A great way to experience the magic of Christmas in New York City is to take a walking tour.
I live in New York and every year I do this walking tour that takes in all the holiday windows and the tree at Rockefeller Center.
So grab your winter jacket and comfortable shoes and join me on my favorite walking tour that takes in the major highlights in New York City at Christmas time.
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Number of Stops on the Local’s New York Christmas Walking Tour: 11
ℹ️ Duration: Approx. 3.5 hours, taken slowly.
➡️ You can take this self-guided tour, but if you’d prefer to have a knowledgeable guide show you around, you can book a 1.5-hour guided walking tour here.
1. Macy’s on Herald Square Holiday Windows
Macy’s is often the most Christmassy of all of the windows, so it’s a good place to start.
⚠️ I always start at Macy’s, but this can easily be done in reverse.
Macy’s main entrance is on Herald Square. In 2024, there’s a small market set up outside the front entrance on Herald Square.
The main facade, and especially about the central doorway, is always decorated. The theme changes each year, but is often connected to the recurring holiday theme of “Believe”.
The Macy’s windows always have a nice mix of puppetry and screens to create the magic. There’s usually some text written at the bottom telling a (loose) story.
My favorite part is the interactive element that they usually build into at least one of the windows. This often involves your photo being taken and then projected into the display in some way.
Have extra time? Live out your Miracle on 34th Street fantasies and start your visit at Macy’s Santaland
➡️ See my Ultimate Guide to Christmas in New York for details about Santaland.
Have even more time? Macy’s is one of the best places in New York City to do your Christmas shopping. The store is decorated beautifully and there are often good sales. You might want to come back and do your shopping later, so that you don’t need to carry it around.
Location: Corner of 34th Street and 6th Avenue
How to get to Macy’s NYC herald Square store
The easiest way is to take the subway. There are several options:
🚇 A, C, E (blue line) to 34th Street/Penn Station: Walk one block east on 34th Street to 7th Avenue
🚇 1, 2, 3 (red line) to 34th Street: Exit on 7th Avenue and 34th Street
🚇 B, D, F, V (orange line) and N, Q, R, W (yellow line) to 34th Street/Herald Square: Exit on Broadway for Macy’s main entrance.
2. Bryant Park Winter Village
🚶♀️ Go across Herald Square to Sixth Avenue and walk north.
In winter Bryant Park turns into a holiday wonderland called Bank of America Winter Village.
There is a great ice-skating rink, a large holiday market, and a pop-up bar where you can stop for a hot chocolate with marshmallows, or something stronger to fortify yourself against the cold. They also have igloos and a Curling Cafe as well as bumper cars on ice!
It’s opens until early March 2, 2025.
Bryant Park Holiday Market
The Bryant Park holiday shops (Bank of America Winter Village) are usually open late October to early January (they are open October 25, 2024 until January 5, 2025).
This is one of the largest holiday markets in New York City. There are almost 200 stalls selling artisanal foods, Brooklyn crafts, handmade clothing and jewelry and more.
⚠️ This is outside, so dress warmly.
The Lodge Bar and Food Hall
Located right next to the Christmas Tree, there’s a food hall with a large bar and several stalls selling food. There are also stands just outside (at the west end of the lodge) selling food.
❗ LOCAL TIP: The line for hot chocolate inside is often much shorter than the line outside near the tree.
Cozy Igloos
Rent your own cozy igloo and enjoy seasonal refreshments. They can accommodate up to 8 people. There are 90-minute sessions. Packages start at $242.69 (including taxes and fees).
Get more information and make reservations here.
Curling and Cafe
Another igloo option is the Curling Cafe. Try your hand at (iceless) curling and enjoy seasonal refreshments. The 90-minute sessions include your own dedicated curling lane, so you can play in between eating and drinking.
There are small package (1-4 guests) and large packages (5-8 guest). Packages include:
❄️ Carafe of hot chocolate or hot apple cider
❄️ Crispy French fries
❄️ Chicken tenders or sliders or cheese board or mac & cheese
❄️ Additional food and beverage options are available a la carte
Find more information and make reservations here
Bryant Park is a great place to relax and enjoy the people watching. The beautiful beaux art New York Public Library building makes the perfect backdrop for the Bryant Park tree and all the festive fun.
Ice Skating Rink
The rink at Bryant Park is fairly large and is completely surrounded by towering skyscrapers, which is very cool. There is a large Christmas tree, a nearby fountain that is sometimes frozen, and holiday shops in the build up to Christmas.
The rink is open October 26, 2024 – March 2, 2025:
⛸️ Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 10:00pm
⛸️ Select weekends (Friday – Sunday) + holidays: 8:00am – midnight (4:00pm NYE)
The best part? It is absolutely FREE – with your own skates. Skate rental is expensive at $20.32 – $57.57+ depending on the date. Check out the full fee schedule and make a reservation here.
You need to reserve a spot (most sessions are 50 minutes). If you have your own skates, “Own Skates” reservations roll out daily for dates one week out through the season.
There are some lockers available and locks for sale (you can bring your own).
❗ LOCAL TIP: There’s a very nice public restroom near the north east corner of Bryant Park that often makes a very useful stop.
Location of Bryant Park: 6th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets
3. The New York Public Library
🚶♀️ Go around to the front of the New York Public Library.
There are two large lions at each end of the main staircase. They’ve gazed out at the 5th Avenue crowds since 1911. They have names – Patience is on south side of the library’s steps and Fortitude is on the north side. They always have an enormous wreath around their necks for the holidays.
The wreaths used to be real, but the sap was starting to affect the stonework, so now they are artificial – but it still makes a nice photo stop.
Depending on the day and time you’re there, if the library is open, pop inside to see their tree. It’s 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.
Location: 5th Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets
4. Rockefeller Center
🚶♀️ Walk north along Fifth Avenue.
The Rockefeller Center is ‘Christmas Central’ in NYC. It’s a magical – albeit crowded – place.
The Christmas Tree
An enormous real tree takes center stage. The tree is covered in lights and topped with an enormous Swarovski crystal star. It stands just above a golden statue of Prometheus and a small plaza that is turned into an iconic skating rink.
In the lane leading from Fifth Avenue to the tree, a water feature lined with angels blowing trumpets, and smaller trees covered in golden baubles create the perfect backdrop for photographs. You can get a professional photo taken for a fee – or just take your own.
If you want to hang out, there are eight cozy chalets set up above the rink level. These are $45 – $180 (for up to 6 people) depending on the time and date for a 40-minute reservation.
The Skating Rink
This is the iconic skating rink featured in many movies and TV shows. It’s at the foot of the Rockefeller tree. The downside is that it’s small and can get crowded.
The rink is open from October until March 31, 2025.
It’s open daily 9:00am – 12:00am (midnight).
There is timed entry throughout the day and you get about 60 minutes of skate time for the time of your ticket (90-minute premium sessions are also available).
It costs $21 – $114 ($11-$61 for children 5 and under) depending on the dates. Skate rental is an additional $12 and you can also get a Rockefeller center tree ornament for $19. Check out the fee schedule and buy tickets here.
FAO Schwartz
This is the most famous toy store in New York City. It featured in the Tom Hanks movie Big, though the location has moved since then. It’s now on 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, just around the corner from the tree.
There’s often a long line to get in around the holidays, but the line usually moves pretty quickly. it’s cool to stop in (and buy a toy or two). but even if you don’t they have cool windows that are fun to see.
Location of Rockefeller Plaza: 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Street
5. Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Windows and Facade
🚶♀️ Cross Fifth Avenue.
Across the street from Rockefeller Center, on the other side of Fifth Avenue, is Saks Fifth Avenue.
The whole 10-storey façade of the iconic store used to be used for a spectacular holiday light and music show. Unfortunately, in 2024, they have decided not to do this and they will instead just illuminate the façade. I’m hoping they bring it back in 2025, but I guess it will depend on how good their sales are.
The windows are often themed around a Broadway show or popular children’s story. They’re usually not actually Christmassy, but are festive and always beautifully done.
Location: 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Street
Bonus: Pass St Patrick’s cathedral in the next block on 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets
6. Cartier
🚶♀️ Continue north on Fifth Avenue. Cross the street to see the facade better.
The windows aren’t decorated every year, but the building itself is always decorated for the holidays. In 2024, there’s a sound and light show featuring the moon and stars that’s cool to see.
Location: Fifth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Street
7. Louis Vuitton
🚶♀️ Continue north on Fifth Avenue.
The windows always have some kind of display, plus the building itself is usually heavily decorated for the holidays in the same theme as the windows.
Location: 5th Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets
8. Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows
🚶♀️ Continue north on Fifth Avenue.
These are the grandest of all the holiday windows. They’re an over-the-top cornucopia of excess and beauty.
They’re never overtly Christmas-themed, but always feature fashion surrounded by the most incredibly detailed displays you have ever seen.
Each year has an overall theme and then individual themes for each widow. Each window usually has a different color along with the theme and sometimes a specific material that most of the display is made from (paper, wood, glass, tiles, etc.)
Location: Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th Street
9. Dior
🚶♀️ Continue north on Fifth Avenue and cross the street.
The Dior store across from the Plaza Hotel, near the Apple store’s glass cube, is usually decorated, though not necessarily with a holiday theme.
Location: Corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street
10. Park Avenue Holiday Trees
🚶♀️ Head east on 59th Street
2.5 mile stretch of Park Avenue from 48th Street to 97th Street is lined with Christmas trees. From the first Sunday in December, the Park Avenue Christmas lights are all along the middle of Park Avenue.
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.
Location: Park Avenue and 59th Street.
11. Bloomingdales Holiday Windows
🚶♀️ Continue along 59th Street
Bloomingdales’ windows have a theme that changes each year. It often features local artists, and/ or highlights a recent movie and sometimes has some interactive element that is fun for kids.
They have a “Wicked” theme in 2024 .
❗ Local’s Tip: You’ll have walked a lot, especially if you did all of this in one go. If you’re cold, you could skip Bloomingdale’s (I sometimes do – they’re usually not my favorite windows).
Location: Lexington Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets
🚇 The NYC Holiday Windows self-guided tour ends (or starts) here. The 4,5,6 (green line) trains stop right here at the Lexington Ave/59 Street station.
❗ Tip: Dress VERY warmly! You’ll be outside a lot. And wear very comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking a lot.
❗ I actually recommend breaking this up over a couple of nights and hanging out in Macy’s, Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center (or do this walking tour to get an overview and then go back another time).
❗ There are several other guided tours of New York’s holiday lights. Top picks are:
➡️ 3-4-hour walking tour of the holiday lights with a professional guide. BOOK IT HERE
➡️ 45-minute tour of the Christmas lights highlights in a pedicab. BOOK IT HERE
➡️ 3.5-hour private tour of the NYC holiday lights in a limousine (up to 4 people). BOOK IT HERE
➡️ 6-hour private tour of the Christmas lights with driver and guide (up to 6 people). BOOK IT HERE
➡️ 1-hour tour of the holiday lights in a horse drawn carriage. BOOK IT HERE
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
➡️ New York City Christmas Tree Guide
➡️ 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
➡️ Check out my Gift Guide full 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.