Holidays in NYC are absolute magic! There are so many fun activities to do but make sure you plan way in advance. December is huge tourist season in NYC due to the vast amount of activities. I wanted to put this post early so you can start planning. I have done almost all activities below so I know they will put you in the Christmas spirit.
Hudson Yards
Shine Bright Only at Hudson Yards will launch on November 13th and features more than 2 million white lights illuminating The Shops, Public Square & Gardens, Edge and Vessel. The amount of decorations is mind blowing and great for pictures. You can easily make a half day at Hudson Yards by climbing up the vessel stairs, eating at one of the fine dining restaurants and luxury shopping. There are a series of events throughout the month of December, listed here for the perfect holiday activity.
Winter Village at Bryant Park and Holiday Markets
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is Manhattan’s winter wonderland. The market already opened on October 27th this year and stays open until January 2nd. It’s super fun to just stop by after work for a snack or go with your friends on the weekend. The ice skating rink is free if you bring your own skates. The village also features the Holiday Shops, rinkside eats and drinks at The Lodge. You can also pay to rent an Igloo that are quite expensive with a price range of $200-500 depending on your party size for a 90 minute reservation. My favorite holidays shops include the following: Saratoga Olive Oil, The Truffleist, Cheesesteaks by the Truffleist (truffle fries), No Chewing Allowed!, and Ta-Da Chicken (kimchi fries). I am sure there are so many other delicious places that I still have to try.
You can also go to the Union Square Holiday Market, Columbus Circle Holiday Market, Grand Central Holiday Fare, and Astoria Market.
Dyker Heights
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2023 display has become one of the best New York attractions during the holiday season. This neighborhood is home to the most over-the-top Christmas light decorations with life-sized Santas, sleighs and snowmen. The light displays are from 11th to 13th Avenues (also known as Dyker Heights Blvd) from 83rd to 86th St in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. It has been said it is best to go between dusk and 9 PM. The lights start the weekend after Thanksgiving with the best displays on the weekends. It is extremely crowded and you should stay on the sidewalks to prevent getting hit by cars. Saying that, I would avoid bringing a stroller at all costs.
Christmas Spectacular Show Featuring the Rockettes
This is a MUST do for Christmas in New York to experience at least once! You can purchase tickets directly on the website, here. I personally thought this was a wonderful and festive experience as you can see how much work is put into each and every show. This unparalleled show stars the world-famous Rockettes and features their signature eye-high kicks and precision choreography. I have personally gone 3x and they feature a couple of new songs each season.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and a Stroll Down 5th and 6th Avenue
If you are brave enough to face the crowds then go to the Rockefeller tree since it is iconic. It is honestly a mad house this year and takes 30 minutes just to walk two blocks down 5th Avenue in this area. Just a random fact, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a 79ft tall Norway Spruce, 46 feet wide and weighs 12 tons! Rockefeller also has an iceskating rink that you can buy tickets for the time/day online. They do have rink side chalets to enjoy with a private group but unfortunately all the times are sold out. I have gotten lucky last year by standing in a line if someone doesn’t come for their reservation.
On 5th Avenue they have huge Christmas toys dotted along the street to take fun pictures with! On 6th Avenue they also have enlarged Christmas sculptures like Christmas lights and bulbs.
Self Guided Hot Chocolate Tour
I love drinking hot chocolate on cold winter days! To make a shopping day enjoyable you can go on your own self-guided hot chocolate tour. Some of my favorite spots include:
- Mariebelle: Hands down one of the best hot chocolates in New York. You can sit in the back at the Cacao Bar or get the hot chocolate to go. There aren’t many tables in the cafe area so you may have to wait for a while! On the menu they have high tea, pastries, and a large selection of different hot chocolate flavors. The hazelnut hot chocolate is the most traditional flavor profile in my opinion.
- Angelina: Although I don’t know their recipe, to me it tastes like the perfect blend of dark and milk chocolate. It is probably the thickest hot chocolate I’ve ever had, but it is the BEST! It isn’t too sweet to me and is served very hot so you can sip on this for a while!
- Dominque Ansel Blossoming Hot Chocolate: When the marshmallow flower is placed in the hot chocolate, it blossoms! The hot chocolate is a rich cocoa tasting hot chocolate that isn’t too thick so it won’t fill you up. It also isn’t too sweet.
- Bar Pisellino: This is the darkest hot chocolate I have tried. It comes in a small cup but it is all you need. It is perfect if you don’t like super sweet hot chocolate. I love dark chocolate so it was excellent especially with the whipped cream on top.
- Daily Provisions: Their hot chocolate is milk and dark chocolate ganache topped with a soft marshmallow. I found their hot chocolate was the most traditional and not super thick. This is a good “every day” hot chocolate that didn’t make me feel heavy.
- Blue Stripes Cocoa Shop: If you aren’t a fan of hot chocolate, try the Chocolate Cloud drink. It is a mix between a chocolate milk, a shake, and a magic as it tastes like you are drinking air! It is a medium temperature, not too hot or cold but is absolutely something you have never tasted before!
- Thierry Atlan: This chocolate shop has an amazing drink that is a perfect balance of sweet and dark chocolate. I would highly recommend.
Other places that I am going to try this year are Venchi, Maman, and Jacques Torres.
There are obviously hundreds of hot chocolate shops so trying out a couple to find your perfect cup is the best way. Personally I didn’t like the Chocolate Room in Cobble Hill as it was super watery and not worth the trip. I also have a few fun recipes for hot chocolate that I created 2 years ago.
New York Botanical Garden
Let it GLOW at The New York Botanical Garden is a 1.5 mile illuminated landscape that can be followed by the Holiday Train Show. The model trains wind through a display of more than 190 famous New York landmarks that are re-created from natural materials! We personally haven’t been but it does look fantastic! You have to purchase tickets ahead of time, here. The events start on November 17th and continue until January 15th from 10 am-6 pm.
Festive Afternoon Tea
There are so many fabulous places for high tea in NYC. When visiting, just choose one to go to! It is quite the experience. I recently visited the Palm Court in the Plaza Hotel in the Spring and noted that the service and food has really gone down hill. Although iconic, I would not go back as there are so many other places. Currently, I want to try the Grand Salon at the Baccarat, Mandarin Oriental, the Peninsula, and Blue Box Cafe at Tiffany’s. Please make sure to check the per person price if you are on a budget as high tea can be extremely expensive. There are literally dozens of places to go including this list. If you have a severe food allergy, I do find that the slightly nicer places can accommodate.
Ice Skating at Wollman Rink
Take in the beautiful New York skyline in the back of the skating rink in Central Park. Tushar and I went last year to Wollman Rink for an event and it really fun! I find it to be larger than the Rockefeller iceskating rink and it was less crowded. If you happen to be going by Central Park you could always stop by for an hour.
Other Amazing Activities
- Visit the Ralph Lauren store on Upper East Side
- Window and indoor decorations at Macy’s Herald Square
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral: You can sign up for the lottery to attend the Midnight mass on Christmas.
- Bergdorf Goodman 7th Floor + Window Display
- Nutcracker at Lincoln Center
- Christmas tree on Wallstreet
