So you’ve made the decision to book a cheap flight to New York City. Awesome! Now, you need to decide when exactly to visit this city of many nicknames. We all know that NYC is worthy of a visit any time of the year, but you may not want to miss out on particular events that make New York City so infamous.

Restaurant Week

You can dine at any budget in NYC, but there's no doubt about the plethora of high end restaurants serving some of the city’s best grub. The goal of NYC Restaurant week is to offer high priced dishes for a fraction of the cost. Imagine enjoying a three course prefixed menu for less than $40, and lunch starting at $25? Sink your teeth into all sorts of succulent dishes at over 300 participating restaurants. This is by far one of the best bangs for your buck in NYC; which makes it one of the best times to visit.

 

Fleet Week

Memorial Day is the “unofficial” start of summer for the United States. Even more so in New York City, since that’s when fleet week is in town. Since the mid 80's, Fleet Week celebrates the best of the sea services: The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Since the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is primarily located in the heart of NYC, it is the epicenter of the celebrations. There are tons of military demonstrations, opportunities to explore ships and admission to the museum is free! And ladies love the glimpse of men in uniform roaming around the city. And even if Memorial Day has come and gone this year, remember – this is an annual event!

November

What is it about November that makes it the best time to visit New York City? First of all, the first half of the month is fairly calm and quiet after the fun celebration of Halloween in late October. It is the peak of working and school season, so New Yorkers are too busy and give tourists a time to play. But, the latter half of November is the start of the Holiday season in NYC. You’ve got the timeless Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring large floats and a special guest at the end. Also, the lighting at Rockefeller Center is the unofficial start of the Christmas season with the lighting of a large tree that will be on display until January.

Tribeca Film Festival

Launched after 9/11 to revive the much economically stricken Lower Manhattan, the Tribeca Film Festival has become synonymous to NYC culture. This platform allows creative filmmakers to showcase their work at one of the most prestigious film festivals in the U.S. And tourists will love watching new films in the heart of the SoHo shopping district. Best of all, it takes place in April, which is fairly warm in NYC.

Manhattanhenge

Many locals will boast that New York City is the best in the summertime. Many can agree the city comes alive with outdoor events, endless outdoor dining and summer sunsets that will take your breath away. Plan your trip around Manhattanhenge; a photographic phenomenon in which the sunset aligns with the city street grid. This allows a picturesque view of the large sun against the silhouette of the NYC skyscrapers. It takes place around late May and mid-July; you’ll have to follow the specific yearly dates to make sure you’re around for the exact date of Manhattanhenge.

When is YOUR favorite time to visit NYC? Tell us on the CheapOair Facebook page!

 

Photo credit: Kiertorata