Things to Do in New York in Spring

New York City really comes alive in the springtime. The parks are in bloom, the snow has melted away, and there's a happy and warm air (literally and figuratively) that sweeps the entire island.

By Katie Sagal
Central Park Spring

Spring is a great time to visit New York, with cheaper airfare and lodging available, shorter attraction lines, and exciting new special events and shows offered daily. If you’re looking for things to do in New York in spring, check out our list of some of the best activities and attractions, including...

  • Butterfly Conservatory Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History
  • Top of the Rock Observatory
  • Empire State Building
  • Landmarks Cruise
  • Central Park Bike Rental
  • Cherry Blossom Season at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
  • Baseball Games and Sports Stadiums
  • New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show
  • Macy’s Flower Show
  • Tribeca Film Festival

American Museum of Natural History Butterfly Conservatory

butterfly-on-my-finger-conservatory-american

In addition to being one of our favorite museums in the entire city, the American Museum of Natural History is also a great place to visit (over and over again) because of its spectacular line-up of special exhibits. Explore the grounds Night at the Museum style. Study dinosaur fossils, learn about biodiversity and environmentalism, travel from Earth to space, and much more. In spring, check out the annually-available Butterfly Conservatory Exhibit, which showcases these amazing delicate creatures in a riot of colors and shapes.

Top of the Rock Observatory

man-cap-standing-observatory-deck-edge

While the city’s natural landscapes are slowly starting to come to life, it’s kind of hard to get the right perspective on nature from the ground. See spring in full bloom from the Top of the Rock. Zip all the way to the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza for spectacular views of Central Park and beyond. Enjoy a skyline dotted by skyscrapers and greenery.

Empire State Building

wide-low-angle-view-empire-state

Another great place to see the entire city come to life is from atop the famous Empire State Building.  Learn how the Art Deco building has become one of the most famous in the world. The Empire State Building experience is more than just an observation deck, too. As you journey from the ground floor to the top, you'll be immersed in interactive exhibits that tell the story of this architectural masterpiece.

Landmarks Cruise

The warmer weather calls for a ride through the harbor. Hop aboard a Circle Line Sightseeing cruise and see the iconic Manhattan skyline from the water. The Landmarks Cruise is a classic and will cover all things NYC. Float by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and more.

Central Park Bike Rentals and Tours

bethesda-terrace-fountain-two-architectural-features

The return of warm(ish) weather to NYC means that people are bringing their bikes out in force. Join in with an easy bike rental and pedal through the always lovely Central Park to enjoy the emerging flowers all around you. If you want to explore beyond the park, another popular route takes you across the Brooklyn Bridge. There are often guided tours you can join, which allows you to explore the city without the pressure of figuring out where to go on your own, and deciding whether or not there's really a bike lane ahead of you.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

botanical-garden-brooklyn-new-york

There are few things as lovely as these delicate, exotic blossoms. Fortunately for you, you don’t need to travel thousands of miles to Japan to see these amazing trees for yourself. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has an astonishing collection of cherry blossom trees that bloom in splendor each spring.

Roam the gardens and marvel at their beauty – with camera in hand, of course! They even have a cherry blossom tracker you can use to see when the trees will be at the point of peak bloom, so you can plan your trip around a certain date.

Root for the home team

Yankee Stadium

One of America’s favorite springtime traditions is the return of Major League Baseball. It's always a ton of fun to take in a game with the whole family, and NYC fans will be cheering right along with you. So whichever team you support, there’s some exciting early-season baseball to enjoy during your next NYC trip!

Want to see more of Yankee Stadium? Take a tour! Sports fans may also enjoy a tour of Madison Square Garden.

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show

entrance-new-york-botanical-garden

The Annual Orchid Show NYC is a sight not to be missed for fans of gardening or all things botanical. Come to the New York Botanical Garden to see the gorgeous array of various orchid specimens, arranged in ways to evoke the wild beauty of these distinctive plants. Get excited to see some beautiful plants, and consider bringing one home, too!

Macy’s Flower Show

Macy's Flower Show

In celebration of the beauty of spring, the Macy’s Flower Show is back for another amazing year. Visit the iconic department store and see the displays come to life with thousands of gorgeous flowers covering mannequins and more. A must-see for plant lovers, there will be several special events and talks, marvelous featured gardens, and even bouquets of the day. You'll even find floral-themed food and face painting for the kids.

Tribeca Film Festival

The amazing Tribeca Film Festival is one of the city’s best-beloved events of its kind. In addition to dozens of film screenings at theaters across the neighborhood, the festival also offers special events, Tribeca Talks panels, interactive installations, live music, and much more.

Save on springtime activities in New York City

Discover our full line-up of New York attractions including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more.  

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Ghostly figure
Blog

Thrills, spills and chills: New York’s scariest attractions and experiences

Dive into haunted houses, ghost tours and spine-tingling stories at some of the Big Apple’s most spooktacular spots.
Things To Do Near Luna Park
Blog

Things To Do Near Luna Park

Luna Park is just the beginning of your Coney Island adventure
Edge vs Empire State Building
Blog

Edge vs Empire State Building - Compare Observation Decks

Batman Vs. Superman. Freddie Vs. Jason. Kramer Vs. Kramer. It seems that, as a species, we have a fascination with face-offs. We even have a classic 1997 action thriller named after them! So, clearly, humans love a good head-to-head. In the spirit of healthy competition, let's pit two of New York's best attractions against one another and see which comes out top. The Edge Vs. the Empire State Building. Young blood versus the old guard. Youth Vs. Experience. Who will win? Does visiting both make you the real winner? Let's explore. Round 1. Fight! Edge Vs. Empire State Building: Backstories The Empire State Building likely needs no introduction. Once the proud owner of 'the world's tallest building' moniker, it has since been beaten by some ungodly tall creations in the past 50 years. Still, it's arguably one of the most recognizable landmarks on the planet. At nearly 1,500ft tall, it towers over the rest of Manhattan like a beacon of capitalist excess. Around 4 million people ascend its many floors to look out over the city every year. So it's probably going to win the popularity contest. Image courtesy of Mike Van Moonlight/Shutterstock The Edge, on the other hand, is the guitarist of U2. Wait, that's not right. Just going to check our notes. No, this Edge is, in fact, a massive observation platform found in the gentrified redevelopment of Hudson Yards. Surrounded by new builds and moderno architecture, its tower of sights is unmissable. As it's so new, there isn't much backstory to mention here. But, given the comparisons between its name and a certain stadium-rock guitarist, one could only imagine there is some crossover there. Just to be clear, there isn't. We had to say that for legal reasons. But one can imagine. Edge Vs. Empire State Building: Cinema stylings Image courtesy of Drop of Light/Shutterstock The Empire State Building has a rather storied history on celluloid. Who could forget King Kong climbing the tower's summit with damsel in hand while planes pepper them with gunfire? But that's just one of many. In fact, it's likely one of the most photographed landmarks in cinematic history. How does Edge measure up? Well, given its relative infancy, not so well. In fact, no matter how hard we looked, we couldn't find a single film that featured it. However, while it may not be in any movies, you can actually watch movies up there. Yes, the Edge has its own outdoor cinema thanks to a partnership with NY's Museum of Modern Art. Beat that, Empire State Building! What can you do at Edge When you arrive, you'll likely want to see the view from the top and discover what all the fuss is about. So, head inside and ride the elevator a might 100 stories up. Then, step out onto the open-air viewing platform and see for yourself. Oh, did we mention that platform has a glass floor? No? Well, if you're already up there, you'll learn the hard way. Once you're braving it, dare to sip some champagne and look out on the city's skyline in wonder. Take some snaps too, because a chance like this should not go begging. Then, when you're done soaking up the views, head down into Hudson Yards. You'll find plenty of places to eat, drink, and even shop in this new development, so go ham. What can you do at the Empire State Building While it may be tempting to head straight to the top of the Empire State Building, settle down. Take it slow and soak it all in. Start at the bottom, where you'll be greeted by the recently-restored Art Deco lobby, which boasts 24-karat gold and aluminum leaf ceiling murals. Enough opulence! Time to move on. Next, immerse yourself in the Empire State's interactive museum, which features a dozen galleries that explore the history of the building, from its conception and creation through to today. Selfies ahoy with the large King Kong statue on display. Then, head up to the 80th floor and wander the art exhibits that are all dedicated the icon of the NY skyline. Now, yes, it's finally time to make your way to the summit and experience the best views in the city. You'll get a 360-degree view of the city that is as Grammable as any other skyline. Come rain, shine, or freezing temperatures, your time in the summit will be aided by state-of-the-art heaters that will keep you warm and toasty during New York's most arctic months. How to get to Edge For starters, head towards Hudson Yards. You can get there on the subway by taking the Number 7 through Times Square to Penn Station. Bus-wise, the M34-SBS, M12, and M11 bus lines stop within a few minutes walk of the tower. You could even hop on two wheels and bike there. Cycle to the Hudson River Park along the West Side Highway and follow the trail down the Hudson Yards. Easy, peasy, and good for the ol' heart! How to get to Empire State Building If you're in New York City, you're halfway there. However, there's no need to live on a prayer, because it's pretty easy to see it with the eye test. Just look up from most places in the city, because you'll be able to orient yourself with no problem! If you're heading in from further outside the city center, the nearest metro stations are Herald Square and Penn Station. Or, if you're getting the train, disembark at Grand Central, and it's a short 10-minute walk from the station. We've even got a blog dedicated to the best times to visit the Empire State Building. So, if you're not sure when to head there, have a look and see what we suggest! Save on New York Activities and Attractions The battle is over. But who won? That's up to you to decide. No matter who reigns victorious in the Edge Vs. Empire State Building face-off, you should definitely check out both when you visit New York. And, when you're in the city that never sleeps, make sure your itinerary is loaded up for a full 24 hours with Go City. Thanks to our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass, you can see Edge, the Empire State Building, and New York's best of the rest at one low price!
Dom Bewley

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.