New York, USA

Things to Do in New York in January 2026

January 5, 2026

Visiting New York in January is very different from visiting at any other time of year. It is colder and noticeably quieter, but that is exactly why I think it is one of the best times to go. Fewer crowds, cheaper hotel prices and some genuinely great winter only events make things to do in New York in January surprisingly appealing. January in New York also comes with seasonal offers, free museum hours and experiences you simply will not get in warmer months. If you are happy to wrap up warm, this is a brilliant time to visit. Below is a round up of the best New York winter activities and New York January events to add to your itinerary.

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NYC Must-See Week

NYC Must-See Week is one of the biggest advantages of visiting New York in January, especially if you want to experience the city without spending a fortune. Running from 20 January to 12 February, it offers 2 for 1 deals across Broadway shows, tours, museums and attractions throughout the city. This initiative exists specifically to encourage visitors during the quieter winter period, which makes January an ideal time to plan around it. You can often access experiences that would usually feel out of budget, particularly Broadway shows and guided tours.

For Broadway shows you can get 241 tickets on popular productions like Wicked, The Lion King and Chicago. Just make sure you use the discount code NYCBW250 when booking online.

For attractions there are also 241 deals available on experiences such as The Friends Experience, Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. To access these offers, use the discount code MSW26 at checkout when booking your tickets.

9/11 Memorial & Museum (Free Monday Evenings)

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers free admission on Monday evenings from 5.30pm to 7pm but tickets must be booked online in advance. These free slots are limited and tend to sell out quickly, so it is worth planning ahead if this is something you want to include in your trip. Outside of these free hours, standard adult tickets usually cost around $33 which can feel expensive, especially if you are visiting multiple attractions during your stay. Taking advantage of the free evening entry can therefore make a real difference to your overall budget.

Rooftop Cinema Club (Winter Screenings)

Rooftop Cinema Club runs winter screenings in Midtown and offers a very different way to spend an evening in New York during January. The showings include cult classics and feel good films including titles like White Chicks, You’ve Got Mail and Twilight, which feel especially fitting for a cosy winter night. Films are shown outdoors but heaters and blankets are provided, so it feels warm and comfortable rather than uncomfortable in the cold. Tickets typically start from around $30 and can be bought online.

Ice Skating in New York

Ice skating is one of the most classic things to do in NYC in January and is something that really adds to the winter atmosphere of the city. It’s also a great way to enjoy the city outdoors without needing to commit to a full day activity. New York has several excellent rinks, each offering a slightly different experience depending on the setting and crowd levels.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Open until March 2026 with prices starting from $22, this is the most iconic skating rink in New York. You’ll fund it surrounded by skyscrapers (Top of the Rock being the most iconic one) and winter lights. It can be busy but January tends to be slightly calmer than December. If you want the full postcard style New York experience, this is the rink to choose. It also works especially well as an evening activity when the surrounding buildings are lit up.

Wollman Rink, Central Park

Open until 15 March 2026 with prices from $16, Wollman Rink offers a more spacious and relaxed skating experience. It’s located in Central Park and feels less enclosed that The Rink at Rockerfeller Centre and gives you open views of the skyline. It’s also easier to combine with a walk through the park before or after skating.

Roebling Rink, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Open until 1 February 2026 with prices from $16, Roebling Rink offers some of the best skyline views in the city. From the ice you can see Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge which makes it feel very special. It tends to be less busy than Manhattan rinks especially during weekdays. January is a great time to visit as crowds are smaller and the atmosphere is calmer, and works really well if you are already exploring Brooklyn.

Watch the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden

January is a great time to catch a New York Knicks game with home fixtures running throughout the month at Madison Square Garden. Tickets start from around $260 and while they are not cheap, the atmosphere is a big part of the experience. NBA games feel lively and high energy (and great for celeb spotting), making them a great evening option during colder weather.

Even if you are not a big basketball fan, attending a live game is a very New York experience. January games are easier to fit into an itinerary as there is often more availability than during peak tourist months. It is a fun way to experience local culture while staying warm indoors.

Bryant Park Cozy Igloos

Open until 1 March 2026 with prices starting from $253.96, these private igloos are designed for small groups. They offer a warm and sheltered space to sit, eat and relax while still being outdoors. January is one of the best times to book as the colder weather makes the experience feel more fitting. They work especially well for a girls’ trip and it’s a very winter specific experience that feels different from typical dining spots.

Bryant Park Bumper Cars

Running from 9 January to 28 February, costing $22.88 per person, this is one of the most unexpected winter activities in New York. The ice bumper cars are playful making them a fun break from sightseeing. January is a great time to try them as queues are often shorter. It is a short experience (10 minutes long) but one that feels very unique to winter in the city. You can reserve your tickets online via the link below.

Bronx Zoo (Free Wednesdays)

The Bronx Zoo offers free general admission every Wednesday, including throughout January. Timed tickets must be reserved online starting the Monday before your visit and they become available at 5 pm.

While some animals may be less active in colder weather many exhibits are still open and enjoyable. It is a great way to spend a winter afternoon outdoors without the usual crowds. January also makes the zoo feel more relaxed and less busy than warmer months.

Winter Wellness at the World Trade Center

Winter Wellness at the World Trade Center is a free, one day event taking place on 17 January, held inside the Oculus. The event focuses on seasonal wellbeing and offers a range of activities centred around movement, relaxation and resetting after the busy festive period. If you are visiting New York in January and want a free, feel good activity that fits naturally into your itinerary, this is well worth adding to your list.

MoMA Mart Pop-Up

MoMA Mart runs from 6 January through 29 March 2026 and is a playful, art led pop-up experience created by the Museum of Modern Art. Rather than being a traditional market, it is set up like a fake grocery store, where the shelves are stocked with artist designed products that explore themes around consumerism, food culture and everyday life. You can walk through the space browsing items that look familiar at first glance, but quickly realise they are part of the exhibition rather than things you can actually buy.

MoMA PS1 (Now Free for Everyone)

MoMA PS1 is known for its focus on contemporary and experimental art, and visiting feels very different from walking through more traditional museums in New York. The space is large and industrial, with galleries spread across multiple floors, and exhibitions often include immersive installations and video art. You can expect to see rotating exhibitions by both emerging and established artists, many of which explore current social, political and cultural themes.

As of 1 January 2026, MoMA PS1 became free for all visitors for the next three years, making it the largest free museum in New York City.

Pink Pier at Pier 15

If you love anything pink, this is one you will want to add straight to your list. Pink Pier is a bright, playful installation set along the East River that completely transforms the waterfront into an all pink experience. You can dine inside an all pink waterfront igloo, sip pink cocktails and enjoy menu items designed specifically for the pop-up. There are plenty of photo moments throughout, including a giant pink photo frame positioned perfectly in front of the Brooklyn Bridge, which is one of the main highlights.

Pink Pier runs from 9 January to 1 March, with prices starting from $17, making it a fun and fairly affordable winter activity.

The Morgan Library & Museum (Free Friday Evenings)

The Morgan Library & Museum is best known for its beautiful historic library spaces, rare manuscripts and intimate gallery rooms. Originally the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan, the building itself is one of the highlights, with ornate ceilings, dark wood shelves and some of the most impressive interiors in the city. It houses rare books, handwritten manuscripts, drawings, and letters from well-known figures across literature, music and history.

The Morgan offers free entry on Friday evenings from 5 to 8pm, with live music beginning at 5pm, though reservations are required and tickets are released one week in advance.

New York Aquarium (Free After 3pm on Wednesdays)

The New York Aquarium is located in Coney Island, Brooklyn, right by the waterfront and makes a nice change of pace from central Manhattan sightseeing. Inside you can expect a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits, featuring animals such as sea lions, penguins, sharks, jellyfish and colourful tropical fish. It offers free admission after 3pm on Wednesdays, including throughout January, although timed tickets must still be reserved online in advance. These free slots are popular so it’s worth booking as soon as they become available (which is usually 3pm the Monday before and you can reserve up to 4 tickets in total).

Candlelight Concerts in New York

Candlelight Concerts run throughout January and feature live music performed by string quartets in candle-lit venues across the city. Shows include tributes to ABBA, Hans Zimmer and The Beatles. Tickets start from $36.25 making them relatively affordable compared to other live music options.

The Guggenheim - Pay What You Wish

The Guggenheim is best known for its iconic spiral shaped interior, which is an experience in itself even before you start looking at the art. Inside exhibitions are displayed along the curved ramp, so you gradually move through the space as you explore rather than walking through separate rooms.

The Guggenheim offers Pay What You Wish admission on Sundays and Tuesdays from 4 to 5.30pm, including January, where you can pay what you like with a minimum of $1. These time slots are popular so booking in advance is recommended.

Central Perk Coffee Shop

If you are a Friends fan this is a really fun stop to add to your New York itinerary. The Central Perk coffee shop, which opened on 12 December in Times Square, is themed around the iconic café from the show and is packed with little nods that fans will recognise straight away. Alongside the décor, the menu includes coffees named after famous lines from the series, including “How You Doin’?” and “We Were on a Break.”

Spa Day at QC NY Spa

QC NY Spa is one of the most unique spa experiences in New York, mainly because of its location and setting. The spa sits on Governors Island, giving you open views of the Manhattan skyline while still feeling completely removed from the city. Inside you’ll find a mix of thermal pools, saunas, steam rooms and relaxation areas, all designed to encourage you to slow down and properly switch off. Some of the pools are outdoors which means you get a stunning skyline view as you relax.

Prices start from $89 for a 3 hour stay.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope this guide on the best things to do in New York this January has given you plenty of inspiration for your own trip. If you need anymore NYC planning inspo, don’t miss my ultimate travel guide I wrote which you can find here.

Hi there, I'm Mandeep

Founder of The Girls Trip To and I’m so glad you are here! My mission is to get YOUR girls trip out of the group chat by providing you with all the best travel guides, tips + deals!