New York Christmas

[bert3400]

We are off to New York the week of Christmas - fly back Christmas Eve. Has anyone any 'must do's' while we are there ? TIA

Central park ice rink
Rockerfella centre
Hot chocolate at serendipity
Ellen's stardust diner
Show on broadway
A tuk tuk ride (driven by someone on a bike) in and around Central Park

I went at the same time a few years back and it was my first trip there so I was just thrilled to be there full stop. All the usual sights of the city which you probably know about already but I would recommend The Rockettes show at Radio City. Very Christmassy and cheesy but a must do.
Saks on fifth avenue have a light show on the outside of the store every night which is lovely.
Rockerfeller Centre for the ice skating - we just watched.
Central park.
The Christmas trees and decorations dotted all over the place outside.

Honestly just being there is amazing .

I'm going too, so watching with interest.

I’d love to go. Where is everyone flying from? Just the usual london airports? (We’re far away from decent airports!)

It's not festive but I lived Ellis Island . Amongst all the razz matazz it was a very interesting antidote.

Loved

Search for the best New York bagel on Google, get one and eat it in Central Park like a true new yorker

cheesy carriage ride but it’s so lovely with the blankets at christmas

walk the high line

chelsea markets

little Eatily

we saw the Nutcracker Ballet at Christmas and it was amazing and so Christmassy!

if you go into Bloomingdale’s, go to the help/info desk and they give you loads of various coupons for in there and around the city!

if you want to go to Statue of Liberty, get the first boat out, it will be quietest, don’t get off at liberty island, you have a better view from the boat, get off at Ellis island (next stop) there will be literally next to no one there. It’s incredible and so moving, and the views of Manhattan are amazing!

go up the chrisler building at night and the rocker fella in the day time for different perspectives of the city

have a fab time, Christmas time will be packed and cold so prepare for that. And good footwear! I had boots from new look and was crippled by day 2. Ended up in ugg boots (I know, I know) but my god they were comfy!

Dyker Heights. It's an area in Brooklyn where everyone decorates their homes with Christmas lights. Don't bother paying for a tour, we took the subway there (think it was just under an hour possibly from our hotel) and just walked round. I was so jealous of the houses and the lights.

The Rockettes Christmas show at radio city hall

Thank you everyone, some great suggestions.

@Brightredbiffabin we are flying from Spain as that where we live, but flying from NY to Edinburgh, as that's where we will spend Christmas & NY .
But London has a huge amount of choice for flights .
Jet Blue would of been my preferred airline if we were flying out of London, thier service and legroom are very very generous .

I live in NYC. I strongly suggest the Christmas markets - there's one at Union Square, one at Bryant Park and one at Columbus Circle.

If you want to see the tree at Rockerfeller Center and check out the 5th ave holiday windows, I suggest doing it very early in the morning, or very late at night. Otherwise it will be absolutely rammed.

so glad to have found this thread - thinking of doing the same - its just my teen and I - we are going to spend after Christmas and NY with a friend outside of NYC but thinking of flying in to spend Christmas there for the hell of it.

Any ideas on accommodation in NY for Christmas time?

love the idea of the Rocketts show at Radio City

@Ginfilledcats

its possible to go up the Chrysler building ?

It might not be cold - we went Xmas 2015 and it was T-shirt weather on some of the days.
Might have been a freak year but check the weather before you go.

We loved Statue of Liberty boat tour, freedom tower and ice rink at rockafella.
Also amazing NY coffee...yum!

@Brightredbiffabin we are flying from Msdrid as we live in Spain . But my Adult son is flying from London, there are flights from Manchester and Scotland as well if that's closer

Chrysler building do not offer any public access tickets but the public can enter the lobby area

The Rockettes Christmas show at the Radio city music hall is well worth it

American Girl place on Rockefeller Plaza if you have daughters.

@tanstaafl I believe there's a dentist with a great view in the Chrysler Building if you fancy a cleaning, but otherwise, no.

cheesy carriage ride but it’s so lovely with the blankets at christmas
Not so lovely for the horse🙄

If you plan on ice skating please ensure your travel insurance has winter sports included.

Please don't do a horse and carriage ride around Central Park. The horses are so badly looked after it's disgusting and should be made illegal.

You can see horrible videos on you tube. Shocking animal cruelty.

Take a pedi cab tour instead. Someone like Frankie Legs.