Christmas in New York: Three Traditions Worthwhile

We love New York!

There are cities that decorate for Christmas, and then there’s New York. The city has helped shape what we picture when we think of the holidays. Twinkling trees beneath the skyline, skaters gliding across the ice, and the Rockettes kicking their way across Radio City Music Hall. It’s the Christmas we grew up watching on screen and one that feels even more magical in person. Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it’s a little over the top. And yes, there’s a reason people come from all over the world to experience it. If a New York Christmas is calling your name, here are three ways to experience the city at its best.

Midtown: Go All In on the Classics

Some experiences are worth braving the crowds for, and Christmas at Rockefeller Center is one of them. See the tree after dark, then wander Fifth Avenue, where elaborate holiday windows and storefronts turn a shopping trip into part of the spectacle. From there, make your way around the corner to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes. Between the lights, window displays, and Rockettes, this is about as quintessentially New York at Christmas as it gets!

Where to Stay: Keep the old New York glamour going at The St. Regis New York, just off Fifth Avenue in the heart of Midtown. The landmark hotel has been welcoming guests since 1904, making it feel right at home among the city’s Christmas traditions.

Central Park: Skate Where the View Is Better

Rockefeller Center may have New York’s most famous ice rink, but for the best, head a little farther north to Wollman Rink in Central Park. Ice skating has been part of Central Park almost from the beginning. New Yorkers first took to the frozen lake in the winter of 1858, and today, you get the best of both worlds, with Central Park surrounding you and Manhattan’s skyline rising just beyond the ice. It’s larger and more open than the rink at Rockefeller Center, so it manages to feel a little less like checking something off a sightseeing list and a little more like you've wandered into a New York Christmas movie.

Where to Stay: Take in Central Park from above at the Mandarin Oriental. Perched over Columbus Circle at the park’s southwest corner, Wollman Rink is within easy reach, and you’ll be just steps away from the Museum of Arts and Design and a short walk from Lincoln Center, giving you plenty to explore when you’re ready to trade your skates for a little culture. 

West Village: Experience Christmas Like a Local

Once you’ve seen the tree, watched the Rockettes, and laced up your skates, it’s time to experience a quieter side of Christmas in New York. Head downtown to the West Village, where the skyscrapers give way to winding streets, historic brownstones, and some of Manhattan’s prettiest stoops, made even better when they're covered in wreaths and Christmas lights. Spend an afternoon wandering the side streets, popping into the boutiques around Bleecker and Greenwich, and admiring the neighborhood's townhouses. This is also a good place to do some actual Christmas shopping, trading Fifth Avenue's major flagships for smaller shops and finds you’re less likely to see back home. After the spectacle of Midtown, the West Village feels like discovering Christmas at the neighborhood level. Still unmistakably New York, but with a few fewer flashing lights.

Where to Stay: Tucked among the cobblestone streets and within easy reach of the West Village, the Mercer Hotel is hard to beat. Its understated, loft-like rooms put some of downtown’s best shopping, dining, and galleries just outside your door. For a 4-star stay, SoHo Grand and ModernHaus SoHo also offer stylish alternatives nearby, keeping you close to the neighborhood charm that makes downtown worth exploring.