Free Guide To New York City During The Holidays
New York City (NYC) is truly a MAGICAL place
Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves, hasn’t found the right area to suit their liking, orrr is KIDDING themselves. Hahahaha. I just MIGHT be partially biased because I was born and raised in the state of New York, so NYC will always hold a special place in my heart.
I made this guide because tourists often miss out on things when they travel simply because they are unaware that these places exist. The suggestions in this walking tour are easy to follow and because everything is located in Midtown Manhattan so you can easily walk from one place to the next. If you have mobility issues I would skip the Empire State Building and start on 5th Ave so the walking is minimal. The best part about this outdoor NYC walking tour is that it’s completely FREE!
Don’t feel like reading?
When Should You Visit
If you have never been to NYC, in my opinion, Christmas time is the best time to go. *Sings* “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!” There is just something sensational about visiting during Christmas time. Everyone is in a jolly mood, the city is filled with beautiful lights, and there are more free things to do than normal. Even if you aren’t visiting during the holiday season all of the places on this tour are still worth the visit in the off-season.
What To Do
Empire State Building
You really shouldn’t visit NYC without visiting the Empire State Building. This historic building is a symbol not just for New York, but honestly for the entire United States. It is known as the Most Famous Building In The World and was just voted the Number 1 Attraction in the United States in 2022 by TripAdvisor. The ESB has no shortage of things to do inside its walls like…
- Observation Decks on the 86th & 102nd Floors
- Over 10 different Exhibits
- Shopping
- Restaurants
The last time I was in NYC I visited the NEW Starbucks Reserve at the ESB and it’s absolutely a vibe for date night, sneaky links, and brunch with the girls. It’s hard to believe that this 3 story hideaway is a Starbucks! Hurry and make reservations for the restaurant or one of the experiences.
After exiting the Empire State Building you are going to walk up 5th Avenue.
5th Avenue
If you actually walked from the Empire State Building there are many sights along the way like the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. A big part of the holiday season involves shopping. Many flagship stores call 5th Ave home. Fifth Avenue stores are on the pricier side but don’t fret, window shopping is just as great around this time of year as well. The storefronts are usually really special for Christmas. If you don’t go to any of the stores you need to stop by Saks 5th Avenue at night. Saks 5th Ave has a beautiful light show that is projected on the outside of the building, every 10 minutes, starting at 17:00 (5 PM) and ending at 23:00 (11 PM).
Rockefeller Center
If you turn around from Saks’ light show you will be at Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Plaza is probably one of the most recognizable locations in NYC due to the enormous Christmas Tree on display during the holiday season. There are so many things to do at this location it could probably warrant a post of its own.
- The Christmas Tree At Rockefeller Center (On Display Starting 11 November 2023)
- Ice Skating (Opens 4 November 2023)
- Go To A Live Taping at NBC Studios – Tickets are usually free
•Saturday Night Live (SNL)
•The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
•Late Night with Seth Meyers
•many other shows
- Top Of The Rock Observation Deck
- View The Large Golden Statue, Prometheus
- Channel Gardens (Christmas Angels)
- Shopping
Radio City Music Hall
Even as an adult these ladies were still entertaining. Maybe even more so as I fully understood the dynamic of what was really going on. Like, wait that’s the same Rockettes in every scene? Do you mean to tell me it’s the same ladies for every outfit change? And just knowing that 36 women can go from scene to scene seamlessly just adds more magic to the show. While the show has changed a bit (they put in some 3D elements), some parts still haven’t changed. To be completely honest these tickets are pretty expensive if you buy them directly from Radio City. BUTTTT if you are savvy like me you could at least look for discounted tickets. I was lucky enough to find them on Groupon (check for the link under the location) for a great steal!
Giant Christmas Ornaments
Along 6th Avenue, you can find Giant Christmas Ornaments also known as Gigantic Holiday Cheer. The most popular of the set is the gigantic red ornaments. They can be found across the street from Radio City Music Hall at 1251 Sixth Avenue. If you walk along Sixth Avenue you can see quite a few beautiful oversized decorations.
My family has been taking pictures in this exact spot for years.
2015
2022
Times Square
Times Square is a good place to visit regardless of the time of year. With all the tall buildings and flashy lights, it’s a wonder how people could look away. It really is captivating, especially for someone who has never been there. In 2013, I went to Times Square to see the ball drop. This was on my Bucketlist and I was so happy I got to complete it. The energy you could feel from that place was electric.
Even though it was like 9 degrees Fahrenheit that day, people stood in the cold from around noon just to see the ball drop at midnight. We got lucky while we were out there and ran into a cousin who happened to be working that night. He was nice enough to escort us close enough that we had a perfect view. While I would suggest you get there early if you want to actually get a good spot to see the ball drop make sure you are dressed properly and pee before you leave the house or wear a diaper. Even if it is not cold when you leave the house wear layers. Another alternative to standing in the cold is to get a hotel that overlooks Time Square and view the show from the warmth of your room. It will be expensive but not impossible to book if you plan ahead and have plenty of money to spend.
I hope you enjoyed this guide. Please look for more guides from me in the future.😊
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