Spending Valentine’s Day in New York

If you're in New York City over Valentine's Day, you'll be in one of the best places in the world to spend a romantic day. Valentine's Day is taken seriously in the city, and you'll find plenty of things to do to make your day as a couple memorable.

In this guide, I'll give you some ideas on how to make your Valentine's Day in New York a success – especially if you don't yet know what to do in New York! 😁

Walking around in Central Park

A hand-in-hand stroll through the alleys of Central Park is obviously one of the must-do activities for Valentine's Day in the Big Apple. It's often very cold in New York in February though, so you'll need to cover up very well!

If it's snowing or had been snowing the night before (which is very likely to happen at this time of the year), your walk will be even more romantic! 🤩

You can go to Belvedere Castle, the heart of the park, for a great view of the lake, or to Summit Rock to the southeast, to see the Manhattan skyline looming over the trees.

Also, stop by Bow Bridge, a beautiful little bridge that is arguably the most romantic place in the entire park. If the park's walkways are passable, you can even celebrate Valentine's Day with a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park 😍

Slide on one of New York City's ice rinks

As you probably know, it is possible to go ice skating in several places in the city during the winter in New York.

The most famous rink in New York is probably The Rink at the Rockefeller Center, located at the foot of one of the city's tallest buildings. The Center is also home to the Top of the Rock Observatory, another site that might be worth checking out on February 14.

Perhaps even more romantic is the Wollman Ice Rink, located in the middle of Central Park. In fact, it often features in romantic comedies in the movies, so a trip there on Valentine's Day will be perfect to bring back some memories ⛸️

Other ice rinks such as Bryant Park, Chelsea Piers or Brookfield Place are waiting for you. This is a must-do activity if you are visiting New York for a days.

What to do for Valentine's Day in New York City? See a comedy on Broadway!

Valentine's Day is a great time to spend an evening watching a great musical in a Broadway theatre.

Love stories are at the heart of many Broadway musicals – in Phantom of the Opera, the oldest musical still being performed today, but also in more recent hits such as Aladdin, Moulin Rouge! or the contemporary version of West Side Story.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, remember to book your tickets well in advance.

Explore Times Square

Times Square is a bit like the centre of the world. It's fast-paced, crowded and noisy – and therefore not exactly the first place you think of when you're looking for romance. And yet, it is one of the places you certainly won’t regret having visited if you are in New York on February 14th. Indeed, several events are organised there, and especially for couples!

First of all, every year a big art contest is held to choose the most beautiful artwork representing a heart ❤️ The winning artwork is then exhibited in Times Square (and usually stays there all February). If you want to take a wonderful photo and capture your Valentine's Day in New York, you'll be hard pressed to find a better place.

Secondly, weddings are held in Times Square itself on Valentine's Day 💍 Right in the middle of New York's busiest square, on 14 February you can see couples saying 'I do'. It is also possible to sign up for a large group vow renewal ceremony.

Some people also choose to propose on Valentine's Day, and those who wish to do so in Times Square can even see their proposal broadcast live on a giant screen.

If you are interested in getting married or proposing in Times Square on Valentine's Day yourself, you can find more information here. But even as a spectator, going to Times Square with your significant other and witnessing so many displays of love is bound to put a smile on your face 😊

Dinner in a romantic restaurant

What better way to end a day than with a nice dinner in a beautiful setting with your loved one? In New York, as you might expect, there is no shortage of romantic restaurants. I could recommend:

• Peak, an establishment in Hudson Yards, located on the 101st floor – just above the observation deck of The Edge;

• The Loeb Boathouse, a beautiful restaurant that borders the lake in Central Park;
• Robert, a fine dining restaurant on the 9th floor of the Museum of Arts and Design, from which you can enjoy a unique view of Central Park;
• La Grenouille, the oldest of New York's great French restaurants, and definitely one of the most romantic.

Other romantic spots in New York City

To finish this post, here are some ideas of particularly romantic sites in New York, which you can visit if you have some time left on Valentine's Day:

• The Brooklyn Bridge, for a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
• Brooklyn Heights Promenade, the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York City and enjoy some great views. I recommend going there at sunset for even more romance.
• The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, a true haven of peace in the middle of the metropolis.
• Grand Central Terminal, a breathtaking station with an incredible starry ceiling, which is one of the places in New York where many marriage proposals are made.
• The Lincoln Center Fountain, which lights up in the early evening and features water shows.
• The Staten Island Ferry, a free boat that runs 24 hours a day. During the crossing, you can enjoy beautiful views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
• The Love Statue, a creation of artist Robert Indiana that you may have seen in a movie or in a TV show, is located at the corner of 55th Street and 6th Avenue.

We are now coming to the end of this article! I hope it has helped you prepare for your romantic day in New York, and wish you an amazing stay in this incredible city! 😉