I've spent decades' worth of winters as a New York native, and know how to make the best of a season that some people dread.
So many of my local walking tour guests ask me what is the best way to enjoy the cooler months. In this post, I tell you what I tell them.
Below are some of my favorite things to do in NYC in the winter of 2025-2026 (and every year).
I've included family-friendly things to do and free activities for those on a budget.
Grab a coat and head out to enjoy the seasonal festivities and fun winter activities!
- Top Winter Activities
- Free Things to Do
- Family-Friendly
- What to Pack
- Festivals & Holidays
- Things to Do in NYC All Year
TOP THINGS TO DO IN NYC IN WINTER
Before we go into things I and many other New Yorkers enjoy doing in the winter, I'd like to point out why coming here in winter is a smart choice.
First, it's the off-peak season (other than the days around Christmas and New Year).
This means fewer tourists so attractions aren't as crowded and entry lines won't be long at all.
Next, you can participate in plenty of activities that don't take place during the other seasons, like going ice skating and shopping post-holiday sales!
Best of all, you'll save money visiting in winter as you can find cheaper flights to NYC as well as lower prices on hotels.
Want to save even more?
If you plan to go to a lot of attractions (not a bad idea for colder days), look into getting a tourist concession pass.
So many of the top New York attractions are included for free with one of these passes, you may find that getting one is right for you.
Still need convincing that winter is an awesome time of the year to visit NYC? Read our post, Best Times to Visit NYC.
Here are some links to the most popular things to do year-round in NYC:
See what events are happening during these winter months, plus what you can expect weather-wise):
Go Ice Skating
My fellow tour local guides and I look forward to the winter when we can put on our skates and hit the ice rinks.
There's something incredibly magical about ice skating in the city.
Surrounded by beautiful buildings by day and dazzling lights at night, ice skating in NYC is an unforgettable experience.
Of the city's several skating rinks, my favorite is in Bryant Park surrounded by the charming Winter Village holiday market.
It's free if you have your own skates (yay!). They also rent skates there.
Of course, skating at the iconic rink at Rockefeller Center is a must-do, at least once in a lifetime.
This is the rink that most of my tour guests go to and from what I hear from them, they found it worth the price.
They all suggest (as I do) to reserve as far in advance as possible)
Another gorgeous place to skate is Wollman Rink in Central Park (see the picture above).
The skyline around the rink is just lovely, especially at night.
You'll recognize it from the movies like Home Alone 2 and Serendipity.
Wollman Rink is just one of the stops on our seasonal NYC Christmas Movie Tour.
Read here about NYC's ice skating rinks.
See the City Sparkle
Even after living for decades in NYC, I never get tired of how beautiful NYC is at night when the lights come on and the city sparkles.
At the holidays, there's an extra layer of sparkle!
Despite having seen the department store holiday window displays many times, I can't resist going every year - the new themes and designs are always fun to see.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree never disappoints!
Let us at Tours by Foot NYC show you the best places to see the city lit up on our New York Holiday Lights Tour.
For a mind-blowing holiday lights experience, see the over-the-top Dyker Heights Holiday Lights.
They have to be seen to be believed! Join a tour or see them on your own.
Check out our post on Christmas in NYC to see all the best light displays during the holidays.
Embrace the Holidays
Winter is somewhat synonymous with the holidays. This is a good thing, even if you don't celebrate them.
That's because the holidays bring with them all sorts of wonderful activities that only happen this time of year.
When else besides winter can you see the Rockettes kick up a storm at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular?
One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to hit up the Christmas markets to buy holiday gifts, decorations and unique artisan crafts.
A few great markets to visit are the Union Square Holiday Market, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, the Bank of America Winter Village, and the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair.
My preference is the Union Square Holiday Market because it's big and the items sold are quite diverse and of all prices.
If you are here on New Year's Eve, brave the crowds to see the ball drop in Times Square.
See our survival guide to New Year's in Times Square.
Attend a Broadway Show for Less
If you are here in late January to early February, you are in for a treat!
This is when Broadway Week takes place and you can get two for the price of one'' tickets to some of the best Broadway shows.
Over the years, I've saved loads of money seeing shows during Broadway Week.
But even if you aren't here at that time, you can still find lower prices on tickets since it is off-peak tourist season.
In the video below, Katie, my fellow tour guide at Tours by Foot NYC, explains how to save money on Broadway show tickets.
Read our detailed post on how to get cheap Broadway tickets any time of the year!
Go to a Sports Game
If it's too cold for you outside, head indoors and see some athletes sweat playing ice hockey and basketball.
You can also see a football game, and though you'll be sitting outdoors, we can vouch that the boisterous, electric atmosphere at a Giants or Jets game is unbeatable.
Seeing a game is a fun way to spend an evening in NYC. If you are here with kids, sports events are a family-friendly activity.
Football (September - January)
Ice Hockey (October - April)
See what other sports are happening this winter in NYC.
Catch a Concert
Those of us who live in NYC are pretty spoiled when it comes to seeing concerts. We get the top names coming into town, even in the winter months!
There are some fantastic holiday concerts by big-name performers in December 2025 and January and February 2026.
Like always, Phish will play at Madison Garden for four nights, including New Year's Eve.
See what other concerts are scheduled in December, January, and February.
TIP: Check out the Madison Square Garden All-Access Tours to see how this iconic arena has become a world landmark.
Take a Sightseeing Tour
Winter is when most of my overseas friends come to visit me in NYC because airfare is cheaper.
I won't let temperatures stop me from taking them sightseeing!
As long as you have packed for an NYC winter, you can enjoy a guided sightseeing tour with us, Tours by Foot NYC, as much as any other time of the year.
A big perk of taking our tours in the winter is that the group size is usually smaller in size.
You'll get more up-close and personal time with our guides.
If you are here around the holidays, we have special tours that you can't take any other time of the year like our New York Holiday Lights Tour.
See what other tour offerings we have in winter, including our most popular tours that run all year long.
Hop on a Bus Tour
If you’re not up for walking, or the weather is cold, stay warm while you see New York City on a bus tour.
Just take a look at the video to see what a winter bus tour is like!
Also, hop-on, hop-off buses stop at the most popular attractions, so you can use the bus to go from destination to destination and still see a lot of the city.
Our post on the best Hop-On, Hop-Off NYC Bus Tours can help you decide which is best for you.
Pay a Lot Less for a 5-star Meal During Restaurant Week
If you've seen the food tours we offer, then you know we are foodies!
And boy, do we wait for this time of year to roll around!
During Restaurant Week, January 21 to February 9, 2025, you can enjoy a 5-star meal at top restaurants and pay up to 50% of the regular cost!
During Restaurant Week, more than 300 of New York City’s best restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu including either 2 courses or 3 courses for a low price, relative to their regular prices.
I have saved hundreds of dollars over the years dining at top restaurants during this event.
See our post, Restaurant Week, to get all the details plus our suggestions of where to eat organized by neighborhood.
Shop the Post-Holiday Sales
If you are in New York after the holidays, you are in luck!
Department stores offer deep discounts and I love looking through the racks for bargains.
You can get even better deals at shopping outlets that already mark down prices.
Woodbury Commons is one of the best outlets in New York. It's only one hour outside of NYC and worth the easy ride to get there.
In this video, my fellow tour guide Katie explains how to get to Woodbury Commons along with tips for shopping there.
Find out how to get there and what you can expect from this huge outlet mall from our post on getting to Woodbury Commons.
See where the best shopping is in NYC here.
Go to a Top Tourist Attraction Without the Crowds
Just like I and plenty of other New Yorkers do, take advantage of the off-peak season to visit one or more popular attractions and museums.
Lines are shorter so you won’t have to wait long (if at all) to get into the attraction. Plus, museums are less crowded.
This means you can get up close to masterpieces like Van Gogh's Starry Night at the Museum of Modern Art. It's quite mesmerizing.
Winter is also a great time to visit one of the observation decks which offer spectacular skyline views from inside, as well as outside.
Choose from five decks: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, Edge, One World Observatory (Freedom Tower) and SUMMIT.
I bring friends to One World Observatory on colder days since it is all inside and the view is unbelievable.
TIP: See our post on the long list of NYC's attractions
Look into a Tourist Concession Pass
A tourist concession pass affords you concessional entry into most of NYC’s most popular attractions.
While the passes themselves certainly aren’t free, if you plan your itineraries well, you will end up getting one or two attractions for free each day.
There are several different types of passes, so be sure to read our comparison post to learn about how you can save the most money on your trip.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE WINTER
My fellow local tour guides and I live on budgets, so we love all the free things to do in our city!
Some activities that are free every day are even more enjoyable in the winter for a variety of reasons.
For hundreds of other activities that won't cost you a dime, check out our post on free things to do in NYC and our post on free museums and other attractions.
Walk Over the Brooklyn Bridge
New Yorkers love walking across the Brooklyn Bridge often due to the sense of freedom one feels from there.
It's one attraction I absolutely insist that my visiting friends and family experience.
Same for my tour guests. I cannot encourage you enough to walk over this majestic bridge during a visit to NYC.
Winter sees fewer tourists so you'll have plenty of room to take selfies. Just bundle up.
See our guide to walking the Brooklyn Bridge to maximize your experience.
You can also join one of our pay-what-you-wish Brooklyn Bridge Tours or take our GPS-enhanced audio guide.
Attend a Free TV Show Taping
This is totally free and totally fun and in January it is easier to get a seat when the tourist season is over.
Sit in on tapings of shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Today Show, and The Daily Show.
I've been to all of these tapings over the years and it's a unique activity to do in New York City.
See our post on all the New York TV show tapings and how to score tickets.
Explore Central Park
There is never a bad time of year to visit Central Park. It can be especially charming when there is a dusting of snow.
It's my favorite time of year to capture photos of the park, especially when there is a light dusting of snow. The park looks sentimental and delicate.
I recommend taking pictures at The Mall and Gapstow Bridge. Here are some other photo spots in Central Park.
Consider joining our pay-what-you-wish Central Park tour or explore the park on your own using our guide to things to do in Central Park.
We also have an audio tour you can use day or night.
Hear a Gospel Choir
Let an inspirational choir warm your heart in the winter. NYC has many churches that you can go to and hear the gospel for free.
In the video below, fellow tour guide Derrick here at Tours By Foot NYC discusses how to get tickets for the famous Abyssinia Baptist Church in Harlem.
While there are some basic etiquette expectations, attending a gospel service is easy.
Find out where to hear Gospel Music in NYC.
Get a Spectacular View of NYC from the Free Staten Island Ferry
If you like to avoid crowds, take the free Staten Island Ferry in winter!
During the summer, it can be hard to find a spot along the railing with so many visitors on board, but in colder months, you'll have no trouble.
As for the weather, grab a seat indoors to stay warm then pop out to take pictures of the amazing view of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
I always bring out-of-town friends on the ferry and they cannot believe how incredible the views are and that they paid nothing to get them!
For other ways to get out on the water, see our post about all of NYC’s boat tour options.
Check Out the Top Art Museums for Free
You might have been disappointed to find out that the top museums in New York cost a small fortune.
Luckily, many of the top museums offer free days or special free hours, often in the evening.
Here are three to visit:
- Museum of Modern Art - Fridays, free from 5:30 pm – 9 pm
- Guggenheim Museum - Saturdays, free from 5:45 pm – 7:45 pm
- Whitney Museum of American Art - Fridays, free from 7 pm – 9:30 pm
TIP: If the temperature is moderate, I'll combine a visit to the Whitney with a stroll on the High Line park, which is next to the museum.
See more free museums here.
Visit the 9/11 Memorial
Seeing the Memorial site and the beautiful giant cascading fountains is a moving experience.
In this video, tour guide Katie takes you on a tour of the National September 11th Memorial, also known as the 9/11 Memorial, which is free to visit.
Next to the memorial is the National September 11th Museum which educates the public through documents and videos. The museum also houses artifacts recovered from the Twin Towers site.
There is a fee to enter the museum, but you can enter for free on Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
It's included in many tourist concession passes, so you can save money on museum tickets this way.
Discover the Underground Art Scene
It might be a little cold and rainy outside during the winter, but if you're looking to escape the weather, we have the answer.
Our subway stations have been beautified over the years with all kinds of mosaics.
Even when I am rushing somewhere, I always notice even the smallest artistic touches. It makes the subway so much more interesting!
Use this virtual subway art tour to discover the underground art scene in NYC's subways!
Also, there's a music scene. Often, you'll come across a subway performer or two. Union Square Station attracts some serious musicians.
Read about other places to see subway musicians.
If you are new to the city or a first-time visitor, you may find our post How to Use the NYC Subway helpful.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN NYC IN THE WINTER
Some of the events and activities listed above are family-friendly, such as ice skating, seeing a sports game, and taking a free walking tour so be sure to look through this entire post for more ideas.
Also, see our post on things to do with kids in NYC as well as our 3-day itinerary for families for more winter and year-round activities.
Visit a Top Attraction
Below are indoor, kid-friendly experiences that will keep your teens and tweens entertained.
These attractions are quite fun for grown-ups too!
- Madame Tussauds
- Museum of Broadway
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not
- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
- Tenement Museum
- New York Transit Museum (also good for young children)
- American Museum of Natural History (also good for young children).
For suggestions suitable for young children, see the museum section in our post about things to do with kids in NYC.
Take a Sightseeing Tour
We offer several family-friendly walking tours that include a mix of historical facts and humorous stories.
Most of our tours are appropriate for children and they are recommended by Red Tricycle as one of the best tours for families in New York City!
Our food tours are a big hit with kids as well!
Annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden
2025-26 season dates are yet to be announced. Last year, it was held between November 16, to January 20. You should check out this amazing model train show.
People of all ages love seeing the 190 famous New York landmarks replicated in miniature with birch bark, acorns, and cinnamon sticks!
See a mini Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and Rockefeller Center, and the wonderful model trains.
Read more about it here.
Attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
This annual parade occurs on Thanksgiving morning in New York City every year. I've attended many times as a kid and as an adult, and it's always a good time.
You can expect a huge variety of floats and performers throughout the parade, and of course, you'll also see Santa Claus!
Check out our post, How to Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has tips on how to make your parade-going a great experience.
Visit the Butterfly Vivarium
Part of the American Museum of Natural History, this wing is both beautiful and warm!
You'll find more than 500 butterflies fluttering around all kinds of beautiful tropical plants inside the museum's Butterfly habitat.
The temperature is a toasty 80 degrees Fahrenheit -- perfect for a chilly day!
Get Active at Chelsea Piers
This gigantic sports complex is located right along the Hudson River, and it has a lot of indoor activities for your family to enjoy.
Some of the most popular indoor activities here include:
- Rock Climbing Walls
- Batting Cages
- Basketball
- Golf Club
- And more!
For more kid-friendly activities, see our post on Things To Do with Kids in NYC.
PACKING GUIDE FOR WINTER IN NYC
You will need a warm winter coat for sure!
Gloves and a scarf are a must. If your coat doesn't have a hood, bring a hat.
Don't worry if you forget accessories at home. There's no shortage of shops in NYC!
Layering clothing is a good idea for any vacation.
In winter, layering will keep you warm outdoors, and you can peel off those layers when indoors.
Some items to bring warm slacks or heavy jeans; for women, skirts are fine if you are willing to wear some very warm leggings or tights.
Long-sleeve shirts of wool or heavy-duty cotton as opposed to lighter materials.
Be sure to bring a wool or cashmere sweater (the thinner, the better kind unless you want your suitcase to be bulky!)
Last but not least, warm (preferably waterproof) boots are also a good idea in case of rain or snow.
Bring a tried and true pair - you don't want to be breaking in a new pair on your vacation!
TIP: If you find you need some additional items to layer but are on a budget, you can try chain stores, particularly Uniqlo, known for its warm yet lightweight apparel.
They have locations all over the city, with one located right near Rockefeller Center and another in SoHo.
For more details on weather conditions, see our posts for each month:
FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS
Some great festivals take place in NYC during the winter. Below are two of the best.
Chinese New Year
In 2025, the Chinese New Year falls on January 29.
The colorful Lunar New Year parade takes place on that date at 1:00 pm in Chinatown.
Learn more about the Chinese New Year.
Winter Jazzfest
If you're a jazz fan, this annual event is an absolute must. It truly is one of the best events in NYC all year.
The music festival will be taking place between January 9 to 15, 2025.
You can look forward to more than 100 bands and musicians playing at multiple venues in Greenwich Village.
Buy a day or weekend pass. Let these smoking hot jam sessions warm you up this winter. See their website for the details.
We also have a post that covers all of the major public holidays recognized in New York.
Here's what else happens during the winter months.
DECEMBER
JANUARY
- New Years Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
- Restaurant Week
- Broadway Week
FEBRUARY
- Off-Broadway Week
- President's Day
- Restaurant Week
- Broadway Week
- New York Fashion Week
- Valentine's Day in Times Square
You can also read about some other things to do in winter in NYC
