Christmas in NYC Really IS the Most Wonderful Time of Year: 25 Festive Ways to Celebrate the Season

New York City glitters like a snow globe scene during the holidays. Deciding what to do first, second and next is like finding the perfect gift – hard, but not impossible. We’ve rounded up iconic annual NYC holiday experiences and ones only the locals know. Get ready to sparkle as bright as the lights in Times Square. Here are the very best things to do in New York City this Christmas season.

Classic Holiday Magic and Local Favorites

Some events, like the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular and the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, are beloved annual traditions for good reason. Tickets for these crowd-pleasers disappear fast, so snag yours early if you have your heart set on a specific date.

If your Christmas bucket list includes snapping a photo in front of the iconic Rockefeller Center tree, brace yourself for smothering crowds. Want a cozier moment? My advice, based on dozens of holiday treks into the city, is to wander the Upper West Side and pose in front of elegant brownstones glowing with garlands, wreaths and twinkle lights. It’s a beautiful (and free!) backdrop that feels like your own private holiday movie set.

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1. See the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes

Some make it an annual trip. For others, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tickets are on sale now for The annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes, so get yours ASAP.

The show features a series of marvelous holiday-themed song and dance numbers, all set on the Grand Stage in Radio City Music Hall. I still gape and gawk like an 8-year-old. Seeing the Rockettes perform the “March of the Wooden Soldiers” is incredible – they’re perfectly synchronized and adorably costumed.

2. Go Ice Skating in NYC

Manhattan’s outdoor ice skating rinks are positioned in just the right spots for Instagrammable moments, whatever the weather. Before heading to a rink, check out the venue website to see the latest information about operating hours, rates and rental availability. Several operate on a reservation-only system. Bring your hot chocolate, a pretty scarf and your best skating moves.

• Wollman Rink in Central Park – NYC’s skyscrapers are a super backdrop for your photos.
• Rockefeller Center Rink – Get the iconic shot of you and Prometheus, Rockefeller Center’s golden statue.
• The Rink at Brookfield Place – Panoramic views of New Jersey from this Hudson River rink.
• Bank of America Winter Village Rink in Bryant Park – The holiday market is one of the busiest, and prettiest, in the city and the rink offers the only free admission skating in the city.

3. Be Dazzled by the Famous Rockefeller Center Tree

For one month, the center of the New York Christmas universe is Rockefeller Center. The season kicks off with a nationally broadcast tree-lighting ceremony. The 2025 date is Wednesday, December 3.

From then until New Year’s, the giant evergreen will be lit and the crowds will circulate. If you’re staying overnight at a NYC hotel, sneak out late at night after the out-of-towners have left for the best view.

4. Take a Holiday Cruise

This section is sponsored by City Cruises.

It’s one thing to walk around the city admiring the millions of twinkling lights. But it’s a special experience to celebrate the holidays on the water.

City Cruises, which operates a number of cruises out of New York City and Weehawken, NJ, offers a host of special holiday-themed cruises where you can enjoy a meal and entertainment while cruising past the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and New York’s magnificent skyline. Even better, you can do it all from the warmth of the boat’s indoor spaces – or the open-air decks if you prefer. Choose harbor cruises or “Premier Plus” luxury cruises on the East or Hudson rivers. 

Here’s a taste of the cruises offered this year:

• Thanksgiving Cruises: There are lunch and dinner options so you don’t have to cook or wash dishes, just enjoy your loved ones and the city sights. 
• Christmas Cruises: Choose from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day cruises over brunch or dinner.
• New Year’s Eve Cruises: Ring in the new year on the water with dinner, drinks and dancing.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The holidays are magical in New York, so they draw a crowd. Book your holiday cruise early – they sell out fast!
Book your City Experiences holiday cruise by November 9 and use code HOLIDAY50 to get 50% off your second ticket for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve sailings!

5. All Aboard! The Holiday Train Show at NYBG

Whether you’re a kid or an adult, it’s hard not to be charmed by the annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. The show features trains chugging through miniature replicas of New York’s most famous neighborhoods. There’s one that travels underneath Grand Central Terminal. Another goes round and round Macy’s Herald Square department store.

The dates for the 2025-26 show are November 15, 2025, to January 11, 2026. On select evenings, you can visit the train show at night. Some dates are reserved for the 21+ crowd. Check the NYBG website for the latest information.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you’re crowd-adverse, consider attending in January. It’s a way to extend holiday magic through January’s cold, dark days.

6. See ‘Twas the Night Before…by Cirque du Soleil

This special holiday-themed performance by the legendary Cirque du Soleil returns to The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The “how did they do that” acrobats bring the classic Christmas poem to life. It’s a wonderful family-friendly experience; several performance dates feature early afternoon showtimes, perfect for littles.

7. Go NYC Christmas Window Shopping

A classic and free experience for Christmas in NYC is checking out the holiday window displays at the city’s department stores. You’ll find the four ritziest displays at Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Queue up and ooh and aah as you soak up the holiday spirit. The windows provide a great background for a selfie. Window decorations appear around Thanksgiving and don’t come down until after New Year’s.

8. Watch a Performance of “The Nutcracker”

Want to be enchanted? A performance of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” by the New York City Ballet is a holiday tradition enjoyed by generations of families and the glorious staging is something you’ll never forget.

Although the story and Tchaikovsky’s score are as familiar as a well-worn sock, the NYC show is so elaborate it feels new. The two acts are under 50 minutes each, so you can feel comfortable bringing well-behaved children, 5 and older.

The tickets sell out quickly. Sign up for email alerts on the New York City Ballet website.

Read More: Best “Nutcracker” Performances Across the US

9. Beyond Christmas in NYC: See the World’s Largest Menorah

Head to Grand Army Plaza at the southeast corner of Central Park to see the world’s largest menorah. Standing 32 feet tall, the menorah is lit each evening during Chanukah – the 2025 dates are December 13-December 21, 2025.

In Brooklyn? There’s a slightly smaller menorah in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza too. Head to the northern entrance to Prospect Park.

10. Celebrate Christmas at the Met

Elegant and refined. Two adjectives you don’t normally associate with Christmas, a season when over the top (That’s right, Clark Griswald, I’m looking at you!) is the norm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art erects a 20-foot blue spruce in its Medieval Sculpture Hall. The tree and crèche will be on display from late November through early January.

Want something even more low-key? The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Middle Ages collection is housed in the Cloisters, in the northern section of Fort Tryon Park. The architecture is medieval; you’ll feel immediately transported back in time. Think “Game of Thrones,” without the bloodshed.

11. Shop the NYC Holiday Markets

New York’s a shopper’s paradise. During the year, I like to drool while window shopping along Madison Avenue, and then check out the sale racks at Bloomingdale’s. But, during the holidays, I gravitate to the city’s pop-up holiday markets.

My favorite is the Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park. It’s steps away from Grand Central Terminal and opens early in the season. In 2025 you can start gathering the jolly in late October!

Several of the pop-ups are outdoors and take their inspiration from Europe’s famous Christmas markets. Others are seasonal twists on venues that are open year-round. What you’ll find are gift items for everyone on your list – and don’t forget something for yourself!

• Holiday Shops at Bank of America Winter Village
• Grand Central Station Holiday Fair
• Columbus Circle Holiday Market

12. Visit with Santa Claus at Macy’s

The big guy’s been visiting Macy’s Herald Square since the 1860s. He arrives at the tail end of the Thanksgiving Day parade and takes up residence in Macy’s Santaland. Watch the classic movie “Miracle on 34th Street” to get in the mood and if your kids (or you!) want to meet Santa in person, make your reservation online.

13. Holiday Fun at The Seaport

You’ll get fab city skyline and Brooklyn Bridge views plus lots of festive things to do at The Seaport in lower Manhattan. There’s an annual holiday lighting of the towering tree, located on the cobblestone streets at the intersection of Fulton and Water streets. Also featured is a menorah lighting with musical performances and Chanukah crafts. Check The Seaport website for dates and times.

14. Alleluia! Handel’s “Messiah”

Tickets are already on sale for performances of Handel’s “Messiah” by the New York Philharmonic. The Baroque masterpiece is elevated by the performance space, the Neo-Gothic Riverside Church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

15. Marvel at the Holiday Lights of Christmas in NYC

Everything is illuminated in the Big Apple during Christmas time. Sit still long enough and someone will drape a strand of lights over you. Just kidding. But it feels that way.

Read More: Best Drive-through Holiday Light Shows in the United States.

16. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Lightscape

You’ll have to head to Brooklyn for this one, but it’s worth it. Lightscape is an immersive illumination for all ages. Follow a trail through the moonlit Garden, enjoy seasonal tasty treats and a holiday soundtrack. This year’s dates are November 21, 2025 – January 4, 2026.

17. Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

The only animals you’ll see are illuminated, but that doesn’t dim your joy during the annual Holiday Lights celebration at the Bronx Zoo.

There are musical performances and seasonal treats too. Combine your Zoo visit with the NYBG Train Show and cap it off with a cannoli on Arthur Avenue for a perfect day/evening in the Bronx.

18. Giant Red Ornaments

You’ll be tempted to ask for directions. “Where are the big balls?” I beg you – don’t do it. New Yorkers can be snarky. The huge red Christmas ornaments and tree lights are located in Midtown at the fountain plaza at 1251 Sixth Avenue.

19. Hudson Yards

Witness the sparkle of two million lights at Shine Bright at Hudson Yards Presented by Wells Fargo. The dazzling illumination celebrates its 6th year in 2025 at the retail complex located on the west side of Midtown Manhattan.

The display features over 700 glittering trees and a suspended installation of hot air balloon structures. It’s really, really popular with Instagrammers. Like all good things in New York City, it gets crowded, so your best bet is to go early or wait until later in the evening to check it out.

20. Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Imagine a neighborhood where everyone was Clark Griswald competing for an over-the-top Christmas light display. That’s Dyker Heights. The homes are located in the vicinity of 11th to 13th Avenues from 83rd to 86th Streets in Brooklyn. Expect crowds and slow-moving traffic; bring a thermos of cocoa and snacks. Or book a 3.5-hour tour with A Slice of Brooklyn. The tours leave from Union Square in Manhattan.

21. Dine at Rolf’s

Octoberfest meets Christmas at Rolf’s, a beloved East Side restaurant that leaves its holiday decorations up all year round. It’s a little much in summer (but, then again, so’s schnitzel), but once the leaves begin to turn, it’s fun to look at the glimmer and glitz and get your beer on.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The place gets nutty from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Consider an off-hour visit.

22. Take a Christmas Movie Tour

From “Elf” to “Home Alone 2” to “Scrooged,” New York City’s been featured in many of your family’s holiday favorites. If you’d like to learn more about them, book a “Holiday Lights and Movie Sites” tour with On Location Tours. You’ll board a heated (yeah!) motorcoach near Lincoln Center (remember the scene with Cher in “Moonstruck”?), then drive around town for approximately 2 1/2 hours.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The tour does not stop at the Rockefeller Center tree, but does drive by it. Sit on the right side of the bus, not the driver’s side, if you want the best photo.

23. Sip a Frozen Hot Chocolate

Serendipity3, the legendary sweet shop, retains the nostalgic look families love and the old-timey menu. What’s new? A super reservation system. Book a table now and you’ll be enjoying their famous frozen hot chocolate soon. The location can’t be beat. The 60th Street restaurant is steps away from Rockefeller Center.

24. Buy Toys at FAO Schwarz

If you’re going to NYC with kids, a visit to FAO Schwarz is obligatory. The city’s oldest and most famous toy store is guaranteed to make you go broke, but you’ll be smiling as it happens. 

Go early in the day to avoid the holiday crowds. If the weather’s cold, dress for it. Capacity limits inside are enforced for fire safety reasons; you may have to queue up outside if the store gets too crowded. Get a photo with the employees watching the doors – they’re dressed like wooden soldiers and are happy to strike a pose with kids…of all ages!

25. Spend an Evening with Charles Dickens

Before there were podcasts and streaming services, authors would tour the world to read from their books. In 1867 Charles Dickens conducted 400 readings in the US, including a stop during Christmas in NYC.

The Merchants’ House Museum recreates the Dickens visit during the holidays. An actor dressed in period costume reads the original “A Christmas Carol” script. It’s a 1-hour performance, recommended for children over 12.

26. Go Ornament Shopping at More & More Antiques

Need something special for your ornament collection? This shop is known for its inventory of antique Christmas decorations. Stop in to browse or buy. More & More Antiques is a short walk from the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side.

27. Watch the Knicks at MSG, the World’s Most Famous Arena

Madison Square Garden is known as the World’s Most Famous Arena. Home to the New York Knicks and Rangers, it’s also a fantastic concert and performance venue. 

You may not think “basketball” when you think of the holidays. But the Knicks traditionally play on Christmas Day. This year’s opponent is the Cleveland Cavaliers; game time is noon. If you’re in town for the holidays, it’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours in MSG. Wear your Santa hat. And check out the Empire State Building while you’re in the area.

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