Christmas in New York City is simply wonderful! The chill in the air is just enough for red noses. The city streets are decked out in shimmering lights and dazzling displays of ornaments, snowflakes, and tinsel. Not a trimming is missed.
Even as a longtime NYC local (25+ years), a New York Christmas still stirs my holiday spirit as soon as the season’s first decorations are up. You’re in luck, too! If you visit in December, it’s always Christmas in New York.
If you’ve dreamed of visiting NYC during the holidays, this guide has all you need to know for a successful trip. After all, Christmas in New York City is a special time and, undoubtedly, your visit will always hold a special place in your memory.
If it’s your first time in New York City, check out my complete New York City Guide with itinerary ideas, things to do, how to get around, where to stay, and more.
Stay Tuned!
The info in this post will be updated as 2025 NYC Christmas information becomes available. So bookmark it for easy reference as you get ready for your trip. 🙂
What to Know About Christmas in New York City 2025
New York at Christmas is magical! I think it’s one of the prettiest times of the year to visit New York City. For this and many other amazing reasons, it’s on a lot of travelers’ bucket lists. But to have a successful trip, you need to be in the right mindset!
Absolutely bring your best holiday cheer, but include a dose of reality about what to expect.
What to Pack for Christmas in New York City
Be prepared for Christmas in NYC, especially if you’re not used to spending stretches of time outside in colder temperatures. Your light jacket might be perfect for walking from your house to your car and then from your car to someplace warm. But, the icy winds that funnel through NYC will shred that jacket faster than you can run for cover.
Don’t be one of the countless tourists walking through Times Square or Rockefeller Center completely ill-equipped for the elements and clearly not enjoying themselves the way they should.
Most New Yorkers know the NYC mistakes to avoid at Christmas, especially when it comes to winter gear. We know which boots to wear in order to jump over icy, slushy puddles and not fall onto the pavement. We seamlessly switch out coats and layers for 30-degree temperature differences from one day to the next.
New York at Christmas Time Weather and Packing Tips to Keep in Mind.
Plan to Pack:
My complete packing guide of what to wear in New York in winter has more helpful tips!
The Best Things to Do for Christmas in New York City
New York City at Christmas is such a special time to visit the city. On top of NYC’s most famous sights and experiences, the Christmas holiday ambiance can be felt all over the city. You can wrap yourself in holiday cheer with the many things to do and see at around the city!
1. See the Rockefeller Christmas Tree 2025.
Obvious, I know. But, would you go to Paris for the first time and not see the Eiffel Tower? Exactly.
Christmas in New York comes with a visit to the Rockefeller Christmas tree! And the tree officially arrives on November 8th, 2025. Then, the work begins to string it with lights and get it ready for the holiday season.
In 2025, the Rockefeller tree lighting ceremony will be on Wednesday, December 3rd from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Once it’s lit, you can see the tree daily until about mid-January.
To attend the tree lighting ceremony, you’ll need to arrive by noon to have the best chance to see the tree when the lights switch on.
If you can’t get to Rockefeller Plaza immediately surrounding the tree and ice rink between 48th & 51st streets from Fifth or 6th Avenues, try to get a spot in the Channel Gardens between 49th & 50th Streets along Fifth Avenue. Otherwise, head to Fifth Avenue and stand just at the entrance of the Channel Gardens, with Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store at your back.
To see the musical performances before the tree lighting, you must be within the first few rows of people around the ice rink. If this is your goal, arrive by late morning to claim a spot.
Even after the lighting ceremony, Rockefeller Center and the tree are unbelievably crowded during the holiday season. You might even momentarily wonder why you’re shuffling along with hoards of people just to see a Christmas tree.
But, it’s truly spectacular and a New York Christmas holiday must! The decorations inside Rockefeller Center add to the display of lights and festivities. It just wouldn’t be a very New York Christmas if you didn’t see the Rockefeller tree!
The absolute best times to see the most famous Christmas tree in Manhattan are at night when the crowds thin a bit and the tree sparkles against the night sky.
Or better yet, if you’re an early bird like me, go just as the lights turn on. It’ll still be dark, the lights will be on, and there will be hardly anyone there at that early morning hour.
The Christmas tree lights are on from 5:00 a.m. until midnight. If you’re in New York City on Christmas Day, the tree lights are on for 24 hours. Go late in the night and have the tree (almost) all to yourself! It is New York after all. There’s bound to be a least a couple of other people there, too.
If you’re in New York City for New Year’s Eve, the Rockefeller tree is lit from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.
If you’d like a ready-to-go step-by-step Christmas in NYC itinerary with maps, detailed instructions, neighborhood guides, and expert local tips, check out my complete Christmas in New York City Guide.
2. See More of the Christmas Trees in New York City.
If you need a break from the crowds at Rockefeller Center but still want to see Christmas sights, NYC has a lot of other spectacular Christmas trees for you to admire.
Look for these beautiful New York City Christmas trees.
3. Admire the Christmas Windows at NYC’s Department Stores.
Touring the holiday-themed department store windows is a classic, New York City Christmas tradition. Each year the stores decorate their windows with sparkles and glitz around a particular story or festive theme.
Visitors and New Yorkers like me line up to see the most popular displays, especially in the early evening hours and on the weekend. It’s always fun to see the creative holiday themes the designers at each store have come up with!
If you’re reading this as of December 3rd, 2025 – all holiday window displays are on view for the public.
To see all the popular store windows without backtracking along Fifth Avenue go in this order.
Start at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street to see the windows at Bergdorf Goodman and continue on along Fifth Avenue to stores like Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Saks Fifth Avenue, before finishing at Macy’s in Herald Square.
You can also start a bit further east at Bloomingdale’s and then walk to Bergdorf to start the route above.
Reverse the order if it makes more sense for your plans, but remember Macy’s Christmas decorations are the only ones along 6th Avenue in Herald Square. Otherwise, it’s a straight route up or down Fifth Avenue.
ProTip: It’s BACK!! In 2024, Saks Fifth Avenue decided to cancel its beautiful light show. But, the holiday light show returns in 2025 on November 24th! The show illuminates the entire building facade along Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets with holiday lights and sparkles choreographed to festive music every 10-15 minutes from dusk until about 11 pm.
4. Visit the Best Christmas Markets in New York City.
New York has numerous Christmas holiday-themed markets. The artists and merchants sell food, clothes, spices, artwork, novelty crafts, and gifts in temporary kiosks once a year. While not quite as expansive as the Christmas markets in Europe, the markets are festive and a ton of fun to stroll through looking for gifts and new foods to try.
As you plan your Christmas in New York City, add these holiday markets to your list.
5. Get Festive with New York City Christmas Ornaments.
Plenty of NYC guides urge visitors to get out of midtown and see other areas of the city, like lower Manhattan. This is all for good reason. You should absolutely save time for sights like the Brooklyn Bridge and neighborhoods like Chelsea, the Upper West Side, Chinatown, and Greenwich Village even when you visit during the Christmas holiday season.
But, this is the time of the year that Midtown steals the show so it should be the first stop you make as you plan your trip. From the snowflake suspended over 57th and Fifth to the displays of decorations and lights down Fifth Avenue, New York City Christmas ornaments are big and beautiful!
Midtown Manhattan (particularly between 42nd and 57th streets from Broadway to Fifth Avenue) shimmers and sparkles all holiday season long and it’s the place to be this time of year.
Specifically, don’t miss Saks Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Bryant Park, and Lotte New York Palace. Along Fifth Avenue and 6th Avenue, you’ll also see giant Christmas tree ornament displays, wooden soldier displays from the Nutcracker, and of course, more lights!
Outside of the central Midtown area, Hudson Yards has a spectacular lights display both inside the shopping center and outside near the Vessel. You’ll also find holiday decorations at Chelsea Market, the Shops at Columbus Circle, and Washington Square Park.
Also, if you have the chance, stroll around neighborhoods like the Upper West Side, Greenwich Village, and Chelsea. Not only will you escape the crowds in Midtown, but you’re also bound to see some of the city’s iconic brownstones dressed up for the holiday season.
I love when some of these homes have their giant Christmas trees on display through their center windows!
6. Enjoy One of the Ice Rinks in New York City.
The setting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the ice rink makes it seem like a perfect place to skate. And if you’re going just for that iconic setting, do it.
But, if you want my take, I’d say skip the ice rink at Rockefeller Center if you want to have a good skate and you’re visiting during the peak Christmas season. You’ll have a better skating experience elsewhere. The small rink is really expensive and comes with crowds and long lines.
The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center does open on October 11th, 2025 so if you visit NYC before the Christmas season, it can be a great time to skate with fewer people on the ice.
For a quintessential New York ice skating experience, check out these rinks.
7. See a Christmas Show in NYC.
The theater is full of magic! There’s no better time to see a live theater performance than during the Christmas season. New York City is overflowing with incredible Broadway shows. The lights of the theater marquees and the chill in the air make for the perfect holiday night outing in New York City.
For discounted “day of “Broadway tickets, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square on 47th Street just below the famous red steps. You can even download the TKTS app for free to see what tickets are available for performances that day.
You can also look for discounted show tickets on TodayTix ahead of time which is a great way to avoid the line at TKTS and find the show you want to see.
ProTip: If you’re flexible with which Broadway show to see, go to TKTS at 7:15-7:30 p.m. just before the 8:00 shows start. The line will be shorter and the theaters are all within a few minutes from the TKTS booth. Or if you’re feeling lucky, try entering a Broadway ticket lottery!
If you want to stick with the Christmas theme, head to Radio City for the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Shows start on November 6th, 2025 and run until January 4th, 2026.
If you’re spending Christmas in NYC with kids, the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular’s daytime performances often buzz with audience noise and energy. The short show lengths and the loose, easy-to-follow storyline make it a super fun family experience.
Head to the Upper West Side to see a classic performance of The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Performances will begin on November 28th, 2025 and go until January 4th, 2026.
If you’d like a ready-to-go step-by-step Christmas in NYC itinerary with maps, detailed instructions, neighborhood guides, and expert local tips, check out my complete Christmas in New York City Guide.
8. Enjoy Central Park in December. (Maybe in the snow!)
Everyone loves the picture-perfect white of freshly falling snow. One of the best NYC things to do when snow magic happens is to stroll through Central Park and admire the serene winter setting.
Snow in New York City in December doesn’t happen that often. But, it’s also not out of the question either. So, if you’re lucky, you just might be here for the city’s first coating of white.
If so, grab a hot cocoa from the holiday market at W.59th Street and Columbus Circle and walk into the park from there. Or enter from Fifth Avenue & 59th Street if you’re near the Plaza Hotel. Either way, your camera will thank you for the clean white wonderland parkscapes and the tall city buildings rising all around.
9. Visit one of New York City’s Botanical Gardens.
The Annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens is a favorite, especially if you’re traveling to NYC during the Christmas season with kids. And it’s one of the most recognized and beloved holiday events for New Yorkers and visitors alike.
Miniature trains chug through a winter wonderland of New York City landmark replicas (also in miniature) made by plant-based materials decorated with lights while the festive scene is made complete with music and holiday-themed bites and beverages.
The Holiday Train Show runs from November 15, 2025 to January 11, 2026, and you can and should get your tickets in advance.
Meanwhile, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, you can wind your way along the garden’s illuminated trail under the starry sky at their Lightscape event. Artistically designed displays of lights and sculptures combine with the garden’s trees and natural landscape for a spectacular (and highly photogenic) Christmas scene.
Lightscape is a fantastic experience (see the photo above) and is happening from November 21st, 2025 until January 4th, 2026.
10. See the Holiday Lights in Dyker Heights.
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour is one of the most popular Christmas tours in New York City. This Brooklyn neighborhood goes all out during the holidays, with every last roof shingle and inch of yard space covered in lights and decorations.
Don’t be fooled! These are not your average residents displaying their holiday cheer. The Dyker Heights holiday lights displays are done by the pros, costing tens of thousands of dollars to pull off!
The lights are set up after Thanksgiving, and in my experience, the best times to visit are from the first week of December onward through the holiday season from dusk until 9 pm, even though some houses will keep their lights on a bit later.
If you’d rather go on your own, it’s possible. Most of the light displays are centered between 83rd and 86th Streets and 11th and 13th Avenues in Brooklyn. To get there by subway from Manhattan, take the D Train to 79th Street or the R Train to 86th Street. From either point, it’s about a 10-ish minute walk before you’ll be in the heart of the neighborhood.
ProTip: December in New York City is incredibly busy with visitors. If there are any NYC tours or activities you’re interested in doing while you’re here, book them in advance!
11. Visit a Restaurant Decked Out in Holiday Cheer.
A lot of restaurants in New York City decorate for the holiday season. But a few go above and beyond resulting in bars and dining rooms covered in Christmas colors, ornaments, tinsel, and lights.
Rolf’s German Restaurant is probably the most well-known of them all. Located on 3rd Avenue and E.22nd Street, this bar and restaurant actually keeps their Christmas decorations up all year long. It’s a popular spot whether you want a drink or to sit for something to eat and lines often wrap around the block for those who haven’t booked a table.
Reservations for tables are only taken by phone and should be done well in advance of your New York City Christmas trip. If you only want to have a drink at the bar to enjoy the Christmas-scape inside, it’s first come, first served.
Other NYC restaurants and bars decorated for Christmas include:
12. Enjoy the New York City Christmas Vibes Inside an Igloo.
There’s something magical about sitting inside one of the many pop-up igloos and glasshouses around the city. You can warm up by sipping something toasty, snacking on small bites, and enjoying the festive atmosphere and views around you.
As you might imagine, these experiences have become quite popular in the last several years so it’s often necessary to book ahead of time to make sure you can reserve the date you need.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland at the Seaport is extremely popular! Sitting along the East River, you’ll have unrivaled views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
City Winery sets up a few igloos in Rockefeller Center and at their Pier 26 location in Tribeca. Both open for the season on December 1st. The Bryant Park Winter Village has its own igloos, too.
Head into the sky at 230 Fifth Avenue for rooftop views featuring the Empire State Building. Or check out the stunning views from your own igloo at Somewhere Nowhere in Chelsea.
Best Things to Do in New York on Christmas Day
New York City is still an active place on Christmas Day.
While some sights and restaurants close, there’s still plenty to do. Many of the things to do in New York in December for the holiday season listed above will be available on Christmas Day. You’ll just have to choose between traditional Christmas activities or making your own NYC Christmas Day memories!
The most obvious is to do some sightseeing. The places below are all open on Christmas Day.
Pro Tip: If your NYC itinerary includes a lot of sightseeing, there’s no cheaper way to see the main sights than with New York CityPASS or a Go City Card.
Mark the religious occasion by attending a Christmas Mass.
Spend the holiday at a show or event.
Christmas in New York City FAQs
Yes! In fact, it’s one of the best times to visit New York City if you enjoy festive activities & shows, holiday markets, ice skating, holiday lights, and of course, all the usual NYC sights! Truly, Christmas in New York City is one of the most special times of the year to visit!
New York City is not typically considered a budget destination, however during the Christmas season, it can be even more expensive. In particular, hotel prices are at a peak because of the popularity of visiting NYC at Christmas. The good news is there are many Christmas-themed things you can do for free, like walking through holiday markets, visiting St. Patrick’s Cathedral, admiring the department store holiday windows, and seeing all the lights and decorations around the city. Not to mention places like Central Park, Times Square, and the 9/11 Memorial are always free to visit.
Yes. New York City is incredibly crowded during Christmas. You need to allow more time for everything, especially when you’re trying to move around the midtown area where popular sights like Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park are.
The best week to visit New York in December would be the 2nd or 3rd week of the month. While still crowded, it’s between the initial flurry of visitors when the Rockefeller Center tree is lit and before the Christmas school vacation week.
As you plan your trip to New York for Christmas, book ahead as many tours, activities, restaurants, or shows as possible to ensure you can do and see everything you’d like. Logistically group things that make sense. For example, it’s logical to visit Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the decorations and department stores along 5th Avenue leading up to the Plaza Hotel and Central Park because each one is close to the next.
You should dress in warm layers and warm, waterproof shoes or boots. Dressing for New York in December means preparing for longer periods of time outdoors whether you’re walking between sights, at Rockefeller Center, shopping at a holiday market, or enjoying the lights and decorations along 5th Avenue. Use this guide about what to wear in New York in Winter to help you pack for your trip.
Ready to plan your Christmas in New York City?
It’s so worth it to plan a trip to experience Christmas in NYC. It’s an unforgettable experience!
The important part is to prepare and know how to make the most of your trip. That way, you’ll easily look back and remember your visit for the joyful holiday feelings it stirred inside you.
If you’d like a ready-to-go step-by-step Christmas in NYC itinerary with maps, detailed instructions, neighborhood guides, and expert local tips, check out my complete Christmas in New York City Guide.
So, what questions do you have about Christmas in New York City?
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