I grew up in the shadow of New York City and even lived in Manhattan after college, so I’m no stranger to a New York winter. That doesn’t mean I like it. Cold, wind, slush, short days—no thanks. But if you’re going to be stuck someplace frigid, NYC gives you plenty of reasons to leave the warmth of your hotel.
Some are worth braving the cold for. Others have the considerable advantage of being indoors. Either way, layer up—frostbite is a horrible souvenir!
Is Visiting NYC in Winter Worth It?
Yes, visiting NYC in winter is worth it. Just don’t expect the cold, wet weather to be pleasant. Curbs can be ankle-deep in slush, and the skyscrapers turn the streets into wind tunnels. Scarf, gloves, and comb will be your best friends.
On the other hand, winter also brings the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, holiday windows, ice skating, roasted chestnuts, the Rockettes, Broadway, museums, Restaurant Week, and Lunar New Year. December gets most of the holiday spectacle, but January and February still give you plenty of reasons to go out.
💡 BUDGET TIP: If you plan to visit several paid attractions, get the Sightseeing Day Pass. It can save you up to 65% on admission. Choose up to 12 attractions, then use the pass over 30 consecutive days.
25 Things to do in New York City in December
New York really does go all out in December. If you’re willing to tolerate cold fingers and crowded sidewalks, this is when some of the city’s best winter experiences happen.
1. Visit Winter Village at Bryant Park
Bryant Park’s Winter Village puts an ice rink, holiday shops, food, and winter activities right in the center of Midtown.
The rink is free to enter if you bring your own skates, though rentals and some reservations cost extra. The Lodge gives you somewhere to eat and warm up between sessions.
If skating isn’t your thing, try iceless curling at the Curling Café. Bryant Park also has free activities like chess, game nights, and art workshops, plus retro-music skating on some Wednesdays.
And then there are the little igloos where you can get out of the cold—because nothing says “I’m having fun” like pretending you’re not freezing.
Check the current schedule before you go, because the lineup changes.
2. Enjoy the Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden
The Holiday Train Show recreates NYC landmarks—the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more—entirely from bark, moss, leaves, seeds, and other plant materials, with model trains running through the displays.
Everyone loves the trains of course, but adults also appreciate the smaller details. The creativity involved in building recognizable New York landmarks from natural materials is seriously impressive.
Much of the main display is inside the conservatory, and the experience also extends outdoors with a glowing mountainscape and even more trains.
3. Browse NYC Christmas Markets
Even though I’m not a fan of Christmas shopping, I won’t turn down a chance to visit Christmas markets. You can browse handmade gifts, grab something to eat, and wander around freely with a warm drink in your hand. Totally different experience than fighting your way through a department store.
A few worthy ones:
- Bronx Holiday Market for local makers and a more neighborhood-ish vibe
- Artists & Fleas in Soho for indie designers and artsier gifts
- Chelsea Flea if you’d rather hunt for vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces
- Union Square Holiday Market for the full holiday-market experience and lots of gift options
- Grand Central Holiday Fair if you want to stay indoors and browse more polished crafts
- Columbus Circle Holiday Market for gifts, food stalls, and the Central Park setting
- The Holiday Market at The Oculus for a more modern, design-heavy feel
Each market has its own personality, so pick the one that best matches how you actually like to shop.
4. Admire Fifth Avenue’s Holiday Windows
The stretch from Bloomingdale’s down to Macy’s goes all-out with animated holiday windows every year, and they’re worth the walk even if you’re not buying anything. Go after dark, because the lights really make the displays pop.
A weeknight or later in the evening is better if you can manage it. Otherwise, the crowds can get shoulder-to-shoulder, and it will be hard to actually see anything.
💡 TIP: If you want more context while you see the displays, there’s a Holiday Lights Extravaganza Walking Tour on Viator. It takes you past seasonal lights and window displays while the guide shares stories about New York holiday traditions.
Holiday shopping in 5th Avenue’s landmark department stores is a classic activity, but I avoid shopping near the doors in winter if I can help it. Every time someone comes in, you get blasted with cold, then warm, then cold again. It’s nonstop. I always feel bad for the clerks stuck working those spots.
If you’ve got kids with you, or if you just feel like going over-the-top with the whole holiday experience, you need to visit Macy’s eighth floor. They’ve turned it into the full Santa’s Workshop setup, with elves and trains and everything. My kids loved it—until they actually saw Santa and burst into tears. Reservations are required, so book through Macy’s Santaland page before you go.
5. Attend a Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
NYC has public menorah lightings throughout the city during Hanukkah, but the best-known is the World’s Largest Menorah at Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza, at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street across from the Plaza Hotel.
Its branches stand 32 feet high, with the shamash reaching 36 feet overall, and it’s lit each night of Hanukkah. The tradition dates back to 1977.
Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza menorah is also 32 feet high, and there’s more going on there each night: live music, hot latkes, and gifts for children, plus a kickoff concert on the first night.
If you’re already doing Fifth Avenue, Central Park, or Rockefeller Center, Manhattan is the easy one to work in. For more of an actual Hanukkah celebration, I’d head to Brooklyn.
6. Check Out the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center
This is one Christmas tradition I never get tired of. People have been coming to Rockefeller Center to see the tree for more than 90 years, and I still make a point of seeing it whenever I’m in the city during the holidays.
The tree-lighting ceremony is traditionally held on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving and televised nationally on NBC. Public viewing is free, but if you want to see the ceremony in person, prepare for serious crowds, cold weather, and endless hours of standing around. People start lining up by late morning, so plan on getting there around 10 a.m. to noon if you want a decent spot.
The tree usually stays up into early January, so you haven’t necessarily missed it if you visit just after New Year’s.
💡 TIP: If you’d rather see the tree lighting without spending hours standing outside in the crowd, Rockefeller Center tree-lighting parties let you watch from a comfortable location. Tickets are expensive and limited, but it’s a much warmer way to experience the ceremony.
When you’ve finished staring at the tree, you can skate at the rink below it, head up to Top of the Rock, or make an evening of it with the shops and restaurants around Rockefeller Center.
7. Walk Around Dyker Heights
If your philosophy is that Christmas lights should be visible from space, you’ll probably love Dyker Heights. The homeowners in this Brooklyn neighborhood have been going overboard with decorations for more than 40 years, and their electric bills must be outrageous.
You’ll see giant nutcrackers, Santas, angels, reindeer, animated decorations, and lights covering entire houses. Most of the biggest displays are concentrated around 11th to 13th Avenues and 83rd to 86th Streets.
It can be very crowded in December, especially as Christmas gets closer. It’s also a bit of a trek from Manhattan, and parking is difficult. You can visit on your own for free, but organized walking tours are available if you’d rather not mess with the logistics.
8. Join Unsilent Night in Washington Square Park
If you want a break from the usual holiday stuff, Unsilent Night is about as far from a tree lighting as you can get. Composer Phil Kline created this 45-minute walking concert, which starts at Washington Square Arch and winds its way through Lower Manhattan to Tompkins Square Park.
Everyone carries a phone or speaker playing one of four different tracks. As the crowd moves, the parts overlap and drift in and out, so what you hear changes depending on where you happen to be walking.
No Santa. No carols. Just a few hundred people wandering through Manhattan inside a constantly changing piece of music. It definitely belongs on any list of most quirky things to do in NYC.
9. Enjoy the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
I’ve seen the Rockettes perform the Christmas Spectacular, and this is one holiday tradition that really does live up to the hype. It’s big, polished, unabashedly Christmasy, and much more impressive in person than it looks like on television.
The famous wooden soldiers are reason enough to go, but the show also packs in Santa, the Nativity, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, and plenty of New York holiday scenery. Basically, it crams a ridiculous amount of Christmas into one very over-the-top show.
If you want to see more than the stage, you can also take a guided tour of the Art Deco theater. And unlike Rockefeller Center, you’ll be indoors. Win-win.
10. Watch the Ball Drop in Times Square
Watching the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square is one of those bucket-list experiences that sounds exciting right up until you realize what it actually involves: hours of standing outside in the icy December wind with no access to a bathroom.
If you decide to brave it, use the bathroom first. Seriously. There are zero portable public restrooms in the viewing areas.
The official viewing areas are free and first come, first served, and they open at 3 p.m. There are live performances throughout the evening, but you’ll still be standing for hours, you can’t bring a chair, and once you’ve claimed a spot, don’t expect to leave and come back.
The best views of the ball drop in Times Square are along Broadway from 43rd to 50th Streets and along Seventh Avenue as far north as 59th Street.
If standing in Times Square is on your bucket list, go for it. But if it isn’t, don’t feel like you’re missing New Year’s Eve in New York. I lived in Midtown Manhattan, and I could hear the cheering from blocks away. The city comes alive at midnight whether you’re inside the official viewing zone or not.
Things to Do in New York City in January
January is a good time to catch the tail end of New York’s holiday season without the December crush. A few seasonal favorites usually stick around into the month, while the city shifts into its regular winter events and activities.
11. Go Ice Skating at NYC’s Winter Rinks
Skating is one of those winter activities that actually gives you a reason to be outside instead of just hurrying from one heated building to the next.
I’ve already mentioned Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, but those aren’t your only choices. NYC has plenty of other places to skate.
Wollman Rink in Central Park is one of the classics, with the Manhattan skyline rising behind the trees. At the north end of the park, the new Gottesman Rink at the Davis Center has replaced the old Lasker Rink and overlooks the Harlem Meer.
There are other options around the city, too, including rooftop and seasonal rinks. And when conditions are right, you may even find New Yorkers skating on frozen areas in the parks.
12. Buy Roasted Chestnuts from a NYC Street Cart
Nothing quite evokes winter in New York like the smell of roasted chestnuts from a street cart. You’ll find vendors selling them all over the city, and the warm bag doubles as a hand warmer while you walk.
Just don’t expect them to be cheap. Around Midtown and the major tourist areas, a small bag can run about $8–$10, sometimes working out to around a dollar per chestnut.
They’re still one of those classic NYC winter treats—but at those prices, maybe taste one before committing to seconds.
13. Visit the New York Boat Show
January may seem like an odd time to go look at boats, but the New York Boat Show has been around long enough to know what it’s doing. In fact, it bills itself as the world’s first and longest-running boat show.
The show is held around the third week of January every year. It fills the Javits Center with everything from smaller boats to larger models, along with motors, gear, accessories, and exhibitors who can answer questions if you’re actually shopping.
One advantage of going to a boat show is being able to compare different brands and models side by side instead of driving from dealer to dealer. There are also seminars and educational exhibits, many of them free.
And you don’t need to own a boat to enjoy it. There are family activities, including toy-boat building for kids and a Fishing Frenzy area for younger children, plus the Discover Boating Beach Club with food, drinks, music, and games.
14. Eat Your Way Through NYC Restaurant Week
In a city that’s not exactly known for cheap dining, NYC Restaurant Week is a good excuse to try somewhere that might normally make you wince at the menu prices.
Despite the name, Restaurant Week lasts several weeks and happens twice a year—once in winter and again in summer. The winter edition usually runs from late January into February.
Hundreds of restaurants across all five boroughs participate, offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners at several fixed price points. It’s a chance to sample everything from neighborhood favorites to higher-end places without committing to the regular dinner prices.
Which means that if there’s somewhere you really want to try, you should reserve ahead. The popular restaurants can fill up fast.
If the official Restaurant Week website is showing summer dates when you check, don’t panic. It will switch over once the winter dates and menus are released, and you’ll be able to filter participating restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine, meal, and price.
Things to Do in New York City in February
February is often one of the cheapest times of year to visit New York, with lower hotel rates and fewer tourists than during the holiday season. The city usually runs winter promotions into the month, and several major annual events and celebrations happen then as well.
15. Celebrate Lunar New Year in Chinatown
Manhattan’s Chinatown is one of the best places in the city to celebrate Lunar New Year—AKA Chinese New Year. The holiday moves around the calendar though, so check the current dates before you make any plans.
The biggest events are the Lunar New Year Parade and Festival and the Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival. People come in from all over to see it, so get there early unless seeing the back of somebody’s coat is good enough for you.
The parade is quite a show, with floating dragons, marching bands, elaborately costumed dancers, and acrobatic performers. But what I like about it is that you’re not just standing there watching a show. You’re right in the middle of a real community celebration and getting a glimpse of Chinese culture at the same time.
The Firecracker Ceremony is a separate event, with thousands of firecrackers set off to scare away evil spirits and welcome the new year. There are cultural performances and other festivities as well.
And since you’re already in Chinatown, don’t waste the opportunity. This would be a pretty dumb time to leave without eating.
16. Catch a New York Fashion Week Event
New York Fashion Week comes around every February, and while most of the big-name runway shows are invitation-only, there’s still plenty happening that regular visitors can get into.
There are public runway shows, pop-ups, exhibits, designer talks, meet-and-greets, and brand events. Some are free, some require an RSVP, and still others sell tickets.
If you actually want to find something you can attend, NYFW.com is a good place to look for public programming, and Eventbrite usually turns up independent shows and other events. That’s a lot more useful than scrolling through an official schedule full of shows you can’t get into anyway.
17. Celebrate Valentine’s Day in NYC
You can certainly book a romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day in New York, but that usually means Valentine’s Day prices and sitting approximately six inches from another romantic couple.
I’d rather make the evening about creating memories in the city. A Broadway show or jazz club gives you somewhere to go after dinner, an observation deck is hard to beat after dark, and a carriage ride through Central Park works if you want something more old-school-romantic. A sightseeing or dinner cruise is another option, especially since many boats have enclosed viewing areas.
If none of those sound appealing, take another look at the attractions included with the Sightseeing Day Pass I mentioned earlier. Even if you don’t buy the pass, the list is a good place to steal ideas for something more interesting than dinner and flowers.
Whatever you decide, book the important part ahead of time. February 14 is not the night to wander around Manhattan assuming everything will work itself out.
Other Things to Do in New York in Winter
Some of the best things to do in NYC in winter have nothing to do with Christmas, New Year’s, or any particular month. They work just as well in December, January, or February, so this is the part of the list you can use no matter when your winter trip falls.
18. Take a Carriage Ride in Central Park
I’ve always wanted to take a carriage ride through Central Park. There’s something appealing about bundling up under a blanket and clip-clopping through the park, especially if there happens to be snow on the ground.
I’ve never done it because it’s not cheap, and it seems like the sort of experience that would be much more fun shared with someone else than indulged in alone. As a couple, family, or group, though, I completely see the appeal.
You also get to see the park without walking the whole way, and you can ask the driver to point out landmarks and share some of the history along the route.
19. Join a TV Show Audience at Rockefeller Center
NBC Studios is at Rockefeller Center, and several well-known shows are filmed there. I’ve seen a few tapings over the years. Always a highlight.
The easiest no-ticket option is the TODAY Show. On weekday mornings, you can join the plaza audience outside Studio 1A at 35 West 48th Street. On regular weekday mornings, NBC recommends arriving by about 6:15 a.m.; entry begins around 7:00 a.m., and things wrap up by 9:00 a.m. Fridays and mornings with major guests tend to be busier, so yes, this is one of those times when getting up stupidly early may actually be worth it.
If standing outside before breakfast sounds miserable, request free audience tickets for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon or Late Night with Seth Meyers, both taped at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Just know that a confirmation doesn’t always guarantee a seat.
Saturday Night Live tapes there too, but that one is much harder to get into. Tickets are handled through an annual August lottery, plus a separate online standby-reservation process during show weeks. For current ticket links and NBC Studio Tour reservations, use NBC’s official Tickets and NBC Studio Tour page.
20. Explore NYC’s museums
Museums are an easy way to lose half a day in New York without feeling like you wasted it. New York has so many museums that you could spend several winter days doing nothing else and still barely make a dent.
A few of the big ones:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Frick Collection
- American Museum of Natural History
- Jewish Museum
And those are just the obvious choices. NYC has plenty of smaller and more specialized museums if you’d rather skip the enormous ones and focus on something specific.
21. Catch a Broadway Show
I’ve seen my share of Broadway, and winter is a pretty good excuse to spend an evening in a theater. You’re warm, you’re sitting down, and for a few hours, the weather outside is somebody else’s problem.
Most Broadway theaters are clustered in Manhattan’s Theater District around Times Square, so it’s easy to work a show into an evening in Midtown.
If there’s something specific you want to see, buy tickets ahead. Otherwise, check the TKTS booth in Times Square for discounted same-day and next-day tickets.
The Museum of Broadway is nearby too, with exhibits on Broadway history, landmark shows, costumes, sets, and how productions come together. It’s a fun way to see what goes into producing a Broadway hit.
22. Watch the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center
The New York City Ballet performs at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, and the winter schedule can include Balanchine, contemporary works, full-length ballets, and mixed programs.
One thing to know before you book: a mixed bill is made up of several shorter ballets rather than one full-length story. That can be a good choice if you want some variety or you’re not sure you want to commit to an entire evening of one production.
The lineup changes throughout the season, so check the schedule for your dates instead of assuming the same program runs all winter. Read the program descriptions too. Some performances are very traditional; others are much more modern.
If there’s a specific ballet or choreographer you want to see, book ahead, because tickets sell out super fast.
23. Find Bargains at Brooklyn Flea and Chelsea Flea
Flea markets are a good excuse to poke around for antiques, vintage clothing, art, jewelry, records, and all the other stuff you didn’t know you needed until you saw it sitting on a table.
Brooklyn Flea is the big name, with a weekend market under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO. It runs through December, so it works for an early-winter trip but not January or February. Besides vintage finds, expect handmade goods and one-of-a-kind pieces, with the DUMBO waterfront and Manhattan Bridge right there as a bonus.
Later in the winter, head to Chelsea Flea instead. It’s open year-round on Saturdays and Sundays, with about 50–60 vendors selling antiques, vintage pieces, collectibles, and assorted oddities. Admission is free, but it’s outdoors, so this is not the place to leave your gloves at the hotel.
24. Sample New York Classics on a Food Tour
New York is one of those cities where you could organize an entire trip around eating and I’d consider that perfectly reasonable.
A food tour takes some of the guesswork out of it, especially in neighborhoods where there are too many good places to choose from. Depending on the route, you could end up trying bagels, pizza, egg creams, pastries, dumplings, or whatever that neighborhood does best.
Greenwich Village and the East Village are good for classic New York food along with neighborhood history. Head a little farther downtown and the Lower East Side brings in old-school deli stops like Katz’s, where the sandwiches are big enough to share.
Chelsea Market is a practical choice in winter because much of it is indoors. Williamsburg takes you across the river into Brooklyn and gives you a different mix of stops than the Manhattan tours.
Some tours to look at:
- Private New York City food tour of East Village and Greenwich Village
- Chelsea Market and High Line food tour
- Williamsburg tasting and walking tour in Brooklyn
- New York Secret Food Tour of historic Greenwich Village (with a private tour option)
25. Have Afternoon Tea at the Russian Tea Room
The Russian Tea Room is still on my own wish list. The red banquettes, gilded decor, caviar, blinis, tea, and vodka all look gloriously over the top—which is exactly what I’d expect from a New York institution that’s been around for about 100 years.
Founded in 1926 by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, it quickly became a hangout for artists, performers, and other assorted New York characters. You’ll find it on West 57th Street near Carnegie Hall, so it’s easy to pair with a show or a trip to Lincoln Center.
Afternoon tea is served every day, with classic, vegetarian, gluten-free, and children’s versions. It’s currently $145 per person, so this is definitely not the kind of place to stop for a quick cuppa. You’re paying for the whole ridiculous, opulent production, which is kind of the point.
How to Dress for Winter in New York
New York winter is less about surviving one temperature than constantly adjusting to another. You can be freezing on the sidewalk, sweating in a store five minutes later, then back outside in the wind again.
For the outdoor part of that equation, you’ll want a warm coat, gloves, a scarf, a hat, warm socks, and waterproof shoes or boots. Slush is the real nuisance here, because once your feet get wet, the rest of the day goes downhill fast.
Thermals can make a big difference when you know you’ll be outside for hours. I wouldn’t bother on a day that’s mostly museums, restaurants, and other indoor stops, though. You’ll spend half the day wishing you could take them off.
When my parents took me into New York as a kid, I always tried to walk through the steam coming up from the sidewalk grates because it felt so warm. Nobody ever stopped me, but they probably should have. Steam gets you damp, and once you step away, damp clothes make you colder.
For more detail, see my Europe winter packing list. The same basic approach works here too: layers, waterproof footwear, warm accessories, and clothes you can adjust as you move indoors and out.
Winter Weather in NYC
New York City winters are cold, windy, and often wet, with daytime temperatures usually hovering in the 30s and low 40s °F from December through February. Snow is possible, but a winter trip is just as likely to bring cold rain, gray skies, or clear, sunny days.
Temperatures can drop into the single digits during a cold snap, and the wind between Manhattan’s buildings can make it feel considerably colder. On the other hand, don’t plan your trip around seeing a postcard-perfect snowy New York. Snowfall varies a lot from year to year, and once it hits the streets, it can quickly turn into dirty slush along curbs, crosswalks, and sidewalks.
Average NYC winter weather:
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Precipitation | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 44.3°F | 33.8°F | 4.38 in. | 4.9 in. |
| January | 39.5°F | 27.9°F | 3.64 in. | 7.5 in. |
| February | 42.2°F | 29.5°F | 3.19 in. | 10.1 in. |
January is usually the coldest month, while February tends to average the most snow. But these are long-term averages, so double-check the forecast before you pack.
Inspired? Pin this post and save it for later!
Where to Stay in NYC
Hotels in New York can be expensive, especially in Manhattan, and a cheaper room isn’t always a better deal. You can often find lower prices in the other boroughs, but that may mean more time on the subway than you planned.
A few Manhattan options:
- Hostel: American Dream Hostel — Gramercy/Flatiron
- Budget: West Side YMCA — Columbus Circle/Upper West Side
- Mid-range: Yotel Times Square — Midtown West
- Splurge: Mandarin Oriental New York — Columbus Circle
For more places to stay in NYC, click here.
Winter in NYC Isn’t So Bad
I’m still not going to pretend I love winter. There’s a reason I put together a whole roundup of warm winter vacations in the USA—and why every place I’ve chosen to live overseas has been somewhere tropical.
But if you’re stuck with cold weather, you could do worse than spending winter in New York. Between the shows, museums, food events, skating, neighborhood celebrations, and all the seasonal stuff happening around the city, there’s always something to do.
At least you’ll have plenty to keep you busy while you’re waiting for spring.
💡 Want more winter trip ideas?
In the U.S., we’ve covered the best New England winter getaways, things to do in NYC in winter, warm winter vacations in the USA, and the top day trips from Orlando and Miami.
For Europe, there are the best European Christmas markets, Christmas in Crete, and places to visit in Europe in December. We also have cold-weather guides to Vienna, Munich, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Zagreb, and Ljubljana, plus a winter packing list and a guide to European Christmas food traditions to try.
For winter in the Southern Hemisphere, we’ve covered the best ski resorts in Australia.
