There’s a reason so many of your favorite holiday movies are set in NYC: Christmas in New York is simply iconic. This time of year, the city dresses up in its holiday best for the special occasion. Department stores fill their storefronts with festive window displays, chestnuts are roasted on street corners in festive Christmas markets, and you can hardly walk by a skyscraper without spotting the warm glow of a Christmas tree inside its lobby.

Bundle up for a stroll and you’ll feel the spirit, especially in Midtown. Rockefeller Center is at the heart of it all, with its equally massive Christmas tree—lit from December 3—a sight New Yorkers await, and visitors come from far and wide to see. Whether you spot it between the rows of Valerie Clarebout’s Christmas Angels in the Channel Gardens, skate The Rink at Rockefeller Center Presented by Chase Freedom beneath its branches, or admire it while cozying up in the Après Skate Chalets, visiting the tree has been considered one of the best things to do in NYC since the 1930s.

There is also plenty of holiday shopping beyond the designer windows, with markets selling hand-crafted goods and warming sweet treats, and top-tier entertainment, from the famous Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet.

A mother and child ice skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center

1. Ice Skating at The Rink at Rockefeller Center Presented by Chase Freedom

It’s romantic for couples, fun for families, and so quintessentially Christmas in NYC: The Rink at Rockefeller Center Presented by Chase Freedom. Lace up your skates with the beautiful Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and golden Prometheus statue as your backdrop. General admission starts at $22, but for priority entry, free skate rentals, a 20% discount at the gift shop, and access to a heated lounge with drinks, consider the VIP package, which starts at $112. Prices vary by date and time, and sessions on the ice last for 60 minutes.

A family of four posing for a photo with Santa Claus on The Beam at Top of the Rock

2. Top of the Rock at the Holidays

The bird’s-eye view of New York City from Top of the Rock is always impressive, but Christmas time is when it really shines, when New York City’s glow seems to get even brighter. Better yet, new this year, Top of the Rock tickets between December 4 and January 10 come with close-up access to the tree. Make your way up to the 70th floor for the 360-degree views Top of the Rock is famous for, then gaze out over a decorated Manhattan. On your way back down, stop by Top of the Rock’s stationary Beam for the ultimate holiday keepsake: a photo with Santa Claus.

Correll Jones, mayor of Rockefeller Center, standing in front of The Rink's Après Skate Chalets

3. Après Skate Chalets at Rockefeller Center

Who needs to trek to the mountains for après ski when you have après skate right at Rockefeller Center? The Après Skate Chalets presented by Balsam Hill offer a cozy, picture-perfect spot to chill out for a group of up to six. Whether you’ve actually decided to hit the ice or not, you’ll be able to relax while taking in the view of it all for 40 minutes of festive fun overlooking The Rink and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. A reservation at the beautifully decorated chalets comes with digital photos to remember the experience, plus, a new premium booking option including four tickets to Top of the Rock. Food and drink are available for purchase, and there is a $25 minimum per guest. Chalet reservations start at $90.

The Rockettes performing during Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular

Courtesy of MSG Entertainment

4. Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes

The world-famous Radio City Music Hall, located right at Rockefeller Center, is celebrating 100 years of the Radio City Rockettes this holiday season, and the synchronized stunners have a few extra tricks up their sleeves. For many, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes is a must-see event year after year. From the music and the costumes to the sets and the dance moves, the show manages to capture the Christmas spirit in a way that wows guests of all ages. To get on everyone’s good list, book Santa’s Breakfast Spectacular; the kids can meet Old Saint Nick and enjoy holiday treats, and the adults can hit the open bar in the Roxy Suite before the show.

The view of the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday light show from a Rockefeller Center rooftop

5. Christmas Window Displays

Window shopping along 5th Avenue and beyond is a year-round delight, but the creativity put into the store displays during the Christmas season is unmatched. Rockefeller Center has the ultimate view of the king of all store displays, the Saks Fifth Avenue light show, which is making its triumphant return in 2025. Expect its signature mix of visuals and music to repeat every few minutes as usual for captivated crowds on the street. Other stores known for their holiday displays include Bergdorf Goodman, Cartier, and Bloomingdale’s, but plan to wander and see what magic moments you find. Venture just a little further down to Macy’s Herald Square for another great display.

People shopping at the holiday market in Columbus Circle

Photo by Kayle Kaupanger via Unsplash

6. NYC Christmas Markets

Holiday and Christmas markets feel very European, but you can experience them in NYC— including multiple options within walking distance of Rockefeller Center. Shoppers will find thoughtful and unique gift ideas made by local and global artisans, plus winter treats like crepes, mulled wine, and more. The Bryant Park Winter Village in midtown is one of the best, with almost 200 kiosks running from October 24. There’s also a Columbus Circle Holiday Market, with food, jewelry, art, and gifts that are ideal for browsing before a walk through Central Park, and the Union Square Holiday Market, which brings more than 180 vendors and their crafts to the downtown crowd. For those commuting from Grand Central Terminal or stopping for a cocktail at The Campbell, the Grand Central Holiday Fair brings six weeks of small business–fueled cheer to Vanderbilt Hall.

A closeup of the holiday train display at the New York Transit Museum

Photo by Filip Wolak; courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

7. Holiday Nostalgia Train Rides

You don’t have to be a train buff to appreciate the quaint, fuzzy feeling aboard the New York Transit Museum's annual holiday nostalgia rides. On Sundays in December, the museum takes its vintage 1930s R1/9 train cars for a spin on the F line, allowing citygoers to travel back in time with rattan seats, cheeky throwback advertisements, and conductors dressed to the nines, just like the good old days. Watch the museum’s newsletter and Instagram for updates, but you can typically board the trains along the uptown F line, including at Rockefeller Center 47-50th Streets. All it takes is the right timing and your usual subway fare. If model trains are more your style, head to Grand Central Terminal for the museum’s Holiday Train Show from November 13.

The New York City Ballet performing George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker"

Photo by Erin Baiano; courtesy of New York City Ballet

8. The Nutcracker at The New York City Ballet

Set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by George Balanchine, The Nutcracker is a holiday favorite that the New York City Ballet does not take lightly, bringing out its best for the production since 1954. Guests at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center will see dancers in intricate costumes by the late Oscar-winning designer Barbara Karinska, talented musicians, and students from the School of American Ballet take the stage to recreate the classic tale. The awe-inspiring sets and visual effects executed by about 40 stagehands include a famous one-ton Christmas tree, which grows throughout the show, and delicate, reusable snowflakes. The production is recommended for ages five and up.

From the glittering Christmas lights along Fifth Avenue to the festive skating rink and market at Bryant Park, NYC shines brighter than ever during the holidays. Whether you’re admiring the elaborate Christmas decorations in Midtown Manhattan or exploring the best places to soak up the season’s spirit, Christmas in New York is pure magic — a celebration that turns every corner of the city into a winter wonderland.