Date: November 13 to mid-February 2020
Time: Monday through Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturdays - Sundays: 10am to 6pm
Central Station, during the Christmas season, besides the Christmas market, in its interior also has the Christmas Show train and has become one of the most popular attractions in New York. If you like the railway world you will enjoy a model, which is a replica of the central station itself in O scale. The rolling stock of the model corresponds to old trains belonging to the collection of the museum of transport in the city.
Also, you can see an interesting collection of railway posters published between 1920 - 1940, miniature cars, taxis, police cars, buses, gas station, King Kong on the Empire State Building, miniature boats, a barber shop , Hard Rock Cafe and replicas of buildings among others.
Our advice:
Winter Jam / Central Park
Location: Central Park - Bandshell area
Entrance via 72nd Street
Date: Saturday, February 1st, 2020
Hours: 11am to 3pm
Admission: Free of charge for all ages
It is an annual winter festival, to encourage New Yorkers to go out and enjoy the outdoors in the colder months, and tourists who want to enjoy the snow. In this festival participants (especially children) have the opportunity to use skis and snowboards in fresh snow within the city limits, during the event attendees learn to ride ski and use the snowboard. Even dogs have their own assigned area.
Our Advice:
● In this area you will find: Snowfield, snowshoeing, open space for skiers and snowboarders, ice climbing.
● It is recommended to bring your own equipment, although some equipment will be supplied at no cost to the participants.
● All participants must sign an agreement before doing any of these activities.
● Participants under the age of 18 must have a legal guardian present with an ID.
● Waiting lines for activities are subject to close early.
● For more information, call (212) 360-8216.
● Information point for those who wish to visit ski resorts in the state of New York.
Schedule: Opened 365 days
From 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Admission: Ticket is required
The Central Park Zoo is located within the park, entering 5th Avenue between 63 and 66 street, its a small zoo, it has 130 different species ranging from Snow Leopard to tropical birds, to polar bears, penguins and other species which are found in habitats carefully designed to recreate the natural environment of the animals at home. The Zoo is organized and easy to make the tour it lasts about an hour, is recommended for children, it is divided into two stages; in the second stage you can interact with certain small animals that you can feed. In winter you can see how they train and feed the penguins, sea lions, seals and red pandas.
Our advice:
The entrance to the zoo includes the 4D Theater, but it is optional, which has special effects, the chair moves, snow falls, etc. The movie lasts 13 minutes.
This is a very New Yorker Zoo attraction, its not for mass tourism, additionally provides interactive lessons with live animals, they are taught from Monday to Friday, weekends and in school holidays.
Visit the souvenir shop to buy unique wild items, including stuffed animals and children's books, toys, games and more. A gift basket is parked outdoors during the warmer months of the season.
Location: Rockefeller Center ice -Track
Date: November to April
Hours: Daily from 8:30 pm to Midnight
Opening hours may change depending on the weather.
Admission: Ticket required and rental skates.
Welcome to one of the most famous attractions of New York City! In the heart of Midtown, only a few steps from Times Square and the theater district is located next to the building Rockefeller Center between 49th and 50th street and Fifth Avenue. it’s a tradition that everyone can enjoy in the city, the Skating rink is the most photographed and filmed. We have seen this place in movies and series, every year when the Christmas tree lights are turned on it is broadcasted to people from all over the world.
Our advice:
Date of ignition: Date is not confirmed yet, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Date shutdown: January , 2021 Date is not confirmed yet, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Start time: Every day from 5:30 in the morning
Until 11:30 at night
Christmas officially begins after the Thanksgiving and after turns on the Christmas Tree on the Rockellefer Center. It is decorated with 45,000 LED lights, drive for 8 kilometers of electric cables and topped with a Swarovski star.
For the special date there is always a programming gala that starts at 7 pm, on Christmas and New Year the tree is on the 24 hours.
Our advice:
Date: From November 30th to January 3rd - 2020
The mot extravagant Christmas light display in New York is located in Diker Heights Brooklyn, between 11th and 13th Avenue and 83th and 86th street. This Italian-American neighborhood is where residents bring out their Christmas spirit, lighting their houses with brightly colored bulbs, decorating the houses with Santa Claus in different sizes, nativities, snowflakes that fall from rooftops creating an illusion that snow is falling from the sky, you can also enjoy animated reindeer, giant candy canes, that help create the Christmas Spirit in this magical neighborhood.
The video will show some houses in Dyker Heights and details how to make the tour on your own; However you can also take the tour that brings you from Manhattan to Brooklyn,
Tour: 5:45 pm - ROW NYC
6:15 pm - Pennsylvania Hotel
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (approx)
This holiday tour takes you to the residential neighborhoods of Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, Italian-American sections of Brooklyn where you will find tree-lined streets and beautiful private residences decorated for the Christmas holidays.
You won't just see the lights; you'll walk through the neighborhoods with a guide to hear the stories behind this fun holiday event that brings thousands of people here each year. You may even meet some homeowners who are a proud part of this festive holiday.
On your way back to Manhattan, you'll see the spectacular New York skyline and some of the beautiful displays. Stop a Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center to see the iconic displays including the Christmas tree and ice skating rink. You'll be dropped off in Midtown to conclude your tour.
Buy tickets here.
Our advice:
Date: November 2019to January 2020
Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Thanksgiving Day - Christmas
For Christmas, the Botanical Garden in the Bronx presents a wonderful show called "HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW" "The Show of Christmas Train", Where you can see more than 20 scale model trains covering a wide variety of terrain and 150 miniature buildings of the five counties, with thousands of lights artfully designed, which occupy a quarter mile. Look up to see a new exhibition area of trains over height with the most famous bridges in New York. The monuments are made of natural materials such as bark, branches, stems, fruits and natural seeds.
The garden is located in Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, it has an easy access by car, metro, bus and Metro-North. Most of the garden consists of outdoor spaces with 250 acres of garden.
Our advice:
During the winter, New York prepares it's ice rinks for skating fans in different parts of the city.
Bryant Park: During the winter season, the ice rink is opened, which is known as "The Pond". It is a classic, located in the heart of Manhattan it's the only free track for those who bring their own skates. You can also rent skates. It has lockers to store belongings, if you want, you can bring a padlock and you wont have to pay for this service.
Hours: Daily: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm. Free entrance
Central Park: The ice rink is called ''Wollman Rink'', located at the corner of Central Park South and Sixth Avenue this track is the largest of all but it isn't free, for those who want to see people skate, you will also have to pay.
Hours: Daily from 11am to 5pm. You have to pay an entry fee.
Central Park Lasker: It's a pool during the summer and ice skating rink during the winter, located in the middle of the park between 106th and 108th streets.
Hours: You can check the timetables by clicking here. You have to pay an entry fee.
Rockefeller Center: The most photographed and filmed Rink Ice in New York City. We have seen it in films and series, every year when the Christmas tree is shining, there are lots of cameras transmitting for all around the world from there. Located at the foot of the building Rockefeller Center. Only 150 skaters are allowed at a time. The best time to go is during business hours and in the morning.
Hours: You can check the timetables by clicking here. You have to pay an entry fee.
Chelsea Piers Sky Ring: Located at the docks on the Hudson River (Pier61) is an indoor track. The interesting thing about this track is that it is widely used for training equipment figure skating and hockey teams so you will see a different atmosphere comparing to others.
Hours: You can check the timetables by clicking here. You have to pay an entry fee.
Our advice:
Christmas is a perfect time to be photographed with Santa Claus in different parts of New York and personally give him the wish list, the best places to find Santa are:
Macy´s:
It has the classic and popular Santaland option located on the 8th floor of the store, generally it attracts many people so you will find long lines to take a picture and spend time with Santa Claus, you will enjoy the decoration and the number of elves that will transport you to Santa´s world. Admission is free but the pictures have some cost but you can also use and take your own photos, Santaland is open daily from November 28th to December 24th until 9pm. Opening times might vary. 07 a.m. to 09 a.m. visitmacysnewyork.com
Bloomingdale:
Santa Claus also crosses through the eighth floor of the store. From November 28th to December 23rd, Santa Claus is there. The renowned Bloomingdales store is located on 3rd Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets. The pictures there are totally free: bloomingdales.com
ABC Carpet & Home
Carpet in Union Square has a different alternative to see Santa, between beautiful furniture and decorative items. It attracts less people and the wait can be lower than in other stores. From November 28th to December 23rd, but only on weekends Santa will be on ABC, located on Broadway between 18th and 19th Streets. Admission is free and you can take your own pictures : Abchome.com
New York City Fire Museum
The Fire Museum of New York offers a representation where Santa is stuck on the roof and firefighters come for his rescue, hot chocolate and music is offered at a party for families. You will have to buy a ticket for the entrance. Visit this page to know the time and schedule of the event. nycfiremuseum.org
Our advice:
The best time to visit is on weekdays in the morning, this will pretent you long waits, there are also other places like the Rockefeller Center where you can book breakfast with Santa Claus at the Sea Grill and Rock Center Cafe, also includes ice skating on the famous track, photo frame and gifts for children.