Things to Do in New York in December

'Tis the season to pack a parka and head to the city so nice they named it twice. New York, New York, is full of life 365 days a year, but something special happens to the five boroughs once winter hits. December in NYC is something everyone should experience at least once. Whether you’re looking for fruitcake or a pile of rugelach, you’ll find it somewhere in the Big Apple.  

Here’s a look at things to do in New York in December. All that’s left is to create a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary and then protect your plans with travel insurance for New York so your holiday season is merry and bright no matter what.  

New York City's December Charm and Weather  

New York City in December means chilly temps and blustery winds. Expect weather hovering around 36.5 degrees F, but it can easily dip below freezing or rise into the 40s for a few hours here and there. There may be snow, too. There’s about 4.1 inches of precipitation in NYC in December, and this can manifest as anything from barely there flurries to persistent sleet that makes it hard to tell if you’re heading uptown or toward the LES.  

Luckily, cold weather just adds to the holiday spirit sweeping across the Big Apple toward the end of the year. People seem to get caught up in the magic. It’s easy to do, with storefronts gradually shifting to holiday-themed displays, holiday markets popping up in parking lots and parks and Christmas tree sellers taking up street corners with their bristly wares.  

Join in the fun and grab a cup of hot chocolate or some roasted nuts from a street vendor to snack on while you stroll between stalls at Union Square Holiday Market or take in the famous lighting displays in Dyker Heights. 

New York Holiday Events  

New York City’s slate of holiday events is so well known that many of the parades and parties get national coverage via the major TV networks. But tuning in from the comfort of your couch just doesn’t have the same enjoyment factor as scoring a front-row seat in the city itself. If you’re planning a December trip to NYC this year, here are some things to add to your itinerary.  

1. The Rockefeller Tree Lighting  

The tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dates back to 1931 when construction workers put up a small tree during the Great Depression. Since then, it has grown into a beloved holiday beacon, officially lighting up every year since 1933.  

Every year, the city brings in a gigantic Norway Spruce to hold court in the middle of the 22-acre complex that makes up Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. While the initial tree lighting often takes place at the end of November, you can visit the tree for the entirety of December, including on Christmas Day, when it’s lit for an entire 24 hours. The iconic tree is adorned with 50,000 LED lights and topped with a Swarovski star.  

2. Photos With Santa  

Score an Instagram-worthy pic with the world’s most famous elf, and your NYC holiday trip will be complete. You can usually find Father Christmas at Macy’s Herald Square, where there’s even a breakfast event on tap that includes an Italian feast, bellinis for the adults and table visits from Santa. Rockefeller Center has a similar Santa breakfast, or you can book tea with Santa at the Plaza or a Santa-themed lunch cruise that swoops by the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge while you chat with Mr. Claus.  

For a more personalized experience, consider booking a private photo session with Santa Lonnie from Big Apple Portraits. You can choose between an indoor studio session or an outdoor shoot in Central Park. Bloomingdale's also hosts a Santaland experience where you can meet Santa and take photos in themed settings.  

3. Lift Voices for Make Music NY  

Every December 21st, the organizers behind Make Music NY host a slew of interactive musical parades throughout the city. Anyone of any age, regardless of talent or background, can join in and perform in front of shops, on sidewalks and in public plazas and parks. You might find yourself singing in famous NYC spots, like Central Park, and Times Square, or outside landmarks like the New York Public Library. There are lots of businesses involved in the project, and professional musicians help anchor the event. It’s a chance to feel the holiday spirit in a different way while surrounded by the hustle and bustle of NY in December.  

4. SantaCon  

Have you ever dreamed of putting on a red suit and beard and making your belly shake like a bowl full of jelly? Sign up for SantaCon and you can embrace holiday cheer while supporting a good cause. All you have to do is put on your costume, donate to the affiliated charity drive, follow the con’s list of rules and join hundreds of other faux Santas as you go bar to bar or go singing Christmas carols, spreading love and adding people to your naughty and nice lists.  

5. NYE at Times Square  

Finish off a fun December by welcoming in the New Year at Times Square. Yes, it’s the same spot you’ve been gazing at longingly via TV for decades, but now you can see the confetti up close and personal. The festivities begin around 6 p.m. on December 31st when the ball is raised to its highest point. Then, at 11:59, it begins a rapid 60-second descent while you and your fellow revelers chant loudly and toot on those little paper kazoos. Many bars and restaurants host special events and parties on New Year's Eve with views of the ball drop. 

Other December Activities in New York  

Is it even December in New York without ice skating? There’s no city-wide mandate requiring visitors to strap on skates and try a triple-axel. Still, NYC’s rinks are so inviting (and plentiful) that it’s almost impossible to skip out on the activity altogether. Rockefeller Center is one of the most obvious spots to practice your ice dancing routine. But there are also smaller rinks at several parks — including two spots in Central Park, where you can rent skates, stick your shopping bags in a locker rental and glide to your heart’s content with the city’s skyscrapers as your backdrop.  

There’s also a 17,000-square-foot ice rink at the Bryant Park Winter Village, but the rink is only one piece of this massively entertaining holiday spread. Think of the Winter Village as a small city within the city. There are some 60 artfully designed kiosks manned by vendors selling gifts and food, a small business spotlight booth that highlights minority-owned area businesses and a pop-up restaurant where you can refuel after you finish your shopping spree amidst festive decorations.  

If the weather outside is frightful, head indoors to a museum or gallery for some culture without the cold. The Guggenheim lights up its halls for the holidays, and there are often other events, such as musical performances and specially curated exhibits, on the calendar as well. The New York Botanical Garden puts up a Holiday Train Show with model trains running through a display of iconic NYC landmarks made from natural materials. 

NYC's Dazzling Holiday Displays  

Holiday window displays in NYC are such an integral part of the city’s seasonal traditions that there are actually ticketed walking tours that take locals and tourists from store to store. Of course, you can also wander about on your own. Be sure to hit the big-name retail spots like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bergdorf Goodman, but there are windows all along Fifth Avenue’s shopping district and throughout Herald Square that mix holiday décor with humor, heart and lots and lots of art.  

New Yorkers know it’s practically impossible to talk about holiday lights in December without mentioning the displays in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights. Back in the 1980s, Dyker resident Lucy Spata decided to deck out her house with oodles of Christmas décor. Her neighbors loved Lucy’s display so much that they began to put up their own, and now the neighborhood is like the borough’s very own North Pole.  

You can walk through the three-avenue spread of Dyker Heights on your own in about a half-hour, but many people prefer the guided bus tours. You’ll be on the bus for about 3.5 hours, but your ticket scores you a direct, subway- and taxi-free ride to Dyker, and you’ll get lots of expert commentary on the displays, drinks and snacks to boot.  

New York’s December Delights: From Festive Feasts to Cultural Delicacies  

New York City is a cornucopia of culinary culture. If you can eat it, you can find it in NYC. That’s true around the holidays, too, when seasonal eats and cultural delights join forces to create some of the most delicious treats you’ll find anywhere in the world. Some items are simpler, like the hot cocoa and roasted chestnuts that are almost synonymous with Christmas in the city. Other suggestions are more about a vibe, a specific dish or the décor.  

Rolf’s German Restaurant near Gramercy Park is decorated with over 200,000 Christmas lights, countless ornaments (many of them antiques) and miles of swag all year long, but the twinkly Victorian-inspired display seems much more magical once December hits. Try dishes like potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream or jaeger schnitzel with a paprika mushroom sauce followed by a mulled wine, hot apple cider or spiced eggnog.  

If you’re in town on Christmas Day and don’t know where to eat, head to Chinatown. Many of the restaurants in this charming area in lower Manhattan will be open, including the highly lauded Jing Fong, where you can get small bites like siu mai along with authentic eats such as pan-fried noodles and chicken feet.  

You’ll have to head out to Brooklyn to visit Shelsky’s, but even a bumpy subway trip will be a distant memory once you sink your teeth into smoked fish spread, kettle-boiled bagels and homemade sweets from this haven of Jewish eats. This is also where you should come to snag Hanukkah essentials, not only for snacking while you’re in the city but to send home as well, courtesy of Shelsky’s nationwide shipping.  

Iconic NYC Holiday Performances: The Nutcracker and The Rockettes  

One of the amazing shows in NYC around the holidays is The New York Ballet’s annual performance run of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. The company first performed the classic in 1954, and the show was such a hit it’s been a December tradition ever since. There are typically about 47 performances on the calendar each winter, and it’s suitable for families, including children aged five and up.  

Another can’t-miss show: The Rockettes Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The Rockettes have been entertaining the public at home in New York for almost a century, but their storied history also includes trips abroad for wartime USO shows entertaining the troops. But the most iconic Rockettes show is the Christmas Spectacular, a 90-minute show that features some 140 performers putting on the Ritz backed by an original score. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and it’s about as quintessentially New York as you can get. 

Unique Things to Do in New York in December 

If you're looking for something a little different to make your visit memorable, here are some fun and unique activities to consider: 

Indoor Skydiving 

Want to experience the exhilarating sensation of freefall without jumping from an airplane? iFLY Westchester, located in Yonkers, just north of Manhattan, features a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel. You can soar in a vertical wind tunnel while enjoying the festive atmosphere of December. 

Helicopter Tour 

For a thrilling perspective of NYC's holiday lights, take a helicopter tour to see the city from above. With crisp, clear skies, December offers excellent visibility for taking in iconic New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park dusted with snow, and the skyline glittering with festive lights. Most tours cover Manhattan’s top sights, including the Empire State Building, Times Square, and One World Trade Center, providing a panoramic view that’s especially beautiful in the winter light. Helicopter tours typically last around 15 to 30 minutes. 

Attend Peter & The Wolf at the Guggenheim 

Check out Peter & The Wolf at the Guggenheim Museum for something cultural and family-friendly. This beloved story is narrated by Isaac Mizrahi and features live music performed by Carnegie Hall musicians. It’s a fantastic way to introduce children to classical music in an engaging setting. 

Catch the Winter Lantern Festival on Staten Island 

If you’re up for a short trip, the Winter Lantern Festival on Staten Island is a beautiful experience. This festival displays massive, intricately lit lanterns in the shape of animals, flowers, and even sea creatures. The vibrant lights against the winter sky make it a stunning sight for visitors of all ages. 

3 Tips From the Experts: What to Pack and Why Travel Insurance for New York Is Important  

As you get ready for your trip to one of the most famous cities in the world, use these tips from our travel experts to prepare like a pro.  

Pack plenty of winter gear. You want to look your best as you conquer Broadway or get your fill (literally) of the city’s popular restaurants, but you also want to be warm and comfy as you trudge from Hudson Yards to Herald Square. Pack clothes that can easily be layered, plus a warm coat, gloves, a hat, a scarf and extra socks.  

Get ready to walk. New York City has been ranked the most walkable city in the United States, but being on foot is only fun if you’re well-equipped. Bring comfortable walking shoes or even hiking boots, as well as a cross-body bag or other secure carry-all that can hold your essentials, as well as any trinkets or souvenir ornaments you pick up along the way.  
Protect your trip with travel insurance for New York with trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed connections, and other travel protection policies.