Christmas in New York City with Kids (Festive Things to Do)
Are you considering visiting New York City during the holiday season with kids? You're in the right place!
There is so much to do and see in NYC at Christmastime, and kids will absolutely love seeing all of the decorations, taking in the holiday shows, sipping fancy hot chocolate, and going ice skating.
I decided to take a quick 48-hour trip to New York City this December to get one last trip out of my Southwest Companion Pass which expires at the end of the year. I took just my 4-year-old this time since my other kids had school and sports, but I'm already planning a return trip next year to bring more of the kids because we loved it so much!
Here are all of the best things to do and see in NYC with kids during the Christmas season
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Where to Stay
Budget Options
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Times Square South because it was one of the more affordable last-minute booking options and served free continental breakfast.
The location is also very close to all of the holiday sights and activities in Midtown Manhattan, so if you plan to walk everywhere, this is the area you'll want to stay in.
Mid-Range Options
I put out a request on my Instagram stories for NYC hotel recommendations, and I got SO many responses! However, a few of the hotels were recommended multiple times, so I'm going to include those on this list:
Motto by Hilton (someone mentioned they have bunkbeds)
Luxury Option
If money is no object, you cannot beat the Plaza Hotel. Whether you're a fan of Home Alone 2 and want to try the Home Alone Sundae (16 SCOOPS of ice cream with tons of toppings), or your kids grew up reading Eloise at the Plaza, the Plaza is the quintessential holiday hotel in NYC.
Things to Do in New York City at Christmas with Kids
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller tree is a great spot to visit in New York City at Christmas time. The towering tree is adorned with over 50,000 lights and a sparkling crystal star at the very top.
It's usually pretty crowded around the Rockefeller Christmas Tree since it's a popular tourist destination, but we found that the area off of 5th Avenue wasn't too crowded around 8 a.m., and is a great spot to get photos of the tree!
In addition to the tree there are plenty of things to do at Rockefeller Plaza. There's an ice skating rink, Holiday Chalets you can rent where you can enjoy food and drink, food trucks, and you can always buy tickets to visit the Top of the Rock observatory for views of the city.
FAO Schwarz
Everyone knows FAO Schwarz is an iconic toy store, and it's especially magical at Christmas time!
Whether you're doing some holiday shopping or just letting your child browse through the biggest selection of toys they've ever seen, FAO Schwarz is a must-visit when you're visiting NYC at Christmas with kids.
You should note that you will likely have to wait in line to get in. The line seemed very long, stretching several blocks, but it actually moved fairly quickly. We were inside within 15 minutes.
Inside you'll find experiences like Build-A-Bear, Jellycat Diner, a BRIO personalization station, a giant Dance on Piano, and more.
The Dance On Piano was hard to find at first. Just so you know where to look, it's on the second floor all the way over by the window at the front of the store. You may have to wait in line for a minute or two, but they have an employee there making sure each child gets a turn, and that no one takes too much time (and they are super nice about it). Kids have to take their shoes off, and they get to go by themselves or with siblings, so everyone gets their special moment!
See the Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
This iconic holiday show at Radio City Music Hall is not cheap, but after seeing it with my 4-year-old, I think it is 100% worth it!
The show is 90 minutes long, and I would highly suggest buying tickets ahead of time. We attended a Monday morning show (at 11:00 a.m.) since I was with a preschooler. I figured the earlier in the day we went, the more engaged she would be.
Even with the earlier viewing, I wasn't sure how well she would sit through the show. To my surprise, she was at the perfect age to take in the holiday magic of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She gasped with delight, cheered on the Rockettes when they did their famous kick line and giggled at Santa Claus jiggling his belly.
The show is made up of all musical numbers featuring Santa, songs and characters from the Nutcracker, and New Yorkers with NYC as a backdrop. There's even a segment of the show dedicated to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (that part literally brought me to tears).
Here are a few tips and things to know in advance:
Arrive an hour early. At first, I thought that seemed excessive, and wondered how we would pass the time. But after checking our stroller, finding our seats, using the restroom, and buying snacks, we only had about 15-20 minutes to wait in our seats before the show started. And I was SO glad we arrived when we did. When I saw the crowds pouring through the entrance as the start time got closer, I was relieved not to be a part of the chaos.
You can bring your stroller inside. There are elevators to get to the mezzanine, and as you approach the theater, there are people waiting to help you "check in" your stroller. You'll receive a ticket stub to bring back when it's time to pick up your stroller, and there is someone watching over the strollers the entire time.
Be ready to spend money on snacks. You can't bring your own food or drinks in, but there are limited concessions including popcorn, candy, chips, alcoholic beverages, and even things like hot dogs.
Use the restroom before and after the show. You never know when the next time you'll have access to a restroom in NYC will be!
You cannot take pictures or videos during the performance.
Bring a little something for the kids to do while they wait for the show to start. We just brought a small notebook and markers. You could do a sticker book or coloring book, too!
Do not miss out on seeing the Radio City Rockettes. They are iconic for a reason, and seeing this show made me emotional (in a good way), and really put me in the holiday spirit!
Go Ice Skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park
Wollman Rink is a great spot to go skating in NYC because it offers fantastic views of the skyline while you enjoy an iconic winter experience.
Tickets for ice skating range in price from $27 per adult to $38 on the weekends. You must reserve a time slot and buy your tickets ahead of time.
You can also book 90 minutes in a private heated igloo if you want to escape the cold weather with food and drink to enjoy.
Finish off your Central Park experience with a carriage ride or a nice long walk in the crisp weather.
Get Some Fancy Hot Chocolate
There are so many fancy hot chocolate options around NYC to choose from! We decided to try the hot chocolate from the S'mores N'more stand at the Bryant Park Winter Village.
I ordered the hot chocolate with vanilla marshmallow, and my daughter (who doesn't love hot chocolate) chose the s'more with a vanilla marshmallow.
The line is a bit long, but once you get to the front it's truly a fun experience. They "roast" your marshmallow for you with a culinary torch then drizzle hot chocolate on top for you. They even encourage you to film and take pictures!
Other great hot chocolate options around NYC:
Glace - they pipe marshmallow around the rim of the cup and toast it for you, and there are other toppings you can add
Angelina Paris
Bryant Park Winter Village
There are several Christmas markets around NYC, but Bryant Park Winter Village was only 4 blocks from our hotel, so this is the one we visited.
The best part about the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is that ice skating is free admission! However, you do have to pay for skate rentals, so be prepared for that. If you bring your own skates the experience is completely free. In addition, be sure to reserve your time slot ahead of time if you want to skate. If you have young children just learning to skate, there are Skate Aid rentals that look like little penguins the kids can hold onto so they don't fall.
Aside from the skating rink there is a giant Christmas tree to enjoy, plus lots of pop-up shops and restaurants.
As I mentioned above, we tried the S'mores N'more hot chocolate and s'mores located in The Lodge, but there are lots of temporary holiday restaurants with tasty foods like cheese steaks, a raclette cheese sandwich, gnocchi, pizza, and chocolate-covered strawberries.
Finally, there is a carousel that would be a perfect kid-friendly activity no matter when you visit!
Other holiday markets include:
Union Square Holiday Market
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Herald Holiday Market
Window Shop on 5th Avenue
So many department stores go all out for Christmas decorating the storefronts and the window displays. Some of the best ones include Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, and Macy's Herald Square. You can go inside to escape the cold and do a little shopping, or you can just admire the displays from the sidewalk!
In addition to the incredible department stores, some designer stores get in on the fun, too!
This year Louis Vuitton created a temporary store that looks like a stack of luggage while the flagship store is being renovated. The storefront is a marvel to see in person, and apparently the inside has a cafe and chocolate shop in addition to the normal merchandise sold in the store.
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is a fun and free thing to do in NYC at Christmas time! This iconic building features a Christmas tree in Astor Hall. You can also see a signed copy of Charles Dicken's book "A Christmas Carol."
Outside the library on the steps, the stone lions, Patience and Fortitude, are donned in wreaths. We skipped this part because we had the stroller.
Finally, if you go across the street to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library has a free cafe and terrace on the roof for fantastic views of the skyline! This is a great alternative if you don't have time or don't want to pay for an observation deck.
Eat at a Restaurant with Crazy Christmas Decorations
We didn't make any dining reservations for our time in the Big Apple, because I wasn't sure I wanted to box us in. Luckily, I found a restaurant that only accepts walk-ins that was FULL of holiday cheer.
Papillon Bistro is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and just a few blocks from the Rockefeller Center Tree.
The restaurant is covered in lights and holiday decorations from floor to ceiling. The insane decor and the Christmas carols playing merrily over the speaker put us in the most festive mood!
We visited between lunch and dinner and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. I felt like the time went by so fast because there was so much to look at inside!
They have a kids' menu, and lots of reasonably priced options for adults, too. Our food came out so fast even though the restaurant was clearly very busy.
I saw plenty of families there, so if you haven't made dining reservations ahead of time, this would be a great restaurant to visit with kids.
The seats at the bar are first-come-first-serve and you can also order food from the bar.
Grand Central Station
One of our last stops in NYC was the New York Transit Museum located in Grand Central Terminal to see the Holiday Train Show.
The museum displays an electric railroad running through and around a miniature New York City. The model trains start off at a model Grand Central Terminal and go through NYC landmarks and the North Pole!
The museum opens at 10 a.m. each morning, and we were there right as it opened. Several other people were waiting, but it wasn't too crowded at that time of day.
The display is free to visit, and a super fun thing to do with kids
Things We Didn't Get To
Have Tea at the Plaza Hotel
New York Botanical Garden
Union Square Holiday Market
Take in the views from the Brooklyn Bridge
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
See the skyline from an Observation Deck (Top of the Rock, Empire State Building, etc).
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Emily Krause is a Wisconsin-based travel content creator who writes about exploring the world with kids.
On A Mom Explores you’ll find the best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
