15 Christmas things to do in New York City
The definitive guide to enjoy the city during the most magical time of the year.
Rockefeller Center at Christmas | ©Hellotickets
Christmas is one of the most magical times to live in New York. The city is filled with Christmas trees, lights, carolers, decorated avenues and stores... Without a doubt, it is the time to travel to the Big Apple. Andy Williams already said it in his popular song: *It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
1. Visit the Christmas lights of Dyker Heights
The neighborhood of Dyker Heights has become a must-visit Christmastime in New York City with the decorative display and Christmas lights installed by the locals themselves. This Brooklyn neighborhood would be nothing special if it weren't for its residents who transform it into a place that looks like something out of an American movie.
Some choose discreet and sophisticated lights to decorate their homes while others indulge in excess and recharge them with all kinds of garlands, balls and figures. A real neighborhood competition that began in the 80s and has become an event for which some families even pay professional decorators to make a different design every year.
It is so popular that there is even a guided tour of Dyker Heights at Christmas time to know the smallest detail of the neighborhood! I highly recommend it because it's quite a spectacle and it's so much fun to see an American themed neighborhood for Christmas.
Practical information
- When: Although there are neighbors who turn on the lights at the end of November, it is usually done in the month of December until the end of the year.
- Where: In the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
- How to get there: Being a residential area there is no subway station but you can take the R line and get off at 86 Street station in the Bay Ridge neighborhood. It is a 15 minute walk from the neighborhood.
- Which are the most spectacular: The ones between 10th and 12th avenues and 83rd and 86th streets.
2. Be amazed by the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
During a trip to New York at Christmas you have to make a hole in your schedule to attend the legendary Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a magical Christmas show that premiered for the first time in 1933 and has become a true tradition at this time of year.
It really is as spectacular as its name says! A show of music, dance, humor and lights like those of yesteryear, starring the fantastic The Rockettes that will make you relive Christmas with the illusion of a child. A classic!
Whenever I have the opportunity to go to New York at Christmas I do not miss it because the show varies every year and it is a surprise. If you are traveling with your family, I highly recommend it because Radio City Christmas Spectacular is suitable for all ages and even the little ones will have a blast. During Christmas, magic invades Broadway!
How to buy tickets?
Whether for Radio City Christmas Spectacular: or for any other Broadway musical, it is best to buy your tickets online and as far in advance as possible because the theaters fill up and the box offices immediately hang the sold out sign at Christmas.
In addition, when booking online you can choose the site you like and in some cases the prices are cheaper than at the box office of the theaters. Do not hesitate, buy your tickets online is easy, safe and fast.
3. Enjoy also at Christmas time the NBA, the best league in the world.
Enjoy an NBA game in person is a must-do experience for every traveler visiting New York, especially if you get your tickets from Santa Claus for Christmas! Even if you don't like sports or the NBA, attending a basketball game in the USA is a real spectacle where the party, the music, the good vibes and, above all, the sport reign.
New York is home to two NBA teams: the New York Knicks (who play at the legendary Madison Square Garden in Manhattan) and the Brooklyn Nets (whose home is the modern Barclays Center in Brooklyn).
How to buy NBA tickets?
The demand to go to an NBA game is extremely high so it is normal for tickets to sell out quickly. The season starts at the end of October and ends at the end of April, so if you want to attend a game, my advice is to buy NBA tickets online and as far in advance as possible. Besides, by booking online you will be able to choose the place you like the most.
I recommend you to read the post NBA tickets in New York: how to buy and prices because there you will find a guide that will help you to get the most out of the experience. So grab your hot dog and your cap and get ready to catch some of the jerseys thrown by the cheerleaders - if you're lucky you might even be on the legendary "kiss-cam" at the stadium!
4. Don't miss Rockefeller Center's light-up ceremony!
Every year New York inaugurates Christmas with the lighting of the huge Rockefeller Center tree. A tradition that dates back to the 1930s, when workers building the skyscraper put up another fir tree to commemorate the holidays.
The Rockefeller tree is one of the top 11 Christmas trees in New York. It is always lit on the Wednesday of the week following Thanksgiving, and as the date of Thanksgiving changes annually, so does the lighting ceremony.
What is the Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony like?
It is known as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and follows a two-hour event in which several music stars dance and sing Christmas carols for the crowds gathered in Rockefeller Plaza.
Rockefeller Center at Christmastime is a spectacle and attending the tree lighting has become a holiday tradition. The surrounding area is crowded, so if you want to see it, my advice is to go to the place a few hours before to get a good spot. Of course, dress warmly because winter in the city is freezing and waiting so long can freeze you like a snowman.
The show culminates with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree around 10 p.m. and it will remain lit from dusk to midnight until early January. Because it's the big day of the holidays, December 25 is lit all day.
5. Go to the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg Winter Market
Who doesn't love Christmas markets? New York dazzles with its lights and decorations, but the flea markets are decked out in a very special way. Smorgasburg Winter Market combines the vintage flea market (where you can find real treasures) with the food hall (where you can sample creative offerings that will test your taste buds) and cultural events.
Although the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg Winter Market is not limited to the holiday season, it's worth booking a tour of Williamsburg and exploring one of Brooklyn's most diverse and active markets on your own. Perfect for those frosty days and a good time shopping among its curious stalls looking for antiques or having a sweet treat at its food stalls.
During the winter in New York you will find it at 25 Kent Avenue, on the eighth floor of a building with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Right between the two trendy neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
Practical information
- Where: 25 Kent Avenue - 8th Floor, Brooklyn. Right between the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods.
- How to get there: Take the gray L subway line and get off at Bedford Ave. Then walk down Kent Ave for a few minutes and you will arrive at the flea market.
- When: Every weekend from 10 am to 6 pm.
6. Visit the iconic department stores and holiday window displays
For decades, New York's department stores began decorating their windows with Christmas motifs to coincide with this special date. And in recent years it has gone even further: professional window dressers and decorators have been doing their best to impress us with their increasingly creative and imaginative displays.
At Macy's during the Christmas season, you can walk through the North Pole without leaving the department store. Don't you believe it? Well, it's true, at this time of year Macy's recreates a village known as Santaland, where children can meet Santa Claus himself. It's free, but you have to reserve a time.
To tell the truth, all the stores in New York are decked out to live the Christmas spirit so if you like Christmas shopping and stores, my advice is to book a shopping tour of New York or prepare a route through the Christmas windows with the following stops and get ready to be amazed:
7. Discover the Holiday Lights Festival at the Bronx Zoo
If there's one thing we love to see during the holiday season, it's the beautiful lighting that decorates every corner of the city. And the Bronx Zoo has one of the best holiday light festivals. It is the Holiday Lights Festival, a fun outdoor event for the whole family that takes place from November 19 to January 9.
The entire zoo is decorated with hundreds of huge lamps and lanterns in the shape of the plants and animals that live in the park to create an amazing show of color, lights and music to brighten up the winter nights. But during the Holiday Lights Festival you can also attend other events such as:
- The ice carving championships and demonstrations (at Grizzly Corner).
- Puppet theater (at Dancing Crane Pavilion).
- Animal costumes (at Somba Village).
- Ride the Christmas train through the zoo (at Astor Court).
Book your ticket to the Bronx Zoo and don't miss out on the experience. Also, don't forget to read the Bronx Zoo's Holiday Lights Festival post to find out everything you can see during your visit and how to get tickets.
8. Start the year splashing on the beaches of Coney Island!
If you're one of those travelers who aren't afraid of the cold, taking a dip in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean is definitely one of the city's traditions that you must observe. Every January 1st, New Yorkers flock to the beaches of Coney Island (in Brooklyn, near the famous amusement park) to participate in the event organized by the Coney Island Polar Bear Club and welcome the New Year in this unique and cool way.
In case you had a good party the day before, book a tour of Coney Island and get a unique way to get your skinny dipping fix.
In December and January, the average water temperature is around 9ºC, although on some occasions it can be even lower and slightly above 0ºC. But who said it was scary? But who said fear, the best thing to do is not to think about it too much and jump right in! Some people do it in swimming trunks and others choose to go in costume, but everyone follows the coordinator of the event dressed as a polar bear. It will be one of the funniest anecdotes you'll take away from New York, so don't miss it!
How to participate?
Registration to participate in this activity is free but you can also make a donation to collaborate with the organizers in different charitable causes.
9. Hop on the Botanical Garden Christmas Train
And I say that metaphorically speaking, since it is actually a magnificent show with toy trains that has become a tradition at Christmas and pays tribute to New York City thanks to the display of scale models of some of its tourist attractions such as the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building or the Brooklyn Bridge. Wonders that you will enjoy if you book your ticket for the Botanical Garden.
But what makes the Holiday Train Show special? Not only its beautiful location surrounded by nature in the Enid A. Haupt Greenhouse, but also the unique setting of this model of New York, which is made from 100% natural materials.
This tradition was started by its creator Paul Busse in the 1990s, and every year a team of more than ten people, including gardeners, architects, electricians and engineers, takes part in shaping this amazing model, through which small toy trains run. A very endearing experience and absolutely recommended to go with the kids. Since the Holiday Train Show is very popular, I advise you to book your ticket in advance.
Practical information
- Where: New York Botanical Garden at 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx.
- When: Mid-November to mid-January.
- Hours: The Botanical Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Mondays closed.
10. Marvel at the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree and decorations
Once the lights are turned on, you won't get tired of strolling around Rockefeller Center, where Christmas will amaze you with its five senses. In addition, you have the possibility to book a guided tour of Rockefeller Center and get to know this popular area in depth.
Just keep in mind that, no matter what time you go, there will always be tourists and New Yorkers crowding Rockefeller Center at Christmas time. It is super popular and you will find many people who have gone there to take pictures of the decorations, or Christmas shopping in the area, or because they want to skate on the legendary ice rink (but I'll tell you about that later!).
11. Go ice skating
Central Park
Wollman Rink is the public ice rink that opens every winter in the southeast corner of Central Park to the delight of New Yorkers and tourists. Personally, I think the feeling of skating at this spot in the city, with Central Park on one side and the views of the mythical skyscrapers in the background, is simply unbeatable.
If you feel like taking advantage of your visit to the area to get your skates on, I recommend you check the Wollman Rink page to make sure of the opening hours. I have also prepared a practical guide on 17 things to do in Central Park so you can organize your visit to the park and make the most of your time there. Don't let the cold beat you!
- Where: Between 59th and Sixth Avenue in Central Park.
- When: Usually open from late November through March or even April, two of the best times to go to New York.
- Price: Between $12 and $19 (from 11 to 17,50 € approximately), depending on the day of the week (skate rental, if you need it, is paid separately).
Bryant Park
From late October to early January you can skate at Bryant Park, which becomes the Bank of America Winter Village for a few weeks.
Bryant Park is home to The Rink, a large, free ice skating rink, as well as an iconic holiday market filled with souvenirs, decorative items and gourmet treats. How can you resist the 'Ice Bites' hot chocolate? It's delicious!
- Where: 42nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
- When: The ice rink is open from late October to early March, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. / The flea market from Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Price: Free admission (you will have to pay to rent skates if you don't bring them yourself).
Rockefeller Plaza
Of all the options in New York, this may be one of the most typical, but personally not my favorite. Before booking tickets for The Rink at Rockefeller Center you should know that the rink itself is very small and the long lines to access it can get a bit tiresome.
- Where: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 45 Rockefeller Plaza.
- When: It is usually open from late November through March and is an ideal plan after the guided tour of Rockefeller Center in New York.
- Price: Between $25 and $35 (approximately 23 to 32.50 euros), depending on the season (skate rental, if you need it, is extra).
12. Experience an unforgettable New Year's Eve in Times Square
I'm sure you've seen on TV countless times how New Yorkers celebrate New Year's Eve from Times Square: the falling ball to mark the end of the year, the confetti explosion that follows at midnight, the jubilation of the crowd and the always fascinating fireworks. Do you remember? Yes, definitely welcoming the New Year in Times Square is one of the best things to do at Christmas in New York.
The pre-party on the evening of the 31st
But celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square is not just about getting there a little before midnight to wait for the orb to drop. As you know, it is a massive party attended by many people and getting a good spot in Times Square is very popular. For this reason, some people arrive at the famous square in the morning on December 31 and stay there until the big moment known as New Year's Eve Ball Drop.
However, the vast majority usually meet there before six o'clock in the evening, when the famous Swarovski balloon prepares to fulfill its important mission on New Year's Eve and the concerts and performances begin to entertain the public until the big moment.
Its twelve chimes
At 11:59 p.m. everyone gathers for the countdown, the globe descends from the top of the One Times Square building for 60 seconds and when it reaches the end, the confetti jumps through the air coloring the entire square and the joy of those present explodes. The music starts to play and the sky lights up with fireworks because... It's New Year's Eve!
Tips to see New Year's Eve in Times Square
- Since the New Year's Eve Ball Drop ceremony is free, it also becomes massive. To make sure you'll see the ball drop, many people usually start taking up positions early in the afternoon.
- As people congregate in Times Square, the streets are closed to traffic and no one is allowed to enter.
- The night is enlivened with concerts and performances. You can take a look at the program of the event on the official website. If you want to see it you will have to arrive very early to get a place and once there, you will not be able to leave the area without risking to miss it.
- The downside of this is that you will spend a lot of time standing and there are no food stalls or toilets around so it is best to bring some food and not drink too many liquids.
- And of course, be as warm as possible! You will have to wait many hours outdoors until the New Year's Eve Ball Drop ceremony starts and in New York the winter is almost as cold as in the North Pole.
Practical information
- Where: 42nd Street, at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Broadway.
- How to get there: By subway, Times Square station taking lines 1, 2, 3, 3, 7, N, Q, R and W.
13. Combat the New York cold with a delicious hot chocolate
It gets cold during Christmas in New York. Very cold. That's why the best way to warm up and still enjoy the city during this magical time of the year is to drink a delicious hot chocolate.
If you are an inveterate chocoholic, you're sure to feel like you're in seventh heaven in places as fabulous as:
- Serendipity III: A cafe that Andy Warhol used to frequent to exhibit some of his works and where today you can taste the Frozen Hot Chocolate, the house specialty. It is on the Upper East Side, near the Roosevelt Island cable car.
- The Chocolate Room: Located in Brooklyn, where you can comfortably reach with the bus tour, this is a coffee shop entirely dedicated to chocolate. I recommend ordering the classic hot chocolate with a spicy touch and accompany it with a slice of cake.
- Little Spain Market: If you feel like trying a cup of Spanish-style chocolate (a little thicker than the rest) along with some delicious churros, I recommend going to this market located in the trendy neighborhood of Hudson Yards, where you can enjoy a tour of Hudson Yards and The High Line in New York.
14. Go caroling in Washington Square
If you are lucky enough to spend Christmas Eve in New York, one of the most endearing plans you can't miss on Christmas Eve is to sing Christmas carols by the famous Washington Square Arch. If you want to get there comfortably, you can book the New York sightseeing bus with free stops.
The night of December 24th is one of the most special days of the holiday season. Hundreds of people gather there to sing several of the most popular carols such as: Jingle Bells, Let it snow!, Let it snow!, Let it snow!, Silent Night or White Christmas, among many others.
If you don't know the words to the carols, don't worry, because the organizers provide songbooks to anyone who needs them. Just remember to bring your Christmas spirit, your best Santa hat and... let's sing!
15. Join thousands of Santa Claus at SantaCon!
SantaCon is a "Santa Claus" convention held in Times Square to kick off the holiday season.
It's usually held the Saturday before Christmas Eve and if you head to Times Square at 10 am, you'll find thousands of people dressed up as Santa Claus ready to have a great time at this Santa Convention, going from pub to pub to celebrate the holidays with their friends.
I didn't know what it was until I found myself in the middle of it a year ago and the truth is that, since then, I always recommend it. I've never seen anything like it! So arm yourself with a good mood, put on a nice Christmas hat and go out in the street with a lot of desire to have a good time. If you go with children or friends, you will enjoy 'SantaCon' even more if possible.