Visiting New York in December – The ultimate guide

New York! Charming and delightful, the city of New York exudes a vibrancy that not many cities in the world can compete with. The city is a vivid celebration of life throughout the year, but when December comes along it reaches a hysteria that will leave you euphoric! The holiday celebrations are in full force and you will find yourself surrounded by holiday lighting, market fairs, musical performances and special holiday events. The good old attractions like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and the Empire State Building are evergreen and a must-visit! Here is a guide on how to make the best of the holidays and plan an epic trip to New York in December.

What Makes New York in December Special?

Holiday Cheer – New York is one of the best cities in the world to spend the annual holidays. Touted as the ‘Melting pot of the world’ it witnesses holiday celebrations from cultures across the world. The festive season starts right from Thanksgiving and all through December till the New Year.
Shopping & entertainment – New York has multiple sales, Christmas market fairs and pop-ups across the city that are ideal for festive shopping. Even window shopping is a treat with major departmental going over the top with their holiday decorations! You have special shows like Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes and Nutcrackers, plus several music concerts to entertain the entire family.
Calm & Frenzy – New York in December witnesses two phases, the first couple of weeks are lower in tourist numbers and you can enjoy shopping and sightseeing with fewer queues. However, if you love being in the thick of things then you enjoy the last two weeks of December when there is a literal holiday frenzy! Accommodation and flight rates reflect this as well and you can choose what kind of experience you want.

New York City in December: Weather

Winter is in full force in New York in December and temperatures are dropping throughout the month. The average daytime temperature ranges around 7°C and it lowers to around 0°C at night. The weather is windy and you can expect a few rainy days, while there aren’t major snowstorms hitting the city there will be snow towards the end of the month.

New York City in December: Things to do

New York City in December: Events to look out for

New York City in December: 7-day itinerary

New York City in December: Essentials

Where to stay in New York in December?

New York is fairly large city and while most of the sights are concentrated in Manhattan you can easily commute around in public transport. Some of the best neighbourhoods in New York for tourists are Midtown, Tribeca, SoHo, Theatre District, Meatpacking District, Upper West Side, Bowery, and Upper East Side. Here are our favorite accommodation picks for December in New York –

• Luxury – Equinox Hotels Hudson Yards, The Knickerbocker, The New York Edition
• Mid-range – Pod 51 Hotel, Solita SoHo Hotel, The Watson Hotel
• Budget – The Bowery House, Chelsea International Hostel, The Local NYC

What to pack for New York in December?

You will find yourself doing a mix of both indoor and outdoor activities in New York in December, hence it’s best to prepare for both. Pack a long trench coat or a waterproof wind cheater and raincoat, add a layer of warm sweater and long pants and shirts. Don’t forget to get scarves, and gloves to keep warm. There will also be a lot of walking so make sure you bring your walking shoes and if you are attending parties or visiting upscale restaurants ensure you pack dress clothes.

Getting around in New York in December

New York in December can be packed towards the last weeks of December and you will need to be prepared in advance on how to use public transport. Here are the options you have –

• Bus: These run 24/7 and are spread over 238 local routes, however they can be crowded and get stuck in traffic .
• Taxi: The ubiquitous taxi is easy but its speed depends on the traffic.
• Subway: With over 472 stations, it is one of the largest subway networks in the world

You can learn about the other public transport options like Commuter Rail, PATH, Ferry, Aerial Tram, and Hop-on Hop-off Bus here in this complete guide to New York Public Transportation System.

New York City in December: Visiting tips

• The Christmas season is happening on Broadway with several Holiday special shows and new shows. However, it is a busy period and it is advisable to book your Broadway tickets in advance.
• There is no getting away from the crowds in New York in December, especially towards the Christmas week. Be mindful of keeping your belongings around you and prepared to wait in queues for all attractions, especially if you are traveling with kids.
• Schedule some time in your itinerary to just walk around Manhattan to soak in the holiday lighting. A stroll through Fifth Avenue’s stores like Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdales will leave you amazed with the outrageous holiday decorations. The city is quite ‘Instagrammable’ during the holiday season!
• If you are visiting New York City in the first few weeks you can finish your holiday shopping in the many Christmas markets. Some of the most popular ones are at Bryant Park, Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair, Union Square Park, Columbus Circle, and the Oculus.
• Many restaurants in New York are open to serve elaborate Christmas Dinners, however they need reservations weeks in advance so make sure you do the booking ahead. Some of our favorite restaurants are Rolf’s, Rock Centre Cafe, Kingside, Clement, and Boqueria.

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