Christmas in New York: The best things to do for a magical time this holiday season

The fabulous holiday icon of NYC, The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is a must-see for both locals and visitors during the holiday season, whether you’re visiting before ice-skating on The Rink at Rockefeller Center or just passing through.

More than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights wrap around the branches. It’s topped with a three-dimensional Swarovski star that weighs 900 pounds and sparkles in 3 million crystals.

The tree lights up daily through mid-January. On Christmas Eve, the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 5am to 9pm. 

On the day after Thanksgiving, the neighborhood of Dyker Heights undergoes a transformation, as residents along several blocks in this Brooklyn neighborhood festoon their homes with elaborate holiday decorations.

And we're not talking about a Christmas tree or a simple nativity scene: Among the kitschy pieces you might see are life-size reindeer, huge inflatable Santas and snowmen, Christmas carols blaring from loudspeakers and tens of thousands of lights.

See the lights from November 27 through January 2.

Bryant Park transforms into a winter wonderland each year with ice skating, hot drinks, a cozy lodge and a spectacular Christmas tree. 

While you're there admiring the decor, also check out holiday shops where you can check off everyone on your gift list. Even if you’re simply passing by this Christmas utopia, take a moment to grab some hot cocoa, sit back and admire the magic.

It runs from October 28, 2026, through February 28, 2027.

With incredible detail and dedication, local bakers whipped up gingerbread designs featuring everything from brownstones and Broadway to skyscrapers and subways as part of Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off 2026 at Museum of the City of New York in East Harlem.

This year's theme is "Iconic New York," inviting participants to reimagine a building, place or thing that represents the heart of their neighborhood, community or borough. Go see how many landmarks you can name from November 6, 2026, through January 18, 2027.

Saks Fifth Avenue’s holiday light show officially returns on Monday, November 23, bringing synchronized lights and music back to the department store’s flagship façade. The free spectacle will debut alongside its holiday windows at 611 Fifth Avenue, between East 49th and East 50th Streets, giving you two excellent reasons to brave the neighborhood’s seasonal sidewalk crowds.

This year’s festivities fall under Saks’ “Main Character Energy” campaign, which follows a group of friends on a holiday shopping adventure through the store. A department store encouraging you to treat yourself is groundbreaking (not!), but the outdoor entertainment won’t require a luxury shopping budget since you can watch from the sidewalk without spending a cent.

With Rockefeller Center just across Fifth Avenue, the show is an easy addition to a Midtown holiday outing.

No matter which side of it you fall on, the most festive drinking event in Gotham has to be SantaCon NYC. This major, mid-December celebration brings thousands of folks dressed up in red suits, elf hats and antlers to midtown bars for a daylong celebration.  

Hordes dress up for this boozy crawl on Saturday, December 12, from 9am–8pm, across Midtown. We've got the scoop on how to get in on the fun—or how to stay away from it.

A double-decker carousel is spinning holiday cheer throughout the season in Greeley Square at 33rd Street and Broadway, offering rides from November 12 through January 3, 2026. The two-story swirl of lights, music and storybook creatures spins from 10am to 10pm daily, offering plenty of opportunities to catch a ride before, during or after your holiday shopping. Tickets cost $10/person.

Speaking of shopping: the carousel will be in the perfect location. It will sit just steps from Macy’s Herald Square, where the holidays are already in full swing.

Columbus Circle has always known how to get festive, but this year it’s leveling up: the mall’s fourth floor is morphing into a full-blown North Pole playground, complete with passport stamps, a Gingerbread Tower race and, yes, an audience with the big guy in red. Passport to Santa lands at The Shops at Columbus Circle from November 27 through December 24 and it’s aiming to be catnip for every kid and grown-up who still gets a little emotional when the tree lights flip on.

This is not your average “sit on Santa’s lap, smile, leave with a candy cane” moment. Guests will spend about two hours hopping through themed “countries” of holiday cheer, collecting stamps in a festive passport along the way. The itinerary includes signing the Naughty or Nice list with Mrs. Claus (be honest), building toys in Santa’s Workshop like a real North Pole intern, training with Rudolph, test-your-strength challenges in Nutcracker Kingdom and a gingerbread competition. Tickets start at $45 for adults and $65 for kids.

The Queen of Christmas is bringing her holiday bar back to New York on November 19, taking over Moxy Chelsea with festive cocktails, wall-to-wall decorations and plenty of opportunities for a holiday photo shoot. (It's time to dig out your sparkliest outfit!)

Now in its third season, Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar is expanding to eight cities, doubling its footprint and heading overseas for the first time. New York joins Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego and London, with all eight pop-ups scheduled to debut on the same day.

Tickets will be sold exclusively through Bucket Listers and the New York waitlist is available now for first notification when booking opens. Until then, circle November 19 and start coordinating the group chat now.

NYC is packed with holiday markets every fall with holiday spirit and unique gifts. While fancy Christmas window displays may entice you, NYC's holiday markets offer a chance to shop local. With everything from clothing to holiday ornaments to artwork, there's something for everybody on your holiday shopping list.

Shopping for the perfect gift doesn't have to be stressful; make it fun at these holiday markets.

This holiday season, head 45 minutes north of Grand Central and be transported to a winter wonderland at Mount Vernon's Christmas in America at American Christmas HQ, a 12,000 square feet store full of holiday décor, family-friendly magic and delight.

With experience as a massive Christmas store, the folks here know how to put on an epic holiday display. Think giant nutcrackers, Santas, reindeer, lush garlands, thousands of twinkling lights, towering trees, sparkling wreaths and walls of ornaments—it's not only fun to look it, it also makes for beautiful photos. Starting November 7, the experience is open daily from 9:30am to 6pm, with the exception of Thanksgiving day when it will be closed. After Thanksgiving, hours extend to 7:30pm.

Take your own NYC walking tour and stop by to see the lights at Radio City Music Hall, Central Park and more. Get ready to “ooh” and “ahh” at these landmarks and snap some photos of the most picturesque holiday light displays during the holiday season.

This place takes the holidays to the extreme by stringing up thousands of lights, ornaments and garlands throughout its snug interior. Marvel at all the shiny things, then indulge in some hearty sausages and German brews.