Ultimate Christmas in New York City Itinerary
New York City at Christmas is something anyone who loves Christmas should experience at least once in their life. The city is truly magical in December and exploring Manhattan at Christmas is a bucket list experience. There is lots to do at Christmas, but this list can be achieved in 2-3 days. I was there for just two days last Christmas and did all of these things! Keep reading for all my top recommendations for Christmas things to do, where to stay, 2 day itinerary & more! Happy Holidays!
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Jump To:
- Where to Stay in New York City at Christmas
- Best Things to do in New York City at Christmas
- 2 Days in New York City at Christmas Itinerary
Where to Stay in New York City at Christmas
If you’ve ever visited New York City before, you know it’s massive and has tons of options on where to stay. For Christmas, I recommend staying right in Manhattan if you can! This is where the majority of the Christmas related activities are, and if you stay somewhere like Brooklyn, you’ll spend the majority of your trip commuting between boroughs.
In Manhattan, I like staying in the Bryant Park area. You may be tempted to stay near Rockefeller Center, but while I recommend definitely visiting that area, I don’t recommend staying there. The streets are super crazy and packed during Christmas at all hours of the day and it makes it hectic getting in and out of your hotel.
Bryant Park is walkable to Rockefeller Center, has lots of hotels, bars & restaurants, is a bit less busy, and most importantly, has it’s own Christmas Village that’s a can’t miss NYC Christmas experience.
Bryant Park Hotel
I stayed at the Bryant Park Hotel during my NYC Christmas Trip last year and can’t recommend it enough. It is directly across the street from the Bryant Park Christmas Village, so the location can’t be beat. The rooms were standard for NYC, a bit small, but modern and clean.
The hotel also had a cool lounge/bar in the basement that was fun to grab a few drinks at after dinner.
NYC is expensive & NYC at Christmas is even more expensive, so this was not a cheap stay, but it was my birthday so I wanted to splurge! We only stayed on night and it was $500 with taxes and fees.
Best Things to do in New York City at Christmas
There are tons of great things to do in New York City at Christmas, but see my can’t miss suggestions below:
Jump To:
- Bryant Park Christmas Village
- Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
- See the Tree at Rockefellers Center at Night
- Visit the Best NYC Christmas Bars
- Watch the Saks 5th Ave Light Show
- See the Christmas Displays on 6th Ave
- See Central Park in the Winter
- Visit FAO Schwarz Toy Store
Bryant Park Christmas Village
Bryant Park’s Christmas Village is one of the can’t miss spots in NYC during Christmas! The entire park is turned into a giant Christmas Market filled with food stands, pop up shops, ice skating, curling, Christmas decorations & a few bars.
This was one of our favorite spots during our trip to NYC. During the day it’s so fun to try a bunch of foods and wander around the shops. You can also warm up with a cocktail inside the lodge, the cozy pop up bar. At night the tree is lit up over the ice skating rink and the Empire State Building twinkles brightly in the background.
It’s free to enter and you only have to pay for anything you buy to eat, drink or shop!
Rockefeller Center Tree at Night
Probably the most infamous New York City Christmas experience is visiting Rockefeller Center to see the giant Christmas Tree. Definitely do this at night vs. during the day, the tree is infinitely more impressive at night! This area gets insanely crowded, but it’s a can’t miss during your Christmas trip!
It’s free to visit the tree, you only need to pay if you want to ice skate (see more details below!)
Ice skating at Rockefeller Center
If you’re willing to splurge a bit, ice skating at Rockefeller Center is the ultimate NYC Christmas Experience. This is not a cheap activity, but I’m glad we splurged a bit. You absolutely need to book this ahead of time (the lines get insane) If you have tickets and it’s your time make sure you make your way to the front of the line and ask people what time their tickets are for. People get there super early and you don’t want to miss your slot!
At peak times (night around Christmas week) it’s $73 per person for an hour + $11 to rent skates. Tickets can be found here.
Visit the Best NYC Christmas Bars
Obviously we couldn’t visit NYC at Christmas time without visiting some Christmas bars! We had so much fun trying different Christmas-themed bars, but there were two that I recommend the most:
Rolf’s
First up, Rolf’s – NYC’s year round Christmas bar. Rolf’s is decked out (see pic above) with classic Christmas decorations – all the deep reds, golds, white lights & garlands. Rolf’s is actually a German restaurant, but you can go in to just grab a drink and see the decor. A few things to note:
- this place gets crazy – try to get there and get in line for when it opens at noon
- the drinks are pricy – $20 a cocktail, you’re paying for the experience
- they will make you order a drink and don’t let you come in and have a photo shoot and then just leave (we saw someone throw a fit over this)
Frosty’s
I’d consider Frosty’s almost the opposite of Rolf’s. It’s a pop up bar that is the opposite of classically decorated. This place is room after room of the brightest, neon Christmas decorations – bright reds, blues, greens, colorful lights. While Rolf’s is a sit down German restaurant, Frosty’s is a bar/club that is meant much more for partying. It’s located right in Times Square and feeds off that energy!
This place is super fun – don’t make the same mistake we did and pay $40 to get in – this is only for the basement club. You can go to the upstairs bars without paying a cover, but the bouncers will try to force you!
If you want to see Frosty’s without the party-craziness head there right when it opens, grab a drink and explore, and then leave before the masses arrive for a night out!
Watch the Saks 5th Ave Holiday Light Show
If you’re visiting the Rockefeller Center tree at night, you’ll definitely want to catch the Saks 5th Ave light show. It’s located directly across from the tree and you can’t miss it. The show lasts 5-ish minutes but runs every ten minutes or so, so if you miss it, just hang tight, it won’t be long.
See the Christmas Displays on 6th Ave
One street over from Saks on 5th Ave you’ll find the Christmas Displays of 6th Ave. All of the major businesses that have offices on 6th Ave put out holiday display like the one above. It’s fun to wander down the street & see them!
See Central Park in the Winter
If you’re a Home Alone fan (like me) head over to Central Park and explore during the winter. They have ice skating and epic views of the Plaza. You can try to grab a drink in the Plaza, although when we were there right after Christmas their bars weren’t open to non-guests (they usually are)
If you’re lucky there will be snow – Central Park is so stunning in the snow!
Visit FAO Schwarz Toy Store
Last but not least! Head to the infamous FAO Schwartz Toy Store (another Home Alone classic) It will be crazy & crowded, but there is something magical there at Christmas!
2 Days in New York City Christmas Itinerary
I spent 2 days in New York for Christmas last year and we had a jam packed itinerary, but it was so fun & we were able to see all the Christmas things plus fit in a few non-Christmas, but highly recommended New York activities. Full details below!
Day 1:
- Visit Bryant Park Christmas Village
- Grab pizza at one of NYC’s most infamous pizza places – Joe’s Pizza (not Christmas related, but you can’t go to New York and not get pizza! And it’s right next to Bryant Park)
- Explore the Christmas Displays on 6th Ave
- Visit FAO Schwarz Toy Shop
- Sunset at Top of the Rock (not Christmas related but so worth it, and you’ll be in the area anyways!)
- Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
- See the Saks 5th Ave Light Show (right across from Rockefeller Center)
- Dinner at one of NYC’s most infamous restaurants – Carbone (also not Christmas-y but love trying highly recommended restaurants!)
Day 2:
- Head to Rolf’s – one of New York’s most famous Christmas bars
- Head to Central Park (& ice skate if you want!)
- Visit the Plaza Hotel & grab a drink at the Champagne Bar (right next to Central Park)
- Sunset at one of NYC’s best rooftop bars – The Daintree
- Explore Times Square
- Check out New York’s best Christmas pop up bar – Frosty’s in Times Square
