Are you planning to visit New York City during the Christmas season? Exciting!
You’ve surely seen guides with lists of all the things you need to see and do for Christmas in New York.
After all, the city is incredibly festive with lights, ornaments, and holiday markets, all in addition to everything else New York City has to offer.
But this guide is all about the mistakes to avoid in NYC at Christmastime…shared by a local NYer. I’ve lived in New York City for 3 decades, and have helped my family, friends, and clients plan their trips to New York City.
I’m sure you’ve spent a lot to visit New York City at Christmas, so don’t visit as a rookie during what is the busiest time of year!
Be sure to read this guide before visiting New York City during the holidays to help make your trip a success.
10 Mistakes to Avoid in NYC at Christmastime
Mistake #1: Driving into Manhattan.
Traffic in and around Manhattan is insane but especially during the holiday season of November and December. Local news stations report on traffic gridlock alert days and nearly every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s qualifies.
Driving into New York City during this peak-holiday season comes with frustration and, worst of all, so much time wasted. This is all before you’ve even begun to search for a parking lot that has space while slowly fighting your way block after block through traffic and a sea of pedestrians. You’ll inevitably cry “Uncle!” and pay any amount just to get out of your car.
If you live within driving distance to New York City, start your holiday season visit by maximizing your time on public transportation. Take a train, bus or even, a ferry, into NYC. If you don’t have this option right from your hometown, drive to a Park & Ride location and use public transportation from there.
Mistake #2: Not Using the Subway.
Taxis and Ubers can be helpful, but they’re expensive and also have to sit in the same traffic as every other vehicle on the roads. As the price on your yellow taxi meter ticks up, so will your stress and frustration. And, even flat-rate rides can’t avoid the mega amount of time wasted when you realize it REALLY took that amount of time to go 2 miles.
You accomplish several things by using the subway instead.
First and foremost, you save SO much time by heading underground and bypassing street traffic. The New York City Subway can quickly take you anyplace you’d like to go in Manhattan and even beyond into boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens. And saving time isn’t just about avoiding traffic but also about being strategic when it’ll take a long time to get somewhere on foot.
The subway is cheaper (and did I mention faster?) than any taxi or Uber ride. At $3.00, you can start out uptown at the Museum of Natural History or Harlem and go the full length of Manhattan down to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum or the Brooklyn Bridge. Train transfers are included in your fare as long as you’re underground.
And speaking of below ground, the tunnels and platforms may not be heated, but they do offer protection against the cold New York City winter. Snow, sleet, wind, or rain can all be avoided once you head underground.
If you’ve never taken the subway before, not to worry. It’s the question I get asked the most hen I’m planning someone’s New York City itinerary. So, if it’s your first time planning a trip New York City, I’ve got more subway and city basics in this complete NYC guide.
Mistake #3: Not Wearing Warm Clothes or Comfy Shoes.
If I had to choose the biggest mistake I see visitors make while in New York City during the winter, this would be it.
New York City can be tolerably cold, cold, and/or downright freezing in the winter. It all depends on your weather luck while you’re here.
Remember, Manhattan is an island. Islands are breezy. Except that the rivers on either side aren’t warm bodies of water, but ice floes. Combine this with the grid layout of New York’s skyscrapers and the streets can become wind tunnels blasting cold air.
So as you pack, plan for a lot of outside time with no warm car to run to after leaving the house.
Dressing for the weather is the difference between enjoying yourself and feeling so cold it ruins the whole experience.
Insulated layers are the best way to trap your body heat. With layers, I can also take one off when I head inside to a heated space like at a museum.
I wear comfortable, warm, waterproof shoes or boots that I can walk in for miles.
And, just as important, I always keep my head, ears, neck, and hands warm. I cannot tell you how many NYC visitors I see in the winter with bright red ears and hunched shoulders trying to keep the winter winds from blowing cold air onto their necks.
For more specific recommendations, check out my guide all about what to wear in NYC in the winter.
Mistake #4: Not Having a Plan.
I’m all for being spontaneous when traveling. But if you’re visiting New York City during the holidays, you definitely need a plan. Otherwise, you risk wasting a lot of time and feeling disappointed when you realize you needed reservations or to purchase tickets ahead of time.
First and foremost, have a list of places you’d like to see and map them out so you have a sense of where things are and can avoid backtracking as much as possible. If your list includes popular sights like the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock, you can save money if you plan this ahead of time and bundle the cost of admission with a New York CityPASS or a New York Pass.
Next figure out what you need reservations for. It’s possible to reserve an ice skating time at Bryant Park or to schedule a time with Santa at Macy’s. If you have your heart set on a particular restaurant or want to eat at a popular holiday season place like Rolf’s, make reservations ahead of time.
Lastly, if you need tickets to see the Rockettes, a specific Broadway show, or even a tour to see the most Christmas-happy, lit-up neighborhood in Brooklyn, book your tickets in advance. Especially if any of these things are your musts, don’t leave things to chance. The city is very busy with many people looking to book similar Christmastime experiences.
For what to expect during Christmas in New York City, check out my guide. For a ready-to-go step-by-step itinerary with maps, subway directions, local expert tips for Christmas in NYC, this guide has everything you need.
Mistake #5: Not Factoring in More Time…for Everything.
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, New York City is overflowing with visitors who want to be a part of the festive atmosphere. Even if you’ve visited the city at another time of year, you’ll want to factor in extra time for everything.
Just walking down 5th Avenue to see the department store windows, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Rockefeller Center tree can take double, triple the time it normally would take. There are so many pedestrians all trying to get places on foot that the sidewalks can be just as crowded in these popular areas as the streets are with traffic.
Recently, NYC has even closed Fifth Avenue around Rockefeller Center for select weekends just to make it easier for people to walk in this area.
It’s best to come prepared ahead of time with this in mind. Channel your inner-farm animal and be ready to move as a herd.
Keep all of this in mind for any reservations you have, be it for dinner, a VIP Rockefeller Center Ice Skating experience, or for a visit with Santa at Macy’s. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get places so you don’t arrive feeling stressed out over having to push through the crowds or even worse, arrive late and miss out on something special.
And if you need a break from the crowds of Midtown, head south to a neighborhood like Greenwich Village for lunch or dinner. Once you get away from midtown, the sidewalks won’t be as packed.
Mistake #6: Trying to See All the Christmas Sights at the Same Time as Everyone Else.
Avoiding all the crowds of the Christmas season in New York City isn’t possible. After all, everyone wants to see the tree at Rockefeller Center or enjoy the holiday markets at Bryant Park.
However, with a little motivation and perhaps a strong cup of coffee, you can get up and out early enough to beat some of the crowds. It’s much easier to get a photo in front of the Saks Fifth Avenue department store windows when you’re not 3 rows deep moving through lines of people.
The Rockefeller Center tree turns on its lights at 5 a.m. It’ll be a lot easier to move along Fifth Avenue to Rockefeller Center and significantly fewer people snapping photos of the tree in those first couple hours of the day.
Aside from the pre-dawn move, be as strategic as possible. At most holiday sights, dinner time will be a bit less crowded than midday (but still no where as nice as the early morning). Take advantage of Broadway shows starting at 8 p.m. eliminating a chunk of people from the Rockefeller Center ice rink or the windows outside Macy’s.
Mistake #7: Eating in Times Square.
Most of the restaurants in Times Square are chains that just cater to visitors.
I know choosing from thousands of restaurants in New York City is intimidating. But if you walk a few blocks out of Times Square or Rockefeller Center or even better take the subway to a neighborhood like Greenwich Village or Chelsea, you’ll find a lot of great food and a more local vibe.
New York has every kind of food you can imagine so it’s a real opportunity to try some new things, too. And remember a classic NYC diner, New York pizza, food in Chinatown, or even a burger at a Pub, doesn’t need to be on a “best of” list to still be really good.
And although I can’t make any promises, once you’re out of the Times Square area and theater district, the value of what you’re getting for the price really does tend to be much better.
Of course, I have my NYC restaurant favorites like Lupa, Morandi, ABC Kitchen, Blue Ribbon, Benihana, Le Bernardin, The Smith, Market Table, Dagon, Boulud Sud, Leyla, Thai Market, Del Friscos, and Little Owl, to name a few.
But places like Eataly near the Flatiron building, Chelsea Market, and Mercado Little Spain in Hudson Yards are all equally as worthy of your tastebuds.
Mistake #8: Not Taking Advantage of Restrooms When You Have Access.
New York City has very few public restrooms and the conditions and cleanliness inside will vary greatly.
Places like Grand Central Station at 42nd St. and Lexington Ave., Rockefeller Center’s Concourse, the Shops at Columbus Circle or Hudson Yards, Macy’s at 34th St and 6th Ave., and Chelsea Market and the Oculus in Lower Manhattan are good options if you’re near one of these places. Otherwise, look to places like Starbucks and McDonald’s.
Surprisingly, Bryant Park also has public bathrooms and they might be the cleanest in the city! Perfect if you’re shopping at the holiday market in the park’s Winter Village.
While it’s good to know these places exist, the better strategy is to always use the restroom when you have access. If you stop for lunch or visit a museum, attend a Broadway show, or head to the Top of the Rock, use the available bathrooms. You’re likely to find cleaner facilities and in the case of restaurants and museums, smaller lines.
Mistake #9: Taking a Horse and Carriage or Pedicab Ride
I know it seems like an iconic or fun experience but there are some really important things to be aware of with these two things
The horses by law are supposed to get breaks and vacation time each year, but it’s unenforceable. Many aren’t treated the best and the conditions in New York City in winter can be harsh.
Pedicabs are also one of the easiest ways to be scammed in New York City. Prices aren’t exactly clear and many people find out at the end of their ride that the original price quoted was actually per person and not the total.
So for that same charming holiday experience, skate at Wollman Rink in Central Park, then explore the Upper West Side. Or get hot chocolate and something sweet in Soho before shopping among the neighborhood’s cast-iron buildings.
You’ll get that same “it’s like I’m in a movie” feeling.
Mistake #10: Thinking You Have to Do It All.
Sometimes it’s fun to “do” a city in one whirlwind long weekend. But, coming to New York at Christmastime with this mindset isn’t necessarily the best approach.
Since you’ll be here during the holiday season, focus on the things that make the city at Christmas special like the holiday lights, markets and department store windows. And then mix in a few classic NYC experiences, too, like walking in Central Park or across the Brooklyn Bridge, going to a museum or a show and visiting one of the observation decks.
You don’t need to check off you’re entire NYC bucket list. So don’t race from one must-see to the next. Slow down and enjoy the festive energy that only happens this time of year.
You’ll Love Christmas in New York City
If you only remember three things, make them these three. Reserve or get tickets for everything possible on your itinerary. Use the subway whenever possible to bypass the crowds and traffic at street level. And dress warmly for being outside in the winter.
If you’d like a complete day-by-day Christmas itinerary put together by a local, I’ve put a step-by-step Christmas in New York City guide with maps, subway directions, restaurant tips, neighborhood guides, and a ton of local tips. It’s linked below.
For a ready-to-go step-by-step itinerary with maps, subway directions, local expert tips for Christmas in NYC,
this guide has everything you need.
Are you planning to visit New York at Christmastime? What questions do you have about these NYC mistakes to avoid at Christmas?
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