Christmas in New York is enchanting. Americans love to decorate their homes, and the shops extravagantly adorn their windows with festive decorations. The city is always beautifully illuminated but at Christmas, it’s like a fairy tale.
Christmas Day is celebrated on the same day as in Great Britain and Christmas Eve is the night before. It is good to know that Americans do not celebrate Boxing Day, this is something typically British.
Eric's Index
- 1 What can you expect during Christmas?
- 1.1 Christmas Dinner in New York
- 1.2 Christmas Eve in New York
- 1.3 Christmas Day in New York
What can you expect during Christmas?
At Christmas, families come together to eat, drink and give each other gifts. Opening presents on Christmas Day is definitely the main event for American households. Most shops, even big department stores, are closed on Christmas Day, so bear this in mind. Apart from that, there are a lot of other fun things to do at Christmas in New York.
Christmas Dinner in New York
If you want to eat out, make reservations ahead of time: All restaurants are fully booked weeks, even months in advance.
I recommend Boucherie, Peter Luger Steakhouse, Marseille or Bryant Park Grill. If you're visiting New York with a larger group, Italian family restaurant Carmine's is a nice place to go.
Christmas Eve in New York
On Christmas Day, many restaurants are fully booked as New Yorkers go out to have dinner. However, this is not the case for Christmas Eve. Are you in New York over Christmas? It’s always worth trying to book a restaurant on Christmas Day, but if you don’t get a table, go for dinner on Christmas Eve instead. You can take a look at the Christmas Dinner options above.
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Eric’s Tip:“To be sure of a good dining experience, you can also book a Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise. During the dinner cruise, you have a beautiful view of New York City and you can enjoy the food onboard. Another great option for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center!”
Christmas Day in New York
On Christmas Day in New York, it’s nice to just take a walk around town. Take a stroll through the city itself, or head toCentral Park. During your walk, you can always take time to go ice skating, which is a great experience!
Do you want to see a musical or sports game? Then see the real Christmas musical, Radio City Christmas Spectacular! This is a wonderful show with beautifully dressed performers and impressive acts. Often, a basketball game is played at Christmas, so there’s a possibility that the New York Knicks will play on Christmas Day in New York.
If you want to enjoy a nice Christmas cruise on the days around Christmas and, at the same time, admire the beautiful skyline of Manhattan, I recommend the Christmas Spirit cruise. In addition, there’s an option to book a Holiday brunch cruise.
Note: The Statue of Liberty and many museums are closed on Christmas Day. See here what is open on Christmas Day in New York.
Read about experiencing the Christmas spirit in New York here
Will it snow in New York during Christmas?
In general it is not very cold in New York in December. The chances are therefore small that it will snow during the holidays. But the Christmas Spirit in New York is no less!
Can I go out for dinner with Christmas in New York?
Dining in one of the New York restaurants is a fun way to spend your Christmas. There are several recommended restaurants for Christmas in New York. Just make sure to book well in advance. On Christmas Eve, a dinner cruise is great for a cosy Christmas dinner.
Are the shops open with Christmas in New York?
Many shops, even large department stores, are closed on Christmas Day. This also applies to many attractions. Fun activities for Christmas include ice skating or taking a (dinner) cruise.
About the Author
Hey there, I'm Eric! I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.
If you have questions, need more free tips, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.co.uk. You can also follow me on Facebook to get daily updates from New York.
- Posted in Holidays in New York, Things to do in New York at Christmas
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