The Complete Holiday Guide to New York City

This is worth a quick stop-over if you're going to be shopping at the Holiday Market at Columbus Circle! Go to one of the upper floors for the best view.

Floating Christmas Trees on the Harlem Meer... yes! If this were at the bottom of Central Park it would be a mob scene. Because it's at the northern tip, it gets much less attention. It is out of the way of all the Midtown activities, so see if you can fit this in if you find yourself in the Harlem area during your trip.

Located inside the PUBLIC Hotel, walk to the garden to discover... one of New York's most unique Christmas Trees. It was made of Disco Balls in 2022, I believe it's coming back in 2023... stay tuned!

The whole area is illuminated with lights and displays. This was new for 2021, so I don't know how 2022 will look. If you're going to the Highline and finish at night, go for a walk. Surprise yourself.

Not as interesting as the Bryant Park Winter Village. You will find different vendors, so if holiday shopping is your goal then add this to your itinerary.

The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is all about location. You can pair this with a skate at Wollman Rink after and also head to see the Timer Warner Building Display. This isn't very far from Fifth Ave either!

My wife Adriana is an NYC Artist, and her Big Apple inspired Art ships around the world. If you want to pre-buy one of her holiday themed postcards/stickers or more check out her online shop to support a local artist!

Named after the famous Irish poet/playwright and Victorian themed. I get asked all the time, "Where can we have a nice dinner for Christmas Eve?". Oscar Wilde's checks all the boxes, and during the holidays it is one of the most festively decorated restaurants in the city. Average pricing for the area, I highly recommend a reservation for the holidays and for Christmas Eve it's a MUST. FUN FACT: They have New York's Longest Bar at 118.5 feet.

The same owners as Oscar Wilde's owns this spot. They also go all out on the Holiday Themed Decor. Vintage vibes and being so close to Times Square you wonder how this place could exist here.

A German restaurant, that is world famous for it's excessive Holiday decorations.Some tourists absolutely adore this place. I've heard nothing but negative reviews about the food & service. If you must come... I recommend going early and sitting at the bar for 1 (very expensive) drink. Take your photos and be on your way. But I recommend other spots that are holiday themed more (Oscar Wilde's and Lillies).

One of the crown jewels of Central Park. I'm only mentioning this, if you have a big budget and want a fancy Christmas Eve or Day Meal. You won't be disappointed. Tavern on the Green is pure class. In 2021, it was $135 per person, prixe fixe and a 20% gratuity added at the end. Reservations opened in Late October, so if you want to spend Christmas Day here, inquire with them early about getting a table. This will fill up fast. This is even worth having a nice meal outside of Christmas and during the Holidays! Be prepared to spend.

This is an absolutely, expensive experience. But a few of you may be up for it. There's only 4 heated domes and this is some of the most prime Christmas Real Estate in NYC. Details from City Winery: At Winter Dome there will be a minimum food and beverage spend of up to $150 from 1-3:45 p.m. and $250 from 4 p.m. onward, for up to eight guests. Reservations will give guests 90 minutes in the exclusive private space to snack and drink as they’d like. If you want to get there and make the most of your time, City Winery also allows you to do a pre-order of menu items! Reservations will open in November, see the link below.

The Standard is a trendy hotel and rooftop bar in the hip East Village of Manhattan. You can rent alpine yurts in the rooftop garden of their restaurant Narcisa. Complete with faux fur, it's not your everyday Holiday experience. In years past this required a $65 per person minimum for a fondue pacakge. A luxury experience, although not as pricey as the Igloos at Rockfeller Center. I hear good things about the Hot Cider. Make reservations in advance!

If you want to cap off your experience at the Peninsula Hotel, head up stairs during the holidays when it's transformed into a Swiss Chalet. They have some of the most expensive cocktails in the city though at $24+... You've been warned. If you want to pop bottles for $500+ you can even rent one of their igloos.

Very trendy and hip rooftop bar in the Lower East Side. I'd recommend this for my viewers under 30, but anybody can enjoy their Veuve Clicquot Winter Chalet during the holidays. This is basically a ski chalet in a bubble on a 15th floor rooftop. Apple Cider Mimosas, Champagne, and light bites are the most popular. Reservations open around November 15th, and if you want to partake make one as soon as possible.

This sold out most of 2021, and is back at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for 2022. The show originated 9 years ago in England at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and features works by artists from all over the world and from New York. There are plenty of light sculptures, but also the garden's natural works of art – trees, are illuminated by artists. The price is $45 for adults, which I think is a bit high for the experience. Children 3-12 are $24, and 0-2 are FREE. If you're in Brooklyn or have friends here, this could be a fun activity to try together. Dedicate around 90 minutes to it. It's approximately 30 minutes from Midtown.

I've never gone to this, but am planning on attending in 2022 (and will update this guide after I do). This is just 20 minutes from Grand Central Station in Midtown: Take the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station (Bronx), located directly across the street from the Garden’s Mosholu Entrance. That's the most direct method I would recommend for tourists. The Holiday Train Show has been around for 31 years, and has model trains zipping through a display of more than 175 famous New York landmarks each re-created from natural materials such as pine cones, acorns, and seeds. The cost by itself (*2021 pricing) was $32 and $49 with the NYBG Glow attached. What is NYBG Glow? It's an outdoor wonderland featuring thousands of dazzling lights—newly expanded this year with 1.5 miles of colorful displays. After seeing some videos and reading reviews, I am very intrigued. Being in the Bronx (but highly accessible from Grand Central) this won't get the hoardes of other touristy attractions. I also feel like this is a better value than the stand alone show at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and actually closer as well from Midtown. This looks like a win for families with children. Reserve tickets in the link below. See attached videos to see if it's right for you.