NYC At Christmas With Kids: The Best Things To Do

Visiting NYC at Christmas with kids is a truly magical experience. From iconic window displays, visits to Santa, beautiful decorations, to ice skating, there’s no better time to experience the city as a family. Whether it’s your first trip or a yearly tradition, this guide covers the very best things to do with children during the holidays. If you’re wondering what to do at Christmas in New York with kids, here’s everything you need to know!

We were lucky enough to spend three Christmases living in New York City, so in this detailed post, we’ll share all the must-visit places and activities, plus tips on how to enjoy them as a family!

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PERFECT FOUR DAYS IN NEW YORK WITH KIDS ITINERARY
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you, and I am so grateful as these commissions help me to run my blog. All the photos are our own from our time living in New York. Most decorations were the same or very similar each year. I can’t guarantee the decorations will remain the same every year, but it will be magical.

Why Visit NYC at Christmas With Kids?

New York City is magical at any time of year, but visiting NYC at Christmas with kids is something truly special. From twinkling lights and towering Christmas trees, the city comes alive with holiday cheer. It’s the perfect time to create unforgettable memories as a family!

Best Things to Do in NYC at Christmas With Kids

There are so many amazing things to do at Christmas in New York as a family. In this section, I will share them all with you!

Admire the Magical NYC Christmas Decorations

One of our favourite things to do during the holidays as a family was to go and see all the amazing Christmas decorations. New York City goes all out with its festive decor, and just looking at it all is a fun, free activity for both kids and grown-ups!

If you’re wondering where to find the best Christmas decorations in New York, I will share them below!

Hotels in New York that Decorate for Christmas

Many of New York’s hotels decorate for Christmas, and you don’t have to be a guest there to enjoy their displays!

I’ve listed the best ones to check out below:

• The Peninsula New York – 700 5th Avenue – the main decorations are inside, and they welcome you to come in and look around!
• Lotte New York Palace – 455 Madison Avenue – their courtyard has the most fabulous display. This is also home to The Vander Woodsens in Series 1 (if any Gossip Girl fans are reading this!)
• The Plaza, New York – 768 5th Avenue (we went in one Christmas without a booking, another time they weren’t letting people in without a reservation for the hotel or bar.)
• The Mark – 25 East 77th Street

If you’re thinking about where to stay in NYC at Christmas, one of these hotels would be an extremely magical experience!

Stunning NYC Christmas Decorations at: The Lotte New York Palace – The Peninsular – The Mark – The Plaza

Shops with the Best Holiday Displays

Again, lots of shops go all out with their holiday decorations. While shopping with kids is not my favourite activity, they did enjoy all the decorations.

• Macy’s – Herald Square West 34th Street. Macy’s is fully decorated inside and out. The window displays were amazing and interactive, perfect for children to enjoy. The inside is also beautifully decorated. Kids will enjoy the Toys R Us department on the 7th floor and the opportunity to visit Santa. More about that is below.
• Oculus World Trade Centre – 185 Greenwich Street, Downtown Manhattan. The downstairs is decorated for Christmas. I wouldn’t make a special trip here, but I would stop by if you’re passing. It’s located close to One World Observatory and the Twin Towers memorial.
• Hudson Yards – The hot air balloon-shaped lights here are really magical and a must-see. Hudson Yards also has a lot of places to eat and a Dylan’s Candy Bar (sweet shop), which kids will love!
• FAO Schwartz – 30 Rockefeller Plaza. This is New York’s huge toy shop. If you take your kids here, be prepared, they will be picking out many, many Christmas presents for themselves.
• Saks Fith Avenue – I’ll talk more about Fifth Avenue in general below but Sacks deserves a special mention. Do not miss their light show, it is really something special to see when you’re spending Christmas in New York.

Looking at the Macy’s Christmas Windows – Hudson Yards – Saks Fifth Avenue Light Display

New York Streets & Houses that Decorate for Christmas

Some streets in New York are extremely festive and well worth checking out. There are also some individual houses that are really spectacular and worth checking out if you can. This is another perfect, fun and free thing to do if you’re spending Christmas in New York with kids.

• Fifth Avenue – a lot of the shops on Fifth Avenue will be decorated for Christmas. The street is also decorated. Bergdorf Goodman usually has fabulous window displays. Also, check out Cartier, Ralphs Coffee and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Saks Fifth Avenue really goes all out, their light display is a must-see, ideally both in the day and in the dark! They also do an amazing window display.
• Rockefeller Plaza – Of course, the giant Rockefeller Christmas Tree is a must-see, but there are also a lot of other great decorations around this area and Radio City.
• East 64th Street – Between Fifth and Madison. There is an incredible house here which always does something special for Christmas.
• East 76th Street – Between Fifth and Madison. The most amazing house EVER! The giant nutcrackers and other decorations here are the perfect backdrop for photos.

Fifth Avenue – East 64th Street – East 76th Street – Rockefeller Plaza

The Best Christmas Trees in NYC

I think the most iconic symbol of New York at Christmas is the extravagant, giant Rockefeller Christmas tree. It really is amazing, but New York also has many other options.

• Rockefeller Tree – New York’s giant Christmas tree and must-see, as I previously mentioned.
• Bryant Park – at Christmas time, Bryant Park transforms into a winter wonderland. With a holiday market, ice skating and a big Christmas tree!
• New York Public Library – before we moved to New York, I didnt realise you could go inside the New York Public Library, and it’s completely free. It is extremely beautiful, and their huge Christmas tree is decorated with cute woodland birds and other animals. Here, they also have an exhibition displaying the original Winnie the Pooh stuffie. This is a great place to pop by with kids, my son really loved it!
• South Street Seaport – downtown in Seaport, there is a great Christmas Tree.
• Wall Street – another downtown location with another amazing Christmas tree.
• The Lotte New York Palace, The Peninsular and The Plaza Hotels also have huge trees (pictured above).

Wall Street – Rockefeller at night – New York Public Library – Seaport

Where to See Santa in New York City

If you’re in NYC at Christmas time with kids, you will need a visit to Santa! Of course, New York has multiple options.

Macy’s Santaland

This is New York’s most well-known Santa’s Grotto, to make it even more amazing, it’s completely free! We visited twice and really loved the experience. Tickets are released at 6:30 am, 5 days in advance, and you should go on to the website at 6:30 ready to snap them up (they go fast!)

You may have to wait a while in the queue to get to Santa, but there are plenty of magical things to see on the way around.

In full disclosure, I have heard from some other parents that their children didnt handle the queue well. If you’re concerned about this, it is much quieter in November and gets busier the closer to Christmas you get.

Macy’s also has the option to select, white, black or Hispanic Santa when you book, which I think is amazing!

Visiting Macy’s Santaland

Santa at Bloomingdales

Santa is at Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street, and he has an adorable grotto there. It was advertised as free to meet Santa from Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. However, when we tried to visit on a weekday, Santa was not there.

Staff said he was only actually there and free on the weekends, and during the week, you had to book. I can’t remember the exact cost, but I think it was around $40. Check the website for up-to-date info.

Santa at Bloomingdales

Other NYC Santas To Visit

While Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are the most popular choices, there are some other locations for kids to have meet and greets with Santa in New York, which include:

• Hudson Yards – from 5 pm to 8 pm, Santa is on the third floor and available for photos. This is first come, first served, no booking required and also free.
• Bryant Park – located near the Christmas tree, Santa is available for photos at select times. Again, this is a first-come first first-served meeting, no booking is required and also free.
• Nordstrom – West 57th Street. From 2 pm to 6 pm, you can meet Santa and his elves, enjoy story time or write a letter to Santa.
• Top of The Rock – if you’re planning to visit Top of The Rock (which is my favourite observation deck), you can add a ticket to visit Santa for an additional fee. We didnt do this, but it looked like a beautiful setup. Book Top of the Rock Tickets here.
• The Empire State Building – again, you can add tickets to your reservation for the Empire State Building for an additional fee. Book Empire State Building Tickets here.

Where to Go Ice Skating with Kids in NYC

Ice Skating is such a lovely festive activity and perfect if you’re in NYC at Christmas time with kids! Of course, New York has multiple skating rinks for you to choose from. My husband and our eldest son skated twice at Bryant Park. When he was almost 3 (on a very cold day) and almost 4, it was a lot more successful at almost 4. If you’re spending Christmas in New York with older kids, this is an amazing activity!

Also, make sure to have travel insurance. It’s always a good idea, but especially when ice skating.

The Main Ice Skating Rinks in NYC:

• Bryant Park – if you have your own ice skates, you can skate here for free. Otherwise, you just pay for skate hire. They also have free skate aids and ice skate seats (see photo below) available for children on a first-come, first-served basis. The prices vary depending on the date and time of day, so check times and availability on the Bryant Park website.
• The Rink at Rockefeller Centre – skate with a view of the gorgeous Rockefeller Tree. Penguin skate aids are available for children however, these are hired at an additional fee. Buy tickets on the Rockefeller website here.
• The Woolman Rink in Central Park – if anyone is a Gossip Girl fan, this is where Blair’s famous ice skating scene was filmed. Penguin skate aids are available for children however, these are hired at an additional fee. The prices vary depending on the date and time of day, so check times and availability on the Woolman Rink website.

The seat and penguin skate aids at Bryant Park – The Rockefeller Rink

Other Skating Rinks in New York:

Most likely, you’ll want to choose one of the three rinks I mentioned above; however, there are some other options if those are fully booked.

• The Manhattan West Rink – located on the west side of Manhattan. See prices and book on their website here.
• The Rink at Brookfield Place – you’ll find this rink in the financial district of Manhattan. Skate aids are available for an additional fee but can’t be reserved online. See all the details on their website here.
• Chelsea Piers Sky Rink – This rink is open year-round and offers ice skating lessons. You can also do one-off drop-in sessions by booking here. Skate aids are free before 11:30!

Browse New York’s Christmas Markets

To be completely honest, I found some of New York’s Christmas markets a little underwhelming compared to European Christmas Markets. However, you’ll likely pass one and may want to stop by and pick up a memento of your trip. Bryant Park was my favourite option, and it can be combined with the ice skating I talked about above.

New York’s Christmas Markets:

• Bryant Park – as I previously mentioned, Bryant Park is a lovely place to explore, especially at Christmas.
• Columbus Circle – located in the Southwest corner of Central Park, and is the largest holiday market in NYC.
• Union Square – one to see if you’re passing, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here!
• Rockefeller Plaza – not quite a market, but there are Holiday Chalets, where you can enjoy drinks overlooking the ice rink. These need to be reserved in advance.

Bryant Park Winter Village – Union Square Holiday Market – Rockefeller Holiday Chalets

See a Family-Friendly Christmas Show

New York is known for its Broadway Shows, but there are also some shows around the holidays which are perfect if you’re visiting New York City at Christmas with kids:

• The Rockettes – this is a spectacular show for all the family. I read it wasn’t really suitable for under age 6, but I know that my son, who was 3 at the time, would have loved it, and I wish we’d taken him! Click here to book tickets to The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.
• My First Nutcracker – I haven’t been to this personally, but friends with daughters have told me it’s really good! Check the New York Children’s Theatre website for more details.

The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

Ride a Christmas-Themed Bus Around NYC

Full disclosure, this was a gifted experience, but all opinions are my own!

Top View Tours runs a Christmas-themed tour bus. This isn’t the cheapest activity, but kids really will love it. There’s singing, dancing elves and even a visit from Santa himself! The tickets also include hot chocolate, biscuits and a cute little jingle bell to take home.

This tour lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes and goes past some of New York’s most beautiful Christmas lights, so you get to see them from a unique perspective.

You can book tickets on the Top View Website, linked here.

Top Tours Christmas-Themed Bus Ride is a perfect activity in NYC at Christmas with kids.

Another popular tour is to visit Dyker Heights, an area in Brooklyn that is known for its extravagant Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, we never made it here ourselves. It’s something to consider depending on how much time you have. You can make this journey on the subway for just $2.90 each way (kids under 44 inches go free). It will take approximately 1 – 1.5 hours from Times Square.

Bus tours also run to this popular area. There are many different options to choose from; most take around 4 hours in total and depart from near Times Square. Click here to see all the tour options and to book.

Tips for Spending Christmas in NYC with Kids

Pack Warm Clothes and Layers

Winter in New York can get cold, but the temperature does vary. Our first Christmas there was freezing, my son wore ski gear and snow boots every day. The other two were much milder. Make sure to check the temperature beforehand and pack accordingly. There’s nothing worse than children moaning they’re cold.

Be Prepared to Walk

New York is a huge city, and getting around involves a lot of walking; it is common to do at least 20k steps in a day. If you have young children, I would always recommend taking a pushchair (stroller) so they can have a rest. Our son wasn’t much of a napper but if he was suffering from jet lag, then he would. I really love our Joolz Aer+ and always recommend it. You can read my full review here.

We never had a problem taking the Subway in New York. Set your Google Maps to show wheelchair-accessible routes if you want to avoid stations with no elevators. Alternatively, our favourite way to get around was the NYC Ferry.

READ OUR GUIDE ON HOW TO GET AROUND NEW YORK CITY LIKE A LOCAL HERE.

CONSIDER A CITY PASS

NYC is an expensive city. If you’re planning to do lots of the amazing tourist attractions, a New York City Pass might be a good option for you, as it can save money.

Again, there are multiple options for this pass. GoCity offers an all-inclusive pass. You can choose the number of days and visit as many attractions as you like during that time, including Top of the Rock, The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and many more. You can see the full details and which attractions are included by clicking here.

Get Your Guide also offers a pass which includes five top attractions.

Try to Avoid NYS’s Christmas Crowds

New York gets extremely busy at Christmas. At times, walking down Fifth Avenue, especially by Saks, was almost impossible. My best advice is to get out early and avoid the crowds. I would also advise booking any activities and restaurant reservations well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas Display – Outside of Macy’s – Decorations on Fifth Avenue

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Thank you so much for reading our guide on the best things to do in NYC at Christmas with kids. I hope the information has been useful and we’ve helped you to plan your festive New York trip!

OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

PERFECT FOUR DAYS IN NEW YORK WITH KIDS ITINERARY
HOW TO GET AROUND NEW YORK CITY LIKE A LOCAL
GUIDE TO CENTRAL PARK WITH KIDS

We hope you have the most amazing holiday season in New York City!