Everybody knows how busy New York City is on any day of the year. But when that giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is up and the city becomes decked out with Christmas spirit, the crowds get significantly worse. There is so much to do during the Christmas season in NYC that it can be overwhelming. Here is my survival guide to Christmas in New York City.
transportation
If you can take the train, do it. Driving into the city, especially during the Christmas season, sucks. The traffic in the city is always bad, but many roads are closed during this season which makes traffic and finding parking worse. If you can take a train that brings you into Grand Central Station in Manhattan (which is also decorated beautifully for Christmas), it is perfect, and everything is within walking distance. If you can’t, plan ahead where you will park, your route, and the timing to avoiding peak rush hour to make the drive go smoothly.
rockefeller center
Rockefeller Center is the staple of the Christmas season in New York City. Many movies even take place here (including my favorites, Elf and Home Alone 2). Located on 49th and 50th Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues stands the74-foot tree covered with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and topped with a Swarovski star. The Rockefeller Center angels are located on Fifth Avenue and along the Channel Gardens, which connect Fifth Avenue to the skating rink and Christmas tree area. You can view them from Fifth Avenue, and they stand as a gateway to the main plaza between 49th and 50th Streets. The best time to view the tree up close is to go early in the morning or late at night to avoid peak crowds. The live broadcast of the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting will be on NBC and streamed on Peacock with the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special airing at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Radio city rockettes
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall is a very popular performance during the Christmas season. This is a 90-minute show showcasing the iconic acts of “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Living Nativity,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and “Rag Dolls.” While the tickets are pricy, many say that it is worth it and the show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can buy tickets here! You can also get a free, mini performance during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Bryant park winter village
Bryant Park Winter Village is also a staple during the Christmas season. It is located from 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. They are open daily from Oct. 24, 2025 to Jan. 4, 2026, Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here, there are tons of shopping opportunities, an ice skating rink, a big Christmas tree, and more! For fewer crowds, go on a weekday or visit in the early morning when the market first opens. For a more lively experience, go on weekends when they are generally busier but offer a more vibrant and energetic experience.
Holiday Shops
The holiday shops give cute little village vibes, they are all stationed in custom “jewel box” kiosks. The shops vary widely from apparel to jewelry, artwork to home, and food! This is a great place to get your Christmas gifts as there is something for everybody. A directory of all the holiday shops can be found here!
Food and Drinks
The Holiday Shops house so many food and drink options, seasonal and year-round. For example, The Lodge Bar + Food Hall (winter only) is a very popular option among the shops. It is located next to the rink with full-service bars and a variety of food and drink options from local establishments. It also includes a big TV for watching sports on game days! More about The Lodge and their menu can be found here. Some year-round favorites located here include Breads Bakery, Waffles and Dinges, and Casa Toscana! More information about food and drink options, their hours, and menus can be found here!
Ice Skating
Ice skating at Bryant Park is a fun winter activity to do. The scenery is beautiful, and there are so many different fun options to participate in! It gets busy and has long lines, so the key is to buy tickets ahead of time so your wait is as little as possible, especially when it’s cold! You can browse the different options and buy tickets for ice skating here. This is also where the Christmas tree stands.
Bryant Park Christmas Tree
Although smaller than the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, Bryant Park does not disappoint. This year’s tree is 48 feet tall and has more than 13,000 lights and 1,100 ornaments. The tree will be lit on Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. The in-person event is free and open to the public, but space is limited with entry beginning at 4 p.m. on a first come, first served basis. A full live stream will be available as well. This area is usually not as busy as the Rockefeller Christmas tree, so it makes for great photo ops!
Cozy Igloos
Bryant Park also houses “Cozy Igloos.” In your own private igloo dome, you can enjoy festive food and drinks just steps from the iconic ice skating rink surrounded by skyscrapers. Each igloo session is 90 minutes, featuring a selection of seasonal options for food and drinks. One igloo can seat up to eight guests, with packages for 1-4 or 5-8 guests per igloo. You can rent a cozy igloo here.
fifth avenue
Besides the Rockefeller Christmas tree, there is so much more to do on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York especially during the holiday season. Here are just a few!
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue, located at 611 Fifth Avenue, offers a lot to the Christmas spirit. From the luxurious shopping options, decorated windows, a light show, and more. Saks offers 10 floors of luxurious shopping, including designer bags, jewelry, and clothing, just to name a few. Outside the building on the first floor are the decorated windows, each of which showcases a miniature, detailed scene of New York and Paris. These scenes retell the history of Dior and Monsieur Dior’s journey to New York in September 1947.
On the building’s façade, the light show is displayed with nearly 300,000 LED lights. The 2025 light show and window unveiling is expected to begin on Monday, Nov.24 with a grand opening-night ceremony. Performances of the show run about every ten minutes, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., so you never have to wait long. The sidewalks in front of and across from the store become very crowded and congested, so the best viewing points include the Channel Gardens, where the Rockefeller Christmas Tree the white angels frame the Saks façade. From here, you enjoy a wide, unobstructed view of the entire show. Another excellent perspective is in front St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This angle is less crowded and offers a diagonal view, perfect for photos and less crowds.
Macy’s
Located on 34th Street, Macy’s offers a lot of Christmas spirit. One notably being Holiday Square which offers festive gifts and food with 30+ vendors, located on the lower level at Macy’s Herald Square. Vendors sell clothing and accessories, food and drink, gifts, beauty and skincare, and sweets! A layout of the store can be found here!
Another staple at Macy’s during the holidays is Santaland. Macy’s Santaland is described as stepping into a real-life North Pole. The moment you enter, you’re surrounded by holiday cheer, lights, music, toys, decorations, and animatronic reindeer! The journey through Santaland includes themed-rooms with snowy landscapes, elves, animated characters, and a moving train display. The walkthrough ends with a grand finale: a personal meet-and-greet with Santa Claus! While this whole experience is free, you must book a reservation online. Reservations open on Nov. 23 and can be found here. Reservations are released on a rolling basis, five days in advance, and go live daily at 6:30 a.m. Without a reservation, you won’t be able to enter Santaland, even when it is slow. Similar to Saks, Macy’s offers decorated windows showcasing holiday themed animated displays and others that tell a Christmas story with interactive elements.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Even if you aren’t religious, this cathedral is gorgeous and worth it to walk through. It is decorated for Christmas with wreaths, candles, and a big nativity. It is on my bucket list to go to a Christmas mass here!
final thoughts
New York City can be overwhelming during the Christmas season, with everything there is to do and the crowds. Remember to dress warm, and I hope that this guide helps your trip go as smoothly and magically as possible!