Spring (April–June)
Generally considered the sweet spot. Mild temperatures, Central Park and the city's street trees in bloom by late April, and crowds that haven't yet hit summer peak. Late May through June can get busy and warm as it approaches summer.
Summer (July–August)
Hot and humid — genuinely hot, not just warm, with heat advisories common in July and August. Outdoor attractions, rooftop bars, and free outdoor programming (SummerStage, movies in the park) are in full swing. Hotel prices peak. Many locals leave the city on weekends, which paradoxically makes some neighborhoods feel quieter.
Fall (September–November)
The other contender for best season — comfortable temperatures, foliage in the parks by mid-to-late October, and a return of cultural programming after the summer lull (Fashion Week, the film festival, Broadway's fall openings). Early September still carries summer crowds and prices; by November it's cooling down fast.
Winter (December–March)
Cold, sometimes brutally so, with occasional snow that shuts things down briefly. But it's also the cheapest time to fly and find a hotel outside of the two-week holiday stretch (mid-December through New Year's, when prices spike again for the tree at Rockefeller Center and NYE in Times Square). January and February are genuinely the best-value months to visit if you don't mind bundling up.