Often referred to as the cultural, financial, and media capital of the world, New York is a fast paced metropolitan and visiting the city is an experience of a lifetime. Instead of slugging under the chilly January winds, New York celebrates the month with festivals, events, adrenaline pumping activities and much more. In addition to these, to further lure tourists and locals outside their cozy adobe, the city observes uncommon events like Restaurant Week, Hotel Week, Winter Jam and Winter Flea Markets. While New York is beautiful throughout the year, check out our exclusive guide on what makes New York special in January.
What makes New York in January special?
- Winter wonderland: The fast paced New York City is covered with snow and festivities in January. The christmas tress, lights, and decors at retail stores are still up, making the city all the more beautiful.
Adventure: The multiple ice rinks spread across the city, open heartedly invite ice skating enthusiasts. You can also head to spots such as Central Park, where you can freely ski, sledge or just enjoy the snow. In addition, events like the winter antique show and winter jazz fest make for a great experience.
Lesser tourists : New York sees extremely few tourists in January (blame the weather), so if you're up to brave the cold, there's no better time to wander about the city. You'll have the city all to yourself!
Savings : January offers great bargain on airfares and hotels. Moreover to attract tourists and locals alike, shops, restaurants, and hotels offer post holiday discounts. In fact, you can even grab a Broadway show for much cheaper.
New York in January: Weather
January is the coldest month in New York and as the month progresses, the temperature descends further. The average maximum daytime temperature is around 3°C and the average nighttime temperature drops to -3°C. Daylight is observed for an average of 9.2 hours, out of which hardly 5 hours is bright sunshine. It is expected to rain for about two weeks, so make sure to pack a raincoat and an umbrella on your trip!
New York in January: Things to do
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Central Park
Central Park adorns a winter wonderland avatar in January. Apart from being a vision in white, the snow clad park offers ample number of activities; from a simple self-guided stroll to guided tours, from ice skating rinks to skiing or sledding hills, from riding the carousel to building a snowman. Pick one or as many as you'd like!
January timings
Open daily from 6 AM – 1 AM
New York, NY
USA
Getting There ›
2
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Built at the former location of the Twin Towers that were destroyed during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum commemorates the lives lost in the attacks and honors the rescuers. An interactive exhibition will take you through the day of 9/11, before and after the attacks.
January timings
Memorial - Daily 8 AM to 8 PM
Museum - Daily except Tuesdays - 9 AM to 7 PM
Z180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007
USA
Getting There ›
3
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Cozy up with art that spans over 5,000 years, at one of the most famous museums in the world, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City aka The Met. The largest art museum in the United States, The Met, displays over two million works of art. You can visit the display of the Leonard N. Stern Collection of Cycladic Art at The Met which brings 161 splendid Cycladic works of art acquired by the businessman and philanthropist Leonard Stern over some 40 years!
January timings
The Met Fifth Avenue: Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM - 5 PM | Extended hours: Friday & Saturday from 10 AM - 9 PM
The Met Cloisters: Thursday-Tuesday from 10 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed on: Wednesday
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028,
USA
Getting There ›
4
The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is an iconic structure that graces the New York skyline. On a clear day, upto six states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware) can be seen from its observatories. Even if it isn't a clear day, you get to a view a snow-clad Manhattan, which is a beautiful sight in itself.
January timings
Friday-Sunday, 11 to 11 PM and Monday-Thursday, 1 PM to 10 PM
20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001,
USA
Getting There ›
5
American Museum of Natural History
One good way of escaping the January winds is to enter the enclosed world of museums and galleries. A New York icon, the American Museum Of Natural History spans over 40 exhibition halls, exhibiting 32 million specimens and artifacts depicting the diversity of Earth's species, life in the ancient past, and the universe.
January timings
Daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM
Central Park West & 79th St, New York, NY 10024,
USA
Getting There ›
6
The New York Pizza Walk
Nothing like piping hot, freshly-made pizzas on a dewy, cold day! Book our 3-hour walking tour through Little Italy and Greenwich Village, which will take you to some of the best pizzerias in town. Through this little tasting-adventure, you'll discover the history and connection of pizza with this thriving city!
53 Spring St, New York, NY 10012,
USA
Getting There ›
7
Statue of Liberty
No trip to New York is complete without visiting the Statue of Liberty. The megastructure was designated as a National Monument in 1924, and it steadily attracts tourists from all over the world. Separate tickets allow you to explore the Liberty Island or ascend the statue itself. In January, you may find it easier to make reservations for an all-inclusive tour.
January timings
Daily from 8 AM to 3:30 PM
New York, NY 10004,
USA
Getting There ›
8
Visit the Museum of Modern Art
One of the largest and most influential museums in the world, the American Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) houses over 15,000 works of art, including those by the legendary artists - Picasso and Warhol. The museum has two branches (Midtown Manhattan and Queens) in the city, one hosting art pieces by modern artists and the other known for it's live exhibitions. There are plenty of upcoming events and exhibits in January, including film screenings, workshops, and gallery experiences.
January timings
Sunday to Friday, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM and till 7 PM on Saturdays
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019,
USA
Getting There ›
9
Take a day trip to Niagara Falls
The winter does not stop the great Niagara Falls from being its thunderous and wonderful self. In fact, the white foreground, the glistening icicles and the 'all is frozen' illusion, is an awe-inspiring vision. Hop on a bus and in 6 hours you'll be spending your day exploring a different landscape near the Niagara Falls.
January timings
Guided Tours from NYC to Niagara Falls start at 4 AM and ends in 19 hours
New York,
USA
Getting There ›
10
Catch a Broadway Show
The city of New York has a number of defining features. Central Park is one, Broadway is another. If musicals are your thing, Broadway is your go-to place to catch some of the best musicals including The Lion King and Wicked. Make sure you catch a Broadway musical on your trip to New York.
January timings
Timings vary depending on the show & ticket availability
Theater District
New York, NY
USA
Getting There ›
New York in January: Events to look out for
Winter Jazzfest
January 10-18, 2024
A treat for all the music lovers, especially of Jazz, the Winter Jazzfest is celebrating 20 years and has over 600 artists performing at different venues, scattered across New York City. Check out the line-up on the official website. You can avail your tickets here.
New York City Restaurant Week
January 16 - February 4, 2024
Here’s your chance to sample NYC’s culinary scene at a bargain. Over 300 restaurants across the city participate in the New York Restaurant Week and offer a prix-fixe menu at a relatively low price.
Menus and reservations will be avaialble here from January 9, 2024.
Slick Rick
January 19, 2024
Rich Walters, best known by his stage names Slick Rick, MC Ricky D, and The Ruler is a rapper who's performing in Brooklyn Bowl on January 19, 2024 from 8:30 PM onwards. Get ready to celebrate this legend's 13th annual Birthday Bash with Tarrey Torae, DJ Kaos, Dudley Music & Kool DJ Red Alert.
Book your tickets here.
Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden
November 17, 2023 – January 15, 2024
The Holiday Train Shows, one of New York's beloved holiday traditions is BACK! Start your train journey on the lawn and then watch trains zip past nearly 200 iconic New York landmarks, under the warmth of the observatory. After dark, join in for NYBG GLOW and discover the beauty of landscape and historic buildings. The evenings are a curation of music, experiences, food, and so much more!
Ticket details are available here.
New York in January: 5-day itinerary
5-7 days in New York itinerary
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New York in January: Essentials
LanguageEnglish
Time zoneGMT-4
Country Code917 | 212 | 718
Socket Type A & B
CurrencyDollar ($)
NYC Accommodation in January
Similar to the New York City Restaurant Week, January also observes NYC Hotel Week in January, with 24% off on select hotels. That said, it doesn't mean there are no other options! NYC offers some great options from luxury hotels to hostels that can fit everyone’s budget. Here are a few:
- Luxury Hotels - Ritz-Carlton New York, The Crosby Street Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Library Hotel
- Mid-Range Hotels - Hilton Garden Inn Times Square Central, Hampton Inn Downtown-Financial District, La Quinta Inn & Suites
- Budget Hotels - The Local NYC, The New York Manhattan Hotel
What to pack for New York in January?
A trip to New York in January requires some smart packing skills. First and foremost pack clothes that you can layer up for indoor visits such as stores, restaurants, museums which will be warmer. (Layering gives you the freedom to take off layers if the space gets too warm). But for the outdoors, pack warm coats, waterproof footwear or galoshes to keep you feet warm, caps, earmuffs, scarves, and gloves or mittens.
Getting around New York in January
Mass transit is a convenient and inexpensive way to get around New York City. The five boroughs are well connected via various MTA transport means. Subways are the fastest way to travel within the city. It operates all day, every day. You can opt for public buses as well. This can offer you a scenic, albeit slower way to reach your destination. The Roosevelt Island Tram is another scenic way of getting around. The city also has a famously large fleet of yellow taxi cabs that you may opt for if you have a lot of baggage. Last but not the least, bikes are available for hire, if you want to be in charge of your own travel. Read more about public transportation in NYC and travel like a local.
New York in January: Seasonal delicacies
New York and doughnuts have been inseparable from the seventeenth century. Their very recent love child, a hybrid between croissant and doughnut, cronuts receives the same amount of love from their inception in 2014. A visit to New York without indulging into this sugary love affair is quite incomplete.
Where to eat: Dominique Ansel Bakery
Sipping a well made hot chocolate before, during or after your day’s excursion in the chilly weather is a privilege everyone should take advantage of. Especially when you are in New York, the city offers a plethora of options for hot chocolate, ranging from a basic to a red velvet falavoured hot chocolate.
Where to eat: Venchi
A good humble, crispy on top and creamy & gooey in the middle Macaroni and Cheese plate can warm your heart and satiate your stomach any time of the day. While quite a common recipe, restaurants in the big apple have mastered the art of making it to perfection.
Where to eat: The Smith
The New York winter marks the unofficial beginning of ramen season for locals and tourists alike. The city offers an array of options, whether you are looking for a vegetarian or chicken or pork broth or milky, china-white tonkotsu bone broth or a top-notch tantan, everything is on the menu. Where to eat: Jin Ramen Upper West Side
New York in January: Visiting tips
- Take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour - You might enjoy long walks in winter, but snow might not be that friendly. In order to cover as much ground as possible while staying warm and to enjoy the scenic beauty of the city, take the hop-on-hop-off bus tour get down and up from wherever you like.
- No Pants subway Ride - While New Yorker’s take their subway rides seriously as they like to stick to their schedule, some have invented this annual Improv Everywhere event to gather up some laughs from their fellow passengers. The volunteers ride the subway all clad in their winter gear except their pants. It will be held on January 7, 2024.
- The Three Kings Day Parade - Another event that explores the fun side of the New Yorker’s is the Three Kings Day Parade which is held every year in January. The marchers disguise themselves as a king and the parade includes real camels, many colorful dolls and music through Harlem. It will held on January 5, 2024 at 11 AM - 2 PM.
- Days are smaller - A drawback of winters, daylight hours are fairly short. Make sure you plan your visits and make your reservations beforehand so that you get to see more of the sun.
- Shopping galore - New York goes all out to celebrate the starting month of the year. With events like restaurant week and hotel week, it offers huge discounts. Retail shops and malls also join in to accommodate the travelers and their shopping spree.
FAQs
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