August is a perfect month to visit New York City, even though it is very hot this time of year and the city is very pleasant and charming.

The long summer days are perfect for walking around the city, enjoying a variety of outdoor activities and visiting places in New York that are more difficult to visit at other times of the year.

As you already know it is a very hot month then you should keep in mind that you have to carry comfortable clothes and tennis shoes in your suitcase. So if you plan to visit New York City in August, here are some ideas for what you can do during your visit.

Let’s get started!

Go to the beach

Visiting the beach during the summer is one of the best activities you can do. Most tourists have a tendency to go to swimming pools ignoring that outside of Manhattan there are great beaches where you can have a great time.  Access to all beaches is free and open from 10 am to 6 pm. Every day of the week.

Below you will find some beaches that we recommend you visit, this selection is about our favorite New York beaches, take a look at it.

Coney Island

Coney Island – Source www.nycgo.com

Probably the most emblematic beach in the city, this is a beautiful place where you can spend one of your best days in the Big Apple.

To walk along the seafront, enjoy the Luna Park and swim in its refreshing waters is unforgettable. In recent years the beach has had a revival and has improved a lot and has become a very pleasant place for tourists who want to visit it.

Rockaway Beach

Well, this is another great beach you can visit during the summer. Rockaway beach is famous for being the longest urban beach in the United States and also for being the only beach in New York where you can surf, so if you want to do something different or extreme in the Big Apple don’t hesitate to go surfing in Rockaway Beach.

In addition to being popular for surfing, you will also find a long boardwalk that you can walk along while eating a traditional hot dog. This beach has play areas, food vendors and a swimming area.

Orchard Beach

Orchard Beach – Source eventseeker.com

Located in the Bronx, this beach is another great place to spend a summer day sunbathing and swimming. This artificial beach is great for relaxing and forgetting the noise of the city.

This beach is famous for its seafood restaurants and for having a picturesque fishing village. If you are visiting New York with children, this beach is perfect for going with them because it has children’s areas where they can have a lot of fun. This beach is a little far from the city but it is worth visiting.

Great Kills Park

Great Kills Park – Source www.nycgovparks.org

As it is not such a popular beach it is a perfect place if you want to enjoy something more private and without crowds. This beach is very beautiful, is ideal for relaxing and also has a beautiful ocean view.

From this charming beach you can see the Manhattan Bridge and it is an ideal beach for family visits. The beach is open from 10 am to 6 pm.

Long Beach

Long Beach – Source www.longbeachny.gov

This beach is great! It is very beautiful, the white of its sand and the blue of its waters create a perfect oasis, besides another plus of this beach is that you will find perfect waves for surfing.

The maintenance of the beach is excellent, it is very clean and well preserved. Access to Long Beach is not free, you will have to pay approximately $12 to enter. The beach is open every day from 23 June to 3 September. A highly recommended place to visit if you are in New York during the summer.

Read: 5 little know places in New York City

Harlem Week

Throughout August all kinds of events are held in Harlem including concerts, exhibitions, open-air theatre and many more activities. Harlem Week, which lasts about a month, is the perfect opportunity to get to know one of New York’s most emblematic neighborhoods.

Harlem Week – Source www.greaterharlemchamber.com

The Harlem Festival attracts more than 3 million people a year and is very popular worldwide because it concentrates great cultural activities within the same space. We share with you the official link to the festival if you want to know more about the activities that will take place this year  harlemlocal.com/harlem-week/

NYC Restaurant Week

The NYC Restaurant Week, which actually lasts a little over than week, is a pastime that you can enjoy while visiting the Big Apple during the summer.

NYC Restaurant Week – Source www.thrillist.com

This festival, held twice a year, is the perfect opportunity to visit the city’s best restaurants and learn more about New York’s cuisine.

The restaurants that participate in this event decide to offer a 3-course menu at affordable prices for any tourist, thus allowing many people to eat in restaurants that people do not usually visit because of their high prices. This year the NYC Restaurant Week is held from July 23rd to August 17th, if you want to find out more about this event, here is a link where you can learn more about the festival -> https://www.nycgo.com/restaurant-week