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Activities

New York City in December

Try Indoor Skydiving, Fly on a Helicopter,  Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour,  Rockefeller Center,  Christmas Light Show,  Radio City Music Hall, The Nutcracker New York, Cartier Holiday, Museum of Natural History and more.

With a variety of things to do in New York City in December, this city has something for every kind of visitor from adventure buffs to art enthusiasts. You can engage in activities like indoor skydiving, to get a thrill of free fall from over 11,000 ft., especially in the chilling weather of December. Other than that, you can also hop on a helicopter to admire the beautiful festive skyline of New York City in December.

Spend your evening admiring the Christmas decorations of New York by taking a casual stroll through the saks 5th avenue and enjoying the amazing light show. It has thousands of LED lights synchronized by the holiday songs. If you would like to explore New York uniquely, then you can get on the Hop-on Hop-Off bus to see the major landmarks of the city. If you love entertainment, then you can attend the Broadway musicals like Aladdin, and Nutcracker ballet as it depicts the victory of good over evil. Apart from that, if you want to get into December's festive spirit, then you can visit the Rockefeller center for its gigantic Christmas tree, Cartier storefront for gift-like decorations, and Radio City Hall for your Christmas shopping.

Here is the list of things to do in New York City in December:

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01

Fly On a Helicopter to Get a Stunning View of the NYC

  • Get a 15-20 minute ride to explore the dazzling New York City during December.  
  • It is one of the best things to do in New York City in December, as it will provide you with the best views of New York's skyline decorated with beautiful Christmas decorations. 
  • You will be soaring above New York's top landmarks like the Hudson River, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and many more. 
  • Make sure that you carry your camera along with you, so that you can capture the beauty of the New York skyline during December.   

Location:
6 East River Piers, New York

Must Checkout: 9 Nights 10 Days USA Tour
02

Try Indoor Skydiving At iFLY Westchester

  • iFly Westchester is a themed wind tunnel that would offer you a great time with your friends and family while vacationing in December. 
  • From kids to adults, anyone can participate in this adventurous activity as it doesn’t have any age restrictions. 
  • Feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins as you experience the free fall from over 11,000 ft. 
  • You will be provided with a professional trainer who will ensure your safety while you’re having fun during the activity. 

Location: 849, Ridgefield Hill Boulevard, Yonkers, New York 

Timings: 
11 A.M. to 9 P.M.
03

Make the Best Out of Winter in Central Park

  • Central park is one of the famous tourist attractions of New York which attracts millions of visitors every year. 
  • There are a variety of things you can do in Central Park, like visiting the park zoo to witness different species of animals, and going to the ice rink for ice skating. 
  • You can also hop onto a bike for a bike tour of the central park, stroll through beautiful strawberry fields or soak into the beauty of Belvedere castle. 
  • Apart from these, there are many other activities like boating in the river, visiting Gapstow bridge, and hiking in the Ramble, which would make your trip memorable. 

Location: Central Park Conservancy, 60th Street, New York 

Timings:
  6 A.M. to 1 A.M.
04

Explore Radio City Music Hall

  • Visiting Radio City Music Hall is one of the best things to do in New York City in December.
  • The first performance of Rocketeers was held at the Radio City hall in 1932. 
  • You can see the amazing performances of Rockettes, or witness the beautiful decorations of the Christmas tree. 
  • It is here that you will find the famous big red ornaments and many other goodies like paintings, bags, and wallets. 

Location:  1260 6th Ave, New York 

Timings:
10:00 am to 8:00pm
05

Explore New York By the Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tour

  • Ride in the streets of New York in the Hop-on Hop-off bus and explore the main landmarks of New York. 
  • On this three-hour-long bus tour, you will get to see the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the ancient neighborhood of Harlem, the Apollo Theater, and Columbia University.
  • Get to know about the city from its best guides, who will provide you with insight into every landmark.  
  • This is one of the most convenient ways of exploring New York as you will be skipping the hustle and bustle of the huge local crowd.  

Boarding Point:  Times Square North, New York 

Timings:
10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
06

Witness the Gorgeous Christmas Light Show At Saks 5th Avenue

  • Get ready to get your mind blown away by the iconic Christmas light show on Saks 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th street. 
  • You will get to witness the thousands of LED lights, which are synchronized to the Christmas music. 
  • Make sure that you plan your trip in early December because it is during that time that the window displays are revealed. 
  • You will get to experience the light show for 3 minutes with intervals of 10 minutes. 

Location: Flagship store between 49th street and 50th street on the 5th avenue 

Timings:
5 P.M. to 12 A.M.
07

Enjoy At Rockefeller Center During December

  • Visit the Rockefeller Center to witness the beauty of New York City during the festive season. 
  • Witness the massive Christmas tree and the gorgeous Swarovski star which is the main attraction of Rockefeller Center during December month. 
  • Besides these attractions, you can also try ice skating as there is an ice skating rink in the Rockefeller center.  
  • Buy souvenirs and Christmas presents for your loved ones from various shops there. 

Location: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
08

Visit The Nutcracker New York City Ballet

  • The Nutcracker Ballet performance is the best answer to what to do in New York City in December, as it provides a great entertainment experience for adults as well as children.
  • The Nutcracker is a musical play that was originally written by E.T.A. Hoffman. It is a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker, who gets alive on Christmas to defeat the evil mouse king. 
  • This two-hour-long play can be great for the children to get into the Christmas spirit. 

Location: Lincoln Center 
09

See Cartier Holiday Decorations

  • Get astonished by the Cartier holiday decoration which is a must-do activity in New York. 
  • The storefront of the luxury jewelry brand Cartier is decorated with a giant bow and is transformed into a picture-worthy location. 
  • It is located right in the middle of Manhattan in Midtown. 
  • This beautifully decorated store does not have any specific timings, so you can visit there anytime.

Location: 175-176 new Bond Street, New York
10

Explore the Bryant Park Winter Village

  • The Bryant Park Winter Village is a great place to spend your evenings as there is a lot of stuff to do there. 
  • The main attraction is the ice rink for ice skating, where entry is free. 
  • If you get hungry, there are a lot of shops and restaurants from where you can grab a quick bite. 

Location:
42nd street and 6th avenue, New York

Timings:
11 AM to 8 PM on weekdays, 10 AM to 8 PM on weekends 
11

Admire NYC Holiday Window Display

  • Strolling through the NYC holiday window displays can brighten up anyone's day, as the decorations are enough to bedazzle you. 
  • At Herald Square and Fifth Avenue, many stores showcase their holiday decorations.
  • You will get to see the Saks 5th avenue Christmas light show, Cartier holiday decorations, and the Rockefeller center. 

Location: 3rd avenue at 59th street, New York
12

Explore the Museum of Natural History

  • The Museum of Natural history is the answer to what to do in New York City in December as it provides a great insight into animals, plants, fossils, meteorites, minerals, human cultural artifacts, and human remains. 
  • Witness the specimens of fossils and animal remains as the museum has over 34 million of them on display. 
  • Here you will get to know some eye-opening facts about humans, animals, and fossils. 

Location:  200 Central Park West, New York

Timings:
10 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
13

Explore the Vibrant New York Christmas Markets and Lights Walking Tour

  • Witness New York City getting lit up with holiday spirit by exploring the Christmas Market. 
  • You will get to see the Christmas decorations and lighting of places like Rockefeller Center, Cartier Store, and Saks 5th Avenue Christmas Light Show. 
  • This tour is perfect as it provides you with dazzling views, and the opportunity to click awesome pictures. 

Location: 10 columbus circle, New York 

Timings:
6 AM to 12:30 AM
14

Get Entertained By the Broadway Show

  • Get entertained by Musicals like the Phantom of Opera, Chicago, the Lion King and Aladdin. 
  • Broadway shows are a major tourist attraction of New York, which attracts many movie maniacs every year. 
  • Many people prefer to watch the Broadway show on weeknights, specifically Thursday nights, when new plays are also released. 

Location: 1681 Broadway, New York  

Timings: 
beginning time 2 PM

Entry tickets:
$20 to $145
15

Explore the Washington Square Park

  • Take a leisure stroll in the Washington Square Park, while catching the view of people taking a sunbath in the lawn and grabbing a bite by the kiosks nearby. 
  • It is one of the famous landmarks of New York, which was made in the Honor of American President George Washington. 
  • This place is perfect for spending your afternoons leisurely, as it is accessible anytime, and it doesn't require any entry fee. 
 
Location: Washington Square, New York  

Timings:
6 AM to 12 AM

People Also Ask About New York City

  1. Which are the best things to do in New York City on Christmas?

    1. Visit the Rockefeller Center: Roam in the Rockefeller center and witness the majestic Christmas tree. Other than that you can also go ice skating in the ice rink if you’ve never done that before. 

    2. Stroll around central park:
    Get a self guided tour of the Central park which is one of the famous destinations of New York. It will take you at least one day to explore the entire area due to its vast land space. 

    3. Admire Saks 5th avenue Christmas light show:
    This is one of the most magical things to do in New York City in December. Thousands of LED lights are synced with the holiday music which plays for almost 3 minutes at the interval of every 10 minutes.  

    4. Walk through New York Christmas markets:
    Strolling in the Christmas markets will surely take you to another dimension as the views are too pretty to be ignored. 
  2. Which are the best amusement parks to visit in New York City?

    1. Adventure land: With over 30 different rides, adventure land is one of the most popular amusement parks in New York City. This theme park is filled with various water rides, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and roller coasters. 

    2. Coney Island:
    Coney Island is one of the famous amusement parks of New York, as it has over 28 rides, an arcade, and carnival-type games. Rides like cyclone roller coasters make it a paradise for children as well as adults. 

    3. Sea Breeze amusement park:
    even though it's not among the biggest amusement parks of New York, it is still able to attract thousands of visitors due to a variety of rides. Sea Breeze amusement park offers over 70 attractions, which include adult and kid’s rides, live shows, water slides, and different kinds of thrilling rides. 

    4. Zoom Flume:
    This amusement park is appropriate for children and adults as it has separate rides and swimming pools for them. There are 4 pools and 8 water slides for your family to enjoy. 
  3. How can I spend time in New York in December?

    There is an abundance of things to do in New York City in December. You can begin your morning by taking a casual stroll in the central park. In the afternoon, you can take the hop-on hop-off bus tour to explore the city in a simplified way. Other than that, you can also watch Broadway shows, the most popular Broadway shows are the Lion King and the Phantom of Opera. There’s no shortage of activities to do in New York if you’re wondering what to do in New York City in December. 
  4. Why is New York so famous to visit?

    New York is a famous city for a variety of reasons, mostly for being the largest economic and cultural center, but it's more than that. It is known for its fancy Broadway shows, high-end businesses, and exclusive shops. Apart from that, what makes New York globally famous is its famous landmarks like Central Park, Times Square, the Empire State building, and the Statue of liberty.
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