Let’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 you go? The right answer is Rockefeller Center.
Home to the highest concentration of holiday festivities, the Rockefeller Center can easily be billed the Capital of Christmas. No other area in New York City offers as many holiday attractions in such a short vicinity, so let’s roundup the best things to do at Rockefeller Center during the holidays.
Note from Antonina about 2024 Christmas Itineraries. Some of you have asked if I’ll be offering the custom 4-day itineraries that sold out last year.
It took me five years to perfect the guide but I think it will help you make the most use of your time in the city. You can find more information here.
Visiting Rockefeller Center at Christmas
(Click Here for the Table of Contents)
Christmas at Rockefeller Center Table of Contents
- Visiting Rockefeller Center at Christmas
- Learn About the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
- Go Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
- Admire the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show
- Admire the Fifth Avenue Window Displays
- See the Decked Out Tree at Lotte Palace
- Enjoy Christmas Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- See the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
- Pick Out a Toy at FAO Schwarz
- Soak in the Views From Top of the Rock
- Do Some Holiday Shopping
- Local’s Advice on the Crowds at Rockefeller Center During the Holidays
- Visiting Rockefeller Center During the Holidays (Post Summary)
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The 10 Best Neighborhoods for First Timers & 3 to Avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Learn About the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
Decorating a Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center is a tradition that dates back to 1933, officially. Unofficially, workers pooled together to buy the first tree in 1931 (amid the crippling Great Depression) when the national unemployment rate crested 23%.
Keen to manifest the holiday spirit, the 20-foot fir was dressed with handmade garlands made by the worker’s families. Two years later, Rockefeller Center decided to make the tree an annual tradition and held the first lighting festival in 1933.
Arguably the most iconic Christmas Tree in NYC, selecting this centerpiece is no easy feat. The tree must be at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet wide (traditionally, a Norway spruce is selected). Once plucked, the famous spruce is decorated with more than five miles of lights and crowned with a breathtaking Swarovski star.
A masterpiece in its own right, the star is composed of three million crystals and measures 9 feet and 4 inches. Admiring the beauty up close is one of the best things to do at Rockefeller Center during Christmas.
You Might Enjoy Reading. 12 Awe-Inspiring Christmas Trees in New York City
Go Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
Opened Christmas Day in 1936, the ice rink at Rockefeller Center was a temporary solution to attract shoppers to the high-end retail shops in the area during the Great Depression. It didn’t take long for the rink to become the top holiday attraction at the Rockefeller Center (an annual tradition for New Yorkers to this day).
I’ve been here in every season. My favorite? Fall, when the light hits just right.
Admission gets you an hour of skating in the shadow of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and Midtown’s soaring skyscrapers. An iconic experience, select admission packages clock in around $80, making this one of the most expensive rinks in NYC.
But at the end of the day, there’s no denying that a trip to the Rockefeller Center during Christmas should include some time on the ice.
You Might Enjoy Reading. 10 Impressive Ice Skating Rinks in New York City (Local’s Guide)
Admire the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show
Of all the impressive Christmas decorations you’re bound to see during your trip, nothing compares to the spectacular Saks 5th Avenue Light Show that takes place during Christmas at the Rockefeller Center.
The elaborate display and synchronized lights play in tandem with classic Christmas music, dazzling children and adults alike. Stick around and enjoy a few rounds. Admiring the light show is one of my favorite free things to do at the Rockefeller Center during the holidays.
Details. The light show starts at 5pm and runs in 10-minute intervals until 11pm. Each show lasts 3 minutes and has a mashup of 2-4 popular Christmas songs, which is followed by a five minute break.
Admire the Fifth Avenue Window Displays
Come December the luxury department stores along Fifth Avenue unveil impressive window displays and turn the popular shopping corridor into a runway of holiday spirit. Meticulously crafted, the displays take up to a year to design.
Pro tip. most people rush through here. Take your time. It’s worth it.
Drawing millions of visitors during the holidays, this undoubtedly one of the most popular Rockefeller Center Christmas activities, so brace for crowds.
Local tip. Pro tip that most travel blogs won’t tell you. visit on a weekday afternoon for the most authentic experience.
See the Decked Out Tree at Lotte Palace
Lotte New York Palace is a luxury Midtown hotel known for being a favorite of President Obama and a slew of celebrities. Or perhaps it looks familiar to you from Gossip Girl?
Regardless, during the holiday season the real star of the show is the embellished tree in the hotel’s courtyard. Ornate and majestic, the Christmas tree is a scenic five-minute walk from the Rockefeller Center, making it an easy addition to your holiday itinerary.
If you’re a die hard Gossip Girl fan and are looking for the full holiday experience consider booking a night at Lotte New York Palace.
Enjoy Christmas Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Located across the street from Rockefeller Plaza, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is surrounded by a sea of Christmas decorations. Built between 1858 and 1879, the majestic Neo-Gothic cathedral is a tour de force of craftsmanship that took 21 years to complete because construction halted during the American Civil War.
Patrick’s attracts 5 million visitors a year, making it the most visited church in New York City.
Better still, if you’re visiting in December try scoring tickets for Christmas Mass. Attending mass is one of the most unique things to do at Rockefeller Center during the holidays. Whether you’re a devout believer or trying to appease your mother-in-law, the moving service is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t forget.
But take note, attending Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the most popular holiday events at Rockefeller Center, so tickets are awarded via lottery. You can learn more here.
See the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
The talented Rockettes have been performing at Radio City Music Hall since 1930. It’s hard to think of a more famous holiday tradition in New York City at this point. Expert choreography coupled with wildly talented dancers performing gravity-defying kicks, the 90-minute performance is leaves children awe-struck from beginning to end.
I highly recommend catching the performance if you’re visiting the Rockefeller Center during Christmas with kids. I took my 4-year-old niece to see the show last year and she raves about it to this day.
Pick Out a Toy at FAO Schwarz
Visiting the Rockefeller Center for Christmas with kids is a blast for many reasons, chief among them are the famous toy stores concentrated in the area. My favorite children’s store in the area is FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the country.
The original location closed in 2015 before reopening in a 20,000-square-foot location at Rockefeller Plaza. Thankfully, all the top attractions made the move, from the popular dance-on piano (made famous by Tom Hanks in Big) to the beautiful clock tower.
Local’s Recommendation. If you’d like to go on a shopping spree while visiting Rockefeller Center at Christmas, pop into the American Girl Store and Lego Store, both make an appearance on our roundup of the best toy stores in New York City.
Soak in the Views From Top of the Rock
While celebrating Christmas at the Rockefeller Center you’re going to want to visit Top of the Rock, the best observation deck in New York City.
The reason I like this New York City viewpoint so much is because the large glass panels offer unobstructed views the NYC skyline, unlike some of the other observation decks that use fencing. It makes sense to use clear glass panels here because the sweeping view of Central Park is downright breathtaking and obstructing that view would be a crime!
From Top of Rock you’ll see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Flatiron Building and the One World Trade Center.There’s a reason this New York City viewpoint attracts people in hoards. It’s definitely worth a visit while exploring Rockefeller Plaza during the holidays.
You May Enjoy Reading. 50+ Best Things to Do in New York City
Do Some Holiday Shopping
Since Rockefeller Center is located right off Fifth Avenue, I suggest starting your shopping spree at the southeastern corner of Central Park. From there, make your way south until you hit Rockefeller Center.
Rockefeller Center itself is home to a ton of great stores like Anthropologie, Alo Yoga, Aritzia, Brooks Brothers, Catbird Jewelry, Banana Republic and many more. Doing a little retail therapy is half the draw of visiting the Rockefeller Center during Christmas!
Local’s Advice on the Crowds at Rockefeller Center During the Holidays
Anyone visiting New York City for the holidays knows to spend some time at Rockefeller Center. Home to the city’s most popular holiday activities and traditions, the crowds get intense toward the tail-end of December. Weekends in particular should be avoided at all costs.
If your schedule is flexible, I suggest visiting Rockefeller Center for holiday events earlier in the day. I consider Rockefeller a must-see during Christmas, so don’t let the crowds deter you! You can set yourself up for success by preparing for crowds, but experiencing the holidays at Rockefeller Center is completely worthwhile.
Visiting Rockefeller Center During the Holidays (Post Summary)
- Rockefeller Christmas Tree
- The Rink At Rockefeller Center
- Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show
- Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
- Fifth Avenue Window Displays
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Abundant Toy Stores
- Top of the Rock
- Lotte New York Palace
- Go on a Shopping Spree
New York City Holiday Guides
- Christmas Desserts. 10 Holiday Treats Everyone Must Try
- Ice Skating NYC. 10 Impressive Ice Skating Rinks in New York City
- Christmas Restaurants NYC.10 Epic Christmas Restaurants in New York City
- NYC Christmas Trees. 15 Captivating Christmas Trees in New York City
- Christmas Markets. 15 Festive Christmas Markets in New York City
- Christmas Pop Up Markets. 15 Christmas Pop Up Bars in New York City
- Rockefeller City Christmas.10 Festive Things to Do at Rockefeller Center at Christmas
I hope you enjoy your time visiting the Rockefeller Center during the holidays, cheers!
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“},{“id”:”520dbcee-2142-4b8c-8b12-6465c9e6fd34″,”jsonQuestion”:”Is Rockefeller Center During Christmas worth visiting?”,”question”:”Is Rockefeller Center During Christmas worth visiting?”,”jsonAnswer”:”Yes! Rockefeller Center During Christmas offers a unique mix of experiences for every type of visitor. See our complete guide above for details.”,”answer”:”Yes! Rockefeller Center During Christmas offers a unique mix of experiences for every type of visitor. See our complete guide above for details.
“}]} –>My top picks include Learn About the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Go Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center, Admire the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. This guide covers 10 total activities based on firsthand experience.
Yes! Rockefeller Center During Christmas offers a unique mix of experiences for every type of visitor. See our complete guide above for details.
For more on cosas que hacer, see our guide to 20 Cosas Que Hacer en Nueva York Para la Navidad (Y Algunas Que Evitar!).
Final Thoughts
That wraps up our guide to Festive Things to Do at Rockefeller Center During Christmas. Have a favorite spot we missed? Whether you’re a local or just visiting, these Rockefeller Center Christmas options won’t disappoint.
Planning a visit soon?
If you liked this guide, you might also enjoy exploring my other local recommendations.
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