The Best Places to See Fall Colors in New York City

Hit up Central Park

Home to 20,000 trees within its 840 acres, Central Park is an ideal place to see the fall foliage. Whether you are walking, biking, or hiking through the park, you'll be sure to see some color. You can work your way from the southern side of the park near the pond, the mall, or the ramble, to the large reservoir in the middle, and then up to the north meadow and conservatory garden.

You'll see a variety of trees including cherry trees, hickories, gray birches, and American elms. For added fun, you can rent a rowboat from the Loeb Boathouse or consider signing up for an official Central Park walking tour for expert insights into park history, flora, and fauna.

Make Way for Upper Manhattan Parks

There are plenty of great parks in Manhattan beyond Central Park, many of which are located on the north end of the large borough, such as the 67-acre Fort Tryon Park that overlooks the Hudson River. It is also home to the Cloisters Museum, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and showcases the museum's collection of medieval art. Head to Linden Terrace, one of the highest points in Manhattan—not counting the skyscrapers—where you'll be able to see the fall hues and steep cliffs of New Jersey's Palisades across the river.

In nearby Highbridge Park, you can follow the trail along the Harlem River, which passes the landmarked High Bridge and High Bridge Water Tower. Alternatively, Inwood Hill Park also overlooks the Hudson River and has native tree-lined trails with oaks, hickories, and tulip poplars.

Set Out on a Foliage Sightseeing Cruise

Several sightseeing cruises will whisk away travelers from Manhattan up the Hudson River, affording them front-row seats to some spectacular fall foliage along the riverbanks.

Classic Harbor Line, with its classic fleet of sailing schooners and 1920s-style yachts, is a stylish and retro way to see the skyline. Try its almost 3-hour brunch or 4-hour lunch sailings that board at Chelsea Pier. You'll go north on the Hudson River sailing past landmarks like the George Washington Bridge, the Cloisters, the Palisades, the Little Red Light House, and the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Another top pick is Circle Line's full-day Oktoberfest Bear Mountain cruises, which bring guests on weekend outings up to Bear Mountain from Midtown. Guests will be serenaded by polka bands while they enjoy German beer and traditional Oktoberfest dishes like schnitzel and bratwurst. There's ample time to disembark at Bear Mountain State Park to enjoy the foliage via a hike or stroll before returning to the vessel for the trip back to the city.

For a simpler option, New York Water Taxi's fall foliage sailings will bring you from the South Street Seaport to the Hudson Valley. The line also runs ferries to Sleepy Hollow that are primed for foliage and Halloween season.

Head Out on a Hudson River Bike Ride

Biking up the Hudson River waterfront is easy with wide, bike lanes that stretch from lower to upper Manhattan. There are plenty of places to pull over and see the foliage on your journey. You'll see sweeping skyline views as well as pretty park landscapes and panoramas of the Hudson River and New Jersey waterfront. If you don't have your own bike, don't worry. You can rent one from CitiBike or a bike shop like Blazing Saddles.

Pick a Primo Rooftop Perch

For a birds-eye perspective of the fall spectacle, paired with a tipple or two, consider taking your leaf-peeping to new heights—literally. In a city that's gaga for rooftop bars, you can pick out one with some stellar views over Central Park for a brilliant fall-inspired backdrop. A few top contenders that meet the leaf-peeping criteria: The Roof at the Le Mériden; Cantor Rooftop Garden Bar at the Met; or the Bar SixtyFive in the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center.