No city holds as much Christmas magic as New York — just ask any classic holiday movie! From iconic trees to the strings of lights that match the skyscrapers’ twinkle, New York City is a Christmastime dreamland.
If you’re planning a trip to New York between November and early January, there are so many great options to check off your sightseeing “nice list.” With so much to do, it may seem overwhelming to try to sample each and every sugar cookie in all five boroughs. So here are my top 10 sights and experiences you won’t want to miss during Christmas in New York.
Winter Village at Bryant Park
Affectionately known as Winter Village in Brrrrrrryant Park (see what I did there?) this annual event is a delightful months-long destination for midtown merriment. Winter Village has been named the #1 Christmas market in the world, even beating out iconic Christmas markets in Europe! Bryant Park is a great spot year-round, and one of my favorite parks in the city. It’s centrally located and small enough to not feel overwhelming, but big enough to make you feel a little insulated from the hustle and bustle of the city. Stop by the Winter Village anytime from late October to early March to visit rows and rows of igloo-like stands selling a wide variety of gifts and yummy eats, including my favorite pain au chocolat on the planet! The twinkling lights all around are so charming, and the giant Christmas tree in the center of the park is an easier photo op than the larger counterpart at Rockefellar Center! If you’re a fan of ice skating, Bryant Park offers the only free skating admission in New York. (If you don’t bring your own skates you can rent a pair there for a fee.) Be sure to reserve a skating entry time on their website before your visit.
Ice Skating
Besides free admission skating at Bryant Park, two more sweet skating spots in New York are Wollman Rink in Central Park and The Rink at Rockefellar Center, which is comes with a pretty epic view. Both rinks are open for ice skating through March.
Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Even if you don’t want to skate in Rockefellar Center, visiting this quintessential New York location is an absolute must-do on your Christmas in New York list! Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, Rockefellar Plaza is cut off from traffic, making it easy to walk around while admiring the famous view and shopping at stores like Nintendo and FAO. (Be sure to pose with FAO’s famous Toy Soldier!) The center’s giant Christmas tree is usually lit by the end of November or very early December, and is a New York sight to behold against the glistening Rockefeller backdrop. Crowds gather around for photos, but since the traffic is blocked off you’ll be able to get a shot of this New York Christmas tradition!
Macy’s Herald Square
In my humble opinion, every tourist visiting New York needs to make a point of stopping at Macy’s, no matter what time of year! Macy’s Herald Square is located on 34th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue, and at 2.5 million square feet it’s the largest department store in the United States and among the largest in the world! The same Macy’s building you see every year on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was completed in 1902 after the store had occupied several previous locations in the city. Macy’s Herald Square is so rich with history that it was made a National Historic Landmark in 1978.
But this iconic New York location is especially magical at Christmastime. The setting of more than 50 movies, Macy’s Herald Square is perhaps best known for its “starring” role in the 1947 Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street. With eleven floors of shopping including a huge in-store Toys ‘R’ Us, you can find any gift on your holiday list here!
And where better to meet the Christmas big guy himself than on miraculous 34th Street?! Between the end of November and Christmas Eve, you can meet Santa at “Macy’s Santaland,” a huge, highly-themed area of the 8th floor that allows folks to step aboard a Christmas train which transports them to the North Pole. The line is long, but Macy’s even makes the entire queue immersive, complete with Christmas music and animatronic window displays based on Miracle on 34th Street. The cafe right next to the line also makes it easy for groups to take turns grabbing a snack or drink.
Once you board the train and step through the entrance to North Pole Village, the theming is even better than outside! You’ll encounter beautifully-lit Christmas trees, sweet holiday scenes, and animatronic animals enjoying the wintertime.
There’s even a giant Lionel train traveling through an adorable Christmas city. Don’t miss the marquis on the movie theater which is showing — you guessed it — Miracle on 34th Street!
Macy’s Santaland is by appointment only and reservations can only be made within five days of your visit. Check their website to book the Santa of your choice who most closely resembles your background. When you make your reservation, you’ll be able to choose an arrival time that works best for you. Arrive within that time window, but keep in mind that you will still probably have to wait between 30-90 minutes to actually meet Santa. We went on a weekday to avoid the weekend rush, but still spent an hour and a half there from the time we arrived to the time we got our photos. The experience is long but it’s a fun Christmas activity, and the best part is it’s free! You are allowed to take pictures with Santa with your own camera, but they have a photographer also takes some. If you’d like to purchase those photos, packages run between $39 and $49. We had a great visit and felt something extra special about being on magical 34th Street, so we highly recommend this NY Christmas experience!
Store Windows
Storefront window displays have been an iconic symbol of Christmas in Manhattan since R.H. Macy began the tradition way back in 1874! To this day, several storefronts participate in this Christmas custom with creative displays in their NYC windows, attracting visitors from far and wide.
Some of the most famous you can see are Macy’s Herald Square (151 W. 34th Street), Saks Fifth Avenue (611 5th Ave), Bergdorf Goodman (754 5th Ave), and even NY newcomer Raising Cane’s in Times Square, which is sure to delight the kids!
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular
The world-famous Rockettes and their skyscraper-high kicks are synonymous with Christmas in New York. After the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I saw a post on Instagram by someone who said that seeing the Rockettes in person is her lifelong dream. It made me realize how fortunate I am as a local to have seen this renowned show several times. The Christmas Spectacular is a classic holiday performance that everyone should check off their list at least once, and a visit to the historic Radio City Music Hall will give you all the New York feels.
The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet
The Nutcracker is a classic part of Christmas entertainment, and there’s no better place to see it performed than at New York’s breathtaking Lincoln Center. The renowned New York City Ballet brings this tale to life through a beautiful performance that is suitable for ages 5 and up. But beware, the ballet is two hours long and will likely produce a lot of fidgeting from little ones. If you’re interested in exposing your child to ballet and the Nutcracker, the New York City Ballet offers an awesome program called Family Saturdays, which are cost-effective, one-hour, kid-friendly performances featuring excerpts from the full ballet. You’ll have to make reservations months in advance if you want to attend, since these only happen a few times a year and fill up super quickly!
Outdoor Light Shows
If you love Christmas lights and don’t mind the cold, check out some outdoor light shows throughout the city, The Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and New York Botanical Gardens all put on an epic lights shows that are great for light-lovers of all ages.
Grand Central Station
Another iconic spot in New York City is Grand Central Station, and when better to check it out than during its Holiday Fair? Located in Vanderbilt Hall, this 6-week-long market is full of small merchants and an awesome miniature holiday train show, back for the first time since 2019. The New York Transit Museum’s display features a real working miniature train that runs “through a city within a city,” and is sure to delight train enthusiasts of all ages!
Rolf’s Restaurant
Decoration minimalists beware: at Rolf’s Restaurant, more is more! For a unique and festive dining experience, visit this Christmas mainstay near Gramercy Park at 281 3rd Avenue, and bask in the (literal) glow of the restaurant’s over-the-top Christmas decorations showering from every inch of the ceiling! Rolf’s serves German fare, but whether or not its menu is your speed, this location is mostly for the coziest Christmas ambiance. This is one place you need to reserve well in advance, since by November it’s usually booked up for the entire month of December.
There’s so much to do and see in New York City all year long, but visiting at Christmastime is especially magical. If you plan ahead and keep these top 10 attractions in mind, you’re sure to make some very merry Christmas memories in the most magical city in the world!
What Lara Wrote 