Christmas in New York City is one of our favorites!Â
We’ve been to NYC many times, but winter in the city is magical with all the sparkle of Christmas lights, an unparalleled New Year’s Eve celebration, the iconic Rockefeller Center ice skating, snowy carriage rides through Central Park, lavish shop window displays – visiting New York City in the winter is like a real-life Christmas movie.
To help you find the best of it, here are 15 best festive things you can do in New York City during the holiday season to put you in the holiday spirit.Â
Walk around Central Park
New York City for Christmas is very crowded, especially around major decorations.
If you want to avoid crowds, while still feeling a part of the merriment, stroll around Central Park, one of our favorite things to do during any season in the city.Â
Ice skating at the Wollman Rink NYC and carriage riding are spectator fun activities for everyone. You can seriously stroll around the park for a couple of hours and be fully content.
Walk through the West Village when it's totally empty
There’s a mad rush of visitors leading up to the holidays, but if you’re actually in town on Christmas or New Year’s Day, there’s a dreamlike quiet that falls on the city. That’s when it’s beautiful to walk around the usually busy neighborhoods, like the West Village, admire the brownstones, look at shopping windows, and walk in the middle of the streets.Â
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Ice skate in Bryant Park
If you are into ice skating, head to Bryant Park. Located in the shadow of the New York Public Library, Bryant Park is an urban winter wonderland. Â The rink is admission-free if you have your own skates. Early weekday mornings are the best time to ski, quiet and without the crowds. This year, timed rink reservations are required, whether or not you need to rent skates, which means even more space to skate to your heart’s content.
Indulge in breads Bakery's Babka
Breads Bakery makes incredible baked goods all year round, but their chocolate babka is world-famous. The holiday offerings at this walk-up spot in Bryant Park are amazing, from Thanksgiving cranberry gouda rolls and festive Linzer tarts for Christmas to challah and potato latkes for Hanukkah. There is something for everyone here!Â
Treat yourself a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3
Many of us have stopped by Serendipity because of that 2001 movie by the same name. But people keep going back to the iconic sweet place because of the world-famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. Come Christmastime, order the mint chocolate version to really get into the season.Â
Shop for Christmas ornaments in Little Italy
All-year-round Christmas Store in Little Italy may be weird, but walking into a festive wonderland in spring or summer with glass ornaments and fully themed decorated trees is spectacular. There is also a that café serves pastries and gelato, and a great selection of specialty iced and hot beverages, so you can sit and enjoy your day in the Christmas wonderland.
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Check Out the Met Christmas Tree’s glow
Visit The Met and head to Gallery 305 to check out the annual display of the 20-foot blue spruce Christmas tree in its Medieval Sculpture Hall. There is also an 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene at its base. Plan your visit with a timed ticket or reservation.Â
Holiday shop at Brooklyn Flea
Shop local is especially important this holiday season. Check out the Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo. You can find hand-made leather bags, vintage tweed jackets, gorgeous spindly air plants, and cherry red antique kitchen chairs under the Manhattan Bridge archway.Â
Stroll by the lights at Dyker Heights
Take the subway to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to be awestruck by the dedicated neighborhood of houses that go all out with holiday cheer. Â Giant inflatable lawn animals, motorized Santas, a mob of nutcrackers, and so many lights that you can barely tell what time of day it is.Â
Stroll the Bronx Zoo's Winter Wonderland
Visiting the Bronx Zoo around Christmas in New York is like entering a winter wonderland. Everywhere you look, there’s another Christmas tree, a group of carollers harmonizing classic tunes, or a man inexplicably walking by on stilts. The main attraction is the lantern safaris, where you can see illuminated animals from every part of the world (giraffes, polar bears, sea turtles). The outdoor celebration is complete with festive entertainment, seasonal treats, and classic holiday music.
Get starry eyed at a Light Park
The Luminocity Light Festival on Randall’s Island is one of the best newer places to experience art in the form of illuminating works of light and color. Visitors follow the journey of Lumi (an adorable magical light bulb), which takes them through a rainbow of giant plants, icy dragons, and a field of glowing 5-foot-tall mushrooms that are a real wonderland.Â
Visit Summit One Vanderbilt
Summit One Vanderbilt is the newest and tallest NYC skyscraper, hence the new sky-high attraction. Their Instagram page promises a thrilling experience. The views give a stunning perspective of New York City’s skyline. Plan your visit with a timed ticket.Â
Do a holiday pop-up bar crawl
Starting almost immediately after Thanksgiving, several bars in NYC string up holiday decorations—then go a step further, converting them into full-blown seasonal pop-ups. In 2021, a true bar crawl may be difficult to pull off, but booking reservations is a smooth way to continue the tradition. Start at Miracle on 9th at Cabinet, where the drinks menu is always different. Then head to Beachbum Berry’s Sippin Santa at Boilermaker, which brings a tiki touch to all the holiday accouterments. Check out one more, in Brooklyn, Boerum Hill’s beloved Leyenda. It carries on the Latin theme with disco balls and seasonal cocktails. If committing to a full mug is too much, tiny spiced shots are on offer, too.
Escape it all and go to a spa
If you need to escape the crowds and truly relax, treat yourself to a trip to a day spa or massage and make your trip to NYC a truly memorable experience. A little self-care is the best holiday gift we can give to ourselves. Aire Ancient Baths, right at the heart of TriBeCa, offers an adventurous escape and a return to Roman bathing traditions. Candles, lanterns, and steam warm up – a unique atmosphere of relaxation.
Have you visited New York City for Christmas? What’s your favorite festive thing to do? Let us know in the comments section.Â
