Heading to New York City at Christmastime? Here's a list of 25 best things to do in New York at Christmas for a magical time.
HOW TO HAVE A VERY MERRY NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS!
Are you wondering what to do in NYC during Christmas?
Get ready for a magical time with these 25 things to do in NYC during the holidays.
My daughter and I just got back from a trip to New York City and even though I've been a handful of times before, visiting New York City in December was unforgettable.
In New York City, Christmas is magical, and there are plenty of festive Things to do. In case you are planning a visit there too, I'll share our favorite things we did there and some tips for planning your stay. With these tips and suggestions, it is likely that you will be having a fun and memorable holiday in New York city. If you wish, you can plan your itinerary through a luxury travel concierge or a local one, but to make the most out of your time there, you can certainly rely on this blog. I have made a collection of all things fun in New York to help you have an amazing time there.
I'm sharing our top 25 Christmas in New York 2022 ideas to add to your travel list.
OTHER NYC TRAVEL TIPS:
- Redwood National Park Trip With Kids
- 11 Cheap or Free Stops on the Oregon Coast
- The Best Cheap Eats In NYC
BEFORE YOU GO
There are so many Christmas movies that are filmed in New York City. You should definitely watch any or all of these Christmas movies to get a glimpse of what you'll see in New York City at Christmas. It will make the special Christmas sights all the more magical when you recognize them from a Christmas movie.
CHRISTMAS MOVIES SET IN NYC:
A FEW DISCLAIMERS:
- I don't claim to be an expert on NYC. My sister lives there, so many of these ideas came from her and she definitely deserves the BEST TOUR GUIDE award. She should be the one writing this post.
- This list includes mostly Christmas-specific ideas, so if you haven't ever been to the Big Apple before, you'll want to check out some of the other famous sites that aren't listed here.
- There are a few things on this list that we ran out of time to see. I've marked all the places we did see with an asterisk. Asterisk=been there and would recommend it!
WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK CITY
Like I said before, we usually stay with my sister who lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Can't beat a free place to stay! However, my husband and I have also stayed at Parker New York which was so romantic. Plus, Norma's is in this hotel which is one of our favorite places to eat in New York City. They have the most amazing brunch!
I always use Booking.com to book a hotel. This is not a sponsored post--I just love that they price match and usually offer free cancellation in case your plans change.
Save $20 on your next booking if you use this link to book.
WHERE TO EAT IN NYC
Your New York City trip expenses will add up quickly. You can get a list of all of our favorite Cheap Places to Eat In NYC right here.
NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES
Here's our top 25 things to do in NYC.
1. Visit the Rockefeller Tree*
Quite possibly the most famous Christmas Tree, you've got go see the Rockefeller Tree. This NYC Christmas tree is shown in many Christmas movie scenes, including Home Alone.
There is an ice skating rink below and you can even catch breakfast at Santa while you're there. We didn't ice skate or eat breakfast with Santa, but just visiting the tree is really fun! The walkway leading up is lined with beautiful angels. All-in-all, you'll love this one.
We saw it both during the day and at night. If you can swing going at both times, do it! This is one of the most iconic Christmas things to do in NYC.
Click here for Breakfast with Santa Details
Click here for Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center Details
2. Go Ice Skating at Bryant Park* Chrsitmas NYC Activity
Christmas in Manhattan would not be complete without going to an outdoor skating rink.
There are a few different outdoor ice skating rinks in New York City, but we chose to go to the rink at Bryant Park. I'm so glad we did!
Skating at Bryant Park is free, you'll only need to pay for skate rental. That can cost you about $20. Thankfully my sister owned a few pairs, so we got out of skate rental charges. If you can take your own, you'll be able to enjoy a FREE activity.
The atmosphere is so fun and festive. You'll skate to a variety of Christmas music and the large Christmas tree sets the scene for a memorable night.
Shops and Food: There are some fun pop-up shops surrounding the rinkwith local vendors and food you can explore while you're in the area.
CLICK HERE FOR BRYANT PARK ICE SKATING INFO
CLICK HERE FOR CENTRAL PARK ICE SKATING INFO
3. Browse the Columbus Circle Christmas Market*
If you're a sucker for outdoor markets, you'll love the Manhattan Christmas Market at Columbus Circle. There red and white striped shops, with draping twinkle lights create a festive environment to browse through even if you don't plan to do any shopping.
Most of the vendors are local artisans and crafters with unique ornaments, gifts, and food for sale.
Eat: Plan to eat lunch or dinner at the Manhattan Christmas market! There are lots of fun ethnic food varieties. Personally my favorite was the Baked Haus which served Raclette over baguettes (a Swiss tradition) and the Churros con Chocolate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COLUMBUS CIRCLE HOLIDAY MARKET DETAILS
4. Visit the New York Public Library Tree*
You'll find a gorgeous Christmas tree right inside the lobby at the New York Public Library. The building itself is beautiful with the marble floors and the stately columns. You can also check out the famous reading room upstairs.
The entrance for this New York Christmas time activity is free...another bonus!
5. Watch the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show*
New York City holiday activities you don't want to miss is the Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas light show.
Right across the street from the Rockefeller Center is Saks Fifth Avenue. They have an amazing light show every 15 minutes or so that is choreographed to music. Similarly, you could also go see a Christmas-themed music concert. New York is where all the wonderful music happens, and it's extra special during Christmas. With a little research, you could find many Upcoming concerts around Christmas time, and could plan an evening around it.
We loved watching all the lights change colors and the entire side of their building become animated.
6. Look at the Saks Fifth Avenue Windows*
Each year Saks Fifth Avenue unveils their holiday windows. This year, the theme was Snow White, so each window was elaborately decorated with animated scenes from Snow White. They spared no expense, I'm sure.
After you watch the light show from the Rockefeller plaza, walk across the street to take a stroll to view all the windows. We got caught in pouring rain, so our visit was quick, but then again, there were no lines.
7. Attend the Carol Singing + Tree Lighting at Brick Presbyterian Church on Park Avenue*
If you're lucky to be in New York City the first weekend of December (or around there) go the Carol Singing at the Brick Church on Park Avenue. We've always celebrated Advent Sundays to to be in New York City for the 1st Advent was a real treat for me !
The entire block is blocked off, which means there are lots of people, but lots of room. You'll get to sing Christmas carols with thousands of people while the organ plays and they light the trees on Park Avenue.
This activity was a highlight for sure!
CLICK HERE FOR TREE LIGHTING AND CAROL SINGING DETAILS
8. Visit the Giant Ornaments*
We loved checking out the New York City holiday giant ornaments and you will, too. Where else do you see larger than life ornaments? You'll find these giant ornaments right across from Radio City.
9. See the Giant Christmas Lights *
After you see the giant ornaments, walk a few minutes to see these giant Christmas lights.
10. See the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes*
One of the most popular Christmas events NYC, the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes is a must-see!
This NYC Christmas show brought me to tears multiple times. It is one SPECTACULAR show! And the show is not just a bunch of women kicking their legs.
I took my 4-year old daughter with me and she was captivated the entire time. The music and dance is so entertaining and powerful. And not to spoil the show, but they have a live nativity at the end.
I was so impressed that they included Christ's birth in this show because that's what Christmas is all about! I would go see it again tomorrow. Amazing!
11. Stop and Smell the Trees*
New York City is a fast-paced place, but don't forget to stop and smell the flowers....or Christmas trees in this case!
Really, if you aren't a city-dweller, you'll smile seeing how the city folk shop for their trees. You'll have a hard time forgetting it's Christmastime as you smell the fresh pine on your city stroll.
12. Shop for festive decorations and party supplies at Flying Tiger*
You probably won't find "visit Flying Tiger" on any other New York City travel guides, but if you love to party and celebrate holidays, you'll love the inexpensive party and holiday supplies at Flying Tiger.
Stop for a few minutes to stock up on stocking stuffers or other Christmas party gifts. It's such a fun store!
13. Eat Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity*
Serendipity is a fun, eclectic restaurant famous for desserts, especially Frozen Hot Chocolate. I've posted our EASY FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE on this blog before, but it was yummy trying the original. It was tasty!
All of the desserts are huge and over the top. Going to Serendipity was a fun after-show outing. And they have festive garland around the entire restaurant which makes it feel extra fancy for Christmas.
14. Visit New York City Santa Claus
There are so many Santas around the city. We didn't make it to any, but I've heard there are lots to choose from.
15. Go to the Transit Museum at Grand Central Station*
If you need a break from the cold weather outside or just want something fun for children, visit the Transit Museum inside the Grand Central Station. There is a very entertaining train city that will keep you captivated for a while (even adults!) You'll spot cute Christmas houses set up around the tracks.
Also, if you need any fun Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers, they have a large variety of Train books, and wooden trains, letter trains and more that will fit with any standard wooden train set.
16. Eat Churros con Chocolate from the Bryant Park Christmas Market*
After you ice skate at Bryant Park, grab some churros con chocolate from the Holiday Market there, or eat one of many other delicacies from around the world. We tried both churros in nutella and dipped in Spanish Hot Cocoa. Both were tasty, although I preferred the Nutella version better. Yum!
17. Go see the giant color-changing stars at Columbus Circle*
Right inside the Shops at Columbus Circle, you'll see giant stars hanging from the ceiling. If you go to the 2nd floor, you'll get an amazing view of the city, Columbus Circle, and these amazing color-changing stars.
I hear at night the stars change colors according to Christmas music. That would be a fun time to go, too!
18. Visit Macy's SantaLand
We didn't go to SantaLand on our visit, but I hear it's pretty festive and amazing. You'll walk through an all-out decorated Christmas land as you wait in line to see Santa. You must make reservations to go, but it's free. You can order professional photos of your child and Santa as well.
19. Go to Dyker Heights
If you're obsessed with Christmas light displays and think you've seen over the top, think again. Dyker Heights goes all out with Christmas lights and decorations. If you have time for a trip to an area of Brooklyn, you may want to add this to your travel itinerary!
CLICK HERE FOR THE DYKER HEIGHTS FACEBOOK PAGE WITH INFO
20. Eat at Shake Shack*
New York City can be a bit spendy, so plan a meal or two at Shake Shack to save money on food! They have delicious burgers and the best crinkle-cut fries. They serve their food in cute and festive Holiday paper bags and their shakes come in festive cups, too! They have a famous Christmas Cookie shake you can grab for dessert, or try another one of their famous concretes.
There are multiple locations throughout the city. We love Shake Shack, so maybe I'm biased, but if you like burgers, plan a meal here!
21. Admire the Sidewalk Decorations*
In the hustle and bustle of you'll find in the city, don't forget to enjoy the decorations as you walk from place to place. You'll love spotting the wreaths and garland strung from buildings and doors. Every where you look is a sign of Christmas.
22. Take a Carriage Ride through Central Park
This has always been on my bucket list, but darn it, we ran out of time, so a stroll through Central Park had to do. But how romantic would it be to take a ride snuggled up with your love as you ride through the park?
23. Go to the Nutcracker
If you like the ballet, catch the Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet.
24. Go to the 5th Avenue Holiday Windows at Macy's Herald Square
We ran out of time for this one, too, but if you have time for a stroll or go shopping at Macy's, check out the holiday-themed windows!
25. Serve!*
There are so many opportunities to serve while you are in New York City. We were the lucky recipients of some service while we were there and we were able to pass it on as well. Nothing will make you feel the Christmas spirit more than by serving others...especially strangers!
Now you know what do in New York for Christmas!
Be sure to add new York city to your places to visit during Christmas list!
Have you been to New York City at Christmas? What else should be on this list?
