August in New York: what to do, how to dress, the weather and more!
You guys always ask me what each month is like in New York and I’ve been bringing you a little bit about each month here. Today it’s time to tell you all about August in New York! If you’re planning a trip here in August, get ready to enjoy summer with lots of outdoor activities – it’s one of the best (but hottest) months to enjoy the city!
Oh, before I forget…To see more of my day to day life in NYC and get the hottest tips, join my NYC tips Facebook group HERE, follow me on Instagram (@marthasachser or @blognyandabout) and subscribe to my YouTube channel! And click HERE for my NYC complete guide with step-to-step itineraries!
What the weather is like in New York in August
If you really love hot weather, August (and July) is for you! The average temperature is usually between 20 and 29°C, with the lowest temperatures usually in the early hours of the morning. The rest of the day the heat is usually intense (of course there are years when New York goes against the grain, but it’s an exception). It’s still summer, so don’t forget to carry a bottle of water and apply sunscreen. Even though the sun comes out a lot, there can be the typical summer showers, which are usually quick. Always keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid surprises!
Is August in New York considered high season?
Yes, it’s school summer break in most countries, so the city is very crowded with people from all over the world enjoying themselves. The relatively pleasant weather (because bitter cold also has its limitations) + the the entire world on vacation mean that the attractions have a lot of lines and even a shortage of tickets, so it’s very important to organize in advance and book your tickets online – I always recommend getting your tickets with free cancellation which you can do clicking HERE and if you insert the coupon NYABOUT10OFF you get an extra 10% off! You’re welcome and thanks for supporting my work at no extra cost to you by buying through my affiliate link!
How to dress in New York in August
Be prepared for intense heat, so don’t forget to pack light and comfortable clothes such as: shorts, tank tops, dresses, light jumpsuits, cool t-shirts, sandals and sneakers. Cotton fabrics are more recommended, as the heat feels very sauna-like at times.
Don’t forget your sunscreen, water bottle and sunglasses too. And for those who want to be extra cautious, it’s worth carrying a light umbrella in your bag or a raincoat for those rainy summer days. Remember that you’ll be walking a lot, so wearing light and comfortable clothes is very important!
Note: Example of looks I wear in summer but the boots only work on mild days.
Attractions and things to do in New York in August:
In August many concerts, movie nights in the city’s parks, and cultural activities take place, I’ll give you some suggestions below but in this post HERE I talk more about what to do in the summer in New York.
Of all of them, the movies in the parks are my favorite part, it’s a very local experience and usually in a very iconic location. To see the full schedule, I recommend visiting the park’s websites and social networks of the parks you want to visit, but two of my favorites are Brooklyn Bridge Park and Bryant Park. I usually share on my instagram the movie schedules at the beginning of summer for the main parks.
US Open
There’s no American holiday in August, but that’s when the US Open Tennis Championships begin in late August and early September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and it’s a mega event! For tickets and more information click HERE!
Visit one of New York’s observatories
This is an experience that everyone should do when traveling here! It’s an incredible experience to see the city from above. On the links below you can buy at a discount and with free cancellation, very useful in case your plans change or the weather isn’t favorable the week of your trip!
- Summit (use the code NYABOUT10OFF to buy with 10% discount)
- Edge (use the code NYABOUT10OFF to buy with 10% discount)
- Empire State Building (use the code NYABOUT10OFF to buy with 10% discount)
- Top of The Rock (use the code NYABOUT10OFF to buy with 10% discount)
- One World Observatory (use the code NYABOUT10OFF to buy with 10% discount)
Another tip is to buy the attraction passes, depending on which one you choose, you’ll have access to 4 of the 5 observatories (The Summit isn’t on the best attraction passes yet – 2024). I recommend either this, this, this or this one.
Walk around the main parks
It may sound cliché, but one of the best things to do during the summer in New York is to stroll through the parks. And don’t think I’m just talking about the famous ones like Central Park and Bryant Park! The city is full of green spaces, such as Battery Park, Domino Park, Prospect Park, Riverside Park, Washington Square Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, High Line, Hudson River Park, Madison Square Park, Astoria Park, Gantry Plaza State Park and many others.
During the summer you can take advantage of the warm weather (when it is actually nice and not super humid) in the parks to take photos and enjoy outdoor activities such as cycling, running, having a picnic, playing ball and whatever else you prefer! Central Park even hosts dance classes and a pickle ball court!
See a Broadway show
And of course, you can’t miss a good Broadway show! Broadway shows are unique and make every trip more special – and escape the heat outside! And for those who don’t want to go because they think it’s too expensive, there are several ways to try and get a discount, click HERE to find out more!
Enjoying a rooftop
New York is the place to be at night or at the end of the day on a rooftop, and there’s no shortage of options. Here on the blog there are several posts about rooftops, my favorites are in my New York guide (click HERE to learn more and download) but HERE you can find a variety of posts on this topic.
Eating in a restaurant by the river
Being a city surrounded by water, it’s common to find some restaurants located right next to New York’s rivers. They are excellent options for a lively happy hour with friends or a dinner for two on a summer day. Some of the most notable are Cecconi’s, The River Cafe and Celestine in Brooklyn; City Winery on Pier 26, The Frying Pan boat in Chelsea, overlooking New Jersey and some of the restaurants at Brookfield Place. In addition, I recommend some in Long Island City, close to the river, such as American Brass and Brooklyn Osteria. I’ve already talked about most of them and many other unmissable restaurants in my New York guide, click HERE to download!
Enjoying a late afternoon in Little Island
Little Island is a “floating park” located on the Hudson River. In addition to the green space, beautiful views of the city and New Jersey, various events take place there all year round! Admission is free. Visit the official website HERE!
Take a cruise
Sailing down the Hudson and East Rivers is an incredible experience, not only because of the wonderful views of Manhattan, but also because the cruise itself is so nice, it’s like treating yourself and going somewhere nice without actually leaving NYC. There are different options such as dinner, lunch and brunch cruises. This one HERE and this one HERE are my favorite ones! Use my code NYABOUT10OFF to book with 10% off! But make sure to click HERE for my cruise options!
Enjoy a live music show with famous artists for free
This is the time for Summerstage Festival, an open-air festival at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park with free performances and incredible shows. To check out the list of attractions, visit the official website..
In addition to the Summerstage Festival, three TV channels also offer concerts during the summer with super-renowned singers, NBC with the Today Concert Series, ABC with the Good Morning America Summer Series and Fox Channel with the All- American Summer Concert Series. All of them are free, but you have to get there early to guarantee a good seat or see if they ask you to register beforehand on the official websites where you can also find a list of the shows. But summer is a time for outdoor concerts, so these are just a few.
Spend the day on one of New York’s beaches
Yes, in New York City we also have nice beaches, two of the most famous are Coney Island and Rockaway Beach (there are several beaches in the area) and in both you can get there by subway and in the case of Rockaway, even by ferry (NYC Ferry). In Coney Island you’ll also find amusement parks, lots of street food, an aquarium, you can watch baseball games… There’s always something going on. Rockaway is already known among locals as a better area for beach lovers, either because of its cleanliness or because of its “beachy” atmosphere. Don’t forget to download my New York guide where I have two itineraries dedicated to the two areas with all the best things to do in each.
Want more tips on what to do in summer in New York? Then click HERE to check out the full post!
Are you traveling to NYC? Get my NYC guide now and save time, money and explore the city like a true New Yorker!
What’s inside?
- 16 detailed step-by-step itineraries to explore NYC from morning to evening with all the attractions, shops, spots you can’t miss and restaurants I recommend in each area (organization is key when exploring NYC so don’t worry, I got you!) and much much more. PLUS:
- Travel to and from the airports
- How to use the NYC subway (metro)
- Budget friendly hotels and hostels
- Weather in NYC
- Month by month event calendar
- Store guide
- The best outlets near NYC
- Restaurants you can’t miss in every neighborhood
- NYC FAQ
- NYC with kids (the best things to do and attractions)
- Free attractions you can’t miss
- Extra tips, fun facts, movie and TV shooting locations
- Exclusive discounts for my readers
- “Instagrammable” spots
- Most used Apps in NYC
- Google maps exclusive links, so you can simply use your phone and find the attractions mentioned on the book near you
- Gluten-free and vegan restaurants
- What to do in the winter and summer in NYC
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Discounts in NYC:
Attractions, tours and experiences:
You can book all of the above with a 10% off discount and free cancellation by using my coupon code NYABOUT10OFF HERE!
Where to buy your discount passes for New York attractions:
If you wanna save money on tickets and have plans to visit some of the best attractions, I recommend checking out some of the passes below:
CityPASS at the normal price on the official website HERE!
CityPASS with a 10% discount HERE! (code NYABOUT10OFF)
The Sightseeing DAY PASS at the normal price on the official website HERE! (one of my favorites)
The Sightseeing DAY PASS with a 10% discount HERE(code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
The Sightseeing FLEX Pass at the normal price on the official website HERE! (one of my favorites)
The Sightseeing Flex PASS with a 10% discount HERE (code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
Go City New York Explorer Pass: with a 10% discount HERE! (code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
Go City: The New York Pass with a 10% discount HERE! (code NYABOUT10OFF) (one of my favorites)
How to save money in New York:
Accommodation:
Hotels: Click HERE to check out my post with the best hotels in Queens (super close to Manhattan) and HERE for hotels in NYC in general.
Airport/Hotel Transfer:
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I never travel without an international sim card, I ran way too many times into issues with local mobile companies, plus, they are more expensive most of the time. I love that now we can buy digital sim cards, and they are super easy to activate. The two major companies I recommend are:
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