Christmas in NYC feels like stepping inside a snow globe. Department-store windows glow, ice rinks fill with skaters, and a towering tree lights up Midtown. If you’re planning a holiday getaway, this guide shares the best Christmas things to do in NYC this year. Many attractions open before Thanksgiving on November 26, so you can start your celebration early.
Where Is the Christmas Tree in NYC?
The famous tree stands at Rockefeller Center, between 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues. This year’s Norway spruce arrives Saturday, November 7, and the lighting ceremony takes place Wednesday, December 2. The tree stays on display afterward, so you can skip the ceremony crowds and visit on a quieter evening. Bundle up and arrive early, because the plaza fills quickly once the season ramps up. Rockefeller Center sits about 1.1 miles from Arlo Midtown, roughly a 25-minute walk or a 10- to 15-minute rideshare.
Things to Do in NYC for Christmas
Lace up at The Rink at Rockefeller Center, which opens its 90th-anniversary season on October 10 and runs through March 27, 2027. The anniversary season also brings a redesigned Skate House, opening November 14, with concessions from chef Greg Baxtrom, and the return of the Holiday Chalets for cozy après-skate moments.
Prefer free skating? Bryant Park’s Winter Village opens October 28 with a free-admission rink and more than 180 holiday shops. Warm up at The Lodge, a rinkside food hall with two full-service bars, and say hello to Santa. The shops stay open through January 3, and the rink glides on through February 28. Bryant Park sits about 0.8 miles from Arlo Midtown, a 15- to 20-minute walk or a 5- to 10-minute rideshare.
Then catch the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, which runs November 4 through January 4, 2027. This year’s record 230 performances include a brand-new Rockettes number and new immersive technology, and tickets start at $50. The show has welcomed more than 73 million guests since 1933, so reserve seats well before your trip. Radio City Music Hall sits roughly 1.2 miles from Arlo Midtown, about a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute rideshare.
Christmas Lights in NYC
Kick off the Christmas lights in NYC on Wednesday, November 18, when the 3,300-pound Fifth Avenue Snowflake lights up at 5 p.m. at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. The free ceremony welcomes the season, and the snowflake sits about 1.6 miles from Arlo Midtown, roughly a 15- to 20-minute rideshare.
The ceremony happens weeks before the tree lighting, so it gives you an early taste of the season. Saks Fifth Avenue brings back its holiday windows and light show on November 23. The display faces Rockefeller Center, so you can pair it with the tree and the rink in one evening, using the same 1.4-mile route from Arlo Midtown.
Plan Your Days
Pack your days so the walking stays easy. Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center sit less than a mile apart, so you can skate at one and see the tree at the other in a single afternoon. Save Radio City for an evening show, and visit the Snowflake and Saks on separate nights so crowds never wear you out. Because Arlo Midtown sits minutes from Times Square and Port Authority, you can also hop back to your room for a rest between outings.
Best Hotel in NYC for Christmas
After a full day of skating and sightseeing, you deserve a hotel that matches the season. Arlo Midtown stands out as the best hotel in NYC for Christmas because it pairs a smart location with a stylish, relaxed retreat. Times Square and Madison Square Garden sit about a 6-minute walk away, and the 42nd Street–Port Authority subway station is just three minutes on foot, so every holiday sight stays within easy reach.
The hotel’s modern rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and select King and Double Double rooms add terraces. Head to the rooftop terrace for views of the Empire State Building and Hudson Yards, then warm up by the lobby fireplace or sip a cocktail at the Bar Room at Altair. Arlo Midtown even welcomes pets, so the whole family can join your Christmas in NYC adventure. It also gives you a calm place to recharge after a chilly night out, and its West Side location keeps rideshares short.
Book your stay at Arlo Midtown today, and make this year’s Christmas in NYC the holiday trip your family talks about for years.
