New York Dearest
The guide, $35
A street · Midtown · on eight of my lists

Fifth Avenue Window Displays.

Worth it, says Antonina. Meticulously crafted, the displays take up to a year to design (Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue have the prettiest displays in my opinion).

Antonina Pattiz
Antonina PattizI went myself · from my list Best things to do for Christmas in New York
Address
Fifth Avenue (Between 42nd & 59th Streets) Directions
Cost
Free
What this page is

Everything I’ve written about Fifth Avenue Window Displays on New York Dearest, in one place. It’s on eight of my lists, from Best things to do for Christmas in New York to My favorite Christmas photo spots in New York. Below you’ll find every list it’s on with what I wrote there. At the end, where it is and what’s near.

  1. Best things to do for Christmas in New YorkWorth it
  2. Best free things to do at Christmas in New YorkWorth it
  3. Rockefeller Center at ChristmasWorth it
  4. Thanksgiving in New YorkOnly if
  5. Best Christmas decorations in New YorkWorth it
  6. Christmas in New York with kidsWorth it
  7. Best things to do in New York in DecemberWorth it
  8. My favorite Christmas photo spots in New YorkWorth it

Where it appears on New York Dearest

Eight of my lists
Worth it, says Antonina. Been? Say if you agree.

Every December the luxury department stores along Fifth Avenue unveil impressive window displays and turn the popular shopping corridor into a runway of holiday spirit.

What I wrote thereFold it away

Christmas in New York isn’t just a holiday — it’s a season-long love letter from the city to everyone walking its streets.

Every 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 (Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue have the prettiest displays in my opinion).

Themes vary by year, but they’re always festive and tailored around winter wonderland vibes. Drawing millions of visitors during the holidays, this undoubtedly one of the most popular things to do in New York City at Christmas, so brace for crowds.

Read it on the list
  • This yearBergdorf Goodman holiday windows unveiled, last year Nov 20expected
  • This yearTiffany & Co Fifth Avenue holiday windows unveiled, last year Nov 20expected
  • Checked September 18, 2026.

The friendly competition gives spectators a chance to enjoy one of New York’s top Christmas activities for free.

What I wrote thereFold it away

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.

The friendly competition gives spectators a chance to enjoy one of New York’s top Christmas activities for free. Themes vary by year, but they’re always festive and tailored around winter wonderland vibes.

Drawing millions of visitors during the holidays, this is undoubtedly one of the most popular free things to do in New York City at Christmas, so brace for crowds.

Worth it
What I wrote thereFold it away

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.

Drawing millions of visitors during the holidays, this is undoubtedly one of the most popular Rockefeller Center Christmas activities, so brace for crowds.

Thanksgiving in New York

No. 10 on that list
Only if

The most popular shopping area in New York City, Fifth Avenue is marked by luxury brands vying for attention by way of stunning window displays.

What I wrote thereFold it away

If you’re visiting NYC for Thanksgiving with the hopes of experiencing famous holiday traditions, make a beeline for the breathtaking window displays on Fifth Avenue. The most popular shopping area in New York City, Fifth Avenue is marked by luxury brands vying for attention by way of stunning window displays. I do not use the term luxury lightly. Fifth Avenue is considered the most expensive shopping street in the world.

Worth it

Drawing millions of visitors during the holidays, this undoubtedly one of the most popular things to do in New York City at Christmas, so brace for crowds.

What I wrote thereFold it away

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.

The friendly competition gives spectators a chance to enjoy some of the best New York Christmas decorations for free. Themes vary by year, but they’re always festive and tailored around winter wonderland vibes.

Drawing millions of visitors during the holidays, this undoubtedly one of the most popular things to do in New York City at Christmas, so brace for crowds.

Worth it

The window displays along Fifth Avenue are the holiday tradition I most look forward to!

What I wrote thereFold it away

The window displays along Fifth Avenue are the holiday tradition I most look forward to! The bold and colorful over-the-top themes vary by year, with the only constant being their ability to impress and inspire kids and adults alike. My daughter loves the lights and motion, Bergdorf Goodman has the best displays of all.

Parent tip: Don’t worry if your stroller barely fits on the sidewalk—it’s part of the experience. Saks often has a light show on the building’s facade, which plays every 10 minutes and is 100% worth a detour. For extra fun, ask your kids to pick their favorite window and explain why—it buys you at least 15 minutes of entertainment.

Lucky us! The competition lets us enjoy some of the best Christmas decorations in NYC.

What I wrote thereFold it away

Fifth Avenue is the most popular shopping area in NYC and one of the most expensive in the world. It’s always chock-full of people, but especially during December in New York, when the shopping district is marked by luxury brands competing with each other using stunning window displays.

Lucky us! The competition lets us enjoy some of the best Christmas decorations in NYC. Some stores and hotels do it better than others, so those short on time should visit Cartier, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and the Peninsula Hotel (whose lobby is open to the public).

The shopping areas in New York City are endless which only means that the photo-ops are boundless as well.

What I wrote thereFold it away

The shopping areas in New York City are endless which only means that the photo-ops are boundless as well. Not to mention the decorations that follow are beyond exceptional. So many delightful stores and small shops make it their personal mission to stop folks in their tracks and force them to slow down and linger, gawking at the window displays.

Since shopping in New York City is such a popular activity anyways, might as well hit two birds with one stone and treat yourself to a NYC Christmas photoshoot while you’re doing your seasonal retail therapy.

On The Best of New York

I put Fifth Avenue Window Displays on three of my best lists.

Missing something?

A closure, a price that moved, a better one next door.

Tell me and the desk checks it before anything changes here. When I answer, it lands on this page and in your inbox.

Tell me

The letter

One email a week when New York changes. A place closes, a date lands, I finally try somewhere. Written by me, not a robot.

One a week at most. Unsubscribe in one click.