New York in July: what will the weather be like?
July is one of the months the hottest of the year. In general, temperatures hover around 25 ° C on average but can go up to 40 ° C in some years! If these temperatures are quite pleasant overall, however, be aware that the month of July is a very wet. The rain can therefore come quickly. So don't forget clothes and accessories suitable for bad weather. This will save you many unpleasant surprises.
Choosing to visit New York in July is a great idea. Indeed, you will always have something to do! During the day, you can take advantage of New York's pretty beaches to swim in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean or even sunbathe on the warm sand. If the beach do not tempt you, you can always visit the emblematic places from New York or discover the city by bus or boat, for example. If you fear the heat, know that the early afternoon (between 13 p.m. and 16 p.m.) is the hottest time of the day.
In the evening, the temperatures are also very douces. You can therefore stroll in the streets of New York and / or participate in the various events organized in the city.
Little advice: during the month of July, I advise you to limit your trips by metro. Indeed, in the platforms and corridors the heat can be unbearable and very unpleasant. I therefore advise you to turn to other means of transport: tourist buses are a good alternative to visit New York under the open sky. You can book Hop-On Hop-Off tickets that allow you to hop on and off as many times as you want over a certain period (1, 2 or 3 days). I recommend the Big Bus company, the best known and cheapest in New York. You can book your tickets online by clicking here. Otherwise, prefer walking. It's always very pleasant to walk around Big Apple under a sunny sky.
July 4 in New York: National Day
Before discovering the main events and activities to do in New York during the month of July, know that the 4 of this month is a public holiday. It's'Independence Day, in other words on the day of the American Declaration of Independence of 1776. So, if you are in New York at the beginning of July, you will have the chance to participate in this national holiday.
What to do in New York on July 4th?
During the day
If you are in New York on July 4th, you should know that the famous Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The latter is a traditional competition which consists of swallowing as many hot dogs as possible. It is organized by a restaurant located in Coney Island (the Nathan's Famous). The women's tournament starts around 11:30 am and the men take over around 12:30 pm.
In the evening
On the evening of July 4, you can admire a pretty fireworks organized by Macy's. The latter is also one of the biggest in the world! It begins between 21 p.m. and 21:15 p.m. above the East River and every year, more than 3 million spectators come to watch it. I therefore advise you to arrive very early to get a good seat. If you don't want to wait, here are other alternatives to contemplate this pretty fireworks display:
- Since a dinner cruise. This activity is ideal for celebrating Independence Day. On the boat you can eat while listening to music and watch the fireworks. If you wish to participate in a dinner cruise, I advise you to book in advance as places are VERY limited.
- Do a night walk. If you want to go on a cruise without dinner, night walks are therefore a very good solution. Usually, boats leave around 17-18 p.m., so you can take advantage of your trip to discover New York's must-see places.
- Participate in 4th of July au One World Observatory. For this day of celebration, the One World Observatory will open its doors and offer you a pleasant evening. During this one you can taste typical American dishes and enjoy unlimited drinks.
New York in July: cultural events
Washington Square Music Festival
Every year, from the second Tuesday in July, the Washington Square Music Festival opens. Every Tuesday evening, this festival offers free concerts right in the middle of famous Washington Square Park. Here you can listen to beautiful pieces of music from different styles: fado, salsa, jazz and many more! If you like classical music, you can also let yourself be lulled by pieces by great artists such as Mozart, Verdi, Schubert or even Handel.
Lincoln Center Festival
In July, you can attend the Lincoln Center Festival during which you will have the chance to discover many dance shows, music, but also plays. Throughout the month of July, many performances take place. So, if you want to attend one of these shows, I advise you to watch the program and buy the tickets for the performance (s) that interest you. Tickets can be purchased directly online on the dedicated Lincoln Center site.
Bastille Day
On July 14, the famous French national holiday also takes place in New York. In the Big Apple, this party is called the Bastille Day and this lasts almost a whole week. During this festival, many activities are organized by the French living in New York. Thus, French gastronomy will be in the spotlight with the French Restaurant Week. During this week, many restaurateurs will offer menus at affordable prices. The Friday evening before or after July 14, the Committee of French Speaking Societies organized by the Bastille Day Ball at club 404 will be held. This ball is very popular in New York and attracts many people every year.
NYC Restaurant Week
If you are in New York in July, you can also participate in the NYC Restaurant Week which usually takes place at the end of the month. During this week, many restaurants (from chic to American to Chinese) will offer you to taste a full menu (starter, main course and dessert) at a fixed price. As you can imagine, during this week, the restaurants are full. I therefore recommend that you book in advance.
Cultural events that take place throughout the summer
If you're in New York City in July, you'll also have the opportunity to participate in popular events that take place all summer long in the Big Apple. Among them, you can find the Bryant Park Summer Film Festival which will offer you to watch films from the 1930s to 1990s in the middle of Bryant Park. This event takes place from June to August.
From June 2019, you can also participate in the Met Opera In The Park. These are free operas that take place in the main parks of the city (Central Park, Prospect Park…).
Between July and August, the Mostly Mozart Festival will be an ideal event to listen to classics by great artists such as Mozart or Schubert. These pieces of music will be performed by musicians. These different shows will take place at Lincoln Center or John Jay College Theater, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall or the New York State Theater.
From Tuesday to Sunday evening, the Shakespeare in the Park will invite you to attend a Shakespeare play in the middle of Central Park. These performances will be interpreted by artists and they will be completely free. You can purchase your free tickets directly on site or online. This second option is in my opinion the most interesting since it will avoid you long hours of waiting at the entrance of the park.
New York in July: what are the sporting events planned?
If you are in New York in July, you will not be able to attend an NBA game since the season has not yet resumed. On the other hand, if you want to be immersed in a 100% American atmosphere, you can always go to see a baseball game.
Go to a baseball game
Here is a sport specific to the United States: the baseball. The Yankees and Mets will face different teams throughout July. Watching a baseball game in New York is a unique experience! If going to see a match interests you, find the schedule of matches on the site superbillets.com. This is the site that offers the best prices on baseball tickets and it has the advantage of being in French. I always go through him to buy my tickets for sporting events.
Visit New York in July: dare to be original!
When traveling to New York in July, it is important to visit all of the city's iconic places. Hop-On Hop-Off tourist buses are a great solution for this. Indeed, the latter offer you several interesting and affordable tours. During these open-top bus journeys, various stops are planned. You can therefore explore the district and go back to the next point. In these buses, guides will comment on each place and share anecdotes about these New York places.
- boat cruises are also a good alternative to discover New York in July. Under the sun, you can go for a very pleasant little walk.
New York in July: what are the other activities on offer?
The beach
As you can see throughout this article, in July, New York is full of things to do and discover.
So, if you are in the Big Apple during this period, you can also cool off at the beach. The most famous is that of Coney Island, but you can also swim in Long Island or in the district of Queens. The beaches are clean, pleasant and offer many interesting services (picnic table, playgrounds, etc.).
Note: during your visit to Coney island, do not hesitate to take a little tour of the Luna Park, a funfair located near the beach. Here you can have fun with family or friends.
Watch a Broadway Musical
How about going to see a musical at Broadway ? Note that during the month of July, different shows take place. To reserve your seats for the musical of your choice, go to Superbillets, here.
If you're going to New York in July, now you know what to do!
