15 Romantic Things to Do in NYC in Fall

If your anniversary is in fall or you booked a ticket to visit NYC for the season of perfect weather, we created a list of 15 romantic things to do in NYC in fall so you and your significant other can enjoy your time here.

Regardless of the season, New York City attracts millions of tourists and because of the weather, many people think the fall is the best time to visit New York City. During the winter, it tends to get very cold and taking a walk seems impossible, and during the summer it gets very hot. But, if you already booked a ticket to visit New York City during summer, you should check our list of 16 Romantic Things to Do in NYC in Summer. Don’t worry, there are plenty of things to do indoors where you can stay cool with the air conditioning.

Many people enjoy outdoor activities like taking a walk, running, or enjoying the view of nature (or the city’s skyline) with their significant other. In my opinion, Autumn is suitable for this kind of activities not only because of the mild temperatures, but the parks and nature have an amazing gold color which makes the view incredible. There’s also no better feeling than the crisp, cool fall air. While some people could spend eternity admiring nature’s beauty, some people may prefer to relax in a bar or elite restaurant with delicious food, good jazz music and a glass of red wine. Picture this scenario in your head and you can see how incredibly romantic it is with your significant other next to you.

If this sort of thing sounds romantic for you, we‘ve come up with romantic date ideas and romantic things to do in NYC. It doesn’t matter whether you are in a new relationship, have been dating for years or you have been married for decades, New York City has a lot to offer for every person’s taste and interest. Many people choose to visit the city because it seems to have an endless supply of romantic spots that can satisfy every couple’s taste and interests. With so much to offer, you can also find outings for every budget, and when it comes to romantic things to do with your partner, money shouldn’t prevent you from doing it. And who said doing something romantic needs to cost you a fortune? On our list, you can find things that are completely free or at a low cost, but they will still give you a wonderful memory that you won’t forget.

In order to create our list of romantic things to do in NYC in fall, we used a simple Google search and the Class Curious database, to see what are the most romantic things you can do in NYC. After we collected the information from our sources, we used the activities that are great to do during fall (and those which are happening during this season) for our list. We couldn’t sort our list in any particular order, as it is a matter of people’s preferences and taste. Obviously, not everyone has the same idea for what’s “romantic.”

Let’s dive right into our list of 15 romantic things to do in NYC in fall and help you score some brownie points with your love.

15. Take a Walk on The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge has been ushering New Yorkers across the East River since 1883. This bridge will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the Big Apple with your significant other with taking a nice thirty-minute walk. It doesn’t matter if you live in New York City or you are just a tourist, just a simple walk on the Brooklyn Bridge can be one of the most romantic things you can do because you’ll get incredible views of Manhattan. During the summer months, it tends to get crowded, so we would recommend you to go during fall and enjoy it all by yourselves.

14. The Rink at Rockefeller Center

We are continuing our list of romantic things to do in NYC in fall that Iis not just a popular tourist spot, but many New Yorkers are also waiting in line to get on the ice. Since only 150 people are allowed on the ice at once, you should be prepared to wait in line a bit. This is a popular Christmas destination in the city, but you can still have you experience on the ice in the late fall. If you want to spend some quality time with your partner you should definitely visit the Rink at Rockefeller Center. It’s even become a popular spot for front-and-center proposals. Once you get on the ice, you will wish for that moment never to end, and you will remember the feeling forever.

13. Visit Grand Central

Even though Grand Central for some people seems boring, many find it extremely romantic and a beautiful place which is why it ended up on our list of romantic things to do in NYC in fall. We have seen Grand Central in countless movies through time and seeing it up close would be totally worth it if you’re visiting the city. There are more than 60 shops, a food market, and more than 35 eateries. If you want to enjoy this experience by yourselves, you can take a self-guided tour, but if you want to get to know every corner of Grand Central, there is a group tour that lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

12. Eat at The River Café

The River Cafe is the most romantic place to dine with your significant other because it is located in one of the area’s best spots, right under the romantic Brooklyn Bridge, and their ceiling to floor windows offer a spectacular view of Manhattan. To make it even better, it also has an outside garden and live piano playing inside. This restaurant will surely engrave a deep memory in both of your heads. But, don’t forget to bring your suit jacket because formal attire in this restaurant is required. Wearing your best suit/dress with your significant other next to you, looking over the sparkling lights of Manhattan on the East River, now that’s a memory you won’t forget.

11. Take a Helicopter Flight Over Manhattan

If you think a fancy dinner won’t be romantic enough to express your love towards your partner and you have more money to spend, then why not take a helicopter flight over Manhattan? Unless you or your partner are afraid of heights, flying in a helicopter over Manhattan will be a truly memorable experience. This romantic experience will definitely hit you in your pockets, but if you can afford it, it is totally worth it. If you two are really adventurous, you can ride with the doors of the chopper open and see the city from another perspective. Now, let’s see what else we have on our list of romantic things to do in NYC in fall.

10. Visit Dizzy’s Jazz Club

If you and your significant other love listening to music, especially jazz, you will find that Dizzy’s Jazz Club is the perfect spot for you two. Here, you both can relax and enjoy the sounds of world-class jazz musicians. While that alone is pretty romantic, Dizzy’s Jazz Club also has a view of the Central Park, which during the fall is absolutely beautiful. Also, you can get a private booth where you can sip on cocktails and enjoy the smoothest jazz in private.

9. Slipper Room

If you or your partner is an aerialist, visiting the Slipper Room could be the most romantic and the best thing you can do in New York City. Even if you aren’t an aerialist but you enjoy the performance you can be sure that this will be one of the most fun nights of your life. The classic drinks in this place are flowing throughout the night which will make your night even more relaxing and enjoyable. The shows in the Slipper Room will excite both you and your significant someone and will make you fall in love with the city even more.

8. Oktoberfest in NYC

If you are a German culture enthusiast, get pumped for Oktoberfest with your partner and enjoy great brews, bratwurst, dancing and live music as well. The event that ranks 8th on our list of romantic things to do in NYC in fall takes place in all five boroughs in New York at different beer gardens and public spaces. But, the largest events include Oktoberfest in Munich on the East River and Central Park. Even if you or your partner are not German culture enthusiasts, you can still have a romantic time here. You can enjoy a mug of beer and dance to the live music.

7. Visit Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Arts

Since many tourists are deciding to visit the Big Apple during the fall due to the perfect weather for sightseeing, it tends to be crowded. During these days, if you want to experience the atmosphere of the city you need to get away from the crowd, and the best way to do it is to visit the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Arts. However, there is a trek up the hill to reach the museum but you can see this as part of the experience. The museum is pretty small which makes it possible to see every corner of it and take things slow, while relaxing with your partner, making it one of the best romantic things to do in NYC in fall.

6. Keep the Night Going at Terraza 7

Many people are walking past great places while they are walking through the city, and there is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Queens that most people don’t even notice. Since the sign doesn’t contain any English, you may feel a little bit nervous the first time, but once you get in, you will see the magical Korean BBQ wonderland. This restaurant is one of the most romantic places in New York City because it will transport you to South Korea with just one bite. If you want to expand your culinary experience, make sure you do it in the right place.

5. Visit New York City Marathon

If you and your significant other are athletic people, signing up for the New York City Marathon could be the best and most romantic thing you can do during the fall. The marathon will be on the first Sunday in November in NYC. This Marathon is the largest marathon in the world with 51,394 finishers in 2016 and 98,247 applicants for this year. The first New York City Marathon was back in 1970, 47 years ago and continues to be a big deal in the city. 

4. Take a Walk on The High Line

A couple of years back, the High Line was a railway track, but today, it is one of the best and most romantic spots in the New York City. This 1.45-mile long park goes over the busy NYC streets and it’s filled with a beautiful flora-filled pathway. It conveniently has resting places, which have amazing views of the city. You can take a long walk with your partner on the High Line, or you can enjoy its beauty in one of the many coffee shops, bars, and pubs and enjoy the view of the beautiful nature. Now, let’s see the top three romantic things to do in NYC in fall on our list.

3. Visit The Brooklyn Botanic Garden

It doesn’t matter whether you are a New Yorker or just a tourist, visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden must be on your to-do list. Here, you will get the chance to enjoy over 52 acres of trees, plants, and flowers. During the fall you can see some of the oldest plants in the Garden like the sweet gum tree and a gorgeous black tupelo which are nearly a century old, as well as sumacs with dramatic multi-hued foliage. Also, after a glorious summer of blooms, you will get the chance to visit hybrid tea roses, rose hips and Grandiflora roses and enjoy the beauty of them.

2. Visit The Museum of Sex

For those who are looking to spend a date a side with a lot of laughter, the New York City Museum of Sex is the perfect place and that’s why it’s on our list of romantic things to do in NYC in fall. Here, you will not get only a few laughs, but you can also learn something new. There are also all kinds of different rooms like the “Splendor in the Grass” room or the “Jump for Joy” bounce house. Aside from that, there is also a gift shop if you feel like it is time to spice up things in the bedroom and try something new.

1. Carriage Ride Through Central Park

If you want to make your date even more romantic, you can always take a ride in a carriage through the beautiful Central Park. Autumn is the perfect season to take a ride in a carriage because you can get the chance to sit back and take a moment to enjoy the beautiful contrasts this city has to offer. You will see the charming lakes, iconic bridges, picnic spots and movie locations. You will remember this experience forever and it will be one of the best and most romantic things you have ever done.

This was our list of 15 romantic things to do in NYC in fall. We hope we managed to show you what are the most romantic things you can do in NYC in autumn and help you find the most suitable thing for you and your significant other.