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Are you spending the holiday season in New York City? If so, the sheer range of festive activities can feel overwhelming. For ice skating rinks alone, there is an endless array of choices, from Manhattan’s Wollman Rink and The Rink at Bryant Park to the indoor World Ice Arena in Queens. Broadway shows, Christmas markets, the holiday window displays in Midtown and along 5th Avenue—there’s holiday cheer waiting for you in every borough.
Here, find our pick of festive experiences in the heart of the Big Apple.
See The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center
From now through December 31, the entire New York City Ballet Company—90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands, and more than 125 children from the School of American Ballet—collaborates to create a spellbinding performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. This is the ultimate classic version of the ballet, featuring Balanchine’s choreography set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, and vintage costume and set design by Barbara Karinska and Rouben Ter-Arutunian. It’s a holiday tradition that promises an unforgettable experience for the entire family. If you’re planning a kid-free evening, however, treat yourself to a pre-show dinner at Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi, an Afro-Caribbean-inspired gem, or Boulud Sud, a Mediterranean eatery that offers a three-course pre-theatre prix fixe meal.
Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
With a history that dates back to 1931, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree is a holiday must for New Yorkers and visitors alike. Standing tall at 80 feet, this Norway spruce is bedecked with 50,000 LED lights and topped with a Swarovski star nearly ten feet tall—a work of art designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, boasting three million crystals across 70 triangular spikes. (Fun fact: The star weighs 900 pounds.)
The tree is lit daily from 5 a.m. to midnight until January 13. (On Christmas Day, the tree is lit for 24 hours, and on New Year’s Eve, it is only lit until 9 p.m.) Capture the perfect Instagram snap beneath its branches, then go ice skating at The Rink under the tree, or peruse the department stores nearby for those last-minute gifts. Before heading home, enjoy a cocktail at the Pebble Bar.
Watch a classic Christmas film at Metrograph
Get into the holiday spirit at Metrograph, one of the city’s best repertory cinemas and the ultimate destination for film lovers looking for screenings of both Yuletide classics and more edgy holiday-adjacent movies (how else would you describe Edward Scissorhands?) The weekend of December 21 and 22 is a particularly festive one: buy tickets for Greta Gerwig s Little Women, A Muppet Christmas Carol, Phantom Thread, and An Affair to Remember.
See the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall
Indulge in a sweet prelude to the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City Music Hall with a baked good and hot chocolate from Magnolia Bakery. The sugar-high continues during the Rockettes’ 90-minute extravaganza, which runs until January 5: Dating back to the 1930s, the show has been revamped with new music, better technology, and a more precisely executed kickline.
Go ornament shopping downtown
We’re halfway through December, and if your Christmas tree is feeling a bit bare, like mine, why not hit up NoHo and SoHo for some unique ornaments? Check out spots like John Derian Company and the Gohar World store, or the kitschy-yet-wonderful Christmas and City in Little Italy.
Have breakfast with Santa at Bergdorf Goodman
This special treat is perfect for little ones eager to meet Santa Claus before he jets to the North Pole. Admission is free for children aged two and under, and reservations are a must, with a fee of $90 per person. Indulge in a luxe breakfast at BG, the restaurant on the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman, taking in picturesque views of Central Park and a delectable assortment of juice, fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a choice of coffee or tea.
Tour the Dyker Heights Christmas lights
Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood is famed for its extravagant Christmas decorations, which are, without question, the city’s most over-the-top. Think, megawatt light displays, life-size Santas, and full-on winter wonderlands soundtracked by Christmas carols. You can take a leisurely stroll past houses, drive through, or hop on a bus tour to enjoy the holiday decorations, which usually stay up until early January.
See the holiday train show at the New York Botanical Garden
A beloved but somewhat under-the-radar New York holiday tradition, the holiday train show has been around for more than three decades—and is chugging along once again this season, through January 20. Marvel at the model trains zooming past replicas of nearly 200 iconic NYC landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge, all meticulously crafted from natural sources like leaves, cinnamon sticks, and berries.
Go antique shopping in Brooklyn
There’s no better way to while away a weekend than antique shopping in Brooklyn. Windsor Place Antiques, a go-to spot, is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Plus, you can usually find these vendors at the Brooklyn Flea, a market open every weekend until Christmas. A mere block away, indulge in Syrian-Korean cuisine at SYKO, or grab some takeout on your way home to cap off a day of treasure hunting and tasty food.
Peruse the department store holiday windows
Window shop quite literally at New York’s most famous department stores, which craft ornate displays behind their glass façades every year. This year, Saks Fifth Avenue shows off “Gifts of Delight” (including a trove of macarons) whereas Bloomingdales partnered with Wicked to create Elphaba-and-Glinda-inspired displays. Then there’s Bergdorf Goodman, which is arguably the most spectacular of the bunch: the theme of their windows this year is “Toast of the Town”—an ode to the glamour of New York City amid the 200th anniversary of Fifth Avenue.
Enjoy Dinner and a Holiday Movie at Fouquet’s
Looking for a luxurious and festive experience? Fouquet’s—the beloved TriBeCa hotel—is hosting a “cozy classics” experience on Sundays in December. Enjoy a prix-fixe comfort dinner at their Parisian-style brasserie (including French onion soup and beef filet) before heading down to their movie theater to watch The Holiday or National Lampoon’s Vacation. Just make sure you grab some gourmet movie snacks, prepared by their chef, before you settle into your seats.
Ice Skate in Central Park
Ice skating in Central Park is a quintessential New York experience, especially at Wollman Rink. Since opening in 1950, New Yorkers of all ages have flocked to the rink from November to April to partake in the classic winter activity under the glittering lights of the city s skyscraper—and made it an iconic outing in the process: Ali McGraw skated there in Love Story as did Wet Bandit Marv in Home Alone 2. (A tip: buy tickets online before you go.)
