Memorial Day Weekend is coming up this weekend (May 24 – 26), marking the unofficial start to summer in New York City!
While we simultaneously take time to honor and reflect on U.S. veterans who gave their lives for the nation, observing the holiday on Monday means many businesses and government will change their operation hours.
If you’re spending the holiday weekend in the city or have the day off, we’ve put together a list of things that will be open and closed during the weekend and on Monday!
Here’s your stress-free consultation before the holiday.
What’s Open
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NYC Beaches: All city beaches—including Coney Island, Rockaway Beach, and Orchard Beach—officially open for the season on Saturday, May 24! Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 am – 6 pm. We’ve put together a list of our favorite NYC beaches here!
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Parks & Pools: Central Park, Prospect Park, and all city parks are open. Some indoor public pools may also open for the season—see them here. Many rooftop pools are open in NYC too including The Pool Club at Virgin Hotels New York City, Somewhere Nowhere, ART Williamsburg, and more. See our list of best rooftop pools here.
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Major Landmarks & Museums:
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9/11 Memorial & Museum: Open daily, including Memorial Day, from 9 am – 7 pm.
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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: Open 10 am – 5 pm on Memorial Day, with special Fleet Week events.
- New York Botanical Garden: Open 10 am – 6 pm on Memorial Day, with a brand new Van Gogh’s Flower exhibit debuting.
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Open 10 am – 6 pm all weekend.
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Bronx Zoo & New York Aquarium: Both open for regular hours.
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Governors Island: Open with live music and family-friendly activities.
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Hudson River Park & Prospect Park: Open for picnics, kayaking, and outdoor fun.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Open on 10 am – 5 pm on Memorial Day as part of “Met Holiday Monday.”
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Fleet Week Events: Ship tours at Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Homeport Pier (Staten Island) are open to the public, 8 am – 5 pm. See our full list of Fleet Week events here.
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Memorial Day Parades: The Manhattan parade runs up Fifth Avenue from 23rd to 67th Street, starting at 10 a.m. on Monday. Brooklyn and Queens also host parades.
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Restaurants & Bars: Most are open, especially in popular neighborhoods, though some may have special holiday hours or menus.
What’s Closed or Has Limited Hours
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Government Offices & Banks: Closed on Memorial Day (Monday, May 26).
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Post Offices: Closed on Monday; no regular mail delivery.
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Libraries: Most branches of the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library are closed on Monday.
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Public Schools: Closed for the holiday.
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Some Smaller Museums & Shops: Some independent museums, galleries, and boutiques may close or have reduced hours—check ahead.
Transportation
So what about transportation? Maybe coming back from the Hamptons or your out-of-town trip? Here’s what to expect.
On Memorial Day (Monday), MTA Bus, LIRR, and Metro-North will operate on a weekend/Sunday schedule.
Additionally the LIRR will be launching the Cannonball, a popular afternoon train to Montauk, on Thursday, May 22, which will run on Thursdays and Friday throughout the summer.
Keep your eyes peeled on the MTA app or new.mta.info for the latest updates regarding this weekend’s service.
Or take a look ahead of time here at the already announced changes.