Are you searching for the best places to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s our list of all the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC!
Now, there isn’t a single answer to this burning question, as it all depends on who you ask, and where you’re staying in the city. Finding the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC is all about finding the perfect location for great views and energy!
So, to make your life easier, we’ve collated a selection of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC that should cover every base.
Now, without further ado, let’s explore the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC!
Here are the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC…
Near St. Patrick’s Cathedral
One of the best places to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC is near St. Patrick’s Cathedral – rather fitting if you ask us!
This spot is located on 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets and should give you excellent views of the passing parade. Due to its good sightlines and proximity to 5th Avenue, expect large crowds here. Therefore, if you feel nervous around masses of people, you may want to source a location on higher ground!
What we love about this spot is the fact that it offers great views of the parade VIPs. These can be harder to spot from alternative vantage points, which is why we think this is one of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC.
If you have time, we highly recommend visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral while you’re here, even if you don’t choose it as one of your best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Along 5th Avenue
Next on our list of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, it’s anywhere along 5th Avenue. The St Patrick’s Day Parade route takes you down through 5th Avenue, from around East 80th Street, to East 44th street.
Generally, the closer you are to Midtown you get, (around 44th Street) the busier the crowds will be. The best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC are generally along this route though. Which makes things nice and easy!
You’ll be unsurprised to discover that many of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC feature this famous street, so you’ll find lots of great viewing opportunities from around there.
There are usually stands located in this area, and you’ll need a coveted ticket to access this section. However, if you can get hold of a ticket, you’ll be rewarded with excellent views and be sat comfortably for the duration of the parade.
Even if you can’t get a ticket for the parade, you should still get a decent view of proceedings from any spot along 5th Avenue, making this one of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC.
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Top tip! After you’ve watched the St Patrick’s Day parade… Make sure you check out one of the best Irish Bars in NYC to celebrate afterwards!
The Plaza New York
If you’re looking for the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC in plush comfort, then you’ll love the Plaza New York.
Of course, you may not get views that as good as others on our list (you’re higher up and not necessarily route-facing!), but if you’re lucky (or request it!), you may get a room that acts as one of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC.
Realistically, large crowds aren’t for everyone, and this famous hotel around Central Park gives you an excellent view of 5th Avenue from the comfort of a private room.
With gorgeous architecture, a rich history, and considered luxury incarnate by New Yorkers and visitors alike, you won’t regret spending a night here! It’s a great choice for the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Sherry Netherland, NYC
Another one of the best places to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC is The Sherry Netherland. As one of the most ornate hotels in the city, this is an excellent location on 5th Avenue to take in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in style.
Although it’s expensive to stay here, it’s one of the hotels in NYC that’s worth the immense high price tag. With incredible ceiling artwork and gorgeous marble decor, it just screams sophistication and luxury.
Not only does its central location make it one of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, but it’s also a great base for attractions such as the MOMA and Rockefeller Center.
The Pierre, A Taj Hotel
The Pierre is located mere steps from 5th Avenue, making it one of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC.
You should request a room that faces the parade route, as not only will it allow you to catch the best of the festivities, but it means you’ll have a clear view of the festivities.
In addition to being one of the best places to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, The Pierre is simply a gorgeous hotel. With its refined architecture, central location, and excellent restaurants, it’s one of our favorite places to stay in NYC.
From your hotel
Next on our list of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, it’s from your hotel room. If you can find a great hotel on 5th Ave, on the corner of 5th Avenue, you may be able to score a perfect view of the parade from your hotel room.
If you’re heading to NYC to see the St Patrick’s Day Parade, then you might want to book a hotel with amazing views, to make the experience super exciting! It’s a great choice for the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
On the TV!
Although it may seem like a bit of an obvious choice, one of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC is on the TV.
Sure, it may not be as exciting as seeing things live and in person, but if you’re unable to make it to any of the previous spots on our list, we feel it’s certainly better than nothing at all!
St Patrick’s Day Parade route map…
If you want to look closer at the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, and the actual route (on a map!) then you can check it out below!
It can be pretty useful for figuring out good places to stand and view the parade.
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Is there anything else I should know about the St Patrick’s Day Parade?
Now that we’ve covered the best places to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, we thought we’d briefly discuss anything else that you may need to know.
As the parade starts at around 11am, you’ll want to secure a spot at least a couple of hours in advance if you’re heading for one of the more popular spots. We know that this can be a drag, but realistically, you don’t want to risk being stuck behind a massive crowd of people and missing all the action.
The best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC are along 5th Avenue, and between 44th and 79th Street. Our top picks cover these areas, but if you’ve left this to the last minute, then anywhere along this route would be enjoyable.
It’s quite a long affair, and the parade usually ends around 4.30pm. Therefore, it’s advisable to come prepared with a bit of sustenance and snacks. It’s no good having found the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and then needing to leave for food halfway through!
Think a few drinks, some non-perishable snacks, and plenty of water! And as the parade is in February, wrap up warm!
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Are there street closures on St Patrick’s Day?
So now you know about the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, you might need to know about street closures.
Yes, as with any parade in the city, there will be street closures, to allow access for the parade (and to avoid any collisions). This can mean that there’s a little more traffic on parade days.
The normal streets to be closed on St Patrick’s Day can be seen listed below:
- Vanderbilt Avenue between 43rd and 46th streets
- 43rd Street between Vanderbilt and Sixth avenues
- 44th Street between Vanderbilt and Sixth avenues
- 45th Street between Vanderbilt and Sixth avenues
- 46th Street between Vanderbilt and Sixth avenues
- 47th Street between Park and Sixth avenues
- 48th Street between Park and Sixth avenues
- Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets
- Fifth Avenue between East 86th and 79th streets
- 79th Street between Park and Fifth avenues
- 80th Street between Lexington and Fifth avenues
- 81st Street between Lexington and Fifth avenues
- 82nd Street between Lexington and Fifth avenues
- 83rd Street between Lexington and Fifth avenues
- 84th Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 85th Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 49th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 50th Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 51st Street between Madison Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza
- 58th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues
- 60th Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 62nd Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 63rd Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 64th Street between Park and Fifth avenues
- 65th Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 71st Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 72nd Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- 78th Street between Madison and Fifth avenues
- Madison Avenue between 42nd and 86th streets
A top tip for St Patricks Day in NYC!
Don’t forget to dress up for St Patricks Day in NYC. Of course, you’ll want to find the best places to watch the St Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC, but you’ll also want to stop off at one of NYC’s many costume stores, to get dressed appropriately and festively!
Click here to read our top 11 costume stores in NYC!
If you don’t have time to grab some fun parade gear, then dressing up in green is a great idea too!
A final note on the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC
We hope that our list of the best places to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC has been useful.
However, if you get to your spot early and plan ahead to avoid the worst of the traveling crowds, you should be able to catch the best of the parade route without any stress!
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