Planning a Tour of New York City During Saint Patrick’s Day

New York City. The Big Apple. The largest city in the United States and perhaps the most interesting city in the world is home to a myriad of excellent and exciting activities, sites, food, and culture. With so many races, religions, and ethnicities, it truly is the epitome of the melting pot in the United States of America. Since the 19^th century, one of the largest ethnic groups in New York City has been the Irish. The Irish people’s most prominent holiday is Saint Patrick’s Day, and there is no greater place to celebrate this holiday than in New York City. With so much to do and see on Saint Patrick’s Day in New York City, it can be a challenge to know what to do. Luckily, listed below are a few helpful tips on planning your tour of New York City during Saint Patrick’s Day.

New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

The highlight of any tour of New York City during Saint Patrick’s Day is definitely going to be the gigantic parade that takes place in Manhattan. Thousands upon thousands of people attend the parade and have a blast all throughout the day. People from all throughout the city (and the world!) flock to the center of Manhattan to watch the incredible parade occur. The route of the parade runs throughout Manhattan’s famed Fifth Avenue and allows all people marching and spectators the opportunity to see all of Manhattan’s excellence while enjoying the merriment of the day.   

Try the Cuisine and Drink with the Locals

Being in New York City during Saint Patrick’s Day is nothing without trying the cuisine and drinking with the locals. Some delicious Irish Saint Patrick’s Day foods include corned beef, Irish soda bread, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and more. Drinking some Irish whiskey or some green beer (don’t fret – green beer is just regular beer with green food coloring!) at a pub with some local Irish New Yorkers is a wonderful and fun way to spend the afternoon on Saint Patrick’s Day. By learning about the people and the culture of the city, you are going to get a true and authentic New York City experience. Try bar hopping with friends and making new friends along the way!

Check out Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

New York City’s most famous church is Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. People flock to see the church year-round, and what better day to see the church in all its glory than the day of the saint that it is named after! You can meet with local and foreign parishioners in order to gain a truly exciting and authentic New York experience. There is an extremely large influx of people that attend the church on Saint Patrick’s Day, so you should plan to get there early and perhaps even try to attend a church service. Since there are so many people there on this day, the church will have altered seating arrangements to accommodate the large amount of people.

Final Thoughts

New York City is an incredible place to visit year-round. With an endless supply of culture, entertainment, food, and so much more, there is never a dull moment in this grand place. One of the best times to visit this city is during the Saint Patrick’s Holiday season, where all of the best people come out to have fun! By attending New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, trying the cuisine and drinking with the locals, and checking out Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, you are sure to have the best time possible when visiting New York City this year!