New York Winter Guide 2015

Seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center is a must during your winter trip to NYC!

There is nothing more spectacular than a winter in New York City. There’s so much to see and do! Twinkling lights, holiday displays, ice skating in Rockefeller Center, and much more await you. Spending your holiday in New York will be magical regardless, but keep reading to find out what else you can do during your time in NYC. Before you pack your bags, be sure to familiarize yourself with basic New York tips and etiquette for visitors.

Go holiday shopping

Start off your holiday shopping on the right foot in NYC.

• Start your holiday shopping off right with Black Friday! For those who aren’t familiar, Black Friday is a popular shopping day that takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday falls on November 27 this year. Stores open early and goods are heavily discounted, which is one good reason to start your Christmas shopping early.

• Holiday markets bring food, music, and (of course) shopping, and are a great way to experience a winter wonderland. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park’s Winter Village in Midtown Manhattan are open from October 30, 2015 to January 3, 2016 and feature 125 shops with clothing, accessories, jewelry, and food. It’s fun for the whole family! The Holiday Shops are open Monday thru Friday from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

• The Grand Central Holiday Fair is the only holiday market in the city that operates indoors. Running from November 16 thru December 24, 2015, the fair fills Vanderbilt Hall with a wide range of vendors. It’s a perfect place to pick up a few holiday gifts for the family while staying warm! Pop in anytime Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; or Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Other great holiday markets include the Union Square Holiday Market, open from November 19 thru December 24, 2015; the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, which runs from November 19 thru December 24, 2015; and the Smorgasburg Holiday Market, which runs Saturdays and Sundays throughout the holiday season.

Admire the exquisitely decorated store windows throughout the city.

• In addition to actual shopping, why not go window-shopping and feast your eyes on some fantastic holiday window displays? Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue in Midtown has window displays which are usually unveiled around mid-November and are filled with sophistication and high fashion. Lord & Taylor’s window displays along 5th Avenue feature classic holiday themes with mechanical parts that are enjoyable for all ages. Barney’s New York on Madison Avenue adds a live element or a performance to their window displays, which will be sure to please. Other can’t-miss window displays include Macy’s at its flagship store in Herald Square, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales’ Lexington Avenue location.

Still have more holiday shopping to do? Check out our top 5 shopping spots in the city!

Winter activities

Ice skating is a great family activity or perfect for a romantic date. Regardless, you’ll have a magical time!

• Ice skating in New York can be a romantic activity or fun for a family. There are plenty of places to go ice skating in the city! Try Rockefeller Center by the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas tree. Be prepared to wait in line, but once you’re on the ice, you’ll have 90 minutes to skate to your heart’s content. Skating season is open from now until April 2016.

• Admission is free at The Rink at Winter Village in Bryant Park, you’ll just have to pay for rental skates. The rink is open daily from October 30 thru March 6, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The rink also has a marketplace where you’ll find plenty of food and hot drinks.

• Wollman Rink in Central Park offers you spectacular views of the skyline while you skate or enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. The rink is now open for skating. Can’t get enough of Central Park? Take a peek at our guide to Central Park through the seasons!

• Head over to Owl’s Head Park in Brooklyn for some good old-fashioned sledding. The park boasts large hills that are perfect for gaining speed as you sled down, but they make for a long walk to the top. Another great park for family sledding is Van Cortlandt Park, NYC’s fourth-largest park. The space is large enough for kids to pick their own sledding spot without running into other children.

• NYC doesn’t necessarily come to mind when one thinks of skiing. Unbeknownst to most, there are amazing slopes just a bit north of the city. Hunter Mountain in the Catskills is about a two-hour drive, but boasts award-winning facilities and renowned terrain. Thunder Ridge Ski Resort is just 75 minutes from the city, with 21 runs to anticipate whether you’re a novice or a professional! Other great ski resorts include Windham Mountain and Mountain Creek.

See all of the things you and your family can do during winter in New York by reading our blog!

Take part in holiday celebrations

Get in the holiday spirit by participating in some traditional NYC festivities.

Watch as some of your favorite characters float through the air in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

• Start off your holiday festivities by viewing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the pre-parade balloon inflation! You can get up close and personal with some of your favorite characters and watch as the 25 parade balloons are inflated near the American Museum of Natural History from 3:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. The parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West and ends in front of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street. Wake up early on Thursday, November 26 to secure a good spot along the parade route. The parade is filled with live music, performances, floats, and of course, the balloons!

Make your way to Rockefeller Center on December 2nd for the annual tree-lighting ceremony!

• On Wednesday, December 2, watch as the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit for the first time! The ceremony takes place from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. and hosts live music performances. Take part in this New York tradition and enjoy the giant tree.

• At Grand Army Plaza across from the Plaza Hotel, you can gather around the 32-foot-high menorah, also known as the World’s Largest Menorah. This kicks off the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah that lasts from December 6 thru 13.

• No holiday season is complete without tons of decorations. Make the trip to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to see the most extravagant Christmas lights in New York! Be prepared to see life-size Santas, plenty of reindeer, nutcracker soldiers, and much more. This Christmas decoration hot spot is what you’ve been missing!

Be prepared to face large crowds in Times Square for the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop.

• Lastly, don’t forget about the famous New Year’s Eve Ball Drop! On December 31, millions watch the performances and dazzling lights in Times Square and count down the time until the clock strikes midnight. Arrive early to beat the crowds and take part in this magical celebration from a good spot. If you’re looking for accommodations nearby, browse our vacation rentals in Midtown West. Times Square can be hectic year-round, so be sure to have a look at our blog all about Times Square for tips.

Have all the holiday celebrations made you hungry? Head over to one of the top pizzerias in NYC and enjoy an iconic slice of New York pizza!

Spend the holidays in a short-term vacation rental

If you’re coming to New York for holidays, make the most of your trip by living like a local in a vacation rental! You’ll be surrounded by locals who live and breathe New York as opposed to crowds of tourists. Traveling with your extended family? No problem. New York Habitat has plenty of vacation rentals that can sleep up to 12 people. By staying in a vacation rental, you’ll be able to save some money to use for other winter activities in New York. Many vacation rentals come with fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and some sort of an entertainment system, so you’ll have something to do even on the snowiest nights! Browse New York vacation rentals and see what it looks like to live like a local in NYC. If you’re coming with your family, take a look at some of our top apartments for a family vacation to New York!

Attend holiday events

Head to Radio City Music Hall and attend the Christmas Spectacular, starring the Radio City Rockettes!

• There’s something magical (or should we say, “spectacular!”) about the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The show has become a Christmas tradition in New York since its first performance in 1933. It features over 140 performers, the most famous of which are the Radio City Rockettes. The show features singing, dancing, and humor alongside some traditional holiday scenes. The 90-minute show is fun for the whole family and a must-see!

The New York City Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition.

• Another must-see Christmas tradition is the New York City Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by George Balanchine. Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet transports you to a Christmas wonderland filled with mice, toy soldiers, and ballerinas. There is plenty of time to see this magical performance, as it continues until January 3, 2016. The show’s runtime is about 2 hours.

• Visit the New York Botanical Garden between November 21st and January 18th for the Holiday Train Show! Watch as model trains zip through a display with 150 landmarks all made from tree bark, leaves, and other natural materials! This year’s exhibition features an additional 3,000 square feet of space for new landmarks. There are also tours, musical performances, and children’s activities. Since this is a popular attraction, it’s highly recommended that you make a reservation on the New York Botanical Garden’s website.

• No winter holiday is complete without seeing Santa Claus, so go to Macy’s on 34th Street and take a photo with Santa! The lines are usually long, but queuing in Macy’s Santaland is part of the experience. The kids can sit on Santa’s lap, have a quick chat, and commemorate the day with a picture. Santa arrives the day after Thanksgiving and stays until Christmas Eve, then he’s off to deliver some presents!

End your trip with a scenic walk through Central Park and a cup of hot chocolate.

There’s so much to see and do during the winter in New York that your trip will be a memorable one no matter what you do! Be sure to let us know which activities and events you attended and which you liked best in the comments below. Not done exploring NYC just yet? Check out our top 10 must-see sights in NYC!