Christmas in New York City is iconic. There are a million ways to spend the time—from the extremely touristic and seasonal, to the off-the-beaten path and unaffiliated—that are all imbued with a bit more golden luster given the time of year and atmosphere. If you’re here or around for the holidays, there are tons of festive lights to see and foods to eat. There are places, like Rockefeller Center and Central Park’s Wollman ice rink, that will be more crowded than usual, but are nevertheless worth seeing, if you can face the throngs. Other spots will be less-busy—and less turn-key, which matters not if you come with your own holiday cheer in tow: On Christmas Day, usually-bustling streets in the West Village and other such desirable neighborhoods may even be deserted, a sight with its own silent magic. Below, our New York-based editors list a few of their favorite ways to spend Christmas in New York City.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Alex Erdekian.
