The 46 Best Things To Do in New York in October 2025

The New York City skyline is one of the most famous and recognizable skylines in the world. It’s a city filled with skyscrapers and tall buildings. In most recent years, it has been expanding which made way for new observation decks.

The newest observation deck is located at the top of the One Vanderbilt Building and is called The Summit. This deck is the second-highest outdoor deck in NYC which follows the Edge and has been open since October 2021.

It celebrates its 4th birthday on October 21, and for the grandiose views alone, it’s one of my MUST SEE for October. Because then you see the first colorful leaves of Central Park up close!

Attention all comic and anime fans! New York in October holds the world-famous Comic Con, where you can meet the actors of your favorite childhood comic series and other legends of the industry. Cosplay is a very popular activity during this event, so if you’re out in the city, and you are met by people dressed up as comic heroes, don’t be surprised. Comic Con usually takes place at the Jacob Javits Center next to the Westside highway.

Off-Broadway Week is a bi-annual event that offers you 2-for-1 tickets. Besides Broadway Week or Restaurant Week, it is one of the most longed for events in New York. Even though it is called Off-Broadway Week, it is never just one week but spans over almost two weeks. Off-Broadway theaters are located all over the city, so be sure to double-check the theater location before you go!

Here the Rhine metropolis Cologne meets New York. Michael Momm, a real „Kölscher Jung“, opened this piece of Germany in the middle of New York in 2003. A few years ago, Loreley’s longtime manager Doug Jacobson bought the beer garden from Momm and has been running this place ever since.

Until October 31, the Loreley Beer Garden is celebrating Oktoberfest with sausages, pretzels, and German beer served in liter mugs and boots. Come by and celebrate Germany’s most famous festival – in New York!

The Pumpkin Keg Season and the Haunted Beer Garden (starting October 16) will also take place here until the beginning of November. During this time, you can enjoy pumpkin spice cocktails, Halloween specialty cocktails, and other specialties.

What could be more beautiful than marveling at the colorful autumn leaves on board a historic ship? That’s exactly what you can do on these fall foliage tours, which are among the most popular boat tours in autumn.

This year there are several different tours to choose from. What they all have in common is the destination: the Hudson Valley. The Hudson Valley is located north of Manhattan, and on the way there on the Hudson River, you’ll pass through the famous George Washington Bridge and be able to enjoy the view of the impressive rock formations called Palisades.

Here you can find the Best Fall Foliage Cruises in New York.

In October, you can once again enjoy outdoor movies at Hudson Yards. Free and first-come-first-served!

These are the dates for 2025:

October 3: Grown Ups
October 10: Rent
October 17: Legally Blonde
October 24: Top Gun Maverick

From May to October, major international sporting events are shown on the big screen at The Big Screen at The Backyard at Hudson Yards. Sports enthusiasts can watch soccer, Formula 1, golf, tennis tournaments, baseball playoffs, women’s soccer, and more on the approximately 30-foot screen.

The first ice skating rinks open by the end of October preparing you for a smooth transition into the winter. Ice skating is fun regardless of the season, so we’d recommend taking advantage of it! Ice skating in New York is always one of the most fun things to do. It’s a great fall activity, especially if you are traveling with children.

Besides ice skating rinks, some Christmas markets will also be open starting end of October/early November. The Bank of America’s Winter Village at Bryant Park (behind the Public Library), the famed Rink at Rockefeller Center and the Wollman Rink in Central Park are just three of New York City’s finest ice rinks.

My tip: These are our favorite Ice Skating Rinks in NYC.

The answer to whether you should or should not see a Broadway show when visiting New York in October is crystal clear: YES, it absolutely belongs on your bucket list! What is not always as clear, however, is which show to pick.

In order to help you out, we’ve created an overview of the absolute best Broadway shows in NYC in October!

Ah yes. Halloween. The original Celtic custom is celebrated on this day and is a popular day in the USA. Every year in New York in October, countless children are dressed in costumes and go door to door “scaring” people and yell out “trick or treat”. The major attraction on this day is New York’s Greenwich Village Halloween Parade which brings out more than two million spectators.

My tip: this is our complete guide with amazing Things To Do on Halloween in NYC!

Taking a stroll through the NYC boroughs to see the carved pumpkins is a tradition. But if you want to see something truly impressive, it’s worth making the short trip out to either Long Island or Hudson Valley for the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.

Featuring thousands of hand-carved pumpkins alongside impressive displays, the Blaze is a great all-ages event. Though some elements can be considered spooky, families can rest assured that there aren’t any shocking or scary elements.

For more information on the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze and to reserve your tickets, check out the Pumpkin Blaze website.

Because German emigrant Sylvester Schneider missed his beloved beer gardens, he simply founded his own in 2000 and quenched his homesickness for original German beer, food and beer garden culture with a restaurant called “Zum Schneider”.

This is fun: every Sunday the Columbus Avenue will be close to cars (68 to 77th streets). Here you can enjoy outdoor dining, visit the famous Bazaar at 77th street or just stroll around.

Though Governors Island is no longer a secret spot, it hasn’t lost its charm and remains one of our favorite places in New York. Throughout October, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Manhattan from the island, ride bicycles, and participate in a large variety of events hosted here. A ferry ride to the island typically costs $5, but if you decide to come on a Saturday or Sunday before noon, it’ll be free!

The Bronx Night Market is one of the best places to find foods that celebrate New York City’s most northern borough. Each spring, this event supports the Bronx’s food scene by offering world-class events that are affordable. Be ready to celebrate cuisine and culture, as it represents NYC’s diverse offerings and encourages people from all around the city to experience this borough.

You’ll find just about every type of food, from ice cream, latkes, and pastries, to tamales, soul food, and vegan options. There are also other types of local merchants and live entertainment.

Over 40 different films from very different genres will be presented. Locations include the Walter Reade Theater, the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center and Alice Tully Hall (all at Film at Lincoln Center). In addition, all boroughs are represented, as there are public festival screenings at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem, the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Staten Island.

Vintage lovers will get their money’s worth this fall. At New York’s iconic vintage show “Manhattan Vintage”, over 90 dealers will present not only jewelry and clothing, but also accessories and antique textiles. The history of fashion from the 20th and 21st centuries is presented here in its full range and makes the hearts of fashion fans of all ages beat faster.

Don’t miss this event in the beautiful Chelsea neighborhood and discover the extraordinary world of vintage!

When? October 17-19, 2025

Looking for the best fall day trips from NYC? We got you covered! New York State has many wonderful places to enjoy the colorful autumn. With Massachusetts, New England and Washington, D.C., there are several destinations that are only a day trip away from New York City and that have a lot of history, culture and nature to offer.

I myself have been to the Green Mountains and White Mountains as well as Niagara Falls several times for a weekend in the fall – you’re guaranteed to get goosebumps here, it’s that impressive!

My tip: These are the best fall day trips from NYC.

The Color Factory New York is a museum where all ages can embark on an interactive journey through 14 colorful art exhibits. From the bright yellow of New York’s famous cabs to the creamy brown of a delicious street pretzel, the Color Factory celebrates the city’s vibrant colors.

There’s a little surprise for visitors each time they visit, and you can take great photos in the diverse exhibits. All of this was developed by local and international artists and collaborators.

On Columbus Day, New Yorkers commemorate the “discoverer” of America, Christopher Columbus. Each year, a grand parade is organized in New York, which runs across Fifth Avenue. 35,000 people including bands, fleets, and Marines take part in this parade, which attracts around a million visitors and another million people in front of the TV in their living rooms.

The parade starts at Fifth Avenue on the corner 44th Street. It heads north up to 72nd Street (start: 11:30 AM, end: 3:00 PM). Want to get more information? 

This is for all of the foodies and wine connoisseurs.  The New York City Wine and Food Festival offers more than 80 events over 4 days. There’s everything from tastings of America’s favorite foods to intimate dinners with world-renowned chefs, cooking classes, nutrition seminars, wine tasting, and parties.

Prepared and served by America’s favorite food stars, this event is a real highlight for New Yorkers and tourists from around the world.

The New York Wine and Food Festival will be held October 15-19, 2025!

As the U.S. city with the largest Hispanic population, there may be no better place than New York City to celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage Month. This annual celebration of Hispanic and Latino heritage takes place in September and October, and New Yorkers make sure to fill up the whole month with parades, events, film festivals, and more.

Fall in NYC is the perfect time to wander through the many beautiful parks as the trees change colors. Some of our favorite parks to see the best fall foliage in New York City are Central Park, Prospect Park, and The High Line.

For an even better experience, you can consider taking a helicopter tour over New York. From up there, you’ll have the most amazing views of Central Park’s fall foliage. There are different helicopter routes, so be sure you choose one that includes Central Park.

My tip: Here you find everything you need to know about Central Park Fall Foliage.

Football is New York. Whether it’s a game of the New York Giants or the New York Jets, both American Football teams are definitely worth checking out (ok, I do prefer the Giants 😉 )

The NBA season kicks off this month and we’re always looking forward to watching one of the many NBA games in New York. Whether it’s the Brooklyn Nets or the New York Knicks, both teams like try their best to show-out in front of the home-town crowd.

Get Brooklyn Nets tickets here and New York Knicks tickets here.

October is always a very special month for sports enthusiasts like us, because in addition to the NBA, the NHL season also starts with many exciting matches. We have already been to several games of the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden and can only recommend a visit. The atmosphere is terrific!

Here you can get tickets for the New York Rangers, and everything about the sporting events in our article about sports events in New York.

We have already tested many dinner cruises in New York for you. One that we have liked the best of all so far is the Bateaux Dinner Cruise. With a glass roof, the ship heads towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Especially when the weather is nice, the wine or prosecco tastes especially good on the outdoor area of the boat.

You can find more unique dinner cruises in NYC. fantastic brunch cruises, lunch cruises and jazz cruises in this overview.

The BRIC JazzFest will be held for the 11th time in 2025. From October 17-18, you can experience legends of the jazz world and rising stars at BRIC House in Downtown Brooklyn. The artists brought in their very own style of music – for example, jazz will be combined with hip-hop, which promises real innovations!

If you think the rooftop bar season is over in the fall, then think again! Not in New York! There are many rooftop bars in NYC that offer fresh air even in the cold season. For me, the cloudM Rooftop Bar is one of the most beautiful rooftop bars not only in the Lower East Side, but in all of New York.

It is located on the roof of the citizenM New York Bowery Hotel and offers everything that makes a good rooftop bar: a great view, beautiful design and relaxed atmosphere.

My tip: these are the best rooftop bars in NYC.

One of the highlights of the Halloween celebration is the Pumpkin Flotilla. As is gets dark around 6:30 pm, priorly carved pumpkins are released into the Harlem Meer and will be float around for 30 minutes. The spectacle draws hundreds of visitors to the northeast corner of Central Park.

One of the most famous and beautiful photo motifs in autumn in New York is the Pumpkins Arch at Pier 17. From here you can look wonderfully at the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River and take really beautiful photos.

This beautiful park opened up in Williamsburg in 2018. It’s called Domino park because the former Domino Sugar factory was located at that very spot. Now, it’s filled with greenery, food vendors and a playground for kids. It is located directly on the East River and you have a great view of the city from here. The park invites you to play volleyball or have a picnic.

This has been my discovery of the last summer – and if you’re in New York until mid-October, you absolutely have to go there. It is the floating boathouse of the Manhattan Sailing Club, is called Honorable William Wall and is located right next to Ellis Island. Especially in the evening, when you look at the illuminated Manhattan, it is just sensational here.

This is my review (AWESOME!) of the Honorable William Wall.

Not far from the Meatpacking District and the High Line, Little Island is one of the newest attractions in New York and is something very special: a park on 280 beautiful tulip-shaped concrete stilts in the Hudson River!

The New Yorker Festival, organized by the publisher of the same name, will take place for the 22nd time. It is one of the most popular fall festivals in New York, bringing you the “biggest names in politics, literature, film, music, art, and pop culture on panels, discussions, and performances” over 7 days.

The green terrace in the middle of Manhattan is a great experience in fine weather. The decommissioned freight rail track was once overgrown completely as it fell out of use. Based on the plants that grew there, a park was built in homage to the interesting plants that flourish in the city.

Walk from the Meatpacking District (Gansevoort Street) on the High Line towards Uptown and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. Since 2014,  Manhattan has been enjoying this highlight and attracts countless visitors every day. There are many lovely cafés, galleries and great bars – and with Gallow Green one of my favorite rooftop bars in the city.

My tip: these are the best spots along the High Line for me.

Now known for their many excellent restaurants, shops and tourism, Manhattan’s SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown neighborhoods offer the most varied stories of New York City. Take a 2-hour tour with a local guide and discover hidden gems and 19th century buildings.

This 5-day Indie Film Festival is finally back. For the 18th time, the film festival will take place in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn and will offer you many virtual and accompanying events in addition to live screenings.

This event is especially popular with New Yorkers. Take advantage of a visit to get to know Bushwick better. It’s worth it!

The annual Open House New York event allows tourists and locals to access the city’s main buildings for 3 days. The main thing here is to experience the city differently and to meet the people who designed and built New York. All sorts of buildings can be visited, from the very historic to modern apartments or industrial buildings that are scattered all over the five boroughs.

There will be tours, lectures, performances, and events around the meaning of architecture and urban design. All the information about this cool event can be found here.

Dates for 2025: October 17-19

On October 28th in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was ceremoniously opened and is without question one of the most important landmarks of New York. What you can experience there and whether the crown tickets are worth it (no!), you will learn in our guide to the Statue of Liberty New York.

Visit this celebrated oyster bar aboard the historic wooden schooner, Sherman Zwicker right on the Hudson River. Hudson River Park was able to set up a pretty sweet deal for the Grand Banks, which now has a row of tables for two running along the south side of the pier. By doing so, they are now able to serve drinks within that space.

This is my favorite spot in New York City!

My tip: these are the best waterfront restaurants in NYC right now!

We love Pier 6 in the summer because it’s home to PILOT Brooklyn, one of our absolute favorite spots in all of New York City.

The annual Harvest Festival celebrates the change from summer to fall. You can expect live music, a small procession, lawn games and much more. You can enjoy all this with the skyline of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge in the backdrop.

The full list of events can be found here.

The season is perfect for a museum visit to New York, and the Big Apple really doesn’t lack choices. After the theatrical release of “The Night of the Museum” series (The first movie took place in the New York Museum of Natural History), you feel like going to the place of the event?

In the footsteps of dinosaurs, aborigines, and many other historical creatures, the Natural History Museum on Central Park West is always a good idea for a museum outing.

My tip: These are the Best Museums in NYC.

Established by the French Institute Alliance Française, this year marks the 17th edition of the festival. It celebrates its core values of “innovation, intellectual inquiry, openness to others and the world, friendliness, and a strong desire to engage with the issues of our time”. The latter is especially in demand at the moment! It is curated by Florent Masse and Mathilde Augé.

I love going out for Mexican food. In New York City, you have a huge selection of taquerias to celebrate International Tacos Day!

My tip: Here you get the best tacos in NYC.

The Queens Craft Brigade is located in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens and is the stylish version of Astoria Market. Here you can see, taste, and buy art, food, and fashion from Queen’s designers.

When? October 25, 2025