There aren’t many places that do Christmas quite like New York. From the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and elaborate window displays along Fifth Avenue to Christmas markets and ice skating, it feels exactly like the Christmas you see in the movies.
Seeing New York decorated for Christmas was something I’d wanted to do for years, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I honestly think it’s something everyone should experience at least once.
We visited during the Christmas season and packed as much as we could into our trip. If you’re planning your own trip, these are 14 of the best things to do in New York at Christmas, along with a few tips to help you plan your visit.
1. See the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
If you’re visiting New York at Christmas, seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is probably already on your list.
The tree stands above Rockefeller Plaza throughout the Christmas season, alongside some of the city’s most recognisable Christmas displays. I’d recommend visiting during the day, as well as after dark when the tree and surrounding decorations are lit up.
This area gets extremely busy in December. I’d recommend visiting early in the morning to see it during the day and returning after dark for the lights. If you can, I’d also try to visit on a weekday when it may be slightly less busy.
2. Visit Ralph’s Coffee at Rockefeller Center.
During the Christmas season, keep an eye out for the Ralph’s Coffee truck around Rockefeller Center. The little green truck is decorated for Christmas and serves coffee and hot chocolate. It’s a cute stop while you’re seeing the tree and surrounding decorations.
3. See the Christmas Displays Along Fifth Avenue
One of the best things to do in New York at Christmas is walk along Fifth Avenue after dark to see the Christmas lights and window displays.
Some of the displays I’d recommend looking out for are Saks Fifth Avenue, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as the decorations around Rockefeller Center.
4. Get a Photo With the Giant Christmas Decorations
The giant red Christmas baubles on Sixth Avenue are one of the most recognisable displays and a great spot to stop for a photo. You’ll also find giant candy canes and plenty of other oversized Christmas decorations around Midtown.
5. See the Christmas Tree at Lotte New York Palace
Lotte New York Palace is another Christmas stop I’d recommend adding to your list. Every Christmas, a huge Christmas tree is set up in the courtyard at Lotte New York Palace, surrounded by lights and decorations. We visited during the day while exploring Midtown and stopped to have a look at the tree and take a few photos.
6. Watch the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall is one of New York’s longest running Christmas traditions, featuring the Radio City Rockettes.
Even if you don’t see the show, Radio City is worth walking past at night to see the building and surrounding Christmas decorations lit up.
If you want to see the show, I’d recommend booking your tickets in advance, particularly if you’re visiting closer to Christmas. You can book official Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets here.
7. Visit Bryant Park Winter Village
Bryant Park was one of my favourite places to visit in New York at Christmas.
During winter, the park is transformed for its annual Winter Village, with an ice-skating rink and small Christmas market stalls selling food, drinks and gifts.
I’d definitely recommend arriving hungry, as there are so many different food stalls to try. A few of my favourites were the cheesesteaks from The Truffleist, s’mores from S’Mores N’More and dumplings from Destination Dumplings.
8. Visit Macy’s at Christmas
Macy’s Herald Square goes all out for Christmas, with window displays along the outside of the building and decorations throughout the store.
I’d allow some time to head inside as well. Even if you’re not planning on doing much shopping, it’s worth having a look around while you’re there at Christmas.
9. Visit Central Park at Christmas
Central Park is worth spending a few hours exploring during the Christmas season, with several festive things to do around the park.
You can go ice skating at Wollman Rink, listen to holiday tunes from the Delacorte Clock or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park, with some of the carriages decorated for the Christmas season.
You’ll also find the Columbus Circle Holiday Market at the southwest corner of the park, with stalls selling Christmas gifts, food and drinks.
10. Go Ice Skating
There are several places to go ice skating in New York at Christmas, including Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park and Wollman Rink in Central Park.
Skating underneath the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is probably the most iconic option. While Wollman Rink has views across Central Park towards the Manhattan skyline. Bryant Park is another popular option, with the rink surrounded by the Winter Village.
If ice skating is something you definitely want to do, I’d recommend booking ahead rather than leaving it until you arrive.
11. See the Upper East Side Christmas Doorsteps
The Upper East Side is a great area to wander around if you want to see some of New York’s residential Christmas decorations.
You’ll find Christmas wreaths, garlands and decorations covering the doorsteps throughout the neighbourhood. It’s also a much quieter way to see some of New York’s Christmas decorations away from the crowds around Midtown.
12. See the Christmas Lights at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards is another spot I’d recommend visiting after dark at Christmas. Thousands of lights cover the entire area, with huge illuminated displays hanging throughout the shops and decorations continuing outside around The Vessel.
We spent some time walking through the shops and around the surrounding area. It’s definitely worth seeing once everything is lit up for the evening.
13. See the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
For some of the biggest Christmas displays in New York, head across to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn.
Each year, residents throughout the neighbourhood cover their houses in Christmas lights, decorations and oversized displays. The main displays are found between 83rd and 86th Streets and 11th and 13th Avenues.
If you’re using public transport, catch the subway into Brooklyn and then the B1 bus to 86 St/12 Av. From here, you are just a few minutes’ walk from the main displays.
If you can, I’d recommend arriving around dusk or just before sunset. This gives you time to grab a hot chocolate from one of the vans around the neighbourhood before wandering through the streets as the lights come on.
If you’d rather not make your own way out to Brooklyn, you can also book a guided Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour from Manhattan. This tour includes transport, around 50 minutes to explore the lights in Dyker Heights, as well as stops at Bay Ridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
14. See the Christmas Decorations on Wall Street
The Financial District is also decorated for Christmas, with a large Christmas tree outside the New York Stock Exchange and decorations around the surrounding streets.
We visited while exploring Lower Manhattan and stopped to see the tree while we were there.
The Best Time to Experience Christmas in New York
If you’re visiting specifically for Christmas, I’d recommend travelling between late November and Christmas, when the Christmas markets, shows and decorations are in full swing.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is traditionally lit around the beginning of December, so I’d visit after the tree lighting if seeing it is important to you.
If you can’t visit before Christmas, don’t worry. Many of the decorations and Christmas displays remain up after Christmas Day and into early January, so you can still experience Christmas in New York if you’re visiting in late December.
The closer you get to Christmas, the busier and more expensive New York becomes, so I’d personally choose early December if you have some flexibility.
How Many Days Do You Need in New York at Christmas?
I’d recommend at least four days in New York, particularly if it’s your first visit.
That gives you enough time to see plenty of the Christmas attractions in this guide while still fitting in some of New York’s main sights.
Where to Stay in New York at Christmas
For a first visit to New York at Christmas, I’d recommend staying in Manhattan if your budget allows. You’ll be closer to most of the Christmas attractions in this guide and it’s easy to get around using the subway.
There are plenty of different areas to choose from depending on what you’re looking for:
- Midtown: The most convenient for Christmas attractions, including Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and Bryant Park.
- Times Square: Very central with plenty of hotels and subway connections, but also one of the busiest areas.
- SoHo / Greenwich Village: A good option for restaurants, shopping and more of a neighbourhood feel.
- Upper West Side / Upper East Side: Quieter areas close to Central Park and away from the busiest parts of Midtown.
- Lower Manhattan: Further from the main Christmas attractions, but well connected by subway and convenient for exploring Downtown and Brooklyn.
I’d recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible if you’re visiting around Christmas. We booked quite late and found that accommodation in Manhattan was already limited and expensive, so we ended up staying across the river in New Jersey.
Although it wouldn’t be my first choice, New Jersey can be a cheaper alternative if accommodation in New York is outside your budget. We stayed close to a PATH station and found it surprisingly easy to travel into Manhattan each day.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Manhattan, here are a few options:
Higher end: The Langham New York · Lotte New York Palace · The Peninsula New York
Mid-range: Archer Hotel New York · Park Terrace Hotel · Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square
More affordable: Hotel Stanford · Four Points by Sheraton
Getting Around New York
You don’t need a car in New York. We found the easiest way to get around was by walking and using the subway.
A lot of the Christmas attractions around Midtown are within walking distance of each other.
We averaged around 20,000 steps a day, but honestly, it never really felt like it. There’s so much to see while you’re walking around New York, particularly at Christmas, that getting around the city is part of the experience.
Like this post? Pin it for later!
Leave a Reply