April is a beautiful time to visit New York City, as spring is in full bloom, with cherry blossoms coming to life in Central Park. It’s a great time to visit NYC and enjoy outdoor attractions as well as museums, shopping, dining, and nightlife.
This article includes tips about
- What to pack/which clothes to bring
- What to wear
- The weather (rain, temps)
April usually has some scattered rain and temperatures ranging from chilly to warm and mild. Therefore, knowing what to wear on your springtime trip will help you enjoy everything the city has to offer.
Top Spring Activities [Casual Clothing]
We’ve been living in New York City for over a decade and always enjoy the milder temperatures in April after the long winters. Our experience will help you figure out what to wear in April in the city so you can stay comfortable and stylish as you revel here.
💡 Tip: If you are planning to travel later in May, please read our complete NYC Outfit Guide for May.
Weather
April is a cool and mild month in New York City with the earlier part of the month chillier than later in the month when warmer temperatures set in.
💡 It’s best to wear layers for your trip so you can stay comfortable on chilly days and nights and peel off layers when it warms up. More on layering later!
Here are the average temperatures for April in New York City:
- Early April: 55°F (13°C)
- Mid-April: 61°F (16°C)
- Late April: 66°F (19°C)
A Typical Day
A typical day in April in NYC is starting cool, with the warmest temperatures in the afternoons. Nighttime and mornings can be chilly and windy at times, so layers will keep you comfortable.
The beginning of the month tends to be cooler than later in April when springtime is in full bloom. A jacket, long-sleeved shirt, and jeans will keep you comfortable on most days in April.
A jacket and comfortable walking shoes will be your best accessories for a springtime trip to New York. We will get into more details on the best clothing and shoes for the city later.
Daily temperature progression on a typical April day here:
- Morning (8 AM): 50°F
- Afternoon (3 PM): 61°F
- Evening (10 PM): 54°F
Rain
April has somewhat frequent rain in NYC, with an average of 10 days of precipitation during the month. However, rain showers are often brief and mild, which makes it easier to stick to your travel itinerary.
To prepare for the rain, you will need water-resistant boots, an umbrella, and a poncho or rain jacket for your April trip to New York. It is very rare to snow in April in NYC, and we have never seen it in our 10 years in the city.
What to Wear / What to Pack
In New York City in April, wear a jacket, light layers, and comfortable walking shoes. The first half of the month tends to be chillier, while the second half of the month is more mild and warm. Pack rain boots, jeans, long sleeve shirts, a few hoodies or sweaters, an umbrella, and a jacket.
💡 For cooler nights or days, wear a hoodie or light jacket to stay comfortable.
April is a mild time of year in general here, with chilly temperatures in the early mornings and at night after the sun goes down. It is rarely cold in during this month but it may get wet, so rain gear and light layers will keep you comfortable. By the end of April, temperatures are more stable and warm.
Shoes
New York City is a walking city, so we like to wear comfortable sneakers. Make sure you “break in” your sneakers and walk in them regularly for at least a week before your trip so you know they’re comfortable.
April can have frequent but short showers, so also pack rain boots to keep your feet dry.
Women’s Outfit Tips
If you’re a woman visiting NYC in April, pack a jacket and light layers of clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, hoodies or sweaters, jeans, waterproof boots, and sneakers for walking.
You will need your jacket or a hoodie to stay warm on most days, but you won’t need heavy winter gear as the temperatures will usually range from chilly to warm but not cold or hot. Also pack rain boots, an umbrella, and a poncho for spring showers.
Tops
Light layers will help you stay warm and comfortable during changing weather in April in the city. Most days will be mild and cool, so wear a long-sleeved base layer that you can dress up or dress down. Add a hoodie or cardigan for windy, chilly times.
Evenings: We often wear sweaters and hoodies in the evenings as the temperatures get cooler after sunset.
Jacket
April is a mild month in New York, with cooler nights and mornings and warmer afternoons. Some days will be chilly and some are warmer, with warmer days more consistently at the end of the month.
A jacket will help you stay comfortable in almost all weather conditions, and a rain jacket will keep you dry on rainy days.
Check out our recs above for suggestions.
Shoes
New York is best seen on foot, so it’s important to have comfortable shoes. (Check out our tips on attractions to hit at the end of this article!).
For sneakers, pack comfortable shoes in dark colors as they will be less likely to show dirt from the city streets. Make sure you try out all your shoes before packing so you know they will be comfortable and won’t give you blisters.
April in NYC can be rainy, so a pair of rain boots will keep your feet dry, allowing you to see all the sights on your list despite the weather.
Pants
Pack jeans for your April trip to NYC. You can dress them up with a cardigan and boots or dress down with a hoodie and sneakers. Whether it’s warm or cool during this month, you can pair jeans with almost any top for an easy and functional outfit.
Accessories
April in NYC is mild so the only weather accessories you’ll need are an umbrella and rain boots.
For going out at night, bring a purse or small bag. During the day, you may need a larger bag for carrying water, your wallet, your phone, and hand sanitizer.
Additionally, we highly recommend a bag with anti-theft features (see our recommendation above) to keep your belongings safe in the city!
Men Outfit Tips
For men traveling to New York City in April, pack layers, water-resistant boots, a jacket, and an umbrella. You’ll also need comfortable walking shoes for exploring the city on foot.
Tops
April in New York City usually serves up mild weather, with some chilly nights and rainy days, and warmer days, especially at the end of the month. Wear light layers to stay comfortable, including a long-sleeved shirt and a hoodie or cardigan on top. For cooler days and nights, wear a light jacket.
Jacket
April weather during this month ranges from warm to chilly with some rainy days so bring a jacket and rain gear, including an umbrella and rain jacket or poncho.
Jeans
Jeans are versatile and you can dress them up with a cardigan for nights out or wear them with a hoodie or long-sleeved fitted shirt for a more casual look.
Rain Gear
Be prepared for spring rain showers in April with an umbrella, rain jacket, and waterproof boots.
Shoes
Pack waterproof boots for your April trip to New York. A comfortable pair of water-resistant boots will help keep your feet dry even when spring rain storms hit. For mild days, you can wear comfortable sneakers. We like to wear dark-colored sneakers that don’t show dirt from the city streets and subway.
Packing Checklist
- Jacket
- Rain boots
- Sneakers
- Jeans
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Hoodies and cardigans
- Socks
- Umbrella
- Poncho or rain jacket
- Toiletries
Things To Do
April is an exciting time to visit New York City, with spring tulips and cherry blossoms blooming. It’s the perfect month to enjoy Central Park, outdoor attractions, theater, nightlife, shopping, restaurants and dining, museums, and cultural activities.
Some ideas for traveling in April in NYC include:
- See a Broadway show
- Visit Central Park and see the cherry blossoms
- Walk along Park Avenue to see the tulips
- Shop in Soho
- Visit the 9/11 Museum
- Enjoy an outdoor brunch
- Art museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum
- Try New York-style pizza
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
- The American Museum of Natural History
- Rooftop views from the Empire State Building
- Bars and nightclubs in Greenwich Village and the East Village
Must-Visit Attractions
April is a great time to visit New York City for mild weather and springtime blossoms around the city. Enjoy cherry blossoms in Central Park, tulips along Park Avenue, and many outdoor attractions.
It is not yet peak tourist season in April but the city’s top tourist attractions may still require advanced tickets at places such as the Empire State Building (at night), Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, and other top sites.