February is a cold but vibrant month to visit New York City, with Restaurant Week offering endless dining options, Valentine’s Day activities, and lots of museums, nightlife, and shopping to check out.
Snow is also a common occurrence in NYC in February, so knowing what to pack will help you stay comfortable and warm on your travels to the Big Apple. We’ve been living in the city for over ten years and have found February to be one of the coldest months. This guide will help you figure out what to pack and how to dress on your trip to New York, so you can focus on having fun and seeing all the sights.
Visiting earlier in the winter? Read our article about what to wear in New York in January.
Weather
February is one of the coldest months in New York City, so we wear layers, boots, and winter accessories to stay toasty and stylish. Some basics you will need for your trip include jeans, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters and hoodies, warm socks, winter boots, a winter hat, gloves, a scarf, and a warm coat with a hood.
Here are the average high temperatures:
- Early February: 40°F (4°C)
- Mid-February: 42°F (5°C)
- Late February: 45°F (7°C)
A Typical Day
A typical day here in February is cold, with temperatures falling at nighttime. Wind and snow can make the cold more intense, so wearing layers and winter gear is important to stay comfortable.
The beginning of the month tends to be colder than late February, as it gets closer to spring toward the end of the month.
💡 In the wintertime, the warmest temperatures are usually in the afternoon, with the coldest temperatures in the early mornings and at nighttime. If you are going out at night or in the early morning, you will want to have gloves, a hat, a coat, and a scarf.
During the warmest part of the day, you may not need a scarf, but a beanie or winter hat is always a good idea in during this month. More about that later.
Daily temperature progression on a typical February day in the city:
- Early morning: 36°F
- Afternoon (2 PM): 43°F
- Evening (10 PM): 37°F
Rain
There are, on average, 9 to 10 days of precipitation during this month. Due to the cold, many of those days are snow days.
Pack some rain and snow gear for your trip – including a rain jacket or poncho and snow boots – so you can stay dry and warm. Of course, it’s easier to bring a water-resistant winter coat.
Snow
We’ve found February to be one of the snowiest months in the city. There is an average of 3 or 4 snow days during the month, with chances of high snowfall, sometimes up to 1 foot of snow.
You will need snow boots, so make sure you bring weatherproof ones that have good traction and are comfortable for walking. We also wear winter hats and gloves to stay warm on snowy and windy days.
What to Wear / What to Pack
During February, it is cold in New York City. You’ll need to pack warm clothes and wear layers. Pack winter boots, jeans, long sleeve base layers, hoodies or sweaters, a winter hat, gloves, a scarf, and a warm coat with a hood.
This is a chilly time in the city and is the coldest at the beginning of the month. The temperatures drop at nighttime and in the early morning, and you will need winter gear during these times – including a hat, gloves, scarf, and boots. Wear a warm base layer and your winter coat at all times.
It is also a wet time in NYC, so you’ll want to pack rain gear like a poncho or rain jacket, as well as waterproof boots. Winter boots will keep your feet warm and dry. On milder days, you can wear high-top shoes or casual boots. At night, you will want winter boots to stay warm.
Shoes
New York City is a walking city, so make sure to pack comfortable winter boots for your trip. Boots will keep your feet warm during cold days and nights. For afternoons that are warmer, you can wear high-top shoes. You will need your boots at night and on wet days.
Women’s Outfit Tips
If you’re a woman visiting NYC in February, pack a winter coat, sweater, or hoodies, a base layer of long-sleeved shirts, jeans, winter boots, warm socks, gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
It is a cold time, even more so in the first half of the month. Thus, you’ll want to stay warm and dry and have layers for extra protection on wet, windy, and cold days and nights. About a third of the month is raining or snowing, so bring snow boots and rain gear.
Layering
Wear a warm, long-sleeved base layer that you can dress up or dress down. Add a hoodie or sweater for a boost of warmth. We like to wear solid colors for functional and fashionable tops that you can dress up or dress down.
Coat
You’ll need a warm winter coat with a hood for your visit during this winter month. Pack a parka with faux fur to stay warm and stylish during the months. We often wear black coats for a classic look in the city. Check our Amazon recommendations above!
Boots
You will be walking a lot on your trip, so choosing comfortable and warm shoes is a must. Pack snow boots with good grips for snowy days. We like to wear black boots that go past the ankle to stay toasty.
Pants
Wear jeans for warm and functional pants that will keep you comfortable on days and nights out in the city. Jeans are versatile and easy to dress up with a nice sweater or dress down with a hoodie and boots.
Accessories
Since it’s a cold month, you’ll need winter accessories, including gloves, a hat, and a scarf. You may not need your scarf every day, but at night and on cold days, it will come in handy. Wear a hat and gloves every day.
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, phone, and hand sanitizer.
Additionally, we highly recommend a bag with anti-theft features (see our tips above) to keep your belongings safe in the city!
Shoes
Besides winter boots, you may want to bring warm, casual shoes such as high tops. Comfortable shoes are the most important clothing item for your trip to New York City since it’s a walking city.
You will be walking to tourist attractions (check our tips at the end of this article!), around museums and nightclubs, and restaurants.
Men Outfit Tips
For men traveling to New York City in February, pack warm layers, boots, a warm coat, and winter accessories. You’ll need jeans, sweaters or hoodies, long-sleeved shirts, a winter hat, gloves, a scarf, and some winter boots to stay warm and comfortable during your trip.
Layering
Wear a long-sleeved shirt as a base layer and top it with a hoodie or sweater to stay warm. We like to wear dark colors in the city for a classic look that stays clean looking.
Coat
February weather can be chilling and wet so bring a warm winter coat with a hood. We like to wear puffer coats in the city, and they’re great for traveling as you can easily pack them into small spaces.
Jeans
Jeans are versatile and warm, and you can pair them with a hoodie for a casual look or add a sweater to dress up more.
Winter Gear
Be prepared for the cold in February with winter accessories, including gloves, a hat, and a scarf. You will want to wear gloves and a hat every day now. However, you may only need your scarf on cold and windy days. A scarf can protect your face from the wind in NYC, sleet, and snow.
Shoes
Pack winter boots for your trip in February. A warm, comfortable pair of boots will help keep your feet dry and toasty even on wet days and cold nights. For mild days, you can wear some high-top casual shoes or sneakers. However, at nighttime and during inclement weather, you’ll want to wear boots.
Packing Checklist
- Winter coat
- Weatherproof boots
- High-top shoes
- Jeans
- Base layer – long-sleeved shirts
- Sweaters and hoodies
- Beanie or winter hat
- Warm socks
- Gloves
- Scarf
- Umbrella
- Poncho or rain jacket
- Toiletries
Things To Do
February is the best time to visit New York City if you want to avoid crowds and get great travel deals. It’s the perfect month to enjoy theater, nightlife, shopping, Valentine’s Day, restaurants and dining, museums, and cultural activities.
Some ideas for traveling in February in NYC include:
- Going out to a restaurant or bar for Valentine’s Day
- Seeing a Broadway show
- Shopping in Soho
- Enjoy decadent desserts for Valentine’s Day
- Dining at Restaurant Week
- Art museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 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
- Coffee and hot chocolate from cafes
- Bars and nightclubs in Greenwich Village and the East Village
Must-Visit Attractions
February is an excellent time to visit New York City if you’re on a budget and don’t mind the cold. You can find discounts on dining as part of NYC Restaurant Week, as well as enjoy museums, bars, and nightclubs without big crowds.
It’s also the perfect time to see the city’s top tourist attractions as there will be fewer tourists than usual at the Empire State Building at night, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Museum, and other top sites.