New York in December feels bright and busy. Lights wrap around trees. Windows glow. Cold air rolls off the Hudson. You step out of the subway and the whole city feels like a movie scene.
Below is a simple, clear guide to the best things to do in New York City in December right now, with ideas for both first-timers and regulars.
Getting A Feel For December In NYC
December in New York is cold. Average daytime highs sit in the low to mid-40s °F, and nights often dip near or below freezing. Clouds cover the sky a lot of the time, and some years feel milder than others as winters trend warmer overall.
Warm layers help. A real winter coat, hat, gloves, and good shoes let you stay outside longer for lights, markets, and walks.
The reward is strong. Holiday events fill the calendar. Free public displays, shows, markets, and rink openings spread across all five boroughs. Guides for December 2025 list a long lineup, from big tree lightings to small neighborhood events.
Classic Midtown Holiday Icons
Midtown gives many of the big scenes that people picture when they think about New York in December. You can walk between them in one loop and feel like you stepped straight into a holiday postcard.
Rockefeller Center tree and rink
Rockefeller Center sits at the core of the season. The huge Norway spruce stands over the plaza from early November through mid-January 2026. The 2025 tree lighting runs in the evening on December 3, and the lights stay on daily from early morning until midnight.
Right beneath the tree, the Rink at Rockefeller Center glows. It opens for the season in October and runs into March. In December 2025 the rink operates daily, with skating sessions running roughly from 9 a.m. until midnight. It sometimes opens even earlier on peak days.
You can:
- Reserve a timed skating session.
- Watch from the plaza with a hot drink.
- Ride elevators up to Top of the Rock for city views, which the official Rockefeller guide lists as a key winter attraction.
Fifth Avenue windows and Saks light show
From Rockefeller Center, you can walk a short stretch of Fifth Avenue and see famous window displays. Stores like Saks Fifth Avenue design full story scenes in their windows each year.
In 2025 the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday light show returns after a break in 2024. The new show runs on the façade of the flagship store every ten minutes from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. through early January 2026, paired with music and special Rockettes-themed windows.
You can start at Rockefeller Center, walk past Saks, then head south toward Bryant Park and enjoy several displays in a single evening walk.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Bryant Park, just behind the New York Public Library at 42nd Street, turns into a full winter village. It mixes a rink, shops, and food in one tight space that feels friendly and easy to reach.
The Bank of America Winter Village features:
- A free-admission skating rink where you pay only for rentals if you need skates.
- Glass-fronted Holiday Shops selling gifts and snacks.
- The Lodge bar and food hall, which sits rinkside with heaters, cocktails, and a mix of local food stands.
Bryant Park also hosts a tree lighting event in early December with performances and a small fireworks show, listed in 2025 city holiday calendars along with the Rockefeller lighting.
You and your group can skate, grab a drink, sit under heat lamps, and browse the shops in a single stop.
Ice Skating Around The City
Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park are not the only rinks. December 2025 guides also highlight:
- Wollman Rink in Central Park, with tree-lined views of the skyline.
- The Rink at Rockefeller Center, with tree backdrop and late hours.
- The Bryant Park rink, with free admission.
Skating fits well after a museum visit or park walk. Early mornings often feel calmer and cheaper than prime evening slots.
Holiday Shows And Big-Stage Magic
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Inside Radio City Music Hall, the Rockettes perform the Christmas Spectacular. The show blends classic numbers like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” with newer scenes and runs several times a day through the season.
Recent coverage notes that the dancers rehearse six hours a day, six days a week leading up to the run. The show now includes nine dance numbers and performs for thousands of people per seating.
It brings bright costumes, live music, and a very classic New York holiday feel.
Broadway and other performances
Broadway is in full swing in December. Many visitors pair a matinee or evening show with daytime sightseeing. Off-Broadway theaters, comedy clubs, and concert halls run full calendars as well.
Nutcracker productions, choir concerts, and special holiday shows also appear across the city each season. December 2025 event roundups show plenty of options, from big halls to smaller neighborhood stages.
Lights And Neighborhood Adventures
Dyker Heights Christmas lights
In Brooklyn, the Dyker Heights area decorates homes with huge light displays. Many houses along the main blocks hang thousands of bulbs, life-size figures, and lawn displays.
December 2025 guides again list Dyker Heights as a must-see free event, along with other city light spots like Columbus Circle and Hudson Yards.
You can reach the neighborhood by subway and a short walk, or by bus or tour. Streets get crowded on weekend evenings, so steady shoes and patience help.
Holiday markets
New York fills December with markets and fairs. Recent lists for 2025 highlight:
- Bryant Park Winter Village Holiday Shops.
- Grand Central Holiday Fair inside Grand Central Terminal.
- Columbus Circle Holiday Market at the corner of Central Park.
- Smaller events like FAD Market and Grand Bazaar NYC holiday editions.
These markets mix local artists, food stands, handmade goods, and warm drinks. They give you easy, walkable gift options without needing to enter a large mall.
Museums And Indoor Traditions
Cold days push many visits indoors, and New York’s museums respond with winter traditions and special exhibits.
One standout is the Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History. In 2025 the museum again unveils a 13-foot tree covered in 2,000 to 3,000 folded paper figures, each made by artists from around the world. This year’s theme, “New Beginnings,” links to a new exhibit on life after the age of dinosaurs.
You can pair the tree with time in the dinosaur halls, the planetarium, or other galleries.
Other strong indoor stops include:
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art and its medieval, European, and American wings.
- MoMA for modern and contemporary art.
- Smaller spots like the Tenement Museum, the New-York Historical Society, and many more.
Museums give your group a break from the wind while still feeling very rooted in the city.
Downtown, Waterfronts, And Views
December does not freeze the rest of the city. Many downtown and waterfront areas feel lively, only with scarves and coats added.
You can:
- Stroll through the West Village and Greenwich Village, where streets twist and small cafés glow. Guides list these neighborhoods as lovely in the holiday season, with lights in trees and decorated brownstones.
- Walk along the Brooklyn Bridge on a clear day for skyline views.
- Visit Brookfield Place and the Oculus downtown for indoor shopping, public art, and river views.
- Ride the Staten Island Ferry for a free boat trip past the Statue of Liberty.
Observation decks also shine in December. Top of the Rock, Edge at Hudson Yards, Summit One Vanderbilt, and One World Observatory each frame the city’s lights in a different way. Rockefeller Center’s own guide promotes Top of the Rock as a key holiday activity, especially at sunset or after dark when the tree and rink glow far below.
New Year’s Eve And Late-Month Energy
Toward the end of December, New York tilts toward New Year’s Eve. Energy rises, and some areas grow crowded, especially around midtown and Times Square.
The city’s December 2025 event lists again include the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball drop as a major free event. Alongside that, they highlight other public displays such as Columbus Circle lights, Hudson Yards “Shine Bright,” and various concerts and parties.
If crowds feel heavy, many people choose smaller gatherings:
- Fireworks and live music in parks.
- Rooftop bars with timed tickets and warm drinks.
- Neighborhood restaurants that run special menus without the Times Square crush.
Booking early helps, since late December is peak demand across hotels, shows, and some restaurants.
Simple Ways To Shape Your Own Trip
A short December stay can carry a lot. Here is one sample structure that many visitors find smooth.
Day one
- Midtown walk with Bryant Park Winter Village, New York Public Library, and Fifth Avenue windows.
- Evening skate at Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center.
Day two
- Museum morning at the American Museum of Natural History or the Met.
- Afternoon walk in Central Park.
- Evening Rockettes show or Broadway show near Times Square.
Day three
- Brooklyn visit with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Explore neighborhoods or head to Dyker Heights for lights after dark.
You can stretch this into a longer stay with more markets, extra museums, and more time for cafés and side streets.
City Lights, Cold Air, Strong Memories
New York in December blends sharp air and warm light. Rinks and trees sparkle in Midtown. Markets and small fairs line up under glass roofs and park trees. Museums add quiet and depth. Neighborhood streets glow with small decorations and big displays.
You and your people can move between all of this in a few subway rides and short walks. Even simple choices, like a slow loop around Bryant Park or a quiet hour watching the tree at Rockefeller Center, can stick in your mind long after the trip ends.
