Season · 29 guides
Christmas.
What I do in New York at Christmas, from my own visits, with the dates as they land.
Start with these
What I’d read first in Christmas- Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in New York City14 places, 14 worth it
- Holiday Treats You Must Try During Christmas in New York City10 places, 8 worth it
- Free Things to Do in New York City During Christmas17 places, 15 worth it
- New York City Christmas Trees10 places, 10 worth it
- Bars Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in NYC10 places, 10 worth it
- The Best Hot Chocolate in New York City15 places, 14 worth it
Inside Christmas
5 topicsMy best lists in Christmas
All my lists- The best restaurants open on Christmas Day
- The best holiday treats in New York
- The best free things to do at Christmas in New York
- The best bars open on Christmas in New York
- The best hot chocolate in New York
- The best holiday markets in New York
- The best holiday window displays in New York
- The best ice skating rinks in New York
- The best Christmas decorations in New York
- The best Christmas-decorated restaurants in New York
- The best Christmas lights in New York
- The best Christmas shows in New York
Dates this Christmas
Every date on the map- SunNov 1Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center (Harlem Meer) opensHarlem · announcedChristmas 2026
- WedNov 4through Jan 4Radio City Christmas Spectacular runMidtown · announcedChristmas 2026
- SatNov 7through Jan 3North Pole Express holiday lights bus tourMidtown, Bryant Park side · announcedChristmas 2026
- SatNov 14through Jan 10NYBG Holiday Train ShowBronx · announcedChristmas 2026
- SatNov 21NYCRUNS Great Gobble 5KProspect Park, Brooklyn · free · announcedThanksgiving
- WedNov 25Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflationUpper West Side · announcedChristmas 2026
- WedNov 25Macy's Parade balloon inflationUpper West Side · expectedThanksgiving
- ThuNov 26Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeMidtown · free · announcedChristmas 2026
- ThuNov 26Central Park Run Club Turkey TrotCentral Park · free · expectedThanksgiving
- ThuNov 26Macy's Parade route street closuresUpper West Side · free · expectedThanksgiving
- ThuNov 26Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeMidtown · free · expectedThanksgiving
- ThuNov 26Prospect Park Turkey Trot (Race for Reconciliation 5-Miler)Prospect Park, Brooklyn · free · announcedThanksgiving
From the trackers. Announced means the venue said so. Expected carries last year's timing until it lands.
What readers asked about Christmas
Ask meLove your honesty. You are spot on about the event. I have seen the ball drop over 20 times, missed the last 4 years due to Covid but will return 2023. Prior to 911 there was very little security (imagine?). Since then…
Thank you for sharing your experience, it's always helpful getting multiple points of view (especially for such a chaotic event like New Years Eve in Times Square). Cheers!
Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times SquareHi ! Thanks for the rundown! One question though, would NYPD let us bring a collapsible stool???
Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times SquareA map of venues would have been helpful
Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times SquareEvery guide in Christmas
29, by topicChristmas 19
- Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in New York CityIt’s hefty (30 pages to be exact) but it includes non-negotiable Christmas activities and a handful of iconic NYC landmarks you can’t afford to miss…14 places, 14 worth it · Sep 2026
- Holiday Treats You Must Try During Christmas in New York CitySome would argue that having a food bucket list is just as important as having an experience bucket list. Finding great Christmas desserts in NYC can…10 places, 8 worth it · Sep 2026
- Free Things to Do in New York City During ChristmasIt’s no secret that the Big Apple is expensive, so finding free Christmas activities in New York City is a priority for locals and tourists alike.17 places, 15 worth it · Sep 2026
- New York City Christmas TreesThe Big Apple’s holiday decor is hard to beat and nothing embodies the holiday spirit more than the striking Christmas trees in New York City. But…10 places, 10 worth it · Sep 2026
- Bars Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in NYCThanks to shoe-box-sized apartments and insane room-service prices, celebrating Christmas day in New York City can prove to be difficult.Not to…10 places, 10 worth it · Sep 2026
- Iconic NYC Holiday Markets First Time Visitors Can’t Afford to MissCelebrating the holidays in New York City is something everyone should make an effort to experience firsthand. Whether it’s your first visit or your…10 places, 9 worth it · Sep 2026
- Holiday Window Displays in New York CityOn brand with the city’s reputation as a holiday destination, the famous Christmas window displays in New York City are known the world over. Every…10 places, 10 worth it · Sep 2026
- Impressive Ice Skating Rinks in New York CityThe winter months bring more than just the misery of cold weather and gray skies, they also usher in the joy of ice skating in New York City! If…10 places, 7 worth it · Sep 2026
- Spots for Christmas Decorations In New York CityAs a local, there’s nothing I love more than Christmastime in New York City when the city transforms into a winter wonderland. I get asked about New…15 places, 13 worth it · Sep 2026
- Christmas-Decorated Restaurants in New York CityI love the way restaurants decorate for Christmas in New York City. On par with the city’s reputation for extravagant decor, restaurants don’t play…11 places, 10 worth it · Sep 2026
- Things to Do at Rockefeller Center During ChristmasLet’s play out a hypothetical. You land in New York the week of Christmas and have a few hours to seize as much holiday magic as possible, where do…10 places, 6 worth it · Sep 2026
- New York City Christmas Light DisplaysAs a local, I’m always on the lookout for the best Christmas lights in New York City. Luckily, the city is full of dazzling displays that never cease…10 places, 9 worth it · Sep 2026
- Christmas Performances in New York CityAs someone who’s enjoyed more than two dozen holiday shows in NYC firsthand, I thought it might be helpful to share my personal list of favorites.8 places, 8 worth it · Sep 2026
- New York City Christmas Activities for KidsVisiting New York City during the holidays with kids will leave you with a lifetime of cherished memories. Whether it’s your first visit or your…13 places, 12 worth it · Sep 2026
- Things to Do for Christmas in NYCUpdated · Sep 2026
- Visiting NYC During Christmas with Kids, 2025 Family GuideNew York City during the holidays is just as magical as you can imagine. For families with kids, visiting NYC at Christmas can be a core memory in…12 places, 11 worth it · Apr 2025
- Christmas Pop Up Bars in New York CityThe abundance of Christmas pop-up bars in New York City is proof that the holidays in the Big Apple are unmatched. The popular haunts use over the…12 places, 12 worth it · Feb 2024
- Christmas Movies Filmed in New York CityUpdated · Feb 2024
- NYC Christmas Photo SpotsIf you’re spending the holidays in New York City, chances are you’ll want to share the magic with everyone. And who can blame you? The city is every…10 places, 9 worth it · Feb 2024
New Year’s 2
- The Complete Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in NYCIt’s no secret that New Year’s Eve in New York City is a bucket-list item for thousands of folks all around the globe. If you’re making the trek and…13 places, 4 worth it · Sep 2026
- Restaurants Open on New Years Day in New York CityAfter a late New Year’s celebration, waking up with a potential headache and cooking might be the last thing on your mind. No worries! There are tons…16 places, 15 worth it · Feb 2024
Desserts 1
Thanksgiving 1
More 6
- Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guide 2025Updated · Sep 2026
- How to Celebrate SantaCon in New York CityUpdated · Sep 2026
- Complete Guide to Macy’s Santaland in NYCUpdated · Sep 2026
- What to Wear in New York City in the WinterUpdated · Sep 2026
- Ice Skating in Central ParkUpdated · Mar 2026
- Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times SquareImage Courtesy Time Square Celebrating New Years Eve in Times Square is a bucket-list item for folks all around the globe, and for good reason.…Updated · Oct 2023