Sabrina & Garrett
Things To Do
01 Bryant Park Winter Village Christmas Market in Midtown Manhattan
Starting in October (and running through March), it is time once again for the best winter markets in New York City to open its doors. The Winter Village in Bryant Park is not only the largest Christmas market in the city but also by far the nicest on account of its adjacent ice rink and places to shop and eat. This along with its amazing location among all the skyscrapers makes for an amazing Christmas experience.
02 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is one of the largest Christmas trees in NYC, placed annually in Rockefeller Center Plaza. In New York, the Tree Lighting Ceremony right after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Holiday season and one of your best things to do in New York during Christmas! Over the past years, we weren’t super lucky with the weather but the Tree Lighting Ceremony attracts tons of people every year. Of course, the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is the highlight of visitors coming to New York from all over the world during Christmas time. Most visitors only know the tree from movies or pictures, so it’s very impressive looking at it in person.
03 Visit Dyker Heights in Brooklyn
I’m a huge fan of the Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, where you can find the most beautifully decorated homes in the city. It is actually so popular that it’s known as one of the best things to do in NYC for Christmas time. The easiest way to explore the Dyker Heights is to book one of the four really amazing Holiday Light tours in NYC. Each of them is a little different: some are bus tours, others are walking tours; some take place in Brooklyn, others in Manhattan. See the details for yourself to decide which ones of the Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour is best for you.
04 Rolf's
Rolf's is a German restaurant that is decorated for christmas year round. The decorations, especially during the christmas season, are what draws the crowds to the small eatery.
05 Broadway Theatre
New York is home is the epicenter of entertainment and surely does not disappoint during the holiday season. There are plenty of Christmas shows in New York that are worth watching, ranging from classics to modern adaptions of your favorite tales. Our favorite one are the The Radio City Spectacular – they are undoubtedly the most popular Christmas show in NYC. The Rockettes have performed at the iconic Radio City Music Hall since 1931 and have created a holiday tradition for many visitors and locals.
06 Empire State Building Light Show
For about one week only during the Christmas season, there will be a very special Empire State Building light show: the Empire State Building holiday music-to-light show! The already impressive lighting of the Empire State Building will be synchronized to songs by stars such as Maria Carey or Carrie Underwood and John Legend. Incredibly beautiful!
07 Union Square Holiday Market
Holiday Markets are pretty popular in New York City and should be on top of your list of things to do in New York City during Christmas time. To me, there is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than grabbing a hot cup of cocoa and strolling through some of the best Christmas markets in New York.
08 Central Park
Who knows, maybe this year there will finally be snow for Christmas in New York. What could be more romantic than a walk through the white snowy landscape of Central Park? Especially the Belvedere Castle in the middle of Central Park looks even more heavenly with snow! Central Park in winter is pretty much everyone’s favorite place in New York to enjoy the snow.
09 Columbus Circle
The Shops at Columbus Circle boast the largest specialty crafted display of illuminated color in the world! Twelve 14-foot handcrafted stars will be hanging from the ceiling inside the Time Warner Center. If you show up in the evening hours, know that there is a dazzling light show every half hour from 5 pm till closing. Access to the spectacle is free! The specialty exhibit “Holidays Under the Stars” is a true New York tradition and comes with extended shopping hours. Dine, shop and enjoy the entertainment after you visited Columbus Circle Holiday Market, one of the best Christmas markets in the city.
10 One Vanderbilt
Are you wondering what to do in New York City on Christmas Day? Some of the best NYC attractions are open on Christmas Day in NYC and one of them is the new One Vanderbilt Summit. So if you’re looking for shorter lines and fewer crowds, Christmas Day may be the perfect day for you to visit this observation deck in New York. Maybe you can even catch the sunset before heading to Christmas dinner!