It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit the Big Apple, so get your family on the nice list and enjoy some of the best Christmassy things to do in New York City!

16 Best Things to Do in New York City for the Holiday Seasons

This blog post guides you to the best things to do in New York City for Christmas and New Years! All things can be experienced with your family, kids, friends or significant other. Enjoy the best time of year in NEW YORK!

1. Snap a photo in front of the famous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

Christmas in New York is a winter wonderland anywhere you go! One of the most popular things to do during the holidays in New York City is visiting the beautiful Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. For more than 8 decades, the Christmas Tree has stood as a holiday beacon for New Yorkers and visitors alike. Although the lights, decorations, and stars have changed over the years, visiting the Christmas Tree remains a quintessential New York experience. 

The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center hosts an annual Tree lighting where you can see all 50,000 lights brighten the city for the holiday season. The annual Tree lighting ceremony falls at different times each year, but for the upcoming seasons, you can visit Rockefeller Christmas Tree website for upcoming dates and ticket information. 

• Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

2. Go see The Nutcracker® at the David H. Koch Theater

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is one of the most complex theatrical, staged ballets in the Company’s active repertory. The popularity of the ballet is immense and it provides an unforgettable spark to everyone’s holiday season. Individuals all around the world visit New York City to see the infamous Nutcracker®. 

The performance consists of two acts: Act I and Act II, both around 40 minutes. The tickets range from $50 – $300, depending where you want your seat. I highly recommend grabbing your tickets in advance as the show does sell out fast during the holiday seasons!

• Location: 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

3. Check out the lights at the LuminoCity Festival

The LuminoCity Festival in New York City is a family-friendly event suitable for all ages across a 17-acres of extravaganza. The festival provides dazzling light displays, indulging food and drink options, and a variety of engaging onsite activities that will make your outing an unforgettable one. The enchanting displays and interactive elements make an enjoyable kid-friendly experience. While the festival is not just a festival for the eyes, each element actually tells a story or embodies an artistic concept. 

The LuminoCity Festival is a popular location to celebrate Christmas in New York, and tickets usually sell out fast! I recommend grabbing you tickets as soon as possible. Adults are $36, Kids are $24 and VIP Fast Pass tickets are $63. You can purchase your tickets through the LuminoCity Festival website. 

• Location: 1899 Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow, NY 11554

4. Grab Tickets to the Radio City Rockettes Show

Every year, the Radio City Rockettes perform a Christmas Spectacular – well-known all around the world! The Rockettes are a world-famous precision dance team, specially known for their Christmas Spectacular! If you’re looking for a fun, vibrant, and unique Christmas show – I highly recommend checking out the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular! The show is hosted only during Christas in New York City’s Radio City Hall starting shortly before Thanksgiving and ending shortly after the New Year’s holiday. 

Tickets for the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular tend to sell out fast, so I recommend reserving your tickets in advance to experience the wonderful show! You can grab your tickets on the Radio City Rockettes website.

• Location: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020

5. Window Shop Along Saks 5th Avenue to Admire all the Christmas Decor

Saks 5th Avenue at 50th street is a popular location to stroll the street and admire all the Christmas throughout the shopping district’s windows. Tourists from all around visit 5th avenue to admire the dazzling Christmas lights, and every 10 minutes, you can see a beautiful light show with 700,000 twinkling lights! The street is a popular destination because it’s located a couple blocks from Rockefeller Center! Why not grab your photo in front of the infamous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and window shop throughout the street to see all the Christmas lights? It’s a family friendly location, and as you browse, grab yourself some hot cocoa to immerse yourself into the holiday fun!

• Location: Saks 5th Avenue at 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

6. Channel your Inner Kevin McCalister at the Plaza Hotel

Are you familiar with the popular Holiday movie Home Alone 2: Lost In New York? If so, I highly recommend checking out the Plaza Hotel where you can embrace your inner Kevin McCalister exactly where some of the exterior scenes of the movie were filmed! The hotel was featured in Home Along 2: Lost in New York where Kevin stays for a couple nights after realizing the rest of his family is in Florida, but he hopped on the wrong flight to New York City. I won’t spoil the rest, but I do recommend giving the movie and watch, and even visiting the Plaza Hotel! Or –  even better – book your New York stay at the Plaza Hotel!

• Location: 768 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

7. See all the Sights (with Santa) on the North Pole Express

New York City’s North Pole Express is a fun experience to soak up all of New York City’s holiday spirit! Ride on a double decker bus with an open top, and enjoy chocolate treats and hot cocoa on your way to the North Pole to see Santa and his elves. Don’t worry, the tour provides you blankets and hats to keep you warm during your trip, if you decide to ride on the open top! You’ll even get a chance to sing Christmas carols and hear thrilling Christmas stories from your tour guides. The best part about riding on the double decker bus, is you’ll be able to see over the crowds to enjoy all of New York City’s twinkling holiday lights. Create a North Pole experience your kids will never forget! 

If you plan to book a trip with the North Pole Express, I highly recommend booking with Topview. There are multiple options to choose from, depending on your open availability and price budget!

• Location: 2 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

8. Attend Washington Square Park’s Christmas Tree Lighting

Celebrate your favorite winter holiday in Manhattan’s Washington Square Park where the home of the Washington Square Park arch is located. The park hosts their annual tree lighting ceremony during the first week of December for two nights of the week allowing visitors to celebrate the 45 foot tree lighting – even better, celebrate with Christmas carols! The lighting ceremony is a fun family-friendly experience to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season!

• Location: Washington Square, New York, NY 10012

9. Visit Times Square to Watch the New Years Ball Drop

One of the most infamous viewings during the holidays is watching the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in New York City’s Times Square. Hosted every year through multiple live streams is the celebration of the ball dropping to signal the start of the New Year. The celebration precedes with live entertainment and performing musical artists. If you’re in New York City during New Year’s Eve, I highly recommend visiting Times Square to see the ball drop! This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a FREE celebration for all New Yorkers and visitors. However, it can get CROWDED, so make sure you are prepared – if you leave for a bathroom or dinner break, you might not be able to get your spot back to watch the ball drop!

• Location: Times Square, New York, NY 10036

10. Go See Cirque Du Soleil’s “Twas the Night Before” 

Cirque Du Soleil’s first holiday show is “Twas the Night Before,” based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Famous lines from this classic inspired Cirque Du Soleil’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. This fun and thrilling performance features acrobatics and a charming soundtrack with holiday classics re-invented by Cirque Du Soleil. 

The show is hosted at Madison Square Garden during the holiday season. Each year the dates range during a different time period. Check the Cirque Du Soleil website for official dates each year and be sure to book your tickets in advance as the show does sell out fast! Tickets can be purchased on Cirque Du Soleil official website. 

• Location: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001 (The theater at Madison Square Garden) 

11. Grab a Drink or Bite to Eat at Manhattan’s Christmassy Restaurant: Rolf’s German Restaurant 

Rolf’s German Restaurant is like walking into an enchanting winter wonderland during the holidays. The restaurant creates stunning and vibrant festive Christmas decorations twinkling throughout every corner of the restaurant. Actually, this restaurant has the reputation of being the most photographed restaurant in New York City! If you aren’t visiting Rolf’s during Christmas in New York, that’s okay, because Rolf’s leaves their Christmas decorations up all year long, making it a magical destination regardless of the season. 

Rolf’s offers a diverse menu, but it is mostly focused on the traditional German cuisine. You can savor classic German dishes like Wiener Schnitzel or Jaeger Schnitzel. If you’re not a German food lover, Rolf’s offers other dishes such as seafood, poultry, salads and other options. If you’re not looking to get a bite to eat, Rolf’s also has some unique German beers, wines, cocktails and liquors to try in their Christmas themed bar! 

I highly recommend booking your reservation far in advance, as this restaurant does tend to book up fast! Reservations are only accepted through telephone. Call 212-477-4750 during 9am – 4pm EST during weekdays and noon – 4pm during the weekends to reserve your spot in the most Christmassy bar in all of New York City!

• Location: 281 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

12. Take an Illuminated Walk through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Experience New York City’s most dazzling show at Lightscapes at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! The illuminated after dark show brings new artwork and new immersive experiences each year creating an unforgettable experience for all ages! During your visit, snap photos of the twinkling lights with your family and enjoy some sweet treats and hot cocoa during your walk through wonderland. 

If you’re interested in creating a shining Christmas in New York experience for you and your family, grab your tickets through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Lightscape website.  

• Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY 11238

13. Ice Skate at Bryant Park Winter Village

The ice skating rink at Bryant Park Winter Village is a 17,000 square foot outdoor rink and FREE to all visitors. However, you will still have to rent out your ice skates, or bring your own! After you enjoy a thrilling time on the ice, you can grab some hot cocoa to warm up! If you’re looking to enjoy an evening at Bryant Park, there are so many eateries and shops to extend your time for exploring the area!

• Location: Bryant Park Winter Village, 6th Avenue, New York, NY, 10018

14. Walk in Winter Wonderland at Watermark Bar

If you’re looking to celebrate New Years and Christmas in New York, but maybe you’re not a fan of the bitter cold, Watermark provides the ultimate temperate regulated Winter Wonderland! Watermark’s waterfront dining provides outdoor dining like never before. You can enjoy the private glasshouses in the comfort of regulated temperatures to keep you cozy throughout your dining experience!

The Watermark restaurant’s menu is filled with seafood options – from oysters, lobster rolls, lobster tacos and more. However, the restaurant also provides a variety of other food items such as salads, chicken tacos, chicken wings, soft pretzels and more. The menu changes based on holiday seasons, so check out the menu based on your visit!

• Location: 78 South St Pier 15, New York, NY 10038

15. Enjoy the Bronx’s Zoo Winter Wonderland

With over 265 acres, the Bronx’s Zoo holds over 10,000 animals for visitors to see. And, during the holidays, the Bronx Zoo celebrates Christmas in New York with immersive light displays, animal lanterns, and animated light shows – all after dark! This family-friendly event allows the family to gather for picturesque photos and visit the animals throughout the zoo. 

If you’re looking to check out the Winter Wonderland celebration at Bronx Zoo, tickets are required to purchase in advance. You can purchase your tickets through the Bronx Zoo website! 

• Location: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460

16. Check out the Unique Shops at Union Square’s Holiday Market

Every holiday season, New York’s Union Square hosts their annual holiday market with over 185 vendors featuring unique gifts created by local craftsmen, artists, and entrepreneurs. Union Square Holiday Market is named the best holiday market in the entire United States. If you enjoy shopping, check out 100s of vendors and grab yourself a unique souvenir and support New York’s local vendors!

• Location: E 14th St, New York, NY 10011

Final Thoughts

New York is such a fun place to experience the holidays! Whether you are with your family, friends or significant other, you’re sure to find something everyone will enjoy from the list of 16 things to do in New York City during the holidays! 

Which of these fun things to do in New York would be at the top of your list? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you! 

If you’re interested in some additional travel guides, check out the Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles!