Here are my favorite New York traditions for this festive holiday season.

Explore the tree at Rockefeller Center

It’s a magical moment to be in Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve, wandering around as people are singing carols or listening to live performances. The whole crowd fills you with joy! I love walking through the beautiful plaza, admiring all of the ice sculptures, and even better, skating on it!

I consider the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree to be one of my favorite aspects of the Rockefeller Center experience. The tree is seriously stunning and everywhere you look you will see a show stopping experience of lights.

Shop for holiday gifts in Byrant Park

When looking to find a holiday gift look no further than the holiday shops at Byrant Park! You will find something that makes a perfect gift for the person on your list.

I love to go around, look at all of the different items and pick out just one special item. Bryant Park has amazing holiday shops so if you are looking for some inexpensive gifts then this is where you should be going! It’s always a lot of fun being in Bryant Park during Christmas time because it really does feel like Christmas.

Eat Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3

For a yummy holiday treat head over to Serendipity 3. This is a great place to get any holiday-themed food like hot chocolate, eggnog, or Christmas cookies!

I had my first experience at Serendipity with their scrumptious hot chocolate and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love how chocolatey it is and I also adore their flavored whipped cream.

Take a walk through Central Park and enjoy the beautiful holiday lights

There’s a lot going on in Central Park during the holiday season. For one thing, it is absolutely decked out with beautiful Christmas lights.

It has become a tradition to go explore the park to see all of the different Christmas trees. They are just so festive and a great place to spend an evening with friends or family!

The Park also offers several events during the holidays such as caroling, ice skating, live shows, food festivals, tree lighting ceremony and more! You can’t go wrong spending your holiday in Central Park.

See the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Lincoln Center 

You can’t go wrong with this ballet, from Tchaikovsky’s masterful music to the captivating choreography, the Nutcracker is always set to deliver a transformative experience.

The New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition for over 50 years and is one of the most beloved holiday-themed classical ballets in America. If you have never seen it before then I highly recommend seeing The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center Plaza! You won’t regret it!

Go ice skating at Bryant Park Skating Rink in Manhattan

If you’re looking for a winter snowy activity, Bryant Park Skating Rink in Manhattan is an absolute must.

The Ice Skating rink is outdoors so no matter what the weather, you can go ice skating at Bryant Park! The best part about this activity is that it doesn’t require any equipment. All you need to bring are your skates and some money for food or a drink from one of the nearby vendors while you wait in line. Then enjoy an hour out on the rink with friends or family! It’s such a fun thing to do during winter break – especially if there are few snow days left before Christmas Eve.

After skating make sure to head over to the holiday shops and grab some yummy hot chocolate from the No Chewing Allowed holiday booth. This classic booth always has a line because their hot chocolate is really that good!

Visit the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

Next up on the list is the Radio City Music Hall! The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular is unlike any other show in the city – it’s like an all-out holiday extravaganza! The music, the lights, and the atmosphere are sure to have a spirit-lifting effect on anyone who attends. I recommend getting there early because it does get crowded quickly after doors open at Radio City Musical Hall. You don’t want to be late for this show!

Take a walk through Grand Central Terminal and admire all the holiday decorations 

Grand Central Terminal is always decorated with Christmas lights and every year they are even more extravagant than before. Stroll through Grand Central Terminal and take your time admiring all of the different decorations. From Santa Claus handing out candy canes, to stringed white lights hung everywhere, there’s not much better during winter break than visiting one of America’s most iconic landmarks – especially when it has an added touch of festive cheer.

Make sure to look up and see the ceilings consultation up above. The station is cover with beautiful celestial zodiac signs.

Macy’s on Herald Square Holiday Windows

Macy’s is one of the best places in New York City to do your Christmas shopping. The theme changes each year, but the Macy’s window displays always have a nice mix of puppetry and screens to create the magic. Macy’s Santaland is set on the corner of 34th Street and 6th Avenue.

Visit the Dyker Heights Neighborhood

When it comes to entering a full Christmas Vilalge the best place to go to see extravagant Christmas lights is Dyker Heights. They have such an NYC holiday atmosphere that you can’t help but fall in love with it! Make sure to get there early in the day, because it gets packed with people as night falls.