4 days in New York at Christmas: The ultimate itinerary for first time visitors
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We visited New York in late November 2024 for ten days in the city as a family of three, with our then three year old daughter, my aunt, and her partner who was born and raised in Manhattan.
He’s a retired FDNY firefighter from the Upper West Side, and the story of how he and my aunt met is one of my favourites. Twenty years ago, a collaboration between the New York Fire Department and Merseyside Fire Department brought a group of Manhattan firefighters to a dinner at Liverpool Town Hall. My aunt was there. The rest is history. She’s visited New York at least twice a year ever since, and so over 40 times in total and they’ve been desperate for us to come.
Having a lifelong New Yorker as our guide for ten days made this a completely different trip to anything we could have planned from a guidebook. We ate in local spots that don’t look like much from the outside but consistently outperformed anything on Instagram. We visited his old fire station on the Upper West Side. We stayed in his apartment in the Bronx. And halfway through the trip, my partner flew to Nashville with him and his two brothers (a Scouser and three New Yorkers) leaving my aunt and my daughter to do the more civilised sightseeing for a couple of days.
We were there for Thanksgiving week through to early December, which is about as good as New York timing gets. The Rockefeller tree had just gone up, the Fifth Avenue window displays were in full swing, Bryant Park Winter Village was open, and Dyker Heights was at its peak. The city was doing everything it does at Christmas and we were right in the middle of it.
Most people can’t do ten days in New York, so I’ve pulled this into a 4 days in New York at Christmas itinerary covering the very best of what we saw and did. Whether you’re visiting New York at Christmas for the first time, travelling from the UK, or bringing young children, this is the honest version. What’s worth it, what to prioritise, and what you shouldn’t miss. If you’re still in the early planning stages, our full New York travel guide covers everything in one place, and if you’re travelling with kids our NYC with kids guide is worth a read before you book.
🗽 Planning your own NYC adventure?
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Quick tips for visiting NYC in December🎄
📍 Google Maps: Throughout this guide, place names are linked directly to Google Maps so you can save them as you read and build your own route.
🧥 Weather: It’s cold, usually between 0–5°C, but it can change dramatically. Over ten days in late November we went from sunglasses and light jackets to full on winter coats, scarves, and gloves. Layers are key.
❄️ Will it snow? Don’t bank on it. A white Christmas in New York is actually rare. Historically snow has covered Central Park on Christmas Day only roughly once every six years. If seeing snow is a priority, consider visiting in January when the Christmas decorations are still up until around 7th January and snow is more likely.
⏰ Jet lag trick: UK travellers are often up early, which works in your favour. 2am in New York is 7am UK time. Expect to be up around 4–5am, or 2am if you’re a toddler.
💳 Currency: Card is widely accepted, but bring a bit of USD cash for tips and street vendors.
💵 Tipping: Tip 15–20% in restaurants, $1–2 per drink in bars, and for hotel and airport staff.
🚇 Getting around: The subway is easy and contactless, just tap in and out with your phone or contactless card via OMNY. A single ride is $3.00 and there’s no need for a MetroCard. If you’re using the subway heavily, OMNY automatically caps your weekly spend at $35, after which rides are free for the rest of that 7 day period. No zones to worry about like the London Underground, it’s a flat fare wherever you’re going.
🛂 Visa/ESTA: UK citizens need an ESTA to enter the US. Ours came through quickly but apply early just in case, you won’t be allowed in without it.
📅 Go midweek if you can: Everything in New York at Christmas is noticeably less crowded Monday to Thursday. Weekends in December are a different level of busy.
🌙 Beat the crowds: For Christmas lights and window displays, go as late in the evening as possible. Bryant Park closes at 9pm and the Christmas markets shut at 8pm, so plan your route accordingly.
📱 Top tech tip: Use Google Maps in public transport mode to plan your subway journeys it made navigating so much easier.
🏨 Where to stay in New York City
Book early. Accommodation in New York at Christmas fills up fast and prices climb significantly in December.
For a first visit, Midtown is the most practical base. You’re central, well connected by subway, and within walking distance of most of the Christmas highlights; the Rockefeller tree, Fifth Avenue, Bryant Park, Times Square. If you’re choosing between east and west side, the east side has slightly better subway connections on the 4/5/6 line which makes getting around easier.
We spent one night in Chelsea during our trip and loved the atmosphere. Great bars, it was somewhere you’d actually want to spend an evening rather than just sleep, and easy access to the High Line and Hudson Yards. Worth considering if you want something a bit less tourist facing.
We actually stayed in the Bronx for most of our trip, which is not something I’d necessarily recommend as a first time base, but it gave us a completely different perspective on the city and some genuinely brilliant local meals that never made it onto Instagram.
👉 Compare hotels and apartments in NYC on Booking.com
👉 Find competitive prices on Agoda
👉 Browse family friendly stays on VRBO
Day 1: Downtown loop – Brooklyn Bridge to the Statue of Liberty
If you’re arriving from the UK, you’ll likely be wide awake by 5am, and that works perfectly for exploring Downtown Manhattan before it gets busy.
🌅 Sunrise: Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO
Getting to Brooklyn Bridge before sunrise has real advantages, the light is spectacular and the famous DUMBO shot on 📍 Washington Street and Water Street is completely clear of crowds. The bridge itself takes around 20 minutes to walk and the views along the way are worth stopping for. 📍 Pier 17 is a great place to start for the sunrise views.
From the bridge head straight to 📍 Washington Street and Water Street for the classic DUMBO photo, the Manhattan Bridge framing the Empire State Building in the distance. Get there early and you’ll have it to yourself.
Then wander down to 📍 Pebble Beach for the Manhattan skyline view across the water.
A word of warning about 📍 Time Out Market – it’s worth stopping for the rooftop views but barely any food vendors are open before 8am. The bagel counter was the only one running when we arrived, which was fine with us, a New York bagel at sunrise on a Brooklyn rooftop is hardly a hardship. 📍 Jane’s Carousel doesn’t open until 11am so don’t factor that into your early morning, it’s one for later in the day if you’re coming back to Brooklyn.
🕊️ Mid morning: Ground Zero and the Financial District
Take the subway from Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan and head to the 📍 9/11 Memorial Pools. A powerful and moving place that’s free and open daily. Allow time to stand and take it in properly rather than rushing through.
👉 Book a 9/11 Memorial & Museum guided tour on Viator.
If you want to add an observation deck to your downtown morning, 📍 One World Observatory is right here and offers an immersive experience alongside incredible views from the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
👉 Viator has plenty of options for booking here.
Nearby sights worth a stop:
📍 Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues
📍 New York Stock Exchange
📍 Trinity Church
📍 Stone Street – a cobbled alleyway with cafes and pubs
📍 The Oculus – a striking modern building with shops and transport links
🗽 Afternoon: Statue of Liberty (Free and alternative ferry options)
From 📍 Battery Park you can take the Staten Island Ferry which is completely free and gives you good views of the Statue of Liberty from the water, without the cost or queues – exactly the kind of tip you’ll find in our 👉 NYC on a budget guide. One tip: be wary of people around Battery Park selling ‘tickets’ for what is a free service.
When we arrived at Battery Park, 📍 SeaGlass Carousel was closed for the day and so it’s worth checking ahead before building it into your plans.
The ferry we actually took came from a tip from our local New Yorker. A smaller ferry from 📍 Brookfield Place/Battery Park City that cost around $4 per person. It was much quicker, far less crowded, and got us closer to the Statue of Liberty than the main ferry. The return journey took 20 minutes each way. It was windier and choppier but a much smoother experience overall.
👉 If you would like to visit Liberty Island itself, or prefer a tour, there are plenty of options on Viator and Get your Guide.
🍜 Late Afternoon: Chinatown and Little Italy
From Battery Park, walk through Downtown Manhattan into 📍 Chinatown which is a bustling neighbourhood full of food, colour and atmosphere. Stop at Mei Lai Wah Bakery for an incredible steamed bun if you need fuel.
From there, walk towards 📍 Little Italy. Lively streets with Italian restaurants and plenty of atmosphere. Stop for a photo under the iconic 📍Little Italy sign on Hester Street.
On Mulberry Street we found a 📍 Christmas shop that’s open year round and extravagantly decorated. Our daughter loved it, which may or may not have been a tactical mistake given everything that followed.
The 📍 Union Square Christmas Market is also worth a stop if you’re passing through. Over 100 stalls running from late November through Christmas Eve, less crowded than Bryant Park and good for picking up gifts.
If you prefer a guided experience, affordable walking tours are widely available, 👉 with some on Viator and Get your Guide.
🥪 Dinner: Katz’s Delicatessen and dessert in the East Village
By this point the toddler jet lag had well and truly caught up with us and we had a full scale meltdown on the street at some point in the afternoon, which prompted a passing New Yorker to advise me to “kick her ass.”
I sent my partner ahead to get a table at Katz’s Delicatessen while I dealt with the situation. By the time we arrived she’d fallen asleep in the pram and stayed asleep the whole time we were there, which turned out to be the best possible outcome.
Katz’s Delicatessen is legendary for good reason. We shared one cheese and pastrami sandwich between us. At $30 it’s not cheap but it’s enormous and completely worth it.
For dessert, my aunt took us to 📍 Veniero’s Pasticceria which she loves. We visited the night before Thanksgiving and it was heaving. There was a system in place where you collect a ticket on the way in to manage the queue, which actually worked brilliantly. Watching New Yorkers coming in to collect enormous cakes for the next day was a real moment where I felt like I was in a movie. We got cannoli which was delicious.
👉 NYC food tours on GetYourGuide
👉 NYC food tours on Viator
Day 2: Observation Decks, Central Park and Midtown
🌳 Morning: Central Park and Ice Skating at Wollman Rink
The gates for Central Park open at 6am which is perfect if jet lag has you up early, and if you’re visiting New York at Christmas with young children, it probably will.
We came in through the west side entrance and stumbled straight into the 📍 Strawberry Fields John Lennon Memorial without planning to. There were a couple of buskers taking turns singing his classics, and being from Liverpool it was a genuinely lovely moment. If you’re a Beatles fan it’s worth seeking out specifically rather than just stumbling across it like we did.
Grab a snack from Liberty Bagels on 5th Avenue, home of the famous rainbow bagel and a firm favourite for breakfast.
From there we walked towards Wollman Rink and one of the things that strikes you about Central Park is how familiar it all feels. Every fountain, bridge and statue is recognisable from decades of films and TV. There are little stalls selling paintings and prints dotted along the paths too, worth a browse if you’re looking for a New York souvenir that isn’t a fridge magnet.
📍 Wollman Rink is one of those iconic New York Christmas experiences, we’d seen it in so many films that actually being there felt slightly surreal. One important practical note before you book: the rink closes several times a day for cleaning, usually for around 30 minutes at a time, and this isn’t shown on the booking slots. We booked an 11:30am slot and arrived just as they were closing it for cleaning. Check the cleaning schedule on the Wollman Rink website before you book and plan your slot around it.
📍 Liberty Bagels is just around the corner on 5th Avenue if you need a quick snack. They’re home of the famous rainbow bagel.
🛍️ Midday: The Plaza Hotel and Fifth Avenue Lights
The 📍 Plaza Hotel is worth a stop but getting inside is trickier than it looks, the main lobby is generally only open to hotel guests. However there’s a way in through the back.
Our daughter happens to be called Eloise, same name as the famous Plaza resident and so the 📍 Eloise at the Plaza shop on 58th Street was a non-negotiable stop. We went in, bought her a present, and as we were leaving the security guard spotted our bag and told us that as patrons we could go through into the hotel. We had no idea that was possible. We got inside, took photos of the Christmas trees and the Eloise decorations, and came back out feeling very smug. Worth buying something small from the shop and seeing if the same thing happens for you.
From the Plaza, walk down 📍 Fifth Avenue and take your time with it. It’s busy, like really busy, but the Christmas window displays are extraordinary. The 📍 Louis Vuitton and 📍 Cartier displays in particular are worth stopping for even if designer shopping isn’t your thing. The buildings are dressed up as much as the windows and it genuinely feels unlike anywhere else at Christmas.
The 📍 Saks Fifth Avenue light show runs after dark and plays every ten minutes from around 4:35pm, it’s completely free and one of the best free things to do in New York at Christmas. It was temporarily paused the year we visited but it’s back on now, so don’t make our mistake of walking past assuming it wasn’t happening.
📍 Bryant Park Winter Village is a short walk away, it’s a festive market with holiday shops, food stalls and an ice rink. The No Chewing Allowed hot chocolate stand is worth finding specifically, it’s rich, thick, and exactly what you want in December.
A word of warning, Bryant Park in December is seriously busy. It’s pram friendly but we found it a real challenge just with the sheer volume of people. Worth visiting but go in with realistic expectations, particularly at weekends.
If you didn’t skate at Wollman Rink or want to skip the booking faff, the Bryant Park ice rink is actually free admission if you bring your own skates. Skate rental costs around $19 to $60 depending on the time and date. Advance booking is required even if you bring your own skates. It’s New York’s largest outdoor rink and the backdrop of Midtown skyscrapers makes it a genuinely special setting.
🌇 Late Afternoon / Evening: Chelsea, the High Line, The Edge and Hudson Yards
From Bryant Park head west into 📍 Chelsea, a neighbourhood that feels noticeably different from the Midtown tourist trail. If you’re staying in Chelsea for a night, Citizens of Chelsea on West 25th Street is worth knowing about for breakfast, it’s an Australian style café with a consistently high rating and a menu that covers everything from eggs benedict and smashed avocado to banana butterscotch pancakes. Open from 7am daily, reservation recommended at weekends.
For dinner in Chelsea, Arthur & Sons on 8th Avenue is the one. An old school Italian American tavern, red leather booths, Frank Sinatra on the speakers, they’ve been doing this since 1954. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka is what everyone talks about and it earned every word, it’s rich, creamy, properly spiced without being overwhelming, and portions that could genuinely feed two. The meatballs are worth ordering to start. Book ahead, it gets busy.
📍 Chelsea Market is a non-negotiable stop even if you’re not hungry when you arrive, though you will be by the time you’re inside. Built in the old Nabisco factory where the Oreo cookie was invented, it’s a huge covered food hall and market that runs an entire city block. The food covers everything from Los Tacos No. 1 (consistently considered the best tacos in New York), to fresh lobster rolls, hand rolled sushi, wood fired pizza, dumplings, Korean food and a proper Italian deli stocked with olive oils, cured meats and imported pasta. We got tacos and pizza and could have eaten our way around the whole building twice over. Beyond the food, there are artisan shops selling handmade jewellery, vintage clothing, ceramics and gifts, a charming bookshop, a Korean homeware store, and an immersive art space. I’d recommend going hungry and set aside at least a couple of hours.
The 📍 High Line runs directly above Chelsea Market on the Tenth Avenue side, it’s an elevated public park built on an old freight rail line with views over the Hudson River and West Side. You can join it right from the market and walk it all the way to Hudson Yards, around 30 minutes end to end.
At 📍 Hudson Yards, the Shine Bright event runs through December, over 2 million lights and festive installations throughout the plaza and mall. The 📍 Vessel, which is the famous honeycomb staircase structure, has recently reopened after a complicated few years. It’s worth knowing that not all levels are currently accessible, and so check the website before you go if you’re planning to climb it rather than just photograph it from outside.
👉 The ticket prices for The Vessel on Viator
Then there’s 📍 The Edge, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. The views west over the Hudson River and New Jersey are genuinely spectacular, and the glass floor is a talking point which our daughter planted herself on it with no fear, while I barely put my big toe over it. It was my least favourite of the three observation decks we visited in terms of overall experience, mainly because the wind up there is something else, but the Hudson River views are unlike anything the other decks offer. Book ahead, sunset slots sell out fast.
There are plenty of options on 👉 Viator and Get your guide. If you’re undecided which observation decks to do, you can read 👉 our comparison between The Edge and Summit One Vanderbilt here, or 👉 Top of the Rock vs The Edge. For a full overview of all major NYC observation decks and how they compare, check out our 👉 Best observation decks New York guide.
One last tip before you leave Hudson Yards, if you want Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding and can’t face the queues at the main locations, there’s a quieter📍 Magnolia Bakery inside Hudson Yards. We’d walked past the main branches all week watching the lines snake around the block. Finding a quiet one inside Hudson Yards felt like a small victory. The banana pudding is worth every bit of the fuss – layers of vanilla wafers, fresh banana and whipped cream that somehow tastes better than anything that simple has any right to.
Day 3: Rockefeller Centre, FAO Schwarz, Broadway and Times Square
🎄 Morning: Rockefeller Centre and the Christmas Tree
There are moments on a trip that you know you’ll remember for a long time. Walking towards the 📍 Rockefeller Christmas tree for the first time was one of them. It’s one of those things you’ve seen in so many films that actually being in front of it feels slightly surreal, we first visited just before Thanksgiving so it wasn’t yet lit, but even unlit it stops you in your tracks. If you’re a Home Alone 2 fan, prepare yourself.
We went back after Thanksgiving specifically to see it lit up and it was worth the second visit entirely. The tree doesn’t officially light up until the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting ceremony which takes place on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, after that it’s illuminated every night from 5:30am to midnight, and midnight to 11:30pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
One tip if you want to recreate that famous Home Alone 2 scene, the exact spot where Kevin stands is on the south side of the rink looking north towards the tree. Go in the evening for the full effect.
If the experience leaves you wanting to hold onto it a little longer when you get home, The Christmas Owl is a beautifully illustrated book that revisits the magic of the Rockefeller tree, we picked it up after our trip and it became a lovely way to revisit the whole experience with our daughter.
🧸 Mid Morning: FAO Schwarz, the Lego Store and American Girl
📍 FAO Schwarz is jaw-dropping. It’s the most over the top toy store you’ll ever walk into, with floor to ceiling shelves packed with every toy imaginable and staff dotted throughout demonstrating things. The remote control car demonstration was the very first thing our daughter spotted when we walked in. We did the whole shop three times over, and at the end, after seeing everything, that was still what she wanted.
The queue for the Jellycat diner was enormous, and so it’s worth factoring in if that’s a priority, or going first thing when it opens.
The BIG piano is now on an upper floor rather than the ground level, it’s worth seeking out specifically because watching a child discover it is one of those genuine pinch-me moments. We watched our daughter play it and it was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
The 📍 Lego Store nearby has some brilliant photo opportunities. A giant yellow taxi, a Hulk and a Statue of Liberty all made from Lego that make for great photos without spending anything.
📍 American Girl Place New York deserves its own section entirely. If you’re visiting with a child who loves dolls, this is one of the best things to do in New York with kids and worth planning specifically rather than stumbling across. Here’s our honest American Girl Place New York review.
The store is huge, everything is pink, and it can feel slightly overwhelming at first, but the staff are genuinely brilliant and will walk you through everything. We went for the full package which included building your own doll from scratch. You choose skin colour, hair colour and texture, and then an accessory (our daughter chose a dog) and an outfit. The doll also comes with its own backpack to travel in. The whole package was $120.
After building the doll we took her to the salon. The doll’s hair was styled from a menu of options, ears pierced and nails done. Your child can have matching hair and nails too if you want, though we didn’t take that option.
Then lunch in the café downstairs. The value was genuinely impressive, you don’t just get your meal, you get an afternoon tea spread first, and the doll gets her own chair pulled up to the table with a little cup and saucer. Our daughter thought this was the best thing that had ever happened.
If you want the full experience (doll build, salon and lunch) factor in the best part of half a day and book the restaurant in advance. It fills up. And if you’re visiting around Christmas, book the doll package ahead too.
🏙️ Late Morning: Top of the Rock
📍 Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is the observation deck we’d recommend most for a Christmas in New York visit. It’s the only deck that gives you a direct view of the Rockefeller tree from above, and the Manhattan skyline from here is as iconic as it gets.
A few practical things worth knowing before you book:
Book the express pass. We did and it was worth every penny. It doesn’t just mean skipping the first outdoor queue, inside they told us to wave it like a golden ticket, and we skipped every single queue including the lift queues. On a busy December day that’s a significant time saving.
The Beam. When we booked, the Skylift had just launched and we were worried we’d missed our chance to add it on, but there’s a card reader at the attraction so you can pay on the day. We did both. The Skylift is cool but the photos are actually better when you’re on the ground photographing it from outside rather than on it. The Beam is the one. It’s a thrill, the queue wasn’t long, and recreating that iconic Lunch atop a Skyscraper photograph is considerably more satisfying than anything the Skylift produces. Budget around £70 pp for the two if you’re doing both.
Go for sunset. We sat inside and had a drink while we waited for the light to drop which was lovely and a good way to rest your legs. When the city lights come on the views are on another level. One warning – the temperature drops dramatically once the sun goes down. Even if it’s mild during the day, bring a proper coat, hat and gloves for the evening deck.
Prams. There are a few steps between the different deck levels but we saw people managing with prams. We didn’t take ours up but it’s not impossible.
👉 You can purchase tickets for Top of the Rock on Viator and Get your Guide.
For a full breakdown of how Top of the Rock compares to the other observation decks, read our 👉 Top of the Rock vs Summit One Vanderbilt comparison.
🏙️ Afternoon: Flatiron, Harry Potter New York and Rooftop Drinks
The 📍 Flatiron Building is worth a stop even just to see it from the outside, it’s one of New York’s most distinctive buildings and a great photo opportunity. When we visited it was covered in scaffolding which was a bit of a disappointment, so worth checking before you build your afternoon around it.
Right nearby is the 📍 Harry Potter New York store, and as a lifelong Potterhead this was genuinely one of the highlights of the whole trip for me. I loved every single second of it.
The store is spread across multiple floors with colour coordinated rooms for each Hogwarts house, flying books on the ceiling, and a moving phoenix in the middle of the staircase, exactly like the one guarding Dumbledore’s office. There’s a red phone box replicating the entrance to the Ministry of Magic, and a café selling cakes including a miniature version of the pink cake Hagrid made Harry on his birthday. If you know, you know.
I picked up a Hufflepuff scarf, a keyring (Hufflepuff, because I’m basically nice), and a Dobby teddy. For my brother, who is equally a Potterhead, I found a book with his name engraved on it. The engraving station is worth seeking out if you’re looking for a genuinely personal gift to bring home.
If you’re a Harry Potter fan this is non-negotiable. If you’re not, it’s still worth a look, the design of the place is genuinely impressive even without the context.
From there, head to 📍 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar for drinks with what might be the best view of the Empire State Building in the city. You walk up through what feels like an old building and emerge onto a vast rooftop. Blankets are provided because it gets cold up there in December, and the Christmas decorations were brilliant when we visited. I had a cocktail and we stayed until the Empire State Building lit up properly. There are few better spots in New York to sit with a drink in December. We didn’t go up the 📍 Empire State Building itself as there was too much already on and we felt that seeing it is actually better than being on it, since you can’t see the Empire State from the Empire State. We did walk through the foyer before 9am when it was quiet and empty, which was worth doing just for the Art Deco interior. If you do want to go up, book ahead.
👉 You can find tickets on Viator and Get your Guide for the Empire State Building.
If you’re a Friends fan, the building used as the exterior of Monica and Rachel’s apartment is just a short detour away from Greenwich Village on Bedford Street. It’s a free and a great photo stop.
🎭 Evening: Times Square, the Disney Store and the Rockettes
📍 Times Square is one of those places you have to see even if it’s not really your thing, and to be honest, it’s not really my thing. It’s loud, relentless and aggressively touristy. But those digital billboards have to be seen in person to understand the scale of them, and our daughter needed to visit the 📍 Disney Store so she was very happy regardless of what I thought of the surroundings.
The main event of the evening was the Rockettes at 📍 Radio City Music Hall, and I’ll be honest, I went in sceptical. I’d seen clips of the dancers kicking and quietly wondered how entertaining 90 minutes of that could really be, and whether a three year old would last the distance. I was completely wrong on both counts.
The building itself is extraordinary. The Art Deco interior and the huge domed ceiling run a light show throughout that’s entertainment in itself before the show even starts. But the show is on another level. When the soldiers did their famous fall, which is a perfectly synchronised backwards drop, the whole audience reacted. Santa appeared throughout which kept our daughter completely engaged. I didn’t want it to end. It’s one of the most incredible live shows I’ve ever seen and I genuinely wasn’t expecting to feel that way.
The audience was every age imaginable, from young children, couples, and a group of elderly ladies sitting behind us on what was clearly a girls trip. Which tells you everything you need to know about who the Rockettes are for. Everyone. The one thing worth knowing is that this is only available in New York, you can see Broadway shows in the West End, but you cannot see the Rockettes anywhere else in the world. If you’re visiting New York at Christmas, this is the one show to prioritise.
👉 You can find tickets for the Rockettes on Viator and Get your Guide.
Day 4: Ellen’s Stardust diner, Summit One, Grand Central and Dyker Heights
🎵 Morning: Ellen’s Stardust Diner
📍 Ellen’s Stardust Diner is one of those New York experiences that’s worth doing once, but go for breakfast rather than dinner, and go for the show rather than the food.
My aunt had been before and gave us the most useful advice of the trip on this one. The evenings aren’t worth a proper meal slot, but breakfast is perfect. The food is fine rather than good. The coffee is instant rather than machine which tells you roughly where you are – but that’s not the point. The point is that the waiting staff are all aspiring Broadway performers, and they just burst into song mid service. We had Grease, a genuinely brilliant rendition of The Wizard and I, and our waiter brought our coffees to the table while singing Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. Our daughter was completely engrossed from the moment the first song started.
You can’t book as it’s walk in only. The queue moves reasonably quickly and they prioritise families with young children, so we got to the front without too long a wait. Worth arriving early rather than assuming you’ll walk straight in.
One thing worth knowing is that every 15 to 20 minutes there’s a speech and a bucket collection for the performers’ training and lessons. Every waiter there is working towards a Broadway career so it’s a nice cause, but factor it in so you’re not caught off guard.
Go for the experience, order something simple, and enjoy the show. I just wouldn’t save a proper dinner slot for it.
🏙️ Midday: Grand Central Station and Summit One Vanderbilt
📍 Grand Central Terminal is one of those buildings that’s hard to prepare yourself for. We walked in on our way to Summit One Vanderbilt next door and just stood there for a moment taking it in. The vast main concourse, the turquoise ceiling covered in constellations, the light pouring in through the arched windows. My uncle took my aunt to the famous 📍 Oyster Bar downstairs for a drink while we headed up to Summit, which felt like exactly the right way for each party to spend an hour.
If you wanted to learn more about this iconic building, 👉 there are guided tours on Viator and Get your Guide, with some options even bundling together Summit One Vanderbilt.
The 📍 Grand Central Holiday Fair in Vanderbilt Hall is worth a look too if you’re passing through. It’s an indoor Christmas market selling one of a kind items from local artisans, completely different from the outdoor markets. And if you’re visiting with children, check whether the model train display is running, it’s a lovely detail and a real hit with young ones.
📍 Summit One Vanderbilt is right next door and in my opinion the best observation deck in New York, and not just for the views, but for the whole experience.
A few things worth knowing before you go. When we arrived there was a small queue and our daughter was starting to get fussy, we ended up doing the Hokey Cokey in the line which worked a treat. Once you’re inside the pre-experience area you collect your glasses, some bags for over your shoes for the mirrored floors, and wear trousers rather than a skirt for the same reason, and you take a photo of yourself which is used later in the experience. Then you join another queue in complete darkness before going into the main rooms. I think this is deliberate, getting your eyes adjusted to the dark so that when you walk into that first mirrored room it hits you with full force. Our daughter got a little worried in the dark queue, so worth knowing if you’re visiting with young children. She was fine once we were through.
The experience is a one way system, and they don’t let you go back, so make sure you’re done with each room before you move on.
The rooms in order: you emerge from the lift into the AIR Transcendence rooms which is two floors of floor to ceiling mirrors reflecting the Manhattan skyline in every direction. Completely disorienting in the best possible way, and the views of the Chrysler Building and Empire State are extraordinary from here. From the upper level you can look down through circular portals to the floor below.
Then the Levitation skyboxes – two glass boxes that jut out from the side of the building 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, with a glass floor. My partner went in to get his photo taken on the glass floor.
Then the Affinity balloon room – silver helium like balloons filling the space, reflecting the skyline in every direction. This was our daughter’s favourite room by far. We hung around in there for a while because she was completely in her element, and they turned out to be the best photos of the whole holiday.
Then the AIR Unity room – this is where your arrival photo is used. Motion sensors and digital screens project your face into swirling clouds on a huge display. We sat on the floor in here playing eye spy on the buildings outside while my partner went to get his photo taken on the glass floor in the Levitation box. Genuinely one of the most relaxed moments of the whole trip.
Finally the Yayoi Kusama Reflect room – a meditative installation on the floor, and then the outdoor terrace with 360 degree views across the whole city. The views from Summit are the best of the three decks we visited. Being right in the centre of Midtown means you get the perfect view of Central Park stretching north, the Chrysler Building almost at eye level to your right, and the Empire State clearly visible. The windows are incredibly clean, I was worried about reflections affecting photos but it genuinely wasn’t an issue at all.
For a full comparison of all three decks we visited, read our Summit One Vanderbilt vs The Edge and Top of the Rock vs Summit One Vanderbilt guides.
👉 You can purchase tickets for Summit One Vanderbilt on Viator and Get your Guide.
If you’re hungry, you could head over to Joe’s Pizza, a classic New York slice that’s not too far away.
🛍️ Afternoon: Last minute shopping
If you have time to spare before your final evening, this is when to use it.
📍 Macy’s Herald Square is one of those places you feel you can’t leave New York without visiting. It’s the world’s largest department store, an entire city block, and an institution. At Thanksgiving they had a giant turkey outside which was brilliant. The Christmas window displays are worth stopping for even if you’re not going in. But inside, the one thing not to miss is the wooden escalators which were built between 1920 and 1930 from oak and ash, they’re the oldest escalators still operating anywhere in the world. They now only run on the upper floors but the creaking, rickety ride is worth seeking out specifically. It’s a genuinely lovely piece of New York history hidden in a department store.
📍 Target might sound like an odd recommendation but it’s one of those American shopping experiences that’s hard to explain until you’ve been. Everything you could possibly need under one roof at very reasonable prices. It’s great for picking up last minute bits, children’s toys, snacks and souvenirs without the tourist markup. There are several Manhattan locations, the most convenient being on 34th Street near Herald Square. Our daughter picked up some Paw Patrol cars and was delighted. A very normal moment in the middle of a very extraordinary trip.
For book lovers, 📍 The Strand Bookstore on Broadway is worth knowing about. There’s 18 miles of books across four floors, a New York institution since 1927. We didn’t make it ourselves but it comes up consistently as one of those only in New York experiences worth building into your trip if you have time.
🎄 Evening: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Dyker Heights sounds like an exaggeration until you’re standing in front of it. One of my favourite films is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and these houses make the Griswold house look understated. An entire neighbourhood in Brooklyn where residents compete to outdo each other with Christmas decorations on a scale that has to be seen in person. Some houses even have their own Instagram accounts. That tells you everything.
You can do Dyker Heights as a DIY trip, our full Dyker Heights guide covers exactly how, but we opted for the tour and I’m glad we did. We had shopping bags, the pram and all the associated kit, which went straight into the storage under the bus. The tour guide was excellent. She gave facts about the buildings and neighbourhoods we passed on the way, and we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge which is worth the tour price alone if you haven’t done it at night.
She carried a lit umbrella throughout so you could always spot her in the crowd, and she gave time at each stop for photos. Worth knowing though, if you fall behind you will lose her, so keep up and decide in advance how you want to balance photos versus keeping pace with the group. We left the pram on the bus for the Dyker Heights stops and I ended up carrying our daughter by the end, which is worth factoring in if you’re visiting with a toddler.
The tour also included a stop at 📍 Pebble Beach in DUMBO on the way back, and this was actually one of the highlights of the whole trip for me. The Manhattan skyline at night with all the lights on full display and the moon glistening over the river. Some of my best photos of the entire holiday. There are toilets there too which is useful to know after a long evening out. Our daughter had fallen asleep approximately three seconds after I zipped her coat up, so my aunt stayed on the bus with her while we got the photos. A good result all round.
👉 There are lots of tour options on Viator and Get your Guide.
🎁 More ideas for rainy days or extra time
We didn’t get to everything on this list ourselves, some were closed during our visit, some simply didn’t fit into our ten days. But these are all consistently recommended for a 4 days in New York at Christmas trip and worth knowing about when you’re planning.
🎅 Macy’s Santaland
The one on this list we actually did, and it was brilliant. A free indoor grotto experience inside Macy’s on 34th Street. Booking opens 5 days in advance with slots going live at 6:30am local time on the Macy’s website. Santa was brilliant, photos are available to buy but the experience itself is free. Our daughter absolutely loved it and it’s genuinely one of the best free Christmas things to do in New York with young children.
🦖 Museum of Natural History
We didn’t make it here on this trip but it’s consistently rated as one of the best things to do in New York at Christmas with kids, particularly the dinosaur halls and planetarium. It’s a brilliant indoor option if the weather turns.
👉 Tickets on Viator and GetYourGuide
🧀 Columbus Circle Holiday Market
We walked past rather than spending proper time here, it’s worth more than we gave it. Ideal for warming up with festive street food like raclette and empanadas. Just outside the southwest entrance to Central Park.
🐠 SeaGlass Carousel
Located in Battery Park, a fish themed carousel that lights up and spins to music, lovely for little ones and a good option while you’re downtown. Worth checking opening times before you plan around it as it was closed during our visit.
🎠 Jane’s Carousel (DUMBO)
A historic glass enclosed carousel right by the water in Brooklyn which is especially beautiful at sunset with the bridge backdrop. Also closed during our visit so check before you go.
🚢 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
We didn’t visit but it comes up consistently for families. It’s an actual aircraft carrier docked on the Hudson River with planes, submarines and a real space shuttle. Mostly indoors which makes it a good rainy day option.
👉 Tickets on Viator and GetYourGuide
🎨 Color Factory
An immersive colourful art experience with interactive rooms, confetti and giant ball pits. We didn’t go but it’s on the list for next time. It’s completely indoors and good for all ages.
👉 Tickets on Viator and GetYourGuide
🎬 RiseNY
A newer attraction combining a museum walkthrough of New York’s pop culture with a flying theatre ride. Top of our list for next time.
👉 Tickets on Viator and GetYourGuide
🎄 Metropolitan Museum of Art Christmas Tree
We didn’t visit the Met on this trip but this comes up across everything written about Christmas in New York as one of the most atmospheric free experiences in the city. A 20ft Baroque blue spruce in the Medieval Sculpture Hall with a Neapolitan creche and soft choral music playing. Free with museum admission and considerably quieter than Rockefeller.
🌿 New York Botanical Garden – NYBG Glow
The Botanical Garden in the Bronx transforms for the holiday season with a nighttime light display through the trails and greenhouses. Consistently recommended as a beautiful and less crowded alternative to the main Midtown Christmas attractions, particularly good for families with young children.
⛪ Brooklyn Tabernacle Church
If you’re in New York on a Sunday morning, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church service is free and consistently described as a genuinely moving experience. The choir is world famous and it’s a completely different side of New York to the tourist itinerary.
🏀 NBA Christmas Day Games
If you’re in New York on Christmas Day, catching a game is worth considering. The Knicks at Madison Square Garden and the Nets at Barclays Center both typically play on Christmas Day. Book well in advance.
🍜 Christmas Day dining tip
Many restaurants close on Christmas Day or charge premium set menus. If you want a normal meal at normal prices, head to Koreatown on 32nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. Most restaurants stay open, no special menus, and the food is excellent.
Seaport District
The Seaport District on the Lower East Side is worth knowing about as a less crowded alternative to the main Christmas markets. There’s festive decorations, Brooklyn Bridge views, and a more local atmosphere than Midtown. It’s worth a wander if you’re already in the downtown area on day 1.
🎅 Christmas themed restaurants
We only made it to one Christmas restaurant on this trip and that was Lillie’s Victorian Establishment near Times Square, which was worth every penny of the reservation. The rest of these come highly recommended and are on the list for next time. Whether you’re looking for 4 days in New York at Christmas food recommendations or just want to know where to eat near the main sights, here’s where we’d send you.
🍗 Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
Lillie’s is the one we actually did, and the atmosphere alone is worth the reservation. The restaurant is named after Lillie Langtry, a 19th century actress from the British island of Jersey who came to New York in 1882 to make it on Broadway. On her opening night, the theatre burned to the ground, leaving only a sign with her name on it. The fire made her famous. A portrait of her presides over the room, surrounded by ornate wooden furnishings brought from Victorian estates in Belfast, stained glass from Milan and antiques collected from across Europe. At Christmas the Times Square location goes for a Winter Wonderland theme. Floor to ceiling decorations, the works. The atmosphere and decor are the reason to go rather than the food, which is decent rather than spectacular. Go for the experience, have a festive cocktail, and soak up one of the most visually striking rooms in New York at Christmas. Book well in advance, reservations fill up fast.
🎄 Rolf’s German Restaurant
Rolf’s is arguably the most Instagrammed Christmas restaurant in NYC, and quite possibly the most decorated restaurant in America. A six person team starts hanging the 15,000 ornaments, 200,000 lights and thousands of icicles every September, finishing by November. The result is a room where you genuinely can’t see the ceiling for decorations. It’s in Gramercy Park rather than Midtown which makes it feel slightly more local. The food is traditional German (schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst) but reviews are mixed, and the general consensus is that the best way to experience Rolf’s is a drink at the bar rather than a full dinner reservation. Reservations fill up fast and the phone is notoriously never answered so keep trying. Walk in queues can stretch to two hours in December.
🏔️ Serra by Birreria at Eataly Flatiron
On the 14th floor of Eataly in the Flatiron District, Serra transforms every season. In winter it becomes an Italian Alpine experience with twinkling lights, winter greenery, seasonal cocktails and a menu built around hearty Italian comfort food. Think fondue, truffle cheese, hot toddies and winter spritzes. It’s enclosed so genuinely warm even in December, and the views of the Flatiron neighbourhood from the rooftop are lovely. Good for families by day and romantic by night. Reservations recommended.
🕯️ Oscar Wilde NYC
Worth knowing that Oscar Wilde, Lillie’s and Papillon are all owned by the same Irish duo, which explains the consistent commitment to extraordinary interiors across all three. Oscar Wilde is built inside what was once the Prohibition Enforcement Headquarters, which is a wonderful irony given it now boasts New York City’s longest bar at 118.5 feet and over 300 whiskeys. The Victorian decor is extraordinary at any time of year, antique clocks all set to 1:50, the time of Wilde’s death, a Belgian piano from the 1980s, 19th century stained glass from Milan. At Christmas it goes further still. Go for drinks rather than dinner based on reviews, the atmosphere is the thing here and food is secondary.
🎄 Papillon Bistro and Bar
The third venue from the same owners, Papillon is a Parisian inspired bistro near Bryant Park that transforms at Christmas into something quite spectacular. Floor to ceiling garlands, animatronic teddy bears and a festive atmosphere that manages to feel elegant rather than chaotic. Consistently recommended for families wanting somewhere with great Christmas decor that doesn’t feel overwhelming. Book ahead for December.
🍨 Serendipity 3
A New York institution since 1954, Serendipity 3 is known above all else for its frozen hot chocolate. An oxymoron that somehow works perfectly and has become one of the most iconic food experiences in the city. The interior is whimsical and the dessert menu is outrageously indulgent. We didn’t make it on this trip but it appears in everything written about Christmas food in New York. Book well in advance for December visits.
🎒 What to pack for New York at Christmas
🧥 Layers – The temperature can swing dramatically. We went from sunglasses to full winter coats within the same trip. Base layers, a mid layer and a proper coat are all needed.
🧤 Hat, scarf and gloves – Non-negotiable for the observation decks and evening walks. The wind on the rooftops is genuinely biting.
👟 Comfortable walking shoes – You will walk further than you think every single day. Prioritise comfort over style and your feet will thank you.
🌧️ A packable waterproof – December can be dry but it can also rain. A light packable one takes up no space and saves a miserable afternoon.
👶 A pram weather shield – If you’re visiting with a baby, a UV pram cover is worth packing for wind and cold protection. It made a real difference on our longer days out.
🎒 A decent day bag – Big enough for layers, snacks, nappies and all the other things a day out with a young child requires.
📱 A portable charger – Google Maps, photos and the subway app will drain your battery fast. A portable charger is essential.
💊 Basic medication – Paracetamol, ibuprofen, plasters and any regular medication. American pharmacies are easy to find but prices are high.
🎫 Pre-booked tickets – Observation decks, the Rockettes, American Girl, Macy’s Santaland – book as much as you can before you go. December in New York rewards the planners.
For a full breakdown of how to keep costs down on your trip, head to our NYC on a budget guide.
💰 How much would 4 Days in New York at Christmas cost?
New York in December is not cheap, it’s one of the busiest and most expensive times to visit. That said, with good planning and early booking you can keep costs manageable. The figures below are based on a realistic mid range budget for 2 adults travelling from the UK, with a note on children’s costs at the bottom. For a full breakdown of how to save money without missing out, head to our NYC on a budget guide.
|
Expense |
Estimate cost |
|---|---|
|
Flights (booked in advance, return) |
£800-£1,400 |
|
Hotel (4 nights, Midtown) |
£800-£1600 |
|
Attractions |
£300-£600 |
|
Food & extras |
£300-£800 |
|
Total (2 adults) |
£2,200-£4,200 |
💡 Budget Tip: Book attractions with a pass like Go City Explorer or CityPASS to save money and skip queues.
👶 Travelling with children: Add approximately £500–£1,000 per child depending on age, factoring in flights, children’s attraction tickets, food and any extras like American Girl or FAO Schwarz which can add up quickly.
Is New York worth visiting in four days?
100% yes. You won’t see everything in four days, nobody does, but with good planning you’ll cover the highlights, feel the full atmosphere of New York at Christmas, and come home already thinking about when you can go back. It’s a whirlwind but it’s worth every second.
This itinerary is just one part of our wider New York coverage. Head back to our New York Travel Guide to explore all our NYC posts in one place, or if you’re travelling with young children head to our NYC with kids guide for everything you need to know about navigating the city with little ones. If you have five days in New York at Christmas rather than four, use the extra days to slow down revisit a neighbourhood you loved, add a museum, or just wander without a plan.
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