Will city be even more crowded than usual Memorial Day weekend?

Plenty of tourists, but most New Yorkers seem to be out of town.

No, it will be less crowded than usual -this is the weekend that New Yorkers all start going to their beach/country houses.

Tourist attractions will certainly be more crowded than a usual weekend -- it's a long holiday weekend.

But "local" restaurants etc will be less crowded for the reason cited -- we'll be at the beach!

We have a trip planned to NYC the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. We figured the city would be less crowded b/c everyone would be leaving. Would we be better off going up the previous Sunday? We're flexible and would rather avoid any crowds. (We're planning on visiting the Metropolitan Museum and ESPNZone/Times Square).

I don't think there's a way to visit New York and avoid crowds - unless you come in January - and May is prime tourist time - although not as bad as Christmas. The Metropolitan Museum is crowded every weekend - as are all the other majors. If you want tourist sites to be less crowded your best bets are Monday to Wednesday - of a non-holiday week. (Half of the New Yorkers who did not go to the beach/country will be at the major museums - the other half will be at first run movies. Later theymwill all be at the popular restaurants.)

Karen, you'll be fine. Just get to the Metropolitan in the morning before the crowds come.

My husband and I are also spending Memorial Day Weekend in NYC. Crowds or not, we need the weekend escape, and new york fits the bill, a little bit of everything!!!!!! Go and have fun!!!!!!

I don't know about midtown, I avoid it on my days off, but I like staying in the city during holidays like Memorial Day. all my neighbors and friends leave. the upper east side is wonderfully quiet.

I'm with earl - my family and I make it a point to stay home in Manhattan on summer holiday weekends - we go to all the trendy restaurants that are too crowded during the year - we hang in the parks in Battery Park city or go to Carl Shurz Park on the East River - the art galleries are empty and the Upper East Side is deserted - the only time I can stand that neighborhood!

Everything turns on what you consider "crowded" once you arrive.

NYC is always "crowded". Sometimes more so than others.

The popular tourist destinations are always crowded.

There is absolutely no way to "avoid crowds" at Times Square, ESPN Zone, Met Museum, etc., in the nicer weather.

Over the years we've been several times over Memorial Weekend.

It is a nice time in NYC. For the most part, our weather was nice.

Crowds aren't bad outside Midtown. This is a nice weekend to enjoy the rest of Manhattan outside Midtown.