11.06.23

By: Shariah James

Christmas in NYC is festive, magical, and an unforgettable experience! Read about these must-see attractions so you can know exactly what to do in the Big Apple around Christmas!

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

This is a must see in NYC! This large, 75 ft Christmas tree, is placed in Midtown, Manhattan in front of the Rockefeller center. This event has been around since the 1930’s and sees more than 75,000 visitors every year. I recommend seeing the tree at night so you can get the full effect of the lights, stars and decorations!

More info about this spectacular Christmas tree can be found here.

Bryant Park’s Winter Village

Bryant Park is filled with lots of fun activities all year round, but specifically, at Christmas time! If you have ever seen scenes of people ice skating around Christmas in NYC, they are most likely at the 17,000 square foot skating rink located in Bryant’s Park. And I don’t blame them, it’s free! After you’re done skating, you can enjoy other amenities at the park and grab a hot cocoa in a cozy igloo, ride bumper cars on ice or holiday shop!

More info about Bryant Park here.

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Taking a tour through Dyker Heights is like taking a trip to a magical Christmas land. The homeowners in the Dyker Heights neighborhood take Holiday decorating to a whole new level. On the day of, you will meet your decorated tour guide near Bryant Park (mentioned above) and you will ride a shuttle to the Dyker Heights neighborhood. Once in the neighborhood, you will participate in a guided walking tour to the most popular homes to see all of the festive decorations! To experience these breathtaking sights, buy tickets here.

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall is an event center and theater inside of the Rockefeller Center. This theater has been nicknamed “The Showplace of the Nation”. It is also where the Rockettes perform the “Christmas Spectacular”. The Rockettes are a dance company filled with some of America's most iconic dancers. The show is truly nothing less than spectacular and a must see for sure! You can find tickets here.

Saks 5th Avenue’s Window Displays

The Sak’s lighting show is one of the most stunning events offered in NYC every year! The shopping store hosts an immersive experience using colorful and vibrant window displays. The light show starts at 5pm and occurs every 10 min until midnight. Enjoy this magical experience for free!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met) is a household name all on its own because of their fascinating art exhibits and events! This Christmas, they will have their annual Nativity scene on display, which is a holiday tradition at The Met. The scene features a 20 foot blue spruce (pine tree), that is decorated with 19 cherubs, 59 angels and 71 additional figures that represent the origin of the Nativity Scene. You can also find Medieval ‘Christmastide’ Decorations hung around the museum symbolizing light and Christmas warmth! For tickets & event times, click here.

Giant Christmas Ornaments

The Giant Christmas Ornaments are another free sightseeing attraction! These bright and beautiful ornaments are one of the most photographed Holiday attractions in NYC! They are over 14 feet tall and 17 feet wide and located right across the street from the Radio City Music Hall (where the Rockettes perform).

The Nutcracker performed by The New York City Ballet

The Nutcracker is known to provide an unforgettable spark to the Holiday Season! The New York City ballet company works hard to make sure each performance is as magical as possible. The cast consists of 150 characters, an orchestra, sensational sets, and costumes that transports audience members to a magical 19th century Germany! To browse tickets and showtimes, click here.

Rolf’s

Rolf’s has been deemed by many as the MOST Christmasy restaurant – ever. It is a German restaurant that pays attention to details and wraps you into a festive environment. Inside, there are hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights, thousands of ornaments, and icicles strung throughout the entire restaurant. There are also gorgeous displays of wreathes, ribbons, and Christmassy porcelain dolls. If you want to eat at this restaurant, my advice would be to make sure you make a reservation as the popular restaurant fills up quickly and the wait can be terribly long. To look at more pictures of the restaurant and reserve your table, click here.

The North Pole Express

Take in the most popular sights of New York with The North Pole Express! On this fun and educational Christmastime adventure, Santa and his elves take you on a 7 mile ‘Merry Route’ around NYC. You will enjoy carol singing, storytelling from characters, and you be able to see all of the NYC Christmas Lights above the crowd. A blanket, hot chocolate and winter hats are available onboard! To book your ticket to The North Pole, click here.

XO,

The Kléi

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