The Ultimate 4-day New York City Christmas itinerary

There’s nothing quite like New York City at Christmas. From the twinkling lights of Fifth Avenue to the festive energy of Times Square, the city transforms into a holiday wonderland that’s perfect for making once-in-a-lifetime memories. If you’re planning to experience the magic of the Big Apple during the holidays but are feeling a bit overwhelmed, steal my 4-day itinerary to cover all the must-see sights, magical moments, and hidden gems, without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

While we did this trip without kids, this would still be a fantastic itinerary to follow with your family, with only a few minor tweaks. Everything we did (sans the festive popup bars in the evening) is very kid friendly, and are all things that I know my own children would love. Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, this guide will help you experience the magic of NYC at Christmastime.

Getting around & Where to stay

Getting around New York City is actually easier than it looks, especially with a little planning so you feel confident before you arrive. From LaGuardia Airport, the quickest and most convenient option is to take a taxi or rideshare, like Uber or Lyft, directly to your hotel. Expect around a 30–45 minute drive depending on traffic.

We stayed at Hyatt Place in Time Square during our visit. It had free breakfast, and was walking distance to Time Square and multiple Metro stations. Expect all hotels to be tight when you are staying in the city, and this was no exception. We booked 2 double beds, and while tight, it fit 4 adults just fine, as we didn’t spend much time in the room. If you are a family of 5, you could even fit my favorite kid sized air up bed between the 2 double beds to squeeze an extra kid in.

Once you’ve arrived in the city, the subway is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to explore. You can grab a MetroCard in any of the subway stations if you want, or I recommend using tap-to-pay with your phone or credit card at the turnstile. Trains run frequently, and most major attractions are just a few stops apart. It can be crowded at times, but it really is part of the NYC experience, and you will save a ton of time and money riding the Metro as opposed to taking taxi’s everywhere you go. We navigated using Google Maps and found it to be accurate and helpful figuring out which train to take to get where we wanted to go.

Day 1: Iconic Sights, Holiday Lights, and the Rockettes

We started Day 1 with an early morning flight. We arrived to La Guardia, and took an Uber to drop our bags off at our hotel. There’s nothing quite like arriving in New York City during the holidays; the energy, the decorations, the sparkle in the air, it really gives a new meaning to the term “Christmas magic”.

After stopping at a bagel place right next to our hotel for a quick breakfast, we headed to one of the most classic Christmas stops: Rockefeller Center. The iconic tree, the ice skaters twirling below, and the massive ornaments lining the street was the perfect way to jumpstart the holiday spirit. We decided not to ice skate to keep costs down, but if you do want to, make sure you reserve your spot well in advance.

From there, we began a festive walk down Fifth Avenue, starting at Bergdorf Goodman and working our way past the stunning holiday window displays. We stopped at the Pulitzer Fountain, which was dressed up for the season, took pictures in front of Radio City and the giant candy canes and ornament display, and caught the incredible Saks Fifth Avenue window display. If you visit after dark, you can watch the free light show, which plays every 10 minutes.

We made a stop at the Lotte New York Palace Christmas Tree, tucked in the courtyard in front of the palace hotel. It’s a bit quieter than Rockefeller but just as beautiful. We also swung by the Plaza Hotel to admire its stunning architecture and snap some photos, although you are not allowed inside during the holiday season unless you are staying there.

By this point, we had definitely worked up an appetite, and our late lunch reservation at Lillie’s Victorian Establishment hit the spot (pictured below). This restaurant is decked out in over-the-top vintage holiday décor, with garlands, twinkle lights, and a festive food and drink menu. It was such a magical spot for lunch. It is very popular during the holidays, and I made reservations several months ahead of time.

After lunch, we wandered around Time Square for some holiday shopping, popping into FAO Schwartz toy store, the LEGO store, and the M&M’s store. Then we headed back to our hotel to give our feet a break and spruce up a bit for the evening.

Pro tip: FAO Schwartz is right next to the Rockefeller Tree, so save it for last so you can see it all lit up at night!

We had tickets to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes. If you’ve never seen it, it’s an absolute must when visiting NYC during the holidays, and would be a hit with kids of all ages.

Since we were kid free on this trip, we took a cab and wrapped up the night with late-night drinks at Loreley Beer Garden, a cozy spot with festive vibes and holiday-themed cocktails.

Day 2: Central Park Charm and Christmas Lights in Brooklyn

We started Day 2 with classic New York charm in Central Park. Our first stop was Belvedere Castle. This whimsical stone lookout offers beautiful views of the park and feels like something out of a storybook, especially in winter. From there, we strolled through the park to see some of the iconic spots, like the Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. There were lots of pedicabs and carriage rides around the park that would be tons of fun with the kids. We grabbed lunch and hot cocoa from some of the holiday shops in the park.

The we hopped on the Metro to head downtown to the Harry Potter New York store, which is a must visit for any HP fans. This fun shop is full of magical merch, interactive displays, and photo ops. Make sure to grab a drink from the Butterbeer Bar.

We hopped back on the Metro for a quick ride to the West Village to see the iconic Friends apartment building, and then made our way to the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s just over a mile from Manhattan to Brooklyn across the bridge, and completely walkable for families, even with little legs. We walked across as the sun was beginning to set, and the views of the skyline were breathtaking.

Once we arrived in Brooklyn, we had dinner at 7Old Fulton, a cozy, family-friendly Italian restaurant just a couple of blocks from the base of the bridge. The food was delicious, and the location made it the perfect stop for dinner.

After dinner, we caught an Uber to Dyker Heights, a Brooklyn neighborhood famous for its jaw-dropping Christmas lights. And WOW. House after house was decked out with thousands of lights, life-size nutcrackers, inflatable snowmen, and Christmas music blasting from speakers.

We debated on paying for a guided tour to see the Dyker Heights Christmas lights, but decided we would just wing it. It worked out totally fine, and saved us around $75 a person. There are so many amazing displays, so don’t feel the need to fork out a bunch of money for a guided tour. Just walk as many blocks as you want until your legs get tired, then call it a night.

To finish the night, we Uber’d to Sunday in Brooklyn for a late night appetizer and festive cocktail. It’s tucked away from the tourist crowds, which was nice after a busy day.

Day 3: Holiday Markets, NYC Landmarks, and Broadway Magic

We started our morning by heading to Grand Central Station, which was all decked out for the holidays. We grabbed a coffee and wandered through some of the shops at the Grand Central Holiday Fair. Don’t miss a stop by the model train display in the Vanderbilt Hall area, especially if traveling with kids (if it’s running during your visit – worth checking!).

Then we made our way to Bryant Park’s Winter Village, one of the most magical spots in the city during the holidays. You can rent ice skates here, or bring your own, and skate for free on the rink. We had planned on renting, but they were completely sold out for the entire day, so if this is important to you, make sure you get here early or reserve a spot beforehand.

Around the rink is a European-style holiday market filled with local vendors selling handmade ornaments, toys, treats, and all kinds of apparel. We browsed the shops, sipped hot cocoa, and soaked up the festive atmosphere. We grabbed lunch from one of the food stalls, and then checked out the New York Public Library, which is located directly behind Bryant Park. It’s not only stunning from the outside but also a beautiful place to explore inside. We were fascinated by the historic architecture, and found some fun souvenirs in their gift shop.

We headed back towards our hotel, with a stop by Macy’s Department Store along the way. Of course, it’s iconic to the holiday season in NYC, but be prepared for crowds. Wow- the crowds! They have a fun holiday display on one of the upper levels where you can visit Santa (reservations required), which would be so fun for kids. Even if you don’t visit Santa, there are still some magical decorations and displays that make this stop worth exploring.

After a quick refresh at our hotel, we headed to Serendipity 3 for dinner, an iconic NYC restaurant known for its whimsical décor and over-the-top desserts. The food was great, and we loved their famous frozen hot chocolate.

After dinner, we headed to the theater to watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. If you have kids or teens who love the wizarding world (or if you yourself love it!), this show is incredible. The set design, storytelling, and stage effects were beyond anything we expected. It was truly magical, and I cannot recommend it enough! While not scary or unsuitable for younger kids, I do want to mention that if you are not familiar with the Harry Potter storyline, you might have a hard time following along with this one.

To end the night, we stopped by Miracle on 9th Street, a festive holiday-themed pop-up bar known for its over-the-top decorations and seasonal drinks.

Day 4: Downtown History & a Taste of Little Italy

We started our final morning in NYC by heading to the 9/11 Memorial. We booked tickets beforehand, and arrived right as they opened. Since we were on a time crunch due to our afternoon flight, we had allotted ourselves 2 hours to visit, and this definitely wasn’t enough time to make it through the museum. If you have time, I would suggest 3-4 hours here. I’m not sure what I would recommend as a good age for kids to be before they visit this museum, but I can definitely tell you that mine are not old enough. As expected, it’s a heartbreaking, tearjerking, very heavy experience. If your kids aren’t quite old enough, you could just visit the grounds and reflection pools and save the museum for a different trip.

From there, we headed toward the Staten Island Ferry. It’s a free, family-friendly way to catch iconic views of the Statue of Liberty without paying the high prices of a private tour, or waiting in a long line to go up in the crown. The ride is about 25 minutes each way and offers great views of Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline.

After disembarking the ferry, we made our way uptown to Little Italy for lunch and a final stroll through the city’s vibrant, old-world neighborhood.

By mid-afternoon, it was time to head back to the hotel, grab our bags, and catch an Uber to the airport for our flight home. We packed in so many things into our short, 4 day NYC trip, and left feeling tired, happy and totally in the Christmas spirit. Although loud and busy, there is something so magical about New York City at Christmastime, and it should definitely be on every families bucket list to see.