I’ve been to New York City many times but, never at Christmas. It’s been on my list of trips to take and this year Kasey took me as an early birthday gift. It was the best present ever! We had so much fun exploring the city at Christmas. We hit most of the must-see’s and have a few hidden gems to share as well. Keep reading for a full recap of our weekend celebrating Christmas in New York City.
Our Weekend Itinerary
- Rockefeller Tree
- Times Square
- Radio City Music Hall & The Rockettes
- Sak’s Fifth Avenue Light Show
- Macy’s Window Displays
- Hudson Yards
- Bryant Park
- Oscar Wilde Restaurant
- Cartier Building
- 9/11 Museum’s
Wow, just typing that list out i’m exhausted! That is everything we did in just under three days. We had a tight schedule but managed to fit it all in! One of the highlights of our trip was when we first got in and went to Times Square at 2 AM. It wasn’t crowded at all. It was such a cool experience. I definitely recommend a late night trip to Times Square next time you visit.
9/11 National Museum & Tribute Museum
It was really important that we visit the 9/11 memorial and museums. There is the memorial, the national museum and the tribute museum. I recommend visiting all three. The tribute museum is smaller but, a must do. They also offer tours with someone who was directly effected by 9/11. So, each tour guide has their own personal experience to share. It was honestly such an enlightening experience. Our tour guide was Kimberly and she was awesome.
Where to Eat
- Oscar Wilde
- This is a must see! They are decorated so beautifully for Christmas. But, they do change the decor up seasonally so I would stop by no matter the time of year you go. I also feel like it is a hidden gem. You’ll often see Rolf’s recommended for their Christmas decor but I feel like this was the spot! We did make a reservation but they do walk-in’s for the bar. They have the longest marble bar top in all of Manhattan. We had brunch here and it was delish!
- Butter
- We went here for dinner. It is near Bryant park/midtown. The food and vibes were great.
- Lil Frankies
- I’ve seen this place on Instagram from local NYC people and had to try the pasta limone. It did not disappoint! This restaurant is off the beaten path but worth it for authentic Italian food.
What To Do
- Shopping
- Macy’s, Sak’s, Cartier and Hudson Yards. Macy’s has great window displays but the interior is magical too!
- Sak’s has a light show in the evening’s that runs every 5 minutes until 11:30
- Cartier is a great photo op.
- Hudson yards is lit up! This is a great indoor shopping area with millions of Christmas lights inside and out. A must see!
- Radio City Rockettes
- This show was so fun! 10/10 you must do this if you’re in NYC at Christmas. If you need something to put you in the Christmas spirit this will do it.
- Rockefeller Tree & Bryant Park
- Rockefeller speaks for itself, its a classic NYC Christmas thing to see
- Bryant Park is a bit off the beaten path but still very close to everything in midtown. This is where we went ice skating and it was perfect. You’re nestled in between all the skyscrapers it’s surreal.
If you’re not able to make it to NYC this year— pin this post for next year. Merry Christmas!!
