Many of the parks and some of the major institutions in New York City have spectacular Christmas trees every year.
I live in NYC and every year I travel all around the city to see the trees. Some are the same each year, so it’s fun to see old favorites, and some are decorated differently each year.
Here are my picks for the 10 best NYC Christmas trees to see on your trip to New York.
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1. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
This is the most famous Christmas tree in New York City. It’s a real tree that’s donated by someone in the local area each year.
It’s on display at Rockefeller Plaza between West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
The enormous tree is covered in colorful lights and topped with an enormous Swarovski crystal star that weighs approximately 900 pounds and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.
When does the Christmas tree go up in NYC?
The tree is usually erected mid-November, but isn’t lit until after Thanksgiving.
When is the Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony?
The tree is lit at a ceremony that’s broadcast on TV, but you can attend in person. There’s a concert of carols performed by celebrities, and live coverage of the concert and the tree lighting.
The Rockefeller Tree lighting ceremony is held on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving each year. So, it’ll be on Wednesday, December 3 in 2025 and Wednesday, December 2 in 2026.
When can you see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree?
After the tree lighting ceremony, the tree is lit from 6:00am to midnight daily and 24 hours on Christmas Day and 6:00am – 9:00pm on Christmas Eve. It was up until January 11, 2025.
How tall is the Rockefeller Center tree?
The tallest was 94 feet (28.65 m) in 2016. The 2024 tree is 74 feet.
What happens to the tree after the holidays?
The tree is donated to a charity, such as Habits for Humanity where it can be used to build homes.
There is ice-skating at the foot of the tree in Rockefeller Plaza, and the lights and music show on the façade of Saks Fifth Avenue opposite, so you can come back and visit this at nighttime as well.
How to Get There
Take the B-D-F-M subway train to 47-50 Streets/ Rockefeller Center.
2. Bryant Park Christmas Tree
Bryant Park has a large holiday market, bars, ice skating, and a beautiful tree backed by the New York Public Library. You could easily spend hours here, but at the very least, stop for a hot chocolate with a marshmallow melting in it.
The tree is at the eastern end of the skating rink, between the rink and the back of the New York Public Library. The decorations change each year, but are always very pretty.
There places selling hot chocolate with marshmallows right next to it – a great place to rest, enjoy the tree, and watch the ice skaters.
How to Get There
Take the B-D-F-M or the 7 train to Bryant Park/ 42 Street.
3. Madison Square Park Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is at the northern end of Madison Square Park. In summer, there’s a fountain there, but in winter, it’s home to a large natural tree covered in sparkling white lights.
At the southern end of the park is the original Shake Shake, worth a stop for a burger and shake.
How to Get There
Take the N, R or W to 23 Street. You’ll get off right at Madison Square Park.
4. Wall Street Christmas Tree
There’s a simple, but beautiful natural Christmas tree at 11 Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange.
How to Get There
Take the 4-5 or 2-3 subway to Wall Street.
5. Washington Square Park Christmas Tree
The tree here is in the middle of the Washington Square Arch. It’s a real tree so it looks a bit different each year. It’s sometimes a little shabby – though it’s gotten better in recent years. It’s covered in colorful lights.
I love that it reflects the character of this neighborhood, which has an eclectic mix of people hanging out in Washington Square Park at all times of the day and night. There are lots of restaurants and bars on and around nearby MacDougal Street.
How to Get There
Take the A, C, E or the B-D-F-M subway train to West 4 Street/ Washington Square and walk the short distance to Washington Square Park.
6. Park Avenue Christmas Trees
All along Park Avenue between 54th and 97th streets, there are dozens of Christmas trees, simply lit from the first Sunday evening of December throughout the holidays.
Each individual tree isn’t amazing, the overall spectacle of a long line of trees all down the middle of Park Avenue is a lovely sight.
How to Get There
You can see them anywhere along Park Avenue, but you’ll see them on the walk between the 86 Street subway station and the Met. It’s best to see them at night when the lights are on.
7. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Christmas Tree
You can easily spend a whole day experiencing all that the Met has to offer, but at Christmas, they have a tree that is worth the visit alone.
The Met Christmas tree is an artificial twenty-foot blue spruce covered in angels. At its base is an eighteenth-century Neapolitan baroque crèche/ nativity scene.
You can spend ages looking at all the tiny figures. The tree is in front of the eighteenth-century Spanish choir screen in the museum’s Medieval Sculpture Hall.
To see the tree, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee to the museum.
➡️ For a treat, take a private guided tour of The Met and discover its highlights. BOOK A GUIDED TOUR OF THE MET HERE
How to Get There
Take 6 train to 86 Street and then walk a few blocks to the Met on Fifth Avenue.
8. American Museum of Natural History Origami Christmas Tree
I love this tree. The American Museum of Natural History is well worth a day to see the T-Rex skeleton, planetarium and enormous blue whale, among many other incredible exhibits.
However, it also has a wonderful 13-foot Christmas tree covered with over 1,000 hand-folded origami paper animals and plants. Each year has a different theme. In 2024, it’s Jumping for Joy, celebrating animals that hop, pounce and leap.
It’s typically up from late November to late January. To see it, you will need to pay to enter the museum.
➡️ Buy an admission ticket for the Museum of Natural History online here
How to Get There
Take the B or C train to 81 Street/ Museum of Natural History.
9. New York Public Library Christmas Tree
The lobby of the New York Public Library is often decorated with wreaths and lights, but in 2024, there’s also a really pretty old-school Christmas tree framed by an arch in Astor Hall, the main lobby. It’s decorated with birds and is flanked with a menorah and a copy of the Quran.
While you’re there, you can also see a copy of “A Christmas Carol” signed by Charles Dickens in the McGraw Rotunda.
And when you’re outside, notice the Christmas wreaths around the lions outside the library. The lions have names: Patience is on the south side of the main steps and Fortitude is on the north side of the steps.
You need to visit while the library is open, but it’s free to enter.
How to Get There
You can easily visit here at the same time as Bryant Park. But the 7 train 5th Avenue stop is the closest.
10. Cathedral of Saint John the Divine Peace Tree
St John the Divine is an enormous cathedral that is worth visiting just to see the church. The highlight at the holidays is the beautiful Peace Tree. The 20-foot tree is decorated with 1,000 white paper cranes and other peace symbols.
You can visit the Peace Tree from early December to just after Christmas.
How to Get There
Take the 1 or B-C to Cathedral Parkway and walk from there.
➡️ See how to combine all these trees into one epic NYC Christmas Tree in my super comprehensive New York City Christmas Guide.
If you liked this guide, Pin It to your Holiday Board or New York City Board!
More Planning Resources for Christmas in New York
📃 Ultimate Guide to Christmas in NYC
🚶♂️ Ultimate New York Christmas Walking Tour
🏮 New York City Christmas Lights: Where to Find them
⛸️ Ice Skating in New York Guide
🛍️ The Best New York Holiday Markets
🎅 The 10 Best Things to Do in New York City at Christmas
🎆 10 Events Not to Miss in New York City During the Holidays
🏨 Best Hotels In New York City At Christmas
🎫 The Best NYC Christmas Tours
‼️ Tips for Visiting New York City at Christmas Time
🎁 Gift Guide of great New York City experiences
About the author
James Ian has traveled to 83 countries and all 7 continents. He is passionate about experiential travel, i.e. meaningful travel that actively engages with the environment and culture. He helps people have similar experiences that involve active participation in activities and festivals; engaging with the local food and handicrafts through lessons and food tours; and interacting positively with environment by hiking, riding, rowing, diving and low/no impact animal encounters.
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