What You Need To Know Before Visiting NYC During The Holidays

Updated April 2021.

Ever since I watched Home Alone 2: Lost in New York as a kid, I wanted to visit New York City in December. From the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center to the luxury lobby at the Plaza Hotel – I wanted to see everything this magical city had to offer!

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in the city doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of free things do in NYC. For example, Central Park puts on a fantastic fireworks display. Make sure to dress for the weather though, because many of these free events take place outdoors.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider what your must-do activities are when visiting NYC during the holidays and budget for those. This can help you save money and prioritize your sightseeing.

We saved money on both our accommodation and transportation (we drove instead of flying), so we decided set aside more money to spend on entertainment and meals.

Spending the holidays in New York City was on my bucket list since I was a kid. We recently spend the past couple of New Year’s in NYC.

NOTE: The first time we stayed outside of Manhattan (New Rochelle). Then the second time we stayed in the city. We enjoyed staying in the city MUCH more. It was worth the extra cost (in my opinion).

Saving Money on Accommodations

Hotels can be extremely pricey during the holidays. I recommend booking in advance or comparing prices with Airbnb and hotels outside of Manhattan. You can click here to get a coupon for your next Airbnb booking.

When choosing accommodations outside of the city, you’ll want to consider the cost of transportation and commute length. This will help you determine if it’s worth your time and money.

For our first New Year’s in NYC, I stayed at my boyfriend’s brother’s apartment in New Rochelle. We took the metro into the city every day. This saved us a lot of money on accommodation costs. However, when we wanted to take a break during the day (or change before going out in the evening) this was difficult because it was a 40 minute train ride back to New Rochelle.

For our second New Year’s in NYC, we decided to stay in the city, which was more convenient. Accommodations were more expensive, but we booked well in advance to get a good rate.

Ready to plan your NYC vacation? See what hotel deals are available in the area thanks to Booking.com

Booking.com

If you’re planning to visit New York City for the holidays, here are three things you need to know!

Related Posts:

What I Wish I Knew Before Visiting New York City During The Holidays

1. Save money on attractions with the New York Pass

Visiting NYC for the first time can be stressful. New York is a big city and there’s lots of fun things to do and see. It can be challenging to plan an itinerary and determine which attractions to spend your money on.

For my first trip to NYC, I didn’t have a plan. I tried to do some research before my trip to decide what to see and do, but I quickly got overwhelmed. I thought I could just figure it out while I was there.

BIG mistake! When I returned home from my trip, there were so many attractions that I missed, because I didn’t plan ahead.

That’s why for my second trip, I didn’t want to repeat this mistake. I discovered the New York Pass, which helped me easily plan my itinerary and visit all the top attractions in the city. With the New York Pass, I saved time, money, and enjoyed stress-free sightseeing.

PRO TIP: Buy the pass online to save time and hassle. Plus, you’ll save extra money off the retail price. To buy the New York Pass, click here to go to the official website.

Here’s what’s included in the New York Pass:

✓ Pick from over 100 NYC attractions
✓ Valid for up to 10 days
✓ Save up to 70% compared to purchasing tickets at each attraction
✓ Visit unlimited amount of NYC attractions each day

The New York Pass is a prepaid sightseeing card that can be used to get FREE entry to the city’s top tourist attractions, including Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Empire State Building, and the Top of the Rock Observatory.

Empire State Building

Standard Entry Price
Adult $44.00
FREE with the New York Pass

Top of the Rock Observatory

Standard Entry Price
Adult $41.00
FREE with the New York Pass

Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Standard Entry Price
Adult $55.00
FREE with the New York Pass

Plus, you can use the New York Pass to get free entry to 100+ other attractions, museums, and tours in the city. Once you’ve bought the New York Pass, you can visit as many attractions as you want. The more sights you visit, the more money you save!

The New York Pass currently has a TrustScore rating of 8.2/10 on Trust Pilot, which makes it one of the highest rated sightseeing passes. Over 3.5 million travelers have used the pass and 9 out of 10 customers recommend the New York Pass to their friends.

How to get your New York Pass:

Step 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 day). You can click here to purchase your New York Pass from the official website.

Step 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the New York Pass App. If you prefer a physical pass, simply opt for delivery (they deliver worldwide) or collect on arrival in New York.

Step 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 100+ top NYC attractions included for the duration of your pass. You can activate your pass anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Step 4: Download the free guide book, which is included with your purchase. Use this book to help you easily plan your itinerary.

Tips for saving money in NYC:

New York is an expensive city, especially at Christmas time. Bundle your sightseeing expenses with a tourism pass. The most popular is the New York Pass, which I recommend. Other passes to consider are the New York CityPASS or the New York Explorer Pass.
Eat and drink during happy hour. There are happy hour specials available all around the city. This is an excellent way to save money on food and drink costs.
Check out free things to do in NYC. While the New York is home to some of the best attractions in the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum and the Empire State Building, there is plenty of free ways to have fun in NYC. Walk through Central Park, ride the Staten Island Ferry and check out the High Line. Just make sure to dress warm because it can get chilly in the winter.

My must-have NYC winter accessories:
Click the product to shop

2. The city is packed with tourists

I live in Toronto so I am used to big crowds. I have also been to other large cities around the world, such as London and Seoul.

BUT – I wasn’t ready for the mass of people in New York during the holidays. This was next-level busy!

When visiting the popular tourist areas in NYC during the holidays, expect crowds. I recommend arriving to museums early. We wanted to visit all the major tourist spots while we were in town, but we found it busier than normal. (Side note: I have also been to New York a few times during the summer months).

Planning ahead and allotting more time to visit each spot helped us when putting together our sightseeing itinerary.

Photo of the entrance in The MET

At one point I felt like cattle walking along Fifth Avenue in Midtown. This is where many people like to go because it’s nicely decorated here for Christmas. After capturing some photos and enjoying the sights, I tried to avoid this area for the rest of my trip.

PRO TIP: I recommend avoiding the main touristy sights or arriving early to see them when they are less crowded.

This is another reason why I love using the New York Pass. You don’t have to waste time waiting in long lines. Simply show your New York Pass and get Fast-Pass Entry at the city’s most popular attractions, including the Top of the Rock, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

PRO TIP: If you want to experience a less crowded New York City, I suggest hanging out in Lower Manhattan, Lower East Side, the West Village, SoHo, and Greenwich Village area. These are some of my favorite neighborhoods to walk around in NYC.

For special events such as shows and theatre, you’ll want to book your tickets in advance. Many of the city’s popular shows sell out in the weeks leading up until Christmas.

You can always try your luck at one of the TKTS Ticket Booths in New York. Here you can grab last-minute Broadway and Theatre tickets at a discount. This can be a great way to save money!

Tips for managing crowds in NYC:

If you want to dine at a popular restaurant, you’ll want to make reservations. If the establishment doesn’t accept reservations, I recommend visiting at off-peak hours. Perhaps have lunch or do an early dinner.
If you want to avoid crowds and people in your photos, I recommend waking up early to take photos. And by early, I mean waking up at the crack of dawn.
Give yourself plenty of time when traveling around the city. Everything will take longer during the Christmas rush. I recommend using New York’s public transit system. It’s the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around the city.

My favorite NYC travel guide books:
Click the product to shop

3. If you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve at Times Square, you MUST get there early

By early, I mean you should plan to arrive between 1:00 and 3:00pm. This is when they start closing off the streets around Times Square and start letting people into the gated areas.

You know those people you see at Times Square on TV at midnight on New Year’s Eve? They have probably been standing there since 1:00pm!

When I arrived at 3:00pm to check out the festivities, I couldn’t believe how busy it was already. By 3:15pm, it was packed all the way up past 50th Street!

Tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square:

1. Get there early

This is a no-brainer. If you want to get the best spot, you MUST arrive early.

2. Dress warm

It can get quite cold in NYC and there is little room to move around, which can make it feel even colder. I recommend wearing a warm jacket (look for one with PrimaLoft insulation), a scarf, a hat, warm socks, and mittens.

3. Eat before you arrive and bring snacks with you

Unless you plan to pay a pretty penny to eat at one of the restaurants in Times Square and watch the ball drop from inside, you need to eat before you arrive.

There won’t be any food vendors open. Most cafes and small businesses close in the afternoon on December 31st. I recommend bringing a protein bar or two with you as well, in case you get hungry in the evening.

4. Take the train

Driving will be hectic, so you’ll want to take the train. But not to the Times Square stop, because you won’t be able to exit the station. You’ll have to get off a few stations before, so bring comfortable walking shoes in case you have to walk several blocks to reach a good vantage point.

5. Leave your bags at home

Large bags are not permitted and all bags will be searched by police before entering the gated area. It’s best to just bring yourself and carry what you need in your jacket pockets.

6. Make sure to use the bathroom before you arrive

There are no portable restrooms in Times Square and many businesses close early, so you’ll need to use the bathroom beforehand – otherwise hold it for the night (or wear a diaper). I’m not kidding, there are lots of people who wear adult diapers if they are celebrating in Times Square.

Also, keep in mind that you’ll lose your spot if you leave.

7. Leave the alcohol at home

Alcohol is not permitted in Times Square.

8. Be friendly

If you’ve been standing in Times Square since the afternoon, it’s a good idea to keep a positive attitude and be friendly to the people around you. Have conversation topics ready and don’t be afraid to make friends with strangers because it’s going to be a long night!

Final Note

Celebrating the holidays in New York City was a dream come true and I absolutely enjoyed it both times. I wanted to be upfront and honest with you though about how busy it can be in the city during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The more transparent I am, the better this can help you prepare for a fun-filled trip to New York City!