Christmas in NYC has been on my bucket list for years, and 2025 was when I finally checked it off! While I spent a mere 36 hours in the city that never sleeps, it was truly magical. I love the hustle and bustle of a busy metropolis, made only more special by being the most wonderful time of year. Here’s what we did and how we planned for the Christmas in NYC specific activities we experienced during our stay.
If you prefer, below is a quick recap video from my Instagram:
See the Rockefeller Tree
Quite possibly the most cliche thing on the list, but it’s a must. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is an incredible sight and the whole area around it is a magical little holiday pocket of the city.
Things To Do
- Get your picture in front of the tree
- Go ice skating
- Reserve an Après Skate Chalet overlooking the ice rink
- See the giant ornaments and other displays down the street
- Head inside 30 Rock and take the escalator down to view the ice rink at ground level
What to Do in Advance
If you’re interested in doing the Top of the Rock experience or hanging out in an Après Skate Chalet you’ll need tickets/reservations. Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree site to get those as soon as you can!
See the Radio City Rockettes: Christmas Spectacular
This show is another Christmas in NYC staple. My sister-in-law saw it last year and she said it was a must-do again on our trip this year. I see why! It was incredible. It’s a mix of a Christmas show, some music and singing and the Rockettes doing their things.
The entire theatre is incorporated with a light show throughout the ceiling and side walls with players on the side stages and balconies too. It’s a really impressive show!
What To Do in Advance & Tips
- Buy tickets in advance – almost every show sells out
- The floor seats are SUPER expensive, the very top balcony is still an incredible view and is on average 1/4 or 1/5 the price, plus you can see the whole light show component really well
- Doors open 1 hour before showtime, definitely get there early, the lines were no joke!
- The show starts promptly on time, but the first ~10 minutes is a video about the history of the Rockettes. It’s very interesting and worth the watch, but don’t panic if you’re running a minute or two late. No one is kicking for about 15 minutes into the show!
Walk the Neighborhoods for Brownstone Decor
I found myself stopping to take pictures of people’s homes more than I expected. Grab an afternoon coffee or an evening hot chocolate and take a stroll through the neighborhoods to see for yourself.
Some were just so beautifully adorned for the season. This one with the red bows was my absolute favorite!
Bryant Park Winter Village Christmas Market
We stayed right by Bryant Park so we were just a block away from this magnificent Christmas in NYC mainstay. You can also ice skate here, a great option if the Rockefeller Center rink is too crowded. There’s tons of food here so planning for at least one meal here is a good idea. The pickles and Raclettes are the must-try booths. We didn’t have time to wait in the pickle line but those were super popular.
Good news for my local Chicago cheese lovers: you can go to the Daley Plaza or Wrigleyville market and get one from the same vendor that’s in the NYC markets! I try to get a Raclette in Chicago every year, I just love them!
Things to Do
- Eat a meal in an igloo
- Grab a Raclette (I love the Traditional/vegetarian option)
- Take pictures by their grand tree
- Shop at dozens of vendors for unique gifts and souveniers
- Enjoy a cup of hot cider
- Go ice skating
What to Do in Advance
- Buy ice skating/skate rental tickets (there are different types of sessions)
- Reserve a cozy igloos (1-4 or 5-8 people, max of 8 per party)
Check online in advance if you’re interested in either of those attractions!
Other Christmas in NYC Things to Do
There’s truly no shortage, but here’s what we did in our single-day adventure.
Go Shopping in Midtown East
My sister-in-law and I are both bougie babes. We unfortunately do love the finer things in life, so we took a stroll down 57th Street and found ourselves in stores like Chanel, Saint Laurent and Prada.
While it was primarily to look, I’ve been in the market for my first designer, high-quality wallet. I’m sick of buying cheaper ones and they fall apart in a year. It’s a waste of money and a waste of materials. I’ve needed a very specific kind though. A wallet small enough to move from purse to diaper bag to tennis bag to work tote but big enough to hold the dozen plus cards I have.
I finally found this Uptown Compact Trifold at the Saint Lauren store and she came home with me that day! It was a toss up between mine and this one, and although I love the stitching on this one, it was ultimately too bulky.
Holiday Decorations & Window Looking
The whole city is decked out for the season, so everywhere you turn it’s Christmas in NYC! I even enjoyed the “in betweens” going from place to place because all of the storefronts and hotels are adorned in wreaths, garland and ribbons.
Staying at The Plaza may not be in the budget, but at least the sights are free. This was taken with my back to Central Park, what a location!
Dinner at a Cozy Restaurant (and somewhere else for dessert)
We went to La Pecora Bianca (in Nomad) for dinner and it was INCREDIBLE!
However, we weren’t feeling the desserts. We were really craving a skillet cookie, which they didn’t have. The beautiful thing about New York City though, is that you can just walk down the street and get one!
Afterwards, we popped over to Wilson’s and grabbed a delicious late-night skillet cookie a la mode in this moody red atrium style patio.
See the Tree at Four Seasons
As far as I know, this isn’t a big thing, but we stumbled upon it and it was gorgeous. While hard to tell here, it’s actually a 24-foot tall tree in their 33-foot grand foyer!
We were looking for a bathroom, wandered in, and holy Christmas tree right in the foyer! The staff was very nice and indulged our tourism. They even offered to take the picture of us, they were so kind!
Even if you only have a short window to make a Christmas in NYC trip work, DO IT! We did all of this in one single day. Imagine what you could do if you had even a second day.
Share your favorite Christmas in NYC tradition OR the one you’re most looking forward to experiencing for the first time, below!
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