David and I wanted to visit New York City during the holiday season, so when our June anniversary trip to Montreal was cancelled because of a mechanical issue on the plane, we decided this was the year we’d make our trip to NYC. We had such an amazing trip and the city is truly magical during the holiday season. Our travel plans included a general idea of where we wanted to go, but no definitive plans or reservations so we could see where the trip took us. My favorite part of NYC is simply walking around through the different neighborhoods and finding places to pop in and out, and we did just that. We averaged 10 miles walking each day, so I’ve included a section on what we wore to stay comfortable, warm, and exploring approved at the end. Here is our complete travel guide to Christmas in New York!
Christmas in New York: a Complete Travel Guide
Where to See the Decorations
We spent the weekend wandering around taking in the holiday scenes. Our first stop after checking in to our hotel was to eventually make our way to the Rockefeller Center. It was truly gorgeous despite the crowds and the lights and music display at Saks is the perfect backdrop as well. Other notable favorites:
Where to Take in Holiday Views
There are so many lovely bars and restaurants that are all decked out. We enjoyed popping in and out of them to warm up and enjoy the decorations.
Where to Shop Holiday Markets
David and I really loved shopping the holiday markets. We grabbed a cup of hot chocolate and walked through window shopping.
Where to Eat
We didn’t make reservations anywhere we ate, but instead would find places to stop while wandering around. We averaged about 10 miles a day walking, so we would stop for a snack in between meals as well. We discovered Patzeria Family & Friends on our first trip to NYC last fall, and it was the only place that we ate at both times. We’re big fans of the food, the vibe, and the friendliness. Our favorite place we ate this time was The Dead Rabbit, which came as a recommendation from a follower on Instagram.
- Patzeria Family & Friends
- Scruffy Duffy’s
- Sarabeth’s
- Molly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant Sheeban
- Sal’s Pizza Place
- Pick-a-Bagel
- The Dead Rabbit
- The Hog Pit
Keep scrolling for our itinerary!
Other Highlights from Our Trip
Our Christmas in New York City Itinerary
Day 1 in New York City
Explore Hell’s Kitchen
Day 2 in New York City
Day 3 in New York City
Where to Stay for your Christmas Trip in New York City:
Last year, we stayed in Hell’s Kitchen at Kimpton Ink48 and absolutely adored the location. We found it easy to get around both by subway and be walking with lots of interesting restaurants and bars around. This year, we opted to stay here again and we were not disappointed. I love Kimpton amenities and that they renovate their hotels from historic buildings. Ink48 was once a newspaper building, so there are nods to that history throughout. All dogs are welcome to stay, plus there is coffee and tea every morning and a wine hour in the evening.
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