Guide to Christmas Season in New York

Guide to Christmas Season in New York

Christmas is special everywhere around the world, but it’s particularly special in New York City. The city transforms at this time of year, and there’s even more to see and do than usual. The only problem is that all this buzz of activity means that it can be a little overwhelming to narrow down the best sights and activities at Christmas. That’s where Your VIP Pass comes in! We adore our city and we want to help readers get the most out of their NYC Christmas. Some of the activities we recommend will come from us and others are just local places we admire. If you’d like more inspiration, keep reading, and please get in touch if you have any questions about the YVP experiences mentioned in this blog!

Disclaimer: We would love to work on this guide over time, creating a larger NYC at Christmastime resource. But at the time of writing, the COVID-19 pandemic is still at large. This means that some experiences on this list may change in character or availability over time.

See the Rockefeller Tree

Perhaps the most famous Christmas tree in the world, the tree outside the Rockefeller Center is visited by millions of guests and locals each December. Not only is the Rockefeller Tree always absolutely huge, it is also beautifully decorated and lit up to fill even the Grinchiest of hearts with Christmas cheer. This is a must-see if you have children, but it’s also the perfect romantic spot if you’re exploring NYC as a couple.

While it’s not available during the time of writing (due to covid), we’d like to also recommend our VIP Rockefeller Tree Lighting Experience. We’re sure it’ll be back from 2022 onwards and we really look forward to it. With our VIP experience, you’ll enjoy clear and easy views of the tree while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres!

The Central Park Seasonal Holiday Display

If you haven’t had your fill of Christmas lights from the Rockefeller Tree, then you should take a walk through NYC’s most famous park: Central Park. Of course, Central Park is far too big to light up the entire area, so they have created a stunning seasonal holiday display that might not match the grandeur of the Rockefeller Tree but it is still incredible. What makes it look especially beautiful is that the lights and decorations really work with the trees and parkland in the backdrop. You can also catch some beautiful Christmas decoration displays in Prospect Park, Brooklyn; MacDonald Park, Queens; and Mosholu Parkway, The Bronx.

Go Ice Skating at an Outdoor Rink

Ice skating is fun all-year-round, but there is something particularly special about skating outside during Christmas. The decorations go up in NYC and the outdoor rinks pop up in a few select spots around the city! Whether you want to show off your impressive skating skills or you’re just keen to jump into the spirit of the season with both skates on, you can find the best outdoor ice skating at the Rockefeller Center, the Bank of America Winter Village (in Bryant Park), and Industry City (in Brooklyn).

New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop at Times Square is one of the biggest NYE celebrations in the world. If you’re staying in New York City over the entire Christmas period, then you’re in for a treat on New Year’s as the city that never sleeps gets even less sleepy! While any celebration in the city will be great, there’s something special about Times Square, but it can be difficult to secure a good spot to see in the new year. That’s where Your VIP Pass comes in, as we have special VIP New Year’s Eve in NYC packages that secure you the best spot in a spectacular penthouse with lots of champagne, tasty food, and entertainment, including live music!

Visit the Bank of America Winter Village

We mentioned this earlier, in the ice-skating section, but the Winter Village is substantial enough that it deserves its own section in this guide! This huge winter extravaganza appears every year in Bryant Park and it’s a favourite of locals and tourists alike. With 60+ shops and food kiosks, you can grab a bite to eat while you do some last-minute Christmas shopping. You can ice skate, working up an appetite, then fuel up in the restaurants before enjoying a few cocktails. If you’re looking for a place to indulge in everything that makes Christmas great, then the Winter Village is a must.

It’s our hope here at Your VIP Pass that we can continue to build this Christmas guide to New York City over time, adding more incredible attractions and things to do over the holidays. We absolutely adore the city of New York, and we know it’s one of the best places to spend Christmas. If we can convince a few readers to come to our city each year, then we’ll be extremely happy! All that’s left to say is Merry Christmas… and a Happy New Year!