1–6°C / 34–43°F; wind-chill drops below freezing after sunset.
What to eat in New York in December: Seasonal delicacies
New York dresses up for December: ever-green garlands on brownstones, Fifth Avenue windows in full sparkle, and the Rockefeller Center tree glowing nightly from 5 pm. Daylight’s brief, so book timed tickets for major indoor sights after 3 pm, then roam the city’s neon warmth after dark.
| Category | November | December 2025 | January |
|---|---|---|---|
Weather | 8–13°C, light rain, first frost late month. | 1–6°C, occasional snow; wind tunnels on avenues. | –3–4°C, highest snowfall; bitter wind off Hudson. |
Crowds & vibe | Moderate; marathon fans then lull pre-Thanksgiving. | Peak tourist buzz, carols everywhere. | Quiet; locals hibernate, lines vanish. |
Key events | NYC Marathon, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Parade. | Rockefeller tree, Hanukkah, NYE. | Broadway Week, Restaurant Week, Lunar New Year prep. |
Best for | Deal hunters and runners. | Holiday lovers, night photographers. | Budget travelers, museum marathons. |
Book early? | Hotels fine if booked four weeks out. | Yes, six months for Midtown hotels and shows. | Sales pop up; walk-up tickets possible. |
Transport notes | Thanksgiving street closures on 5 th & 6 th Aves. | Cold may slow ferries; subway vintage rides run Sundays. | Icy platforms—add 10 min buffer; fewer cab rivals. |
Budget | Moderate; Black Friday sales start. | Highest hotel rates of year; many free window displays. | Lowest rates; two-for-one Broadway deals. |
| Event | Dates | Event type | Location | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting | 03 Dec 2025 | Cultural Festival | Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown | A 12-ton spruce blazes at 9pm after live NBC performances; arrive by 4 pm or watch from 5 th Avenue jumbotrons. |
Radio City Christmas Spectacular | 28 Nov – 31 Dec 2025 | Concert | Radio City Music Hall, Midtown | The Rockettes kick high in eight daily shows; weekday mornings are cheapest and still wow. |
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Nightscape | 01 – 31 Dec 2025 | Light Festival | 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn | One-mile path of lasers and fire pits; buy 6 pm slots for best twilight photos. |
Hanukkah Menorah Lightings | 17–25 Dec 2025 | Cultural Festival | Grand Army Plaza (Brooklyn) | Chabad rabbis bless the 32-ft menorah nightly; free dreidels and hot latkes on opening night. |
Winter Solstice Concert | 21 Dec 2025 | Concert | St. John the Divine | Grammy-winner Paul Winter weaves sax with cathedral acoustics; tickets sell out each year. |
Santacon | 13 Dec 2025 | Parade | East Village | Thousands of suited Santas pub-crawl noon–7pm; avoid L-train crowds if not joining. |
Holiday Train Show | 23 Nov 2025 – 19 Jan 2026 | Exhibition | NY Botanical Garden | Mini engines steam past bark-built landmarks; reserve evening “Bar Car Nights” for 21+ hot toddies. |
Kwanzaa Celebration at Apollo | 27 Dec 2025 | Cultural Festival | Apollo Theater, Harlem | Step dance and gospel fuse in a one-night family show—orchestra seats go on sale Sept 1. |
NYE Times Square Ball Drop | 31 Dec 2025 | Global Event | Times Square | Pens lock at 3pm; pack hand-warmers and avoid liquids—no re-entry once inside. |
Holiday Markets Trail | 14 Nov – 24 Dec 2025 | Market | Bryant Park | More than 300 stalls selling artisan gifts; Bryant Park adds free rink views for shoppers. |
Book Rockefeller ice slots before Thanksgiving; on-site queues can top two hours by 11 am.
Carry a MetroCard backup even if you tap OMNY; gloves sometimes block phone readers in sub-zero temps.
Free restroom hack: The Shops at Columbus Circle stay open until midnight—rare in Midtown.
Use the underground passage from Times Square subway to Rockefeller Center to dodge wind-chill.
Skip yellow cabs at tree-lighting exit; walk two avenues east before hailing to beat gridlock.
Bring cash for street vendors; card readers freeze and fail below 0 °C.
Plan museum days for Mondays—most holiday tourists chase windows, leaving Met and MoMA pleasantly quiet.
Light snow showers hit about every third December; heavy storms are rarer but can close airports for 12 hours. Watch forecasts 48 hrs ahead.
Most stay open in drizzle; operations pause only if ice turns slushy or thunder rolls. Check rink Instagram stories for live updates.
Secure a viewing pen before 3 pm; after 4 pm police close barricades and you cannot re-enter if you leave for restrooms.
Possibly—download the TodayTix app for rush deals, or queue at TKTS Booth 2 pm Tuesday for evening shows except Christmas week.
Yes, but wait in the conductor car and avoid empty stations; service runs 24/7 though trains are every 12–20 minutes overnight.
Thermal base layer, wool socks, and a windproof coat; heaters exist but queues are exposed.
Many Italian and Chinese spots operate on Dec 25; book by early December, as locals who don’t cook also dine out.
Thick, almost spoonable Valrhona blend topped with torched house-made marshmallow. Perfect hand-warmer while window-shopping.
Where to eat: City Bakery pop-up, 3 W 18 th St
Shredded Yukon Golds fried in schmaltz, with sour-cream-chive and apple-butter sides during Hanukkah. Where to eat: Veselka, 144 2 nd Ave
Street-vendor staples; five for $4. Eat straight from the paper bag while steam fogs your glasses. Where to eat: Cart at 53 rd St & 5 th Ave.
Clams, mussels, and calamari simmered in garlicky tomato sauce—served only Christmas week. Where to eat: Emilio’s Ballato, 55 E Houston St
Yeasted ring filled with nutmeg custard, glazed in bourbon-rum icing—available Dec 1–31 only. Where to eat: Doughnut Plant, 379 Grand St
