New York City for Christmas

[Ym37]

I am planning to go to New York for a pre-Christmas break this year does anyone know when the Christmas decorations and trees go up? Thanks

We've been mid November through to Christmas and certainly everything is very Christmassy from Thanksgiving onwards. :) It is utterly magical!

Thanksgiving onwards everything will be Christmassed up!

We were just there between Christmas and New Year. It was exceptionally busy but we had a brilliant time and managed to see/do all that we wanted to. If you're able to, book to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall - it was amazing!

Thanks! I think we will go just after thanksgiving.

What was the weather like? Do you have any other recommendations on things to do? I have never been before!!

The Rockefeller tree lights are not turned on until the first Wednesday after thanksgiving..there's a brilliant Facebook page called NYC the place to be...great tips and advice

My top tips...Empire State the morning after you arrive..you will be awake and ready for road..the online tickets are valid for a year, so you can decide on the morning how the weather is looking.
Harbour Lights Cruise...simply amazing...7pm...it's dark...beautiful, guided tour, takes 1.5 hours, passes Statue of Liberty at night...fab. Have you a hotel booked? Knicks game in Madison Square Gardens? Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero, top of the rock, Central Park, Chinatown? Canal street for cheap handbags..Saks store does a beautiful light and music display at Christmas, every 10 minutes...it's packed outside though around Christmas, but very magical. Grand Central Terminal, St Patrick's Cathedral (stunning) ..shopping in 5th Avenue or A day trip shopping to Woodbury Common or Jersey gardens.

We watched the lighting of the Rockefeller tree (week after Thanksgiving) - I would highly recommend it - we queued a few hours beforehand but it was a great atmosphere. Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis and a few others performed in front of the tree as well which was fun. There’s also the radio city Christmas show which is festive

We went on 30th Nov '16, everything seemed to happen that weekend, Rockerfeller lights, Saks etc. It was amazing. Too many people for dh's liking, the Saturday night 7pm coming out of TOTR was a bit like being lost and crushed in a crowd we didn't think it through.

You must do the Highline, it's one of my most favourite parts. We were there for 6 days and had brilliant weather, cold but dry and clear.

We stayed in the financial district as it was quiet over the weekend and there was a tax we didn't have to pay as we were out of the tourist area. It was also quieter on an evening. Walking distance to Battery Park.

We booked one of the passes and used it for Empire State, TOTR and Ground Zero museum (which was amazing, so tastefully done). You don't have to pay full price for Nat History Museum, you can make an offer (you have to queue for a teller) and we paid $10 each as only had 2 hours to spare. TBH I wish we hadn't bothered as we didn't find it any more amazing than London but we did then walk down back past John Lennon's home and through central park.

Oh I could just go on about it for hours.....