We just got back from a week long holiday in New York City! Christmas is our favorite time of year and we love traveling to different cities to see how they celebrate the holidays. There is definitely something magical about being in New York around the holiday season. The bustling city of Manhattan is adorned with sparkling lights, evergreens and there is something wonderfully surprising around every corner. After seeing as much as we possibily could during our time in New York we’ve compiled a list of some of the most festive things going on in the city, guaranteed to invoke your Christmas spirit!

Rockefeller Center

The most iconic Christmas tree in New York stands tall in the Rockefeller Center. This enormous tree is 75 feet tall and towers over the ice skating rink in the plaza below. It is densely decorated with over 50,000 multicolored lights! And on top of this beautiful tree is a giant Swarovski-crystal star which is comprised of over 3 million crystals and weighs 900 pounds. It’s an impressive sight to see and shouldn’t be missed if you are in New York during Christmas.

5th Avenue Window Shopping

After checking out the Rockefeller Center head down Fifth Avenue to admire the artistic window displays put up by the department stores. This stroll will take you past some of the most famous department stores in the world like, Cartier, Tiffany & Co. & more. But we have to say the winner of the best window displays has to go to Bergdorf Goodman! Their window displays were unbelievabley detailed and unique.

TIP: Stop by Victoria’s Secret and you can see all of the stunning Angel Wings from the last Victoria Secret Fashion Show.

Bryant Park Holiday Market

Christmas in the city doesn’t get much better than a holiday market. The Christmas Market in Bryant Park has it all. A beautiful Christmas tree, an ice skate rink, great Christmas shopping, good food, and a rad bar.

Dinner or a drink at Rolf’s

Okay, so we were bummed but we didn’t get a chance to go inside Rolf’s German Restaurant during our trip. This place is one of the most decorated spots in the city thousands of ornaments and lights cover every square inch of this place. You will definitely need a reservation if you would like to eat dinner here but Rolf’s also has a bar area for walk-ins. We made our way over to Rolf’s hoping that we could sneak in for a drink and a photo but the line was too long. We debated waiting in line but just didn’t have time. If you are visiting New York and would like to go to Rolf’s make a reservation, show up early before they open, or just be prepared to wait in line. We’ve heard it’s worth the wait! Definitely on our list for next time.

Union Square Christmas Market

The largest Christmas Market in the city is right above the subway in Union Square Park. Tons of tiny huts are lined up with vendors selling gifts, toys, treats, apple cider and more. If you are looking to buy some Christmas presents this is a great spot.

TIP: If you visit Union Square Holiday Market head across the park and you can also see the Union Square Farmers Market. This market is a New York staple and goes on throughout the year. This market is full of fresh ingredients and is used by many local chefs to shop for their restaurants.

Sak’s Fifth Avenue Light Show

One of the most dazzling Christmas decorations in the city is the light show on the front of Saks Fifth Avenue. It only goes off during the night when it’s darkest outside but it is worth braving the cold and crowds to witness this beautiful light display.

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Ice skating in Central Park

Ice skating in Central Park with our family is a memory we will cherish forever. It’s fun, festive, and in an iconic location.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

We happened to stumble across this little Christmas Market while we were exploring Central Park. We rented Citibikes are rode almost completely around the Park one day. It was a lot of fun, especially when we ended up at this cute Holiday Market right on Columbus Circle. There were stalls selling food, drinks and gifts. A fun stop if you are near Central Park.

Nutcracker Rouge

Looking to see something other than the Nutcracker Ballet this holiday season? Then head to Bushwick in Brooklyn and see the Nutcracker Rouge. This wild show was part burlesque, part cirque de sole and part Nutcracker. The theater and bar alone were something out of a noir film and the show was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Definitely worth checking out if you are in New York City during the holidays.

Grab a drink at a Beautifully Decorated Christmas Bar

There are so many wonderful bars decorated for Christmas in New York. We loved visiting Pete’s Tavern near Union Square for a drink before dinner. This is one of the oldest bars in Manhattan and has been open since 1864. The ceiling was covered in red lights and there were garlands and wreaths everywhere.

Another cozy Christmas bar we loved was Swift Hibernian Lounge between Bowery & Lafayette. This low-key Irish bar was darkly lit, illuminated by the Christmas lights and wreaths hanging around the bar. Their Irish Coffee was delicioius and the perfect pick-me up after a day exploring the city. Pony up to the bar and enjoy this cozy little spot.

We also grabbed a drink at Theif in the Lower East side which was decked out in holiday lights and decor. This tiki-bar really went all out with the decorations, even the bartenders were wearing Santa hats. We got the mai-tai and it was delicious.

Another beloved bar in New York is the Bemelman’s Bar in the Carlyle Hotel in the Upper East Side. Open since 1947 this classy bar has live piano music, classic cocktails and is a perfect place for a before or after dinner drink. The hotel is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

A dirty martinii at Bemelman’s Bar. - photo by Bemelman’s Bar

Another fun place for a holiday cocktail is Miracle on 9th Street. This Christmas-themed pop-up bar offers seasonal drinks in a super festive setting. The cocktails are fun and creative, make sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

Christmas at Oscar Wilde - photo by Oscar Wilde

Lastly for a great vibe head to Oscar Wilde. This bar decorates for every holiday so make sure to visit if you are here during Halloween or Christmas. It’s a bigger bar which is great for a large group.

Dine at Boucherie

One of our favorite French restaurants in the city. We love eating at Boucherie every time we visit New York and it’s even better during Christmas. There are 3 locations, one in Greenwich, one near Union Square, and La Grand Boucherie, the largest of the 3 is located uptown near Rockefeller Tree. We have visited all 3 and they are all lovely. We love La Grand Boucherie because it is located at this stunning indoor atrium. There is a huge glistening Christmas tree right inside the building and the large mirrors above the bar are outlined in Christmas garlands. We love everything on their menu, especially their steak frites, mussels, steak tartar, duck & chocolate mousse. Dinner at Boucherie will transport you immediately to Paris!

The Christmas tree at La Grand Boucherie

We hope you enjoyed our list to some of the most festive things happening in New York during the holidays. And we hope you find yourself there one day because there is nothing more magical than New York City this time of year.