decks can, of course, be visited at any time of the year, but November is a great month to have at least one observation deck on your New York itinerary, before the crazy Christmas crowds descend on the city in December.

If you’re only in NYC for a few days, then you definitely don’t need to visit them all (Summit One Vanderbilt and the Top of the Rock are my two personal favourites), but it is worth adding one or two to your itinerary.

You can purchase tickets to all five of New York’s observation decks here:

Take a pedicab tour of Central Park

While November is definitely one of the coldest months in New York City, it’s also one of the best times to take a pedicab tour of Central Park as you can wrap up warm underneath blankets as an expert tour guide shows you the very best sights of the park!

Central Park Attractions is the number one pedicab tour provider that I recommend as they’re one of the most highly-rated in the business and their tours start at just $30 per person for one hour, making them one of the cheapest, too!

Watch a Broadway show

Watching a Broadway show is another activity that can be experienced at any time of year in NYC, but the biting chill of November in New York might just be enough to persuade you to book a show or two…

There are dozens of Broadway performances showing in November in New York, so it might be difficult for you to choose just one (or two!), but I’ve listed some of the most popular shows and where to buy tickets for them below.

Purchase tickets for some of Broadway’s iconic shows via Ticketmaster or Seat Geek (use the code IMJUSTAGIRL16 to save $20 on Broadway tickets at Seat Geek)!

Visit the New York FRIENDS Experience

As a lifelong FRIENDS fan, it’s only right that I recommend visiting the New York FRIENDS Experience during your trip to NYC in November!

Of course, if FRIENDS isn’t your thing, then the immersive experience probably won’t be either, but if you do love the iconic TV show as much as me, then I’d definitely recommend adding it to your New York November itinerary!

Book tickets to the FRIENDS Experience here!

NYC November events

As I mentioned above, November marks the beginning of the festive season in New York City, with numerous celebrations and events happening throughout the month, including the arrival of the Rockefeller Center Tree, the world-renowned Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the opening of many of New York’s ice skating rinks and Christmas markets, and some of the best New York City concerts in November!

Hang out at the city’s Christmas markets – multiple dates & locations

The exact dates for NYC’s Christmas markets haven’t been announced at the time of writing this guide, but I will continue to update this post with up-to-date opening times for all of the Christmas markets as and when they’re announced.

In the meantime, here are just some of my favourite Christmas markets that you should have on your New York City November itinerary:

Bryant Park Bank of America Winter Village
Union Square Holiday Market
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Holiday Market at the Oculus
Grand Central Holiday Fair

Watch the New York City Marathon – 3rd November 2024

Unfortunately, it’s too late to enter the ballot to run in the New York City Marathon, but you can still go ahead and watch more than 50,000 people attempt to complete one of the most famous marathons in the world!

The NYC Marathon will be held on Sunday 3rd of November in 2024 and the route takes place across 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of NYC. The exact course is yet to be finalised for 2024, but you can check the NYRR website for more details closer to the event.

Watch the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular – 8th November 2024 to 5th January 2025

The fabulous Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular is back on the 8th of November in 2024, so if you’re in the mood to feel festive early in the month, the Rockettes have got you covered!

Held at Radio City Music Hall, the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular runs multiple daily performances from November to January, and while it’s not the cheapest show in the world (ticket prices range from around $60 at off-peak times to a whopping $458 on Christmas Day!), it is one of the most festive things you can do in NYC, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best November events in New York!

Purchase tickets directly from the Rockettes website.

Catch a performance at the New York Comedy Festival – 8th to 17th November 2024

If you’re not quite ready for the Christmas festivities in November, then perhaps a New York Comedy Festival performance might be better suited to you!

The New York Comedy Festival is hosted over the course of ten days, in venues across all five boroughs of NYC, and features more than 200 comedians in more than 100 shows!

See the full line-up on the NY Comedy Festival website and purchase tickets for the NY Comedy Festival on Ticketmaster.

Check out the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden – 16th November 2024 to 20th January 2025

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is one of the first major festive attractions/events to arrive in NYC in November and it actually runs all the way until mid-January, so you’ll have plenty of time to head over to the Bronx to visit this beloved attraction.

The Holiday Train Show brings with it a magical winter wonderland to the NY Botanical Garden and it’s the perfect family-friendly activity to get you in the festive spirit!

Find out more and buy tickets for the Holiday Train Show on the NYBG website.

Watch the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – 28th November 2024

Thanksgiving is arguably a bigger holiday in the United States than Christmas and nowhere does Thanksgiving celebrations like New York City.

Hosted by one of the largest and most renowned department stores in the world, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the most famous parades in the world, and it features dozens of floats, balloons, and giant characters that travel the 2.5 miles from West 77th Street all the way down to Macy’s on 34th Street in Herald Square.

The Parade usually begins at 8.30 AM and finishes around midday. There are plenty of public viewing spots along the parade route, but the viewing areas are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you’ll have to be up super early if you want to find a decent spot!

See the full route and details about public viewing areas on the Macy’s website.

Shop the Black Friday Sales – 29th November 2024

If you’re in NYC for Thanksgiving, you might want to take advantage of the incredible deals on offer throughout the city on Black Friday which is always the day after Thanksgiving.

Last year, I put together a huge New York Black Friday deals guide which features the best deals on flights, attractions, hotels, and more! If you’re still in New York on Black Friday, you can head to the physical stores throughout the city to take advantage of the sales; just be prepared for the crowds as many people take Black Friday very seriously!

Watch the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden – multiple dates

The NBA season officially commenced in October, so if you’re visiting NYC in November, there are at least five New York Knicks home games that you can watch at Madison Square Garden.

New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks – 8th November 2024
New York Knicks vs Chicago Bulls – 13th November 2024
New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets – 15th November 2024
New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets – 17th November 2024
New York Knicks vs Washington Wizards – 18th November 2024

Purchase tickets for the New York Knicks on Ticketmaster.

Basketball tickets at MSG are not the cheapest, as it’s one of the most iconic sports/concert venues in the world. If you still want to watch a basketball game, but don’t want to pay outrageous ticket prices, you can head over to the Barclays Center to watch the Brooklyn Nets play at their home arena.

Watch the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden – multiple dates

The New York Rangers ice hockey team also call Madison Square Garden their home arena in New York City and there are plenty of home games you can watch in November.

New York Rangers vs Ottawa Senators – 1st November 2024
New York Rangers vs New York Islanders – 3rd November 2024
New York Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres – 7th November 2024
New York Rangers vs Winnipeg Jets – 12th November 2024
New York Rangers vs San Jose Sharks – 14th November 2024
New York Rangers vs St. Louis Blues – 25th November 2024
New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens – 30th November 2024

Purchase tickets for the New York Rangers on Ticketmaster.

What to pack for NYC in November

If you’re heading to NY in November, it’s probably a good idea to pack your winter clothes, such as a warm winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves and plenty of layers.

You might not need them, depending on exactly when you’re visiting New York in November, but I’d also probably recommend packing thermals as well, just in case the weather gets particularly chilly.

As always, I also recommend my trusty Eastpak bumbag, as well as my Osprey day backpack for carrying all my daily essentials.

Conclusion – New York City in November

I really hope this November New York guide has given you plenty of inspiration for the best things to do in NYC in November! If you’re visiting New York in November, you’re sure to have an absolutely incredible time; just remember to wrap up warm!

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