New York in March

You want to visit New York, and wonder if March is the right time for a trip? New York is a city where there is a lot to do at any time of the year, but with its ever-changing weather and the many events that take place throughout the year, it's not always clear when to go. 

What is the weather like in New York in March? What to do in the city during this month? What are the good reasons to go to New York at this time of the year? You will find the answers to all these questions in this post! 😊

THE CLIMATE IN NEW YORK IN MARCH

New York City's climate is subtropical, with very cold winters and fairly hot summers – and a very wide temperature range between the two seasons. March marks the beginning of the return of the warm weather.

February is the coldest month of the year in New York, but in March already the temperature gradually rises as the weeks go by. During the first third of March, the temperatures are still really cold and it can even snow quite regularly. By March 10, the temperature has already risen by a few degrees, to an average of 7°C during the day. It rains an average of 7 days during the month, and the days get longer, lasting about 12 hours with an average of 9 hours of sunshine. Towards the end of the month, the arrival of spring can be felt and the climate becomes much sunnier.

Overall, the weather conditions are better than in January or February, but they can still be unfavourable. It goes without saying that you will still need to pack warm clothes if you plan to travel to New York in March. However, as we will see in the rest of this post, March has some advantages that can make it interesting for tourists.

WHAT TO DO IN NEW YORK IN MARCH?

All of New York's major must-see attractions are accessible during the month of March. You'll need to dress accordingly for outdoor activities to visit New York, but as far as indoor activities are concerned, March is a perfect time to visit New York.

Some of the things you can do in New York include:
 

• See shows and shows and musicals on Broadway and in other New York theatres.
  
• Visit the city's museums, which are by themselves reason enough to go to New York. There are over 150 museums of all kinds in the city, and some like the Met, MoMa and Guggenheim Museum are simply not to be missed.
  
• Take in the sights of New York from one of the great observation platforms such as the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building or the Summit.
• Take advantage of New York's ice rinks (at Rockefeller Center and Central Park, for example), which are still open for a few days in early March.
• Go to see sporting events in one of the city's iconic stadiums. During the month of March, you will have the opportunity to attend a NBA (Knicks and Brooklyn Nets), MLB (Yankees and Nets), NHL (Rangers, Islanders and New Jersey Devils), NFL (Giants and Jets) and MLS (Red Bulls and New York City FC) game almost every day.

ATTENDING MAJOR EVENTS IN MARCH

• St. Patrick's Day is an event that is properly celebrated in New York, since the city is home to a very large Irish community. This festival in honour of Ireland's patron saint is the occasion to attend large parades through the streets of Manhattan and towards Saint Patrick's Cathedral, but it is also the perfect time to party in a pub 😉
• The Macy’s Flower Show usually takes place in March. This event, organised by one of New York's most famous department stores, is a large flower festival, entirely free of charge, where visitors can admire beautiful floral arrangements.
• The Big East Tournament is a major Big East Conference college basketball tournament held at Madison Square Garden. This is the opportunity to discover the future stars of the NBA. Great players such as Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin and Kemba Walker were revealed during this tournament.
• The Easter Parade, which happens on Easter Sunday. It usually takes place in April, but it can also be at the end of March sometimes. This large parade passes through the centre of Manhattan, particularly on 5th Avenue, and for the occasion many inhabitants wear a wide variety of disguises.

WHY GO TO NEW YORK IN MARCH?

As you can see, with the possibility of visiting all the great museums and historical monuments and attending all the great events, going to New York in March is already very attractive. But there are also a few additional reasons that are particularly interesting and that could well end up convincing you to visit the Big Apple in March.

AVOID PEAK TOURIST PERIODS

From April to December, tourist numbers are very high in New York. With big peaks in August, September, October and December, March is a month with fewer visitors.

And this lower tourist presence may allow you to enjoy more peace and quiet during your visits. As such, you will be able to visit New York's museums more easily, and quickly access the major tourist sites such as the observation platforms – which will be quite enjoyable.

But you will also find it easier to book a table in a fancy restaurant, to avoid having other people in your picture on the Brooklyn Bridge or to relax in Bryant Park. Even some streets and neighbourhoods look different outside the peak season. Fifth Avenue, one of the most famous avenues in the world, is home to many shops and monuments and looks very different when it's not crowded.

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR TRIP 

The other advantage, which is directly related to the fact that there are fewer tourists at this time of year, is that prices are lower. New York is a high-cost city, so saving money on airfare and hotel rooms never hurts!

As far as accommodation is concerned, hotel prices are at their lowest at the beginning of the year and they start to rise again in March, but they are still much lower than in the period going from April to December. A room for two in a 2-star hotel costs on average €130 per night, almost €20 less than the average price in April. A room in a 3-star hotel costs around €165, almost €50 less than in the most expensive months. For a 5-day trip, this can represent several hundred euros in savings, depending on the hotel. If you are looking for good deals to stay in the city, you can also consult my article where to sleep in New York.

As for airfare, the prices will be just as interesting, since on a Paris/New York return ticket, you can easily save up to £130 per person. And if you take the precaution of booking your flight and nights well in advance of your trip, you can make even better deals!

Even everyday expenses during your stay will sometimes become cheaper. I'm thinking in particular of the price of a rental car, but also of the prices of tickets for certain shows and sports events.

SAVE ON YOUR VISITS WITH THE NEW YORK CITYPASS

There is also one last way to save money on your visits: the New York CityPass. This multiple ticket can be very interesting in March, though also at any time of the year.

It is valid for 9 days and allows you to visit 5 of New York's greatest attractions with privileged access:

• The Empire State Building, with access to the 86th floor observatory,
• The American Museum of Natural History, one of the largest museums in the country – immortalised in the movie Night at the Museum.
• The Guggenheim Museum, one of the world's great modern art museums OR the Top of the Rock, the city's most popular observatory atop Rockefeller Center.
• A visit to the symbol of New York: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR a cruise around Manhattan, around the statue or in a speedboat.  
• A visit to the 9/11 Memorial, on the site of the World Trade Center OR a visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, a museum dedicated to the history of aviation and space conquest.

You’ve reached the end of this article! I hope you found this information useful. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments. And if after reading this, you feel like going to New York later, do check my article on New York in April 😉