Year after year, I look forward to the holidays in New York City.
The sparkling lights, the Christmas music and the good vibes transform the city into a magical place.
As a local NYC tour guide, I wanted to write a post about the holiday evchents I think my tour guests and other travelers would enjoy.
I'm also a native New Yorker and know lots of lesser-known events that I think are worth a visit.
In this post, I'll tell you about the best Christmas activities and things to see in 2025, like the lights and window displays, markets, tree lightings, Christmas sightseeing tours, holiday shows and more.
You can also find out more about Christmas in New York on a walking tour with Tours by Foot NYC (see tours below).
It's important to note that most decorations, lights, and window displays go up in late November so keep this in mind when planning your trip dates.
Many of us locals consider Thanksgiving, the last Thursday of November, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as the start of the holiday season.
Things are in full swing by the start of the second week of December and continue through most of December with some activities spilling over into the New Year.
While the post has specific details, you can see for yourself some of what is covered below by watching my fellow tour guides, Katie, Lori and Derrick, show you the lights, sights and more!
Look for their videos throughout this post!
- Christmas-Themed Tours
- Top Light and Window Displays
- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Dyker Heights Brooklyn Lights
- Christmas Performances
- Christmas Markets
- Restaurants with Christmas Decor
- Other Holiday Experiences
- New Year's Eve
HOW'S THE WEATHER FOR CHRISTMAS?
Before diving into the top things to do in NYC during the Christmas and holiday seasons, I think it's wise to let you know what to expect weatherwise.
I'm not a fan of chilly, low temps, but mild sunny days don't exactly scream "Christmas"!
In late December, afternoon temperatures can reach into the upper 30s F (3 to 4 C) while early morning lows dip into the upper 20s F (-2 to -3 C).
On a few of the colder nights and mornings, the temperature will dip into the mid-teens F (-9 to -10 C).
You may see some snow or flurries in December, including Christmas, but I can't think of the last time we had a snowy Christmas.
Don't be disappointed! It's a heck of a lot easier to get around here without precipitation.
See our full December weather forecast for more details and suggestions on what to pack.
By the way, our tours run in all kinds of weather provided it isn't a huge storm.
My tour guests get a kick out of flurries on our Christmas tours!
Tours by Foot NYC will offer our popular Holiday Lights and Christmas decorations tour again this year.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see all of the holiday decorations and fantastic window displays with a guide who knows the best ways to visit these sites.
See the best and most beautiful of our city’s holiday offerings.
We visit many sights including the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the best department store windows, the Plaza and Pulitzer Fountain and more!
The tour runs daily. See our calendar for dates and times.
Click here to be brought to the tour page or go to our booking calendar.
If you prefer to visit these sights on wheels, check out this bus tour.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour
When most people think about holiday decorations in New York City, they usually think of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the lavish store window displays of Midtown Manhattan.
But I'd like to let you in on a secret that I also share with my tour guests.
For decades, locals have been going to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to see the most outlandish Christmas decoration displays you can imagine!
The below video with my fellow guide Derrick is proof.
We partner with A Slice of Brooklyn for a Christmas Lights Bus Tour of Dyker Heights!
Christmas Movies Tour of New York City
Experience New York City through some of your favorite holiday classics!
This tour takes you to iconic film sites used in “Elf,” “Home Alone 2,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Serendipity” and “Scrooged.”
In addition to visiting sites and getting some fantastic photo ops, you will hear “behind the scenes” filming stories about each of these movies.
Learn how a full Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was filmed for “Miracle on 34th Street,” where the design of Buddy the Elf’s costume came from, and exactly what Kevin McAllister ordered from the Plaza Hotel to rack up a $967 room service bill!
We will use our feet and the New York City subway to get from place to place on this tour, finishing up at Macy’s.
(A perfect time for a visit to Santaland or some last-minute shopping!)
Some sites/movies covered include:
- “Elf” snowball fight location
- Hobbes apartment Building (Elf)
- Wollman Rink (Serendipity)
- The Plaza Hotel (Home Alone 2)
- Rockefeller Center (Scrooged, Elf and Home Alone 2)
- Macy’s
- Learn more
There is also a bus version of this tour which runs by the name:
Holiday Lights and Movie Sights Bus Tour
This 2.5-hour guided bus tour takes you to sites throughout Manhattan, which serve as the setting in holiday movies that you’ll recognize right away.
During the ride, clips from movies filmed at the sites are shown on TV screens so you can match the locations you visit with the movie scenes filmed there.
Availability: 2025-26 dates TBD. Last year dates: November 29th to January 2nd
Hours: Daily at 5 pm and 8 pm.
Regular Tickets: 
$58 for adults and $32 for children 6-9, children under 5 ride free.
Priority Boarding Tickets: Pre-boarding and guaranteed seating in the first 4 rows.
- $68 for adults
- $42 for children (ages 6 to 9)
- Children under 5 ride free.
- Click here to purchase. Use code OLT-FTBF to get 15% off on bookings.
Private Tours Tickets:
- $135/person - Min 3 Max 22 Passengers
- $160 - 2 People $65 per person (Minimum of two)
- $110/person - Groups of 3
- $95/person - Groups of 4-15
- $75/person - Groups of 16 - 22
- Click here to learn more or purchase. Use code OLT-FTBF to get 15% off on bookings.
WHERE TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND WINDOW DISPLAYS
There are so many light and window displays in New York City that you could dedicate an entire trip to NYC to see every one of them.
If you want to go all out and see them all, see our post Best Places to See Christmas Lights in NYC and NYC's best holiday window displays.
In the meantime, below are those I think are the best of the rest!
ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE
It wouldn’t be Christmas in New York without this enormous green symbol of the season!
The tree lighting on Rockefeller Plaza is a major celebration in the city.
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lit on Wednesday, December 4th at roughly 9 pm (21:00).
Here my fellow tour guide Katie explains the lighting ceremony.
Be sure to read our post on the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for more information including where to get a good view, the full dates and hours when the tree is lit up, and more.
Saks 5th Ave Light Show
In 2025, the light show is off, but Saks has other surprises in store!
Read more about the Saks Fifth Ave. Lights in 2025.
The show uses hundreds of thousands of LED lights synchronized to holiday music projected onto the side of its flagship store on 5th Avenue between E. 49th and E. 50th Streets.
Make time for this one, there ain't nothing like it!
As one of NYC's most luxurious department stores, Bergdorf's (as it's known locally) is regarded as the store with the most extraordinary and fashionable holiday window displays.
This is my favorite window display because it is a bit edgy and less traditional than others.
It's just a few blocks from Saks so I say head on up!
Bloomingdale's Christmas Windows
The home of the ‘Big Brown Bag’, Bloomingdale’s puts on a fabulous holiday window display.
It’s worth walking a few extra blocks from 5th Avenue to see it.
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, Bloomingdale's unveiled its windows on November 13.
TIP: A half-block away from Bloomie's is the famous restaurant Serendipity 3 at 225 E 60th St. I cannot recommend more highly that you go to try its signature drink, Frozen Hot Chocolate.
Macy's Christmas Window Displays
Macy’s was America’s first department store to decorate its windows for Christmas, back in 1874 when the store was located on 14th Street.
Now located on 34th Street, Macy’s decorates the windows that run along the Broadway side of the store.
Since the early years, Macy’s has chosen a unique theme each year.
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the windows unveiled on November 21, and remained up until January 1.
Check our Macy's Christmas window displays post to see what you can expect from this amazing display.
The Shops at Columbus Circle
Next to the Columbus Circle Holiday Market is this upscale indoor shopping mall.
During the holiday season, the atrium is draped with 300,000 twinkling lights and 14-foot stars hang from the ceiling.
The stars are synchronized to holiday music for a whimsical light show.
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the lights was up from November 18 to January 5.
The star show takes place every 30 minutes from 5 pm to midnight every day.
TIP: If you need to take a 'break', the public bathrooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors. After a long walk in nearby Central Park, this is where I go!
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Every November to January, the Bronx Zoo becomes an illuminated Winter Wonderland.
See 260 lanterns in the shapes of nearly 70 animal and plant species.
In the Forest of Color, you’ll see larger-than-life lanterns of frogs, turtles, butterflies, and more.
There’s also a holiday train, ice carvings, plenty of hot cocoa, and more.
This is a fabulous event, especially for families.
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the event was from November 22 to January 5.
Find out more here and be sure to reserve tickets soon if you are interested.
DYKER HEIGHTS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
As I mentioned above, every year, the residents of the Dyker Heights Brooklyn neighborhood deck out their homes with elaborate Christmas lights.
Some homes are professionally decorated at a cost of thousands of dollars!
Many homeowners put up their displays the week after Thanksgiving, but the prime viewing time is mid-December up to just after Christmas.
Read our post on how to experience the Dyker Heights lights, including tips on how to get here and which areas to visit.
- Location: Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. The best lights are from 11th Avenue to 13th Avenue and from 83rd Street to 86th Street. The closest subway is the D/M train at 18th Avenue.
- When to go: The best viewing hours are from 5 pm to 9 pm. (Also, most say that weekends have better displays than weeknights)
- Or you can go with us on our guided tour.
- NOTE: The best lights are about a mile from the subway stop, so dress for the cold, especially if you do go at night when temperatures drop.
CHRISTMAS MUSICALS AND SHOWS
From late November until the beginning of January, New York City hosts several Christmas and winter holiday-themed plays, musicals, and other performances.
Read our full post on the wonderful Christmas and holiday-themed shows, musicals, ballets, and other performances taking place in NYC.
Below are the two most beloved, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Nutcracker.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Even though the Radio City Rockettes originated in St. Louis, these high-kicking ladies have become synonymous with New York City.
During the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Rockettes perform their famous “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” as well as a variety of other numbers.
Read our complete post for more details.
- Location: Radio City Music Hall at 50th Street and 6th Avenue. The closest subway is the B, D, F or M trains at 47-50 Sts Rockefeller Center.
- Dates/Times: 2025-26 dates TBD. Last year dates: November 8 - January 5. The number of shows per day varies, but it is usually 4 or 5.
Tickets: Purchase tickets here (affiliate disclosure).
Read our post on how to get a Radio City Christmas Spectacular Concessions and also Price cuts for the Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour.
The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky’s Christmas ballet has become a must-see for many people during the holidays.
Famed artistic director George Balanchine created the version that the New York City Ballet performs every year at Lincoln Center in 1954.
Don’t miss your opportunity to travel with Clara through the Kingdom of Sweets!
- Location: David H. Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center. The closest subway station is the 1 train at 66th Street.
- Dates/Times: 2025-26 dates TBD. Last year dates: November 29 - January 4. There will be performances on most days, with 2 performances on select dates.
- Price: Tickets start at $115 for upper balcony and run as high as $325 for orchestra.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Our Happy Holiday Gospel Special
- Venue: Memorial Baptist Church, 141 W.115th Street (between Malcolm X Blvd/ St. Nicholas Ave)
- Dates/Times: Wednesdays at 12:00 pm. (There is an accompanying Gospel Music walking tour of Harlem at 10:00 am)
- Tickets: Purchase here.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
New York hosts several Christmas markets, where you can buy gifts, decorations, and festive treats!
Below is a list of the most popular markets in Manhattan, but for a full list, read our post on the best Christmas markets to find some unique markets located beyond Manhattan.
Take note of dates when markets are closed, in particular Thanksgiving, a national holiday and Christmas.
Bank of America Bryant Park Winter Village
Also known as the Bryant Park Winter Village, it has temporary stalls put up for the season.
Over 125 vendors sell festive apparel, accessories, toys and other unique crafts.
The snack stands are so delicious, as Lori and Katie show you above.
Combine this with a trip to the Bryant Park ice rink!
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the market ran from October 25 – Monday, January 5, 2025.
This market is located in Vanderbilt Hall (inside Grand Central Terminal) and offers over 70 vendors, with things you can’t find anywhere else in New York!
I love this fair not so much for its offerings, but for the setting in magnificent Grand Central, a sight to see any time of the year.
Dates:
- 2025-26 dates TBD. Last year dates: November 11 - December 24. Closed Thanksgiving on November 28.
- Monday through Saturday 10 am to 7 pm, Sundays 11 am to 6 pm and Christmas Eve 10 am to 6 pm.
Located in Union Square (14th to 17th Street between Broadway and Park Ave South), the Union Square Holiday Market has over 150 vendors.
It includes an array of gifts, from jewelry to leather goods.
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year dates: it was held from November 14 to December 24. The market is closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 21st.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
This market is slightly smaller than others with about 100 stalls.
It's at the southwest entrance to Central Park, so it could be done in conjunction with a trip to Wollman Rink!
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, it ran from December 3 - 31 (closed Christmas Day).
RESTAURANTS WITH AMAZING CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
These restaurants are known for having fantastic holiday decor and serve yummy food as well.
The Christmas decor is classy at some and a bit outlandish at others.
Expect loads of garland, baubles and ornaments, colorful lights and even a Christmas tree in one or two places.
It’s always best to make a reservation in advance. Just click on the restaurant’s name to be taken to their website.
For decades this German restaurant in Gramercy Park has been THE spot to go for over-the-top Christmas decorations.
This bistro in Midtown Manhattan is decorated with sparkling lights, stockings, garlands, wreaths, tinsel, and more.
A meal any time of the year at this iconic restaurant in Central Park is something special. At the holidays it’s even more so. Book early!
Read about these and other Christmas restaurants from our post, Restaurants Decked Out for Christmas.
OTHER CHRISTMAS IN NYC EXPERIENCES
Ice Skating in New York City
There are several ice skating rinks in New York you can go to starting in November with many staying open past New Year's.
Some, like Rockefeller Center, can get very crowded and cost more on certain days on time slots.
I always plan ahead so I can try to get an off-peak date/time to save some money.
Some rinks, like Wollman Rink in Central Park in the picture above, are not as crowded and cost less than Rockefeller Center.
My favorite location is at Winter Village in Bryant Park (see above). It's free if you have skates, but if you don't you can rent some there.
See where to go ice skating in New York City.
Attend a Christmas Tree Lighting
The Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting isn't the only lighting in town!
There are big Christmas trees around the city whose lights are turned on with public fanfare.
Here they are:
Winter Village in Bryant Park. December 3, at 6 pm.
Central Park Thursday, December 5, at 5:30 pm at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center.
South Street Seaport December 3, at 3 pm. at Water and Fulton St intersection.
Wall Street December 5, from 3 pm – 6 pm, in front of the New York Stock Exchange.
West Harlem Piers December 7. Festival 4:30 – 6:00 pm. Tree lighting at 5:30 pm.
Prospect Park in Park Slope December 13, at 5 pm.
Washington Square Park The 2025 date TBD. Last year on December 6, 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
Some lighting ceremonies are accompanied by live music, dancing, tree decoration making, and hot chocolate or hot cider.
See the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show
If, like me, you love miniature things and train models, I recommend this annual fantastic train at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx.
Over 25 G-scale model trains and trolleys run along half a mile of track. But this is not any old train show.
It's not just any train show. The trains travel around nearly 200 scaled iconic New York City buildings and structures like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
The landmarks you can't see on your trip, you can see here in this miniature NYC!
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the dates were November 16, to January 20.
It's a very popular event so I suggest you get your tickets online in advance before it sells out.
Find out more here.
Holidays at the Empire State Building
A special program of holiday events take place in 2025! It's exciting stuff!
The 2025 theme revolves around the holiday classic Elf, in which Buddy the Elf travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his father in his office in the Empire State Building.
Between December 1 and December 17 on select dates, you can combine a visit to the Empire State Building with a movie screening of Elf, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Tickets include the screening, access to 86th and 102nd floor observatories and complimentary drinks and snacks with the movie.
If you plan to go to visit this world-famous skyscraper, read our post on how to get tickets to the Empire State Building.
TIP: Keep an eye out for the building's spire during the holiday season. Some nights it will be red and green for Christmas.
Christmas House is a unique indoor immersive, all-ages, holiday experience.
It’s where Christmas sights, sounds, and even smells come to life!
Walk through more than ten themed rooms like the Snow Room, where it is 'snowing'.
Plus there is the North Pole Movie Theater, Buddy the Elf Room, the Indoor Light Show and more.
When you are done, check out the holiday market in the Oculus or go ice skating at nearby Brookfield Place.
- Where: The Oculus, 185 Greenwich Street, Main Level
- When: The third week in November hrough the New Year.
- Time: Every half hour starting from 10 am through 9 pm.
- Cost: $40 for adults and $35 for children. VIP tickets are available for an extra fee.
- Purchase your tickets here.
Take a Picture with Santa
Santa Claus is not camera shy and he’s arriving in New York in late November to pose for photos with your kids – or grown-ups too!
It's free to see Santa but if you want a photo, it costs $39.99 and up. You must reserve a time slot to take a photo.
Expect a long wait but meeting Santa at Macy's is one tradition worth waiting for.
- Where: Macy's West 34th St. bet. Broadway and Seventh Ave. on the 8th Floor.
- When: S2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, Santa arrived on Friday, November 29 and returned to the North Pole on the afternoon of January 1.
- Hours: Starting times vary between 7 am and 9 am and closing time is at 9 pm, except 12/24 when Santa leaves at 4 pm.
*Reservations open on Sunday, November 24.
Reservations open each day at 6:30 am and can be made up to five (5) days in advance. Your reservation time slot is to join the line to enter the attraction.
See Santa at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem along with a free choir performance.
- Where: Apollo Theater in Harlem at 253 W. 125th Street
- When: 2025 date TBD. Last year it was on December 9, 2 pm - 6 pm
- Cost: Free!
Bring your camera or phone to take a free selfie with Santa Claus! No reservations are required.
- Where: The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place at 220 Vesey Street.
- When: 2025-26 dates TBD. Last year dates: November 29 to December 24
- Hours: Multiple time slots. See the list of times here.
- Cost: Free!
While I don't care much for sitting on Santa's lap, I do love the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place.
It's a huge glass atrium with palm trees even in winter, hence the name. It looks out onto the Hudson River. It is just lovely.
TIP: Bring your pup for a photo with Santa on Thursday, December 5, and Wednesday, December 11, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
At Bloomie's Santaland, lines are usually shorter than Macy's AND if you are a Sex and The City fan, a trip to Bloomingdale’s is essential!
- Where: Bloomingdale's at 1000 Third Avenue at 59th St. on the 6th Floor
- When: 2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, the dates were November 21-22, December 5-6, and December 12-13
- Times vary.
- Photo packages start at $25.
- Buy tickets here. Hurry up, they will sell out!
Santa at the Empire State Building
2025-26 dates TBD. Last year, Santa Claus was at the Empire State Building for select dates between November 30th and December 20th.
Ticket time slots with Santa will fill up fast so book your tickets as soon as possible.
One of the most-watched events on television, the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square is a classic conclusion to the holiday season.
NYE celebrations in Times Square first occurred in 1904 when the New York Times relocated to that area.
However, the now-famous ball drop was not added until a few years later.
Today, over 1 million people gather in Times Square to ring in the New Year.
Learn how to get a good spot for the ball drop.
Not so into crowds? Do what some of us locals do and enjoy one of the many alternatives to Times Square on New Year's Eve.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The official kickoff to the holiday season is the Macy’s Parade.
In 2025, the parade will be on November 27.
Head out to see new balloons and floats as well as old favorites. Make sure you stay to greet Santa Claus at the end!
For detailed information on the parade, see our post on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Route.
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