United States, North America

New York City in August

The subway-platform-sauna month. Locals leave on weekends and the city runs at a simmer. Deals exist if you can take the heat.

Think twiceHot and sticky, highs near 84F (29C)

Manhattan skyline, New York City — New York CityPhoto: Superbass, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

August is a month to think twice about visiting New York City. The subway-platform-sauna month. Locals leave on weekends and the city runs at a simmer. Deals exist if you can take the heat.

Weather: Hot and sticky, highs near 84F (29C)
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What August is like in New York City

August is hot and sticky, with highs near 84F (29C). Subway platforms feel like saunas, and many locals leave on weekends, so the city runs at a simmer. Crowds are moderate and some hotel deals appear. Late in the month, the US Open starts in Queens.

Honestly, it is the month to avoid if you have a choice. If you come, plan museums, theater, and air-conditioned spaces for midday, and walk early and late. Tennis fans get a real bonus at the end of the month. For better weather with the same city, wait for September.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about New York City this month.

US Open early rounds

Grand Slam tennis begins in Queens late in the month. Grounds passes for the early rounds are great value.

Summer hotel deals

With locals away and business travel quiet, some hotels discount. Look for weekend deals.

Early-morning city walks

The city is at its most pleasant from 6am to 9am. Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge are calm and cooler.

What to pack for August

The lightest breathable clothes you have
A refillable water bottle
Sunscreen and a hat
A light layer for air-conditioned spaces

Our timing tip

Book the last week of August if you want both US Open tickets and slightly cooler evenings.

Book New York City for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in New York City
Opens a hotel search for New York City in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in New York City
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in New York City
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in New York City for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

US Open tennis

Late August into early September

Two weeks of Grand Slam tennis in Queens. Grounds passes for the early rounds are one of sport's best-value tickets.

Things to do in New York City

Full guide

Central Park

Enter at 72nd Street for the Bethesda Terrace core. Weekday mornings feel local; the North Woods feels like another state entirely.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Too big to finish, so do not try. Pick two wings and go at opening or on Friday and Saturday evenings when it stays open late.

Tickets and tours →

A Broadway show

Book marquee shows weeks ahead; same-day rush, lottery, and the TKTS booth cover the rest. January and September have the best availability.

Tickets and tours →

Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO

Walk it from Brooklyn toward Manhattan for the skyline in front of you the whole way. Before 8am you share it with joggers, not crowds.

Tickets and tours →

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Reserve crown access months out. The Staten Island Ferry is the free drive-by alternative with skyline views thrown in.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The High Line and Hudson Yards

An elevated rail line turned garden walk through Chelsea. Least crowded early morning or after dark, when it is lit and lovely.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Flip the icons to the edges of the day: Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square before 8am, the Met at opening, the High Line after dark. Midday belongs to neighborhoods, not landmarks.
In December, see the tree and the windows on a weeknight before 6pm or after 10pm, and spend your daytime hours downtown or in Brooklyn where the holiday crush thins dramatically.
Book observation decks for sunrise or the last night slot; midday sells the same view with triple the elbows.
Museums have quiet valves: Friday and Saturday evenings at the Met, weekday afternoons almost everywhere. First-Friday-type free hours draw the biggest lines of the week, so know the trade.

Know before you go

New York genuinely never closes seasonally. There is no off season for the museums, theaters, or restaurants; the calendar shifts what is on, not whether the city is open.
Thanksgiving Day and December 25 are the two days that actually shut most of the city: many museums and restaurants close, though Chinatown famously does not, and Broadway typically plays on December 25.
Some Broadway shows go dark on Mondays, and most museums close one weekday, commonly Monday or Wednesday. Check the specific show and museum before building your day.
January through early February brings the year's best availability: restaurant reservations, Broadway seats, and hotel deals that are fantasy in October or December.

New York City in August, quick answers

Is August a good time to visit New York City?

August is a month to think twice about visiting New York City. The subway-platform-sauna month. Locals leave on weekends and the city runs at a simmer. Deals exist if you can take the heat.

What is the weather like in New York City in August?

Hot and sticky, highs near 84F (29C).

Is New York City crowded in August?

Crowds in New York City are moderate in August; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in New York City in August?

US Open tennis (late august into early september).