Things to do in New York City at Christmas

Brian and I have done a lot of traveling in our day, but my all-time favorite trip that we have ever taken was our trip to New York City in December.  It had always been a dream of mine to visit the city during Christmastime, and we made that happen for our five-year wedding anniversary back in 2012.  If you’ve been reading for a while, you may remember my recaps about it last year, but if you are relatively new to the blog, you can see the recaps here, here, and here.

I enjoyed recapping this trip so much that I thought I would put together a complete list of all of the fun, festive things that we did while we were there, along with a few things that were on our list that we didn’t have time to do. 

O N E – Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Well, this is probably the number one thing people think of when they think of Christmas in New York, so this may be obvious, but it is the one thing that you definitely must do.  The sheer size will blow you away.  It’s definitely worth fighting the crowds to see!

T W O – Wollman Ice Skating Rink

One of my favorite Christmas movies of all-time, Serendipity, was partially filmed at Wollman Ice Skating Rink.  When standing along the ledge, you are treated to one of my favorite views in the entire city.  The day we went it was cold and cloudy and we were all bundled up for the blustery day.  It was NYC in winter perfection.

T H R E E – Dessert at Serendipity

Are you sensing a theme here?  Serendipity is the little restaurant where Sarah and Jonathan stop to have dessert the night they first meet.  In real life, this place is teeny tiny, extremely quirky, and the Frozen Hot Chocolate is totally worth the wait.  Do plan to stand in line for a while to get in, though.

F O U R – Shop at FAO Schwarz

It wouldn’t be Christmas without toys!!  FAO Schwarz in NYC is the oldest toy store in the entire country and it is also where Tom Hanks danced on the big piano in Big.  Classic and a must-see.

F I V E – Santa Land at Macy’s

This was one of the things on our to-do list that we never accomplished.  We did make our way to the top floor at Macy’s to see him, but we thought it would be open for all to see, and it was not.  We would have had to wait in line for a couple of hours just to get in and at that moment it wasn’t worth the wait for us.  If you do go, just be sure to schedule your visit ahead of time and you should be fine. 

S I X – Department Store Front Tour

Many of the department stores in NYC create very elaborate holiday storefronts.  Fortunately, the majority of them are on Fifth Avenue, so you can do a storefront tour pretty easily.  Some to see on the list:

Lord & Taylor

Saks Fifth Avenue (be sure to stay for their light show!)

Bergdorf Goodman

Barneys

Bloomingdales

Harry Winston

Cartier

Macy’s (you must see the Believe sign!)

S E V E N – The Nutcracker by The New York City Ballet

The Nutcracker is the quintessential Christmas play and you just cannot beat seeing it performed by the New York City Ballet.  Brian and I went when we were there and it was absolutely breathtaking.  It took me straight back to Christmas during my childhood and it was worth every penny.

E I G H T – Radio City Christmas Spectacular

This was another item on our list that we didn’t have time to do.  However, I hear it that it lives up to its name – spectacular – and apparently it is a must-see.  It’s already on my list for next time!

N I N E – Plaza Hotel

Christmas and Home Alone 2 go hand-in-hand just like fall and pumpkin spice.  I think I speak for everyone when I say that one of the greatest lines from that movie is “This is Peter McCallister, THE FAAAATHER.”  Well, you can see where it all began right there at the Plaza Hotel!  Now someone book a room and order a lovely cheese pizza… just for me!  (Another Home Alone quote for all you non-Home Alone fans)

T E N – Carriage Ride Through Central Park

Yes, it’s the ultimate in cheese, but this has always been on my bucket list.  We never had a chance to do it, but it’s definitely on the list for next time.  And if you don’t take the time to do the carriage ride, at least make some time to stroll through Central Park.  It is stunning this time of year.

E L E V E N – Winter Village at Bryant Park

Y’all, I have no earthly idea how we didn’t make it there on our last trip, but the pictures online make it look like the ultimate place to go during Christmastime in NYC.  Ice skating, plenty of quaint little shops, and loads of Christmas lights?  Well, sign me right up!

T W E L V E – Christmas Decorations on Sixth Avenue

Sixth Avenue is known for all of its elaborate Christmas decorations.  We had the privilege of seeing several of these while we were there in 2012, but there are some others we missed:

Giant nutcrackers (UBS Building between 52^nd and 53^rd Streets)

Giant Christmas balls (1251 Sixth Avenue between 49^th and 50^th Streets)

Toy train of Rockefeller Center Station (1271 Sixth Avenue)

Radio City Music Hall Christmas trees (across the street from the toy train)

Giant Christmas lights (McGraw-Hill Building between 48^th and 49^th Streets)

Reindeer (News Corp. Building)

T H I R T E E N – Dinner at Rolf’s

This is one of the things that I just found out about fairly recently, but if I had known about it in 2012 you can bet we would have enjoyed dinner there.  Rolf’s is a German restaurant that is known for their insanely elaborate Christmas decorations.  You are literally surrounded by thousands of lights and decorations everywhere you turn.  If you don’t believe me, just check out Google images.  It, too, is already on my list for my next NYC trip!

F O U R T E E N – Top of the Rock

This isn’t necessarily a Christmas activity per se, but it is one of the things we did on our trip that year, and it was one of my favorite things we’ve ever done in the city.  My advice to you?  Head up late in the afternoon before dusk.  This will give you the opportunity to see the city in the daylight, at dusk, and at night.  Once it’s dark, you can take in all of the Christmas lights from up above and it is pure magic.

F I F T E E N – Dyker Heights

This is yet another item on our list that we didn’t have a chance to do.  Dyker Heights is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that is known to go all out with the Christmas décor.  Apparently it’s a whole neighborhood of Griswolds all trying to outdo each other to have the best decorated house.  That sounds like something you can’t go wrong with!

S I X T E E N – St. Patrick’s Cathedral

I saved the most magical for last.  Nothing says Christmas like celebrating the birth of baby Jesus, and nothing says celebrating the birth of baby Jesus like celebrating it in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  While we have never stayed for mass, we did drop in one cold night on our trip, and it was absolutely breathtaking.  You will never look at a church the same once you’ve been there.

Have you ever been to NYC at Christmas?  What was your favorite part?  

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