{"id":5888,"date":"2021-12-14T11:58:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T11:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/blog\/?p=5888"},"modified":"2023-07-06T19:11:41","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T19:11:41","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-nyc-for-christmas-casa-de-montecristo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/best-things-to-do-in-nyc-for-christmas-casa-de-montecristo\/","title":{"rendered":"Best things to do in NYC for Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s no doubt that Christmas is the most magical time of the year and that New York City is one of the best places to celebrate the holidays. In the city that has it all, there are plenty of things to do in New York at Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the iconic festive features you\u2019ve seen in the movies to the underrated Christmas things to do in NYC, we\u2019ve created this extensive guide so you can plan and enjoy the most memorable Christmas getaway in the Big Apple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bronx Zoo\u2019s Winter Wonderland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Bronx Zoo<\/a> is a constant NYC draw throughout the year but is even more appealing at Christmas. No matter which December evening you decide to stop by and visit, you\u2019re sure to be dazzled by the festivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come and join the monkeys and tigers at the Bronx Zoo Winter Wonderland<\/a>. Every corner of the zoo has a beautifully-lit tree or a group of joyful carol singers. Make sure you check out the lantern safari, where illuminated lanterns in the shape of the zoo dance and wade through the zoo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice Skating in Bryant Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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You\u2019ll have no doubt seen this iconic ice rink before \u2013 it\u2019s in almost every NYC-based Christmas movie you can think of. The Bryant Park Ice Rink<\/a> is a notable stretch of ice that only grows in popularity every winter when local New Yorkers and tourists strap on their skates to glide across the glistening surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission to the rink is free if you have your own skates or just a small fee for rentals. However, you\u2019ll need to purchase your tickets in advance online, as availability runs out fast. Don\u2019t let that put you off, though \u2013 the rink is here to enjoy from late November through to New Year\u2019s Eve, giving you ample opportunity to get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re planning to take the kids for their first time on the rink, gathering a group of pals, or are looking for a romantic date idea, there\u2019s no better way to enjoy a magical winter evening than ice skating. There are plenty more festive activities to enjoy while you\u2019re here too, with the Winter Village hosting a plethora of holiday shops and food venues. Spend some time racing around the rink, then warm up with a cup of hot cocoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stroll through Central Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the sake of honesty, we\u2019d probably recommend a visit to Central Park<\/a> at any point in the year. But there\u2019s something about the park that is even more spectacular at Christmas. Once the snows blow into the city, the park looks like a scene from Narnia. While you probably won\u2019t stumble upon Mr. Tumnus, you\u2019ll certainly have a splendid wintery walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meander down as many winding paths as your legs can carry you and take in the frosted sights. Belvedere Castle<\/a> looks to be plucked straight from a fairytale, and Bethesda Fountain<\/a> has been known to freeze over when the temperature drops. If your feet begin to tire, why not enjoy the views from a horse-drawn carriage? You\u2019ll feel as though you\u2019ve stepped right into a Christmas story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dyker Heights Holiday Lights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Some neighborhoods prefer to keep their decorations inside their homes. That\u2019s certainly not the case in Dyker Heights, however, where the community loves to have a bit of friendly competition to see who can make their house the brightest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dyker Heights Holiday Lights is a wonderfully outrageous (and free) holiday experience. From giant snowmen to dancing Santas, the brightness of this neighborhood could fool you into believing the sun hasn\u2019t yet set. Come marvel at the creative genius that lights up Dyker Heights \u2013 you might even get inspiration for your own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cirque du Soleil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cirque du Soleil is a world-renowned circus arts group that travels the globe to showcase its impressive skills. You\u2019ve no doubt heard of them before, and you can now buy tickets to see a live performance right here in NYC over the holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group will perform the Twas the Night Before Christmas <\/em>tour at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Shows will be happening most days up until December 27th<\/sup>, with up to three shows a day on weekends. Watch as the performers leap through the air, tossing each other from one trapeze to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rockefeller Christmas Tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Rockefeller Christmas Tree<\/a> is an annual staple in NYC. The tree can stand anywhere between 70 and 100 feet, depending on the year, and completely dominates the Rockefeller Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big Christmas switch-on usually happens right at the beginning of December, and it\u2019s a spectacular sight to see a once dark-green tree come to life with a million twinkling lights. Even if you don\u2019t catch the first night, it\u2019s a real treat to see at any other time in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas Book Buying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that gifting others a book on Christmas Eve is an Icelandic tradition? The idea is to cozy up in front of the fire and read throughout the night. If you\u2019re interested in this tradition or know someone who would love a new book for Christmas, why not spend an afternoon browsing the shelves in one of New York\u2019s most beloved bookstores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McNally Jackson is one of the most beloved book store chains in NYC. Situated in downtown Brooklyn, book-lovers can come to browse every day from 10am until 8pm. Find bestsellers and staff picks to choose a wonderful story to gift a loved one this Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stogies in the Cigar Lounge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hide away from the blistering cold of December when you stop by the local cigar lounge. Casa de Montecristo is a sultry and warmly-decorated cigar lounge in Manhattan<\/a>, serving as a wonderful retreat in the dead of winter. After you\u2019ve done your Christmas shopping and spent a magical day exploring New York\u2019s streets, this is the place to come with friends and wind down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular cigar smokers will be impressed with this particular lounge, and newbies will be in for a fantastic first experience. One of the onsite experts will quickly come to take your cigar order, guiding you through their extensive menu of premium wraps. All stogies are stored in cedarwood humidified lockers to maintain their flavor, so you\u2019re guaranteed the best smoking experience. Bring your pals and make it an annual tradition of Christmas celebration before heading back home to the family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From ice skating to holiday lights, make this Christmas the best one yet when you read our guide on the best Christmas things to do in NYC.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5889,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[402,32],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5888"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5888"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7183,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5888\/revisions\/7183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casademontecristo.com\/broadleaf-social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}