Booking a Broadway show toward the end of the year to make the most of New York City’s holiday cheer is a time-honored tradition. Whether you’ve already visited the Big Apple during the chilly months and you’re looking for new ideas of what to do before the curtain rises or you want to ensure that your first festive trip is as magical as you’ve dreamed it to be, we’ve got you covered with plenty of holly, jolly ideas.
Festive Activities and Adventures
Bryant Park Winter Village: Midtown’s very own winter wonderland
Just steps away from the Theatre District, you’ll find one of Manhattan’s favorite holiday traditions: the Winter Village, which transforms Midtown’s Bryant Park into a snow globe of light installations, food and shopping stalls, hot-chocolate bars, and a gorgeous tree (that’s much easier to snap a photo in front of than the Rockefeller Center one, but you didn’t hear that from us). Every year, the food selections go viral for their fun and innovative takes on bites, like truffle-filled cheesesteaks, loaded chocolate-covered strawberries, lobster mac and cheese cones, and so much more. You can also skate in the ice rink, which now also features bumper cars on ice if you’re afraid of gliding on your own two feet. However, if you’re looking for a more scenic skating option, we’ve got a rec for that as well.
Step into a time-capsule train decked out in beautiful vintage holiday decor
If you want to feel like you’ve stepped into a mid-century musical (or an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), each year the New York City Transit Museum brings out festively adorned vintage subway cars from as early as the 1930s to actually provide train service on regular MTA tracks. This year’s specifics have yet to be announced, but in the past, the Holiday Nostalgia Rides ran every Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas, departing from 2nd Avenue and making stops on the uptown F line, as well as departing from 145th Street and making stops on the downtown D line. Keep checking the New York City Transit Museum’s website for updates.
Pen letters to Santa, make s’mores, and take in breathtaking Brooklyn Bridge views at Pier 15
If you have time for only one holiday excursion, Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Pier 15 has it all: drinks and dining (with the option to rent out heated igloos!), activity stations and workshops where you can assemble your own s’mores or even write a letter to Santa, a game room for kids, and countless other surprises, all on the East Side waterfront directly facing the Brooklyn Bridge and the Dumbo skyline. Early bird ticket prices start at just $15.
Skating in serene Central Park
Take in breathtaking surrounding views of Central Park while you ice skate at Wollman Rink, found on the southeastern end of the park (near the Gapstow Bridge). Take the N, R, or W train just three stops from Times Square (42nd Street) to the closest park entrance, at 59th Street and 6th Avenue. Admission ranges from $15 to $38 seasonally, with special rates for children and seniors, and skate rental is just $12.
Take in waterfront window views of the city at the Chelsea Piers Sky Rink
If it’s too cold to skate outside, you can also skate at the Sky Rink, situated right on the Hudson River at Chelsea Piers. You’ll need to sign up in advance for a public skating session, but it will be well worth the wait. The admission price is comparable to Wollman Rink and is an equally fun (and much warmer) experience. There are a handful of easy routes down to Chelsea from the Theatre District, including the 1, 2, and 3 trains, the M20 bus, and more; check any transit app to see what’s best depending on what part of town you’re coming from.
Shop ‘Til You Drop (for Gifts, or for Yourself!)
There are endless opportunities for holiday shopping in NYC, but here are some staples (plus a few theater-related surprises.)
Saks Fifth Avenue
Though it will not be presenting its annual light show this year, the iconic luxury retailer will still put up some gorgeous window displays.
Macy’s at Herald Square
The nation’s first-ever Macy’s never disappoints for the holidays with their window displays and all the holiday magic awaiting inside the 10-story department store.
Bloomingdale’s
The upscale department store’s flagship location on 59th Street delivers holiday cheer every year, but there’s an even more special surprise this time around: all of the 2024 window displays are Wicked-themed in celebration of the film’s release!
The Shops at Columbus Circle
This mall sitting right off the roundabout of Columbus Circle not only offers beautiful light installations — most infamously, a handful of glimmering dangling stars — but each year, a free Broadway concert series is held every week. The casts of various musicals will perform every Thursday for free, beginning November 21, with each cast doing two to three songs. This year’s lineup includes The Notebook, Wicked, The Outsiders, and more. See the full lineup on the website.
Shine Bright at Hudson Yards Mall
Perhaps the most infamous indoor light installation in New York City (and conveniently off the 7 train), the Hudson Yards Mall becomes a gold-dipped fantasy world every holiday season, with thousands of twinkling lights strewn across the ceilings, over 700 evergreen trees, and even a dazzling hot-air balloon serving as the centerpiece.
Festive Food and Drink
Though we can confidently say that Manhattan’s restaurant scene does not take the holidays lightly, and almost any joint you walk into will surely be dressed to the nines in holiday merriment, there are certainly places that are notorious for going all-out. To name just a few, check out:
- Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Times Square: Afternoon tea and English comforts with an elegant Victorian style.
- Rolf’s in Gramercy: German eats with classic holiday decor.
- Sveta in the West Village: Modern Ukrainian dining with atmospheric holiday lighting.
- Loreley on the Lower East Side: Heated outdoor beer garden with a wall of Christmas trees.
- Serendipity3 in Midtown: Larger-than-life frozen hot chocolate (and occasional Broadway show–themed drinks).
- La Grande Boucherie in Midtown: Upscale French dining with a warm, romantic atmosphere.
- Papillon Bistro and Bar in Midtown: French brasserie that boasts massive light-up figurines from floor to ceiling.
However you choose to spend your holiday trip to New York City, we hope it’s as magical as the moment the curtain rises at your favorite Broadway show!