New York City Christmas: Best things to do during the holiday season

New York, New York – 'Tis the season to make things bright, especially in The Big Apple, where the lights and sights are some of the holidays' most iconic.

The famed Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in all its glory.
The famed Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in all its glory.  © TAG24/Lena Grotticelli

"The city that never sleeps" is wide awake - especially at Christmastime!

Buzzing with visitors, there's plenty of classic New York City must-dos to check out: see the tree at Rockefeller Center, watch The Rockettes dance at Radio City, and take a stroll through a – hopefully – snowy Central Park.

There is plenty to experience outdoors on the mean streets, in addition to the best Christmas lights displays in NYC.

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Have yourself a merry little Christmas with these picks for can't-miss outdoor holiday activities in NYC.

Stroll past the Fifth Avenue holiday windows

Saks Fifth Avenue boasts 700,000 programmed lights in a five-minute show that repeats every 10 minutes.
Saks Fifth Avenue boasts 700,000 programmed lights in a five-minute show that repeats every 10 minutes.  © Collage: TAG24/Lena Grotticelli

The department stores' holiday window displays that line Fifth Avenue are a treat at any age – and completely free to view!

Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Barneys, and Tiffany & Co. unveiled their themed-windows at the end of November, which add elaborate decoration each year to the upscale shopping district.

The avenue is also lined with some surprise light pop-ups - aka the perfect photo ops.

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The season's arguably best LED display can be found outside Saks Fifth Avenue, where ten stories of 300,000 LED programmed lights synchronize to music in a five-minute-long spectacle that is sure to bring out your inner child.

Saks' light show repeats daily in front of the department store every 10 minutes from about 4:35 PM to 11:35 PM.

Head to Brooklyn for the Dyker Heights lights

Visitors travel from around the world to view the incredible light displays in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Visitors travel from around the world to view the incredible light displays in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.  © Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/tanya1183

The hike to the outer borough of Brooklyn has never been more worth it than at Christmastime.

It is estimated that over 100,000 people journey to the Dyker Heights neighborhood each year to see the most eye-popping lights jam packed into one small New York area.

Many of the displays are executed by professional decorating companies, and cost tens of thousands of dollars each in electric bills!

Most of the residential houses in the 'hood put their displays up the day after Thanksgiving and remain decorated through New Years Day. The streets are usually busiest between 5 and 9 PM.

The best lights can be found from 83rd to 86th Streets between 11th and 13th Avenues. The blocks between 10th and 11th Avenues also are home to more out-of-this-world illuminations.

Don't forget to bundle up for the chilly nighttime views!

Shop at an outdoor holiday market

The Winter Village at Bryant Park is home to a seasonal ice skating rink with free admission.
The Winter Village at Bryant Park is home to a seasonal ice skating rink with free admission.  © TAG24/Lena Grotticelli

New York is also home to plenty of bustling holiday markets erected for the season and modeled after their famed European counterparts, which make for some fresh-air fun.

The Winter Village at Bryant Park houses a seasonal ice skating rink with free admission behind the New York Public Library building. Skate rental is an additional charge, along with heated igloos nearby that serve up bites and drinks.

The surrounding holiday market features 170 temporary shops, including its Small Business Spotlight that gives four minority-owned companies space to sell their products in a free booth for the festivities.

Urbanspace also organizes some of the city's best holiday markets at Union Square and Columbus Circle – which are back and better than ever this year. Both locales host vendors selling handmade arts and crafts to gift to your loved ones, and wintry, local foods to keep you warm while you shop.

Then, warm up afterward at a decked out Christmas pop up bar.

Wherever you choose to spend your New York City Christmas, there are plenty of sights to take in the city in all its splendor.

Cover photo: Collage: TAG24/Lena Grotticelli

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