We’ve created your ultimate 2021 NYC holiday guide to help navigate where to go and what to see. This time of year, a magical spell is cast over the city and the lights shine even brighter than they do the rest of the year.
Because there are so many things to experience during the holidays, we know it can be overwhelming. So, let our guide help you map out the best spots to see in New York during the holidays.
Spectacular Lights
We’re kinda known for our impressive tree lighting skills here in NYC! Here are a few to stop by and check out:
Rockefeller Center. You haven’t truly experienced the holidays in New York without a trip to the iconic Rockefeller Christmas tree. It is crowded (typically 125 million people pass through to see the tree!), so keep that in mind when you head over to Rockefeller Plaza. You can read up on the tree’s history, what to do in the 30 Rock area, and more on their site.
[Source: Rockefeller Plaza on Instagram]
Lincoln Center is another great spot to take in the holiday lights. Last year, they forewent the festive holiday lights and instead created a calm light display to reflect on 2020. To see what they plan for 2021, you can follow them on Instagram, and also check their site.
[Source: Lincoln Center on Instagram]
Bryant Park not only has great tree lighting, but also a holiday market (we’ll get to that in a bit) and ice skating (we’ll get to that too!). So, it seems only natural to stop by and check out their tree as well. You can find more information on the park hours and events here.
Those are just a very small handful of places to visit. There are also great holiday trees and lights that can be seen at Tavern on the Green, Washington Square Park, the MET, and more. You can read about them on this site.
Ice Skating
Ice skating in the heart of the city is so much fun with friends. The following are three popular spots you can visit.
Wollman Rink in Central Park offers NYC skyline views while skating in the heart of Manhattan. It’s iconic and located in the very heart of the city! You can get more information here.
Winter Village at Bryant Park is a great place for skating because you can not only reserve your tickets online, but you can go shopping in the tented holiday shops after.
Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers is perfect if you don’t want to take a chance with the weather. This indoor rink has been in existence since 1969! You can reserve your tickets for indoor skating on Pier 61 at Chelsea Piers here.
Of course, there are many more places, some on the crowded side (Rockefeller Center) and some further out (Staten Island). If you’d like more options, check out this Time Out NY article.
Holiday Markets
What are the holidays without shopping? Here are just a few of the many holiday markets you can walk around in the city. For a complete list, check out NYC’s official guide.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market will reopen to the public this year after closing in 2020. It’s touted as being “internationally known as one of the most elegant and beautiful places for holiday shopping”. Visit Urban Space NYC for their complete guide and map to the shops at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market.
Winter Village at Bryant Park. Yep, we’re mentioning them for the third time in this blog! And that’s because they do the holidays so expertly. Winter Village at Bryant Park is a little less crowded than Rockefeller Plaza, and their holiday shops adorably line the park. You can enjoy the lights while skating, then hit up the shops for some last-minute gifts.
[Source: Bryant Park on Instagram]
Happy Holidays!
Your ultimate 2021 NYC holiday guide isn’t complete without the friends you’ve made at The Webster Apartments. Traveling around the city to experience all the festivities is always more fun to share with the women you’ve gotten to know while being a guest here.
If you’d like more ideas, check out our 2020 holiday blog as well. We hope you get to see as many of these holiday attractions as you can while you’re in NYC!
