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Best Things to do in New York in December

1.Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

If there’s one thing that officially makes it feel like Christmas in New York, it’s the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Seeing it in person feels surreal because it’s one of those places you’ve seen in films your entire life. The tree towers above the ice rink with thousands of lights wrapped around it and the huge Swarovski star glowing at the top. It does get extremely busy, especially in the evenings and weekends, but it still feels worth seeing at least once during your trip.

If you want slightly quieter photos, go early in the morning around 8am before the crowds build. The tree lighting ceremony usually takes place in early December and always attracts huge crowds with live performances and TV coverage. Even walking through Rockefeller Center at night feels festive because every building around the plaza is covered in lights and decorations. It’s actually one of those classic New York moments that actually lives up to expectations.

Price: Free
Location: Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown Manhattan
Dates: Early December 2026 – Mid January 2027

2. Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park completely transforms during December and becomes one of the best places to spend an evening in Manhattan. The entire park turns into a Christmas village with market stalls, fairy lights, food stands and one of the prettiest ice skating rinks in the city. Unlike Rockefeller Center, the rink here is much bigger and skating is actually free if you bring your own skates.

Around the rink there are over 180 holiday market stalls selling everything from handmade ornaments and candles to hot chocolate, cookies and winter accessories. There’s also live performances and seasonal food pop ups throughout December as well which is well worth visiting.

Price: Free entry, skating rentals extra
Location: Bryant Park, Midtown Manhattan
Dates: October 2026 – March 2027

3. Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Walking Tour

When I first heard about Dyker Heights, I thought it might be a bit over the top. But honestly, it’s incredible!!! This Brooklyn neighbourhood takes Christmas decorating to a whole new level, with their entire houses covered in twinkling lights, life sized Santas and even moving reindeer. Some homeowners reportedly spend thousands every year decorating their houses and you can absolutely tell.

You can explore it yourself but the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Walking Tour makes the experience so much easier (and more fun). The guides share stories about the families who started the tradition and take you straight to the best houses. The tour lasts 1.5 hours and runs from December 1st to January 1st, with tickets starting from £16. You can book your spot here.

Price: Tours start from around £16
Location: Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
Dates: Late November 2026 – Early January 2027

4. Holiday Window Displays

Walking along Fifth Avenue in December feels like being inside a snow globe. The holiday window displays at stores like Saks, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are famous for a reason! They’re incredibly detailed and full of little moving scenes, lights and sparkle. One of my favourites is Saks Fifth Avenue as it usually goes all out with huge building projections and light shows in the evenings

If you want to see all the best ones without missing anything, I highly recommend joining the New York Holiday Lights Tour, which includes stops at Rockefeller Center and all the main department store windows. The tour costs around £19 per person and runs from November 29th through early January, and you can book your tickets here.

Price: Tour starts from £19
Location: Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Dates: November 2026 – January 2027

5. Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

If you want to see something truly magical, Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the prettiest things to do in the city during December. The gardens transform into a glowing trail of twinkling tunnels, rainbow lights and gentle music that guides you along the paths. It’s peaceful, romantic and absolutely beautiful.

The route takes around 90 minutes to walk properly and there are food stalls and hot drinks available throughout the trail. Some sections feel really immersive with music synced to the lights and others are more peaceful with smaller glowing pathways through the gardens. Tickets usually sell out closer to Christmas so it’s definitely worth booking in advance if you want evening slots.

Price: Tickets from around $25
Location: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Dates: November 2026 – January 2027

6. The Christmas Shop in Little Italy

One of the most underrated festive spots in New York is actually the Christmas shop hidden in Little Italy called Christmas in New York. It’s open all year round, but during December it somehow feels even more magical because the entire shop is packed floor to ceiling with ornaments, fairy lights and Christmas decorations.

Inside there are hundreds of ornaments, decorations and snow globes, all glowing under fairy lights and Christmas music. You’ll find everything from classic glass baubles to quirky New York themed ornaments (my favourite was a yellow taxi in a Santa hat). It’s also a great place to pick up unique souvenirs and honestly it smells amazing. This is such an easy stop to add into your itinerary if you’re already exploring SoHo, Chinatown or Lower Manhattan during your trip.

Price: Free entry
Location: 142 Mulberry Street, Little Italy, Manhattan

7. Ice Skating at Brooklyn Bridge Park

For views that beat any other ice rink in the city, The Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park is unbeatable. The Manhattan skyline stretches out in front of you and as you skate, the lights from the bridge reflect across the ice. It really does feels like something out of a film.

The rink usually opens from November and tickets cost about £8 (with skate rental for £6). Each session lasts around 90 minutes which is the perfect amount of time to take photos, skate a little and warm up with a hot chocolate afterwards. If you can try to go at sunset as the view of the bridge glowing as the sky turns pink is unreal.

Price: Around £8 entry + skate rental from around £6
Location: The Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2, Brooklyn
Dates: Open throughout December 2026

8. Stay at The Plaza Hotel

There’s something about The Plaza Hotel that just screams New York glamour. It’s one of the city’s most famous hotels and if you grew up watching Home Alone 2, you’ll probably recognise it instantly. The hotel goes all out for Christmas, with a giant tree in the lobby, garlands wrapped around marble pillars and staff dressed in classic holiday style.

Rooms start from around £800 per night but even if you don’t stay overnight, it’s worth visiting for afternoon tea in The Palm Court. It’s one of the best places in New York to escape the cold for a couple of hours while still feeling festive. If you’re planning a girls trip and want one luxury experience during your stay, this is one of my favourite options.

Price: Rooms from around £800 per night
Location: The Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue & Central Park South

9. Holiday Sightseeing Cruise

Seeing New York from the water is something really special and the Holiday Sightseeing Cruise makes it even better with a festive twist. You board a beautifully decorated boat at Chelsea Piers and spend about 90 minutes gliding past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the glowing Manhattan skyline. Everything looks magical with the lights reflecting off the water and it feels like a totally different way to see the city.

The cruise includes one complimentary drink and you can choose from hot cocoa, wine, beer, or soda which makes it feel extra cosy as you take in the views. It is such a relaxing way to enjoy the holiday lights, especially if you want a break from walking or crowds. Tickets start from around £57 per person and can be prebooked here.

Price: From £57 per person
Location: Chelsea Piers, Manhattan
Duration: Around 90 minutes

10. Helicopter Tour Over New York

For something a little more unforgettable why not take a helicopter ride over Manhattan. The second you lift off and see the skyline from above, it completely changes your perspective of the city. You fly past landmarks like Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty while everything below looks tiny. During December the city somehow looks even better because all the Christmas lights are visible across Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. If you’re lucky enough to get a clear day after snowfall, the views honestly look unreal from above.

The flights themselves are usually around 15–20 minutes but it still feels like enough time to properly see the city. This is definitely more of a splurge activity but if you’re celebrating something special like a birthday, engagement or girls trip, it genuinely feels worth it. I’d recommend booking earlier in your trip if possible because flights can sometimes get cancelled due to weather. It’s one of those experiences that feels terrifying for the first few minutes then suddenly you don’t want it to end. Also the photos and videos you get from up there are insane.

Price: From around £200 per person
Location: Downtown Manhattan Heliport
Duration: 15–20 minutes

11. Radio City Christmas Spectacular

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is one of the most festive things you can do in New York during December. Even if you’re not usually someone who watches theatre shows, this one feels completely different because it’s basically pure Christmas energy for 90 minutes straight. The Rockettes are obviously the main attraction and seeing them perform in person is genuinely impressive because everything is so perfectly timed.

The show includes huge dance numbers, festive music, Christmas scenes and loads of classic New York theatre moments that feel really nostalgic. Radio City Music Hall itself also looks incredible during the holidays with lights and decorations throughout the building. Performances run multiple times daily during December so it’s usually easy to fit into your itinerary even if you’re only visiting for a few days. I’d definitely recommend booking in advance though because the better evening slots sell out quickly closer to Christmas.

Price: Tickets from around £49
Location: Radio City Music Hall, Midtown Manhattan
Dates: November 2026 – January 2027

12. Ice Skating in Central Park

You can’t visit New York in December without going ice skating in Central Park. The most popular rink is Wollman Rink which is set right in the middle of the park with the city skyline in the background. It’s open from October through March and skating under the twinkling lights with music playing in the background, honestly feels like the definition of Christmas in New York.

If you want to make it extra special you can book a Ringside Igloo, which is a cosy heated spot with comfy seating and an electric fireplace. Tickets for general skating start from around £15 for adults and £10 for children, and igloo bookings cost extra but are so worth it if you’re visiting with friends.

Price: From around £15 + includes skate rental
Location: Wollman Rink, Central Park
Dates: Open from October 2026 to March 2027

Best Christmas Markets in New York

Winter Village at Bryant Park
Union Square Holiday Market
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Grand Central Holiday Fair
The Oculus Holiday Market

Best Christmas Trees in New York

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Bryant Park Christmas Tree
Union Square Christmas Tree
Wall Street Christmas Tree
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Tree

Best Festive Displays in New York

Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas Lights
Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows
Macy’s Herald Square Display
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Tiffany & Co. Holiday Windows
Cartier Fifth Avenue Holiday Windows

Best Festive Pop Ups in New York

Miracle on 9th Street Bar
Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar
Blitzen’s at Omni Berkshire Place
Frosty’s Christmas Bar

Best Ice Rinks in New York

Rockefeller Center Ice Rink
Wollman Rink, Central Park
Bryant Park Winter Village Ice Rink
Roebling Rink at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Skate at Domino Park

Here’s a map with all of the Christmas attractions I mentioned in this post as well as hotel recommendations.

I hope this guide to the best things to do in New York in December has helped with planning your trip!

Check out my other New York guides here:

• New York City Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
• 31 Best Things To Do in New York City
• 4 Days in New York City Itinerary
• 4 Days in New York Christmas Itinerary
• The BEST Hotels in New York City With a View
• How to Get From JFK Airport to Manhattan by Subway (Under $20)
• New York Monthly Guides