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Jan 11, 2024 · 1 Day in NYC at Christmas: Afternoon–Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo Holiday Market. For the afternoon of your 1 day NYC Christmas itinerary, you’ll want to squeeze in some Brooklyn sights. Luckily, the Oculus is within walking distance to the famous Brooklyn Bridge.
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- Overview of Your New York Christmas Itinerary
- Day 1 of Your Christmas in New York Itinerary
- Day 2 of Your Christmas in New York Itinerary
- Day 3 of Your Christmas in New York Itinerary
- Day 4 of Your Christmas in New York Itinerary
- Useful Info For Visiting New York in December
- Planning A Trip to New York City?
Breakdown of your 4 days in New York in December
1. Day 1:Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Window shopping on 5th Avenue, Top of the Rock, Times Square, Christmas decorations around Radio City, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Revisit Rockefeller Center and the Christmas decorations 1. Day 2:Holiday displays at Macy’s on 34th St, Empire State Building, Winter Village at Bryant Park, New York Public Library, Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 1. Day 3:Central Park, Chelsea Market, High Line, Vessel, The Edge, Hudson Yards 1. Day 4:Financial D...
Map for your Christmas in New York itinerary
Below you can find a customized map that includes all the locations you’re going to visit during this Christmas in New York itinerary. I marked your 4 days in New York with different colors – I used blue for the first, yellow for the second, green for the third, and red for the fourth day, so you can easily see which places you’re going to visit each day. How to use this map:This map is fully interactive, so you can move around, zoom in/zoom out, and click on the icons. If you want to see a l...
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Kick off your Christmas in New York itinerary bright and early at the most quintessentially festive part of the city, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The Rockefeller Center is a complex of towering Art Deco buildings known for its incredible observation deck, the Top of the Rock, which we will come to shortly. But before ticking that off your list I recommend that you visit the Christmas tree before the crowds gather. It’s really important to come early if you want to visit this iconic...
Window shopping on 5th Avenue
Take a wander along the elegant 5th Avenue so that you can admire and snap some photos of the epic Christmas decorations that light up all the storefronts at this time of year. The shops located on 5th Avenue are extremely expensive so for the purpose of this NYC Christmas itinerary I’m listing this step as window shopping but if you’re looking to treat yourself (or loved ones back home!) you will need to factor in additional time to browse indoors. The Rockefeller Center backs onto 5th Avenu...
Top of the Rock
An essential on any New York itinerary, the Top of the Rock offers one of the best aerial views of the city skyline as you can see everything from the Empire State Building to the vast Central Park from its three observation platforms. Two of the trio are entirely outdoors which makes for amazing photos. I’ve visited all 5 observatories in New York (some of them multiple times) and I must say, even though Top of the Rock is one of the oldest ones, it’s still my favorite one! I think this one...
Holiday displays at Macy’s
Macy’s on 34th Street is the flagship of the department store chain and claims to be the largest store of its kind in the world. If you’re headed to NYC on a shopping trip then this will be on your list already but it’s also one of the most impressive tributes to Christmas in New York. The theme of the 2021 display is a little blue reindeer called Tiptoe who learns to fly. Interestingly, the installation does not feature any merchandise. Visit first thing so that you can check out the story o...
Empire State Building
As the world’s most famous skyscraper and New York’s ultimate icon, the Empire State Building is another one of the best observatories in NYCand an essential sight for your travel itinerary regardless of the time of year you visit. During this time of year, the observation deck is bedecked with trees and decorations making this a magical addition to a Christmas in New York itinerary. The Empire State Building does not actually open until 9 am but it’s worth getting there a bit earlier to have...
Winter Village at Bryant Park
The Winter Village is a seasonal pop-up that occupies the urban park right off 6th Avenue. As this is essentially a hub of food stalls and places to buy gifts and souvenirs, you can make this your lunch stop for the day. There is also an ice rink in case you fancy a second round of skating in New York during Christmas. If you’re traveling on a budget then this is the only free ice skating rink in the city, making it one of the best free things to do in New Yorkin December. You’ll need to pay...
Central Park
Connecting the Upper West with the Upper East sides of Manhattan, it’s hard to miss Central Park while celebrating Christmas in New York. This massive park encompasses 843 acres of land and is just as popular with residents as it is with visitors so it’s a great spot for some people watching. As it’s too cold to linger at this time of year, you’ll want to wrap up warm and take a brisk walk to the park’s most picturesque winter spots. My tip is to alight at 81 Street – Museum of Natural Histor...
Chelsea Market
You might find something to eat at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market but if nothing takes your fancy then you can make a pitstop at Chelsea Market for lunch. It’s convenient for the next calling point on this Christmas in New York itinerary and offers an astonishing array of food options. Located in the Chelsea neighborhood, the enclosed market is packed with stalls where you can purchase fresh produce, artisanal goods, and meals made to order. Chelsea Market is open daily, 7 am – 10 pm, for...
High Line
The High Line, an elevated walkway, is one of the coolest things to do in New York whatever season you visit. It was fashioned from a former railroad that was slated for demolition until the local community intervened in 2003 with a genius idea to transform it into the city’s quirkiest public garden that also bridges Chelsea with the Hudson Yards development. The walkway spans around 1.5 miles (2.5 km) in length and it takes 30-45 minutes to walk the full route which ends at Hudson Yards, the...
Financial District
New York’s Financial District occupies the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island, in Lower Manhattan. Just take the subway to Wall Street and from there you can roam the streets at leisure, seeing the likes of the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall. Be sure to head to 11 Wall Street where you can take in the giant Christmas tree which is placed here every year. If you happen to stay in accommodation nearby, you can visit Zuccotti Park at nighttime to see the pretty fairy lights that ador...
One World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial
Standing in tribute to the near 3,000 people who lost their lives as a result of the terror attacks, the 9/11 Memorial is a somber but important place to visit during your trip to NYC. This heartbreaking place is always busy with locals and tourists paying their respects. Built in 2011 on the site of the former World Trade Center complex, the memorial comprises pools, monuments, and the National September 11 Memorial Museum. The memorial grounds are open daily, 8 am – 8 pm, and are free to vi...
Oculus
The Oculus is an airy and modern shopping center that sits adjacent to the 9/11 Memorial and is illuminated with Christmas cheer and spirit during the winter months. You can take a wander around to do a spot of window shopping, grab a coffee or bite to eat, and admire the grandiose Christmas decor. It’s a beautiful example of modern architecture to investigate even if you’re not looking to buy anything.
Prepping for your NYC Christmas itinerary requires some additional prep so below I’m sharing all the practical info you need to know if you’re planning to visit New York in December.
Then you might want to take a look at all our other travel guides about NYC. I promise, they are just as awesome as this article was! 1. 9 Best Areas to Stay in New York City for First-Timers 2. How to Spend One Day in New York City 3. 4 Days in New York City Itinerary: How to See NYC in 4 Days 4. Best Observatories in New York City: Which One to V...
Oct 12, 2024 · Spoiler Alert: Celebrating Christmas in New York City is just as magical as you imagine. Dazzling window displays, aromatic Christmas markets, elaborately decorated restaurants and breathtaking Christmas trees, there’s nothing like experiencing New York City during the holidays firsthand.
Dec 6, 2023 · Wondering how to spend Christmas in New York City? It's easy to dream about while watching snow blanket city blocks in the weeks leading up to the big day—and seeking out festive lights,...
Nov 15, 2023 · The larger-than-life Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, a visit with Santa at Macy’s Herald Square, dazzling Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular: There’s more than enough cinematic moments to choose from—and that’s just Manhattan.
Oct 10, 2023 · 2 The Best Things to do in New York City for Christmas. 2.1 Visit Rockefeller Center. 2.2 Watch the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. 2.3 Admire the holiday window displays on Fifth Avenue. 2.4 Marvel at the amazing view from the Top of the Rock. 2.5 Enjoy The Nutcracker from the New York City Ballet.
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Ultimate guide to spending Christmas in New York; Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Best Christmas Bars, where to stay & more!
