Spending Christmas in New York? There’s no place quite like NYC during the holiday season! As a New Yorker, the city is at its prettiest when Christmas swings around. The Big Apple transforms into a winter wonderland, adorned with stunning Christmas decorations that dazzle visitors and locals alike. From the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to the high-kicking Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, New York City knows how to celebrate Christmas in style.
But the festive magic doesn’t stop there. Venture to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to witness the jaw-dropping spectacle of elaborately decorated houses, an annual tradition known as the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned New Yorker, there’s no shortage of enchanting things to do in New York at Christmas.
Here are all the best spots to see Christmas decorations in NYC!
Hudson Yards
Shine Bright at Hudson Yards transforms the upscale indoor mall next to the Vessel every year with millions of twinkling lights. Visiting here is one of the best things to do in New York at Christmas and offers some of the best Christmas decorations in NYC!
The main attraction is the main forum, of course, with its iconic glittery hot air balloon and golden sparkling string lights on every surface. However, the rest of the mall doesn’t look too shabby either! Everything from the railings to the escalators is decked out in festive lights. Plus, outside the mall, you can find more hot air balloon light sculptures and take a walk through the garden. With its over-the-top sparkling decor, Hudson Yards is definitely the place to see during Christmas in New York.
Address: Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
Cartier 5th Avenue
The flagship Cartier store is perfectly situated on a street corner. Every year during Christmas, it is transformed into a huge gift box that never fails to catch my eye! It changes slightly every year; a few years ago it was wrapped in a velvet ribbon, and in 2021 they swapped it out for a more high-tech electronic version.
Occasionally, Cartier opts for a different design that doesn’t take advantage of the corner “box” shape, but these never impress me as much. However, this is one of my personal favorite Christmas spots in New York City every season!
Address: 653 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022
The Peninsula Hotel
Plenty of hotels in New York City put up Christmas decorations, but I don’t think any of them can beat the Peninsula Hotel. The lobby is famous for its huge Christmas tree, nutcrackers on guard, and presents strewn everywhere. While the lighting is not the best, there is no better hotel that screams “Christmas in New York.”
However, you can venture past the lobby for more holiday decor as well! The courtyard outside of the bathroom features beautiful Christmas ornaments hanging from the ceiling, and there is a cute hallway with festive lights here as well. I can only imagine how much more Christmas decor you could see if you were staying here.
Address: 700 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting is a New York classic event, and thousands of people flock to watch it every year. As the largest Christmas tree in New York, it takes a lot of effort to put this together annually! When the Rockefeller Center tree goes up, you know it’s almost Christmas in New York City.
When I finally went to see the tree in person, I was amazed: it’s really no joke, and so impressively massive. There are several points of view where you can see the tree in and around the plaza. Since the base of the tree can get quite crowded, don’t be afraid to stray away and view it from afar. Trust me, it’s big enough that you can still see the whole thing. 😉
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
Dyker Heights
The Dyker Heights New York Christmas lights are one of the top attractions to see in the city during the holiday season! This is an upscale neighborhood in Brooklyn that never fails to impress with its Christmas decorations every year. Locals say the festive trend started decades ago when one house put up incredibly over-the-top decor, sparking a friendly competition around the neighborhood to compete for the best lights.
📰 Read more: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights: Everything You Need to Know About the Christmas Spectacle
It takes around an hour to get to Dyker Heights from Manhattan, but seeing the most famous NYC Christmas lights will be entirely worth it. Make sure to stop by the Spata house, allegedly the first to kick off the Dyker Heights Christmas tradition. There is also an abundance of other popular houses for holiday peeping on 83rd and 84th Street.
Address: 1072 80th St 1st. Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11228
Lotte New York Palace
Lotte Palace has one of the most famous Christmas decorations in NYC. Every year, the five-star hotel puts up a towering Christmas tree in its courtyard, decked out in lights and fanciful scarlet ribbons. Personally, I think Lotte Palace’s tree is the prettiest one in all of New York! Visiting it is a must if you’re going to be in New York over Christmas.
In addition, the inside of Lotte Palace is just as beautiful as the famous courtyard. Even though guests can only pass so far into the lobby area, there are two beautiful Christmas trees just inside the doors and elegant staircases wreathed with Christmas greenery.
Address: 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022
Radio City Music Hall
The iconic Radio City Music Hall isn’t just famous during Christmas because of its annual holiday spectacular featuring the Rockettes of NYC. If you’re looking for quintessential Christmas decorations in New York City, you simply must stop by Radio City Music Hall. Its iconic corner Christmas tree, made of tri-color lights, sparkles over some of the best decorations on Sixth Avenue.
In addition, if you’re looking to spot some iconic New York yellow taxis, this is also the perfect place to do so!
Address: 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020
6th Ave Candy Canes
The 6th Avenue Candy Canes are located directly across from the main entrance of Radio City Music Hall. The three sets of massive candy canes show up every year and have been a staple of Christmas in New York.
Most of the time, each candy cane statue also has a chair made of wrapped candies in front of it which makes for a cute photo op!
Address: Corner of 1271 Ave of the Americas, W 50th St, New York, NY 10020
Saks 5th Avenue
Saks 5th Avenue is an iconic and beloved NYC Christmas display. Each year the theme is unique and takes over the massive facade of the Saks department store. The decor usually goes up before Thanksgiving every year but only starts lighting up at night at the end of November.
During the Christmas season, the spot in front of Saks becomes extremely congested because the shows play essentially back to back. Starting at 5 PM, the Saks facade lights up in the beautiful, musically-coordinated display sets to Christmas music. The show runs every 5 minutes until 10:30 PM, offering plenty of opportunities to catch it if you’re in the Midtown area. However, because of the show’s frequency, it’s difficult to get in and out of the streets due to the crowds. make sure to come prepared for some festive fun and a little bit of traffic!
Also, don’t forget to duck into Saks to check out the interior. While the outside is undoubtedly the best crowd-pleaser, there are plenty of smaller displays inside that are very charming and festive as well!
Address: 611 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022
6th Ave Red Ornaments
On the opposite corner of Radio City Music Hall sits a large square fountain. During the holiday season, a large stack of red ornaments appears on top of the fountain, lit by romantic Christmas lights at night. It’s one of the most consistent Christmas decorations in NYC, appearing without fail every year!
While you can take pictures with the ornaments from any angle, I personally suggest walking around behind the ornaments and then shooting your photo towards the street. This way, you can catch the iconic Radio City Music Hall, lit up with its corner Christmas tree, in the background.
Address: 1251 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
NYC Christmas Restaurants, Cafes, and Bars
I’ve written a whole separate article about the best Christmas restaurants in New York, but here’s a quick rundown! Christmas dining in NYC has to be seen to be believed. As the city transforms into a magical tapestry of twinkling lights and festive cheer, the quest for the perfect yuletide dining and drinking experience begins. Here are some of the best Christmas restaurant, bar, and cafe recommendations:
- Rolf’s German Restaurant: an iconic New York Christmas staple crammed with millions of lights and ornaments year-round and never fails to feel festive! Lines stretch around the block near Christmas and reservations need to be made weeks or even months in advance.
- Lillie’s Victorian Restaurant: a gorgeous window filled with vintage Christmas vibes and the iconic “Believe” sign hanging at the top. If you choose to dine inside, you’ll also discover their endless Christmas-themed interior as well.
- Papillon Bistro & Bar: a two-story Christmas restaurant in New York that goes all-out on decor. Giant floating teddy bears, hundreds upon hundreds of string lights, fake snow, and nutcrackers set the festive mood. The venue is surprisingly large for a small entrance and as soon as you step inside, you’ll be greeted by the intricately dressed staircase smothered in jolly Christmas decorations.
📰 Read more: The 10 Most Festive Christmas Restaurants & Bars in NYC
Grand Central Terminal
I don’t see this spot on New York Christmas decoration lists often, because who wants to go to the subway station for Christmas decor? However, I think with its bridge and yellow taxi grandstand, Grand Central is iconic enough that it earns a spot on the Christmas decorations list. A huge wreath is hung over the station entrance every year, and there are also lights under the bridge in red and green. If you want to see the lights, make sure to come in the afternoon when it starts to get dark!
Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Upper East Side / Upper West Side Houses
The elegant and posh Upper East Side is full of classic New York brownstone houses, several of which put up Christmas displays every year. The decorations and houses that put them up seem to change every year, so one of the best things to do is to simply take a walk around and discover them for yourself. However, there are a few “Instagrammable” staples that you simply can’t miss:
- 76th Street between 5th Ave & Madison: Possibly the best stoop in New York City for Christmas decorations. Every year they roll out a red carpet and deck it out with nutcrackers, wreaths, and light-up gift boxes!
- 64th Street and 5th Ave: A more subtle but equally charming home with a Pinkmas theme, including giant candy canes, pink wreaths, and pink and rose gold ornaments.
- 82nd Street between Columbus & Amsterdam: A very understated but beautifully decorated stoop with the most lovely Christmas greenery and white, silver, and gold ornamentation. This one looks a little less nice in photos but it is gorgeous in person!
You can easily walk around UES and UWS and find more homes as more and more places seem to be putting up some kind of decoration every year. Walking around the Upper East Side and Upper West Side to enjoy the classy holiday decor is one of the most relaxing things to do in New York at Christmas!
West Village
West Village has an understated Christmas charm. This area of lower Manhattan is popular due to its many boutique stores and relaxed, upscale vibe. You can find plenty of Christmas decorations here, including storefronts and local brownstone houses. I love this area because it’s never crowded but always feels trendy and up-and-coming!
The Christmas charm of West Village is best explored on foot with no plan, but here are a few stops that I think are worth taking a look at:
- Loveshackfancy West Village: A famously pink store that has the most girlish, coquette Christmas display in New York City.
- 49 Charles Street: a very charming stoop with a Christmas tree on the steps, lots of elegant Christmas greenery, and even a (very) spindly tree hung with ornaments.
- Sezane: More in Soho than West Village, but a boutique fashion store that changes its window displays yearly, including for Christmas!
The Plaza Hotel
Elegantly gracing Fifth Avenue, The Plaza Hotel transforms into a regal masterpiece during Christmas in New York, enchanting visitors with majestic Christmas decorations and several frosted trees in the 5-star hotel’s lobby. As a must-see destination for those seeking the grandeur of Christmas in New York, The Plaza Hotel’s lobby becomes a winter wonderland, offering a timeless and opulent holiday experience.
Often, the Plaza Hotel can be finicky about taking photos. They may shut off the lobby to non-patrons during the busiest part of the holiday season, and several people have run into issues when trying to use a camera instead of a phone. If you want to take photos with the Plaza Hotel’s famous lobby decor, I suggest showing up very early in the morning (before 8 AM) when the staff have not shut off access to the hotel yet.
Address: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Dior 5th Avenue
In the heart of Fifth Avenue, Dior’s flagship store radiates high-fashion holiday opulence, adorned with Christmas decorations that reflect the brand’s sophisticated aesthetic. While the decorations change every year, they always have a gleaming white-and-gold theme, perfect for those who prefer a more understated yet elegant moment. The store’s exquisite decor captures the magic of Christmas in NYC, making it a luxurious and stylish destination for holiday enthusiasts.
Please note that you actually are not allowed to stand on this elevated area as I am in the photos below. The staff was very kind and allowed us to take photos here before telling us that we weren’t supposed to stand on top of it.
Address: 767 5th Ave, New York, NY 10153
Brookfield Place
Downtown Manhattan’s Brookfield Place offers a modern interpretation of Christmas decorations. The iconic Winter Garden becomes a focal point for Xmas in New York, with dazzling displays and artistic installations that redefine the downtown landscape. A carpet of color-changing cube-shaped lights swoops through Brookfield Place’s iconic palm trees, and the sides of the forum are decorated with massive Christmas trees.
Plus, don’t forget to step outside and walk through the tunnel of trees wrapped in sparkling Christmas lights. The holiday decorations at Brookfield Place create a festive atmosphere that resonates with the spirit of Christmas in New York.
Address: 230 Vesey St, New York, NY 10281
Bergdorf Goodman
Synonymous with couture Christmas splendor, Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue captivates passersby with holiday decorations that seamlessly intertwine fashion and magic. The department store’s windows become whimsical scenes, making it a must-visit destination for a luxurious Christmas shopping experience amidst the style and glamour of NYC during Christmas.
I’m always impressed by how eccentric yet festive the BG windows are every year, and they always come up with more and more interesting displays. If you’re interested in high-end holiday decor and avant-garde Christmas displays, Bergdorf Goodman is the place to see in New York over Christmas.
Address: 754 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
New York Stock Exchange
Deep in the Financial District at the very bottom of Manhattan, the New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree is a symbol of festivity on the usually austere and commanding Wall Street. While it’s not quite as large as the famous tree in Rockefeller Center, the New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree is plenty massive and lights up Lower Manhattan. It’s a wonderful sight to see every year and adds a much-needed splash of light and color to the Financial District during Christmas.
Address: 19-1 Broad St, New York, NY 10005
That wraps it up for the best holiday decor locations in New York City! From the opulence of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to the sparkling neighborhoods of Brooklyn, each spot contributes to the collective magic of Christmas in New York. I hope that this comprehensive guide ensures your festive journey through NYC is a cherished experience, capturing the universal spirit of Christmas in New York at its most magical. Wishing you a joyous and memorable holiday season amidst the wonders of the Big Apple!
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