Travel Planning Made Simple. Create Your Own Itinerary.
Christmas in New York
Written by Preetha Manivelan on August 20, 2020 Share on

New York In December – For An Exciting And Fun-Filled New York Holiday

December is one of the fun times to visit any destination but trips to New York from the United Kingdom, are something more special. New York, located in the U.S., is such a charming city to visit at any time of the year. It is indeed great for a New Year city break as it will be filled with a lot of celebrations. Imagine a city like New York, beautifully lit up with holiday lightings, filled with musical concerts and special events on the street and so much more. Though there are many celebrations all year round, New York in December is something epic and every travel enthusiast must try visiting this city during this time to see how beautiful a celebration can be.

New York, the U.S.
Photo by Matteo Catanese on Unsplash

Visitors from the United Kingdom just flock here in December and is considered to be the peak season in New York. But why it is the best place for New Year city breaks? What’s special? New York travel is just known for its festivals that showcase different cultures, especially Christmas in New York is people’s favourite. No matter the US is called the ‘melting pot of the world’ because of its cultural integration. Also, trips to New York in December is one of the best times for holiday shopping, witnessing fireworks and sightseeing too.

Fireworks in New York in December
Photo by Jason Forrest on Unsplash

How’s the weather like in New York in December?

You will experience freezing cold on your New York travel during this time. The day temperatures would range between 7°C during daytime and -1°C during nights. Moreover, the total hours of daylight will be nine per day with five hours of sunshine which would be pleasant. You can expect a little rain at times, especially by the end of December so be prepared!

Things to do in New York in December

Looking for New Year city break and fun things to do there? You must consider visiting New York in December and here is why. Though there is a huge list of things to do in New York, we have managed to pull 10 fun things to do in New York in December which are listed below.

  1. Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center
  2. Window Shopping on 5th Avenue
  3. Ice Skate in Central Park
  4. Visiting Times Square
  5. Wander around the Christmas Markets

1. Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center

Tree lighting ceremony has always been the best part of a magical New York December holiday for the locals and visitors alike. The first tree was erected in the year 1931 and from then, it has become a tradition during Christmas in New York where there will be a lot of live performances happening around. Amazing, isn’t it?

Though the decorations have changed over the years, the love and excitement that people have for visiting the Rockefeller Center during Christmas in New York, especially for the tree lighting ceremony have been a constant or may be increasing over the years.

Rockefeller Center
Image Credits: Google Images

2. Window Shopping on 5th Avenue

If you have a plan of visiting Fifth Avenue in New York during December, then you are surely in for a treat. While entering itself, you will feel the holiday vibes with the holiday lights and decorations all around the place. Every storefront will have a unique theme and a unique way of displaying it. Hence, window shopping on Fifth Avenue is a must-do during your New York travel in December.

5th Avenue in December
Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

3. Ice Skate in Central Park

Ice-skating at Central Park is an iconic activity that one must try during December. There are two places in the park where you can try ice-skating which are Wollerman Rink and Lasker Rink. No wonder this place is captured in some of the Hollywood movies because of how beautiful it can look during winter.

4. Visiting Times Square

Looking for one of the best free things to do in New York in December? Then you must check out Times Square. It has always been a must-visit place but during December, it attracts millions of people because of the exciting things it has. The best thing about New Year’s Eve in Time Square is to watch the ball drop. So, make sure you visit the place during this time to witness fireworks, live concerts and musical performances. And if you are lucky, you can get a view of the ball drop while grabbing a meal in any of the nearby restaurants.

Times Square
Photo by Nicolai Berntsen on Unsplash

5. Wander around the Christmas Markets

Wandering in a place that gives you so much excitement to shop or to eat is everything you need to make your evening awesome. If you feel the same here, then holidays markets in New York are must-visits for you. There you can shop a large variety of stuff from clothing to jewellery to home goods to handbags to arts and crafts to Christmas tree decors. New York is indeed a shopper’s paradise. Once after you are done with shopping, you can grab a meal in any of the restaurants nearby or street food stalls.

So while making your way to New York in December, make sure you have some time in hand to check out the holiday markets put there. Visit any of these or even all of these as it is as important as visiting New York’s famous attractions. Some of the markets to check out are The Union Square Holiday Market, Columbus Circle, Bryant Park’s Winter Village and Grand Central Holiday Fair.

Tips for your New York December holiday

  • Make sure you book the tickets well in advance as New York in December is going to be crowded with tourists and it is a peak season there. Also, note that the price for the flight tickets and hotels will be on a higher side.
  • If you don’t celebrate Christmas on your New York travel, then you can head out to Chinatown to grab a meal or catch a movie in any of the theatres in New York to keep your day fun-filled.

Spending your New York December holiday can be expensive compared to other months but trust me, it’s completely worth it. As we all know, the week of Christmas to New Year is always the most fun week of all and how about spending your Christmas in New York? Sounds cool, doesn’t it?

So, what stops you from creating your own holiday to New York in December? Take a look at the Pickyourtrail website and check out some cool New York holiday packages. Customise it if you would like. And, in case you have any inquires, reach out to us via Whatsapp.

Have the best holiday of your life in New York with Pickyourtrail!

Related Itineraries

Note: The images that are being published here are the author's choice, and the organisation takes no responsibility for their usability.