Where to Find the Best Christmas Lights in NYC (2025)
There is nothing quite like the glow of the holidays in the city. If you are looking for a free guide to the best Christmas lights in NYC, you have come to the right place. From legendary window displays to entire neighborhoods that go all out, we will show you where to find the most magical sights. Get ready to experience the best of Christmas in New York City.
Note: Holiday display dates and times are based on previous years and are subject to change for the 2025 season. Please check the official websites for the most current information before you go.
The Best Christmas Lights in NYC (2025): A Complete Guide
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
This is the heart of Christmas in New York 2025. The massive Norway Spruce, decked out in thousands of LED lights and topped with a Swarovski star, is a sight to behold. The area is always bustling with energy, with the ice rink below and music in the air.
- Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
- Contact: rockefellercenter.com | 212.588.8601
- Pro Tip: Visit late at night on a weekday (after 10 p.m.) to see the tree with significantly fewer people. The lights typically stay on until midnight.
Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show
Directly across from Rockefeller Center, the entire facade of Saks Fifth Avenue transforms into a canvas for a dazzling music and light show. The show runs for about five minutes and repeats every ten minutes after dusk. It is one of the most beloved New York Christmas lights traditions.
- Price: FREE
- Location: 611 5th Ave, New York
- Contact: saksfifthavenue.com
- Pro Tip: The best viewing spot is from the Channel Gardens in Rockefeller Center. You get a perfect, unobstructed view of the entire building.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
If you want to see something truly spectacular, you have to visit Brooklyn. The famous Dyker Heights Christmas lights are an over-the-top display of festive cheer. Homeowners hire professional companies to create jaw-dropping installations with giant Santas, moving reindeer, and enough lights to be seen from space.
- Price: FREE (unless you take a bus tour)
- Location: Primarily from 11th to 13th Avenues between 83rd and 86th Streets, Brooklyn, NY
- Contact: dykerheightschristmaslights.com
- Pro Tip: The best displays are usually up from the weekend after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Go on a weeknight to avoid the biggest crowds that swarm on weekends.
Bryant Park Winter Village
This is more than just a tree. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park features a large ice rink, a beautiful Christmas tree, and dozens of holiday shops in a European-inspired open-air market. The whole park feels incredibly festive.
- Price: FREE to enter the village; fees apply for ice skating.
- Location: Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd St & 5th and 6th Ave, New York
- Contact: bryantpark.org
- Pro Tip: Grab a hot chocolate from one of the vendors and find a spot near The Rink to watch the skaters with the tree and the Empire State Building in the background.
Macy’s Herald Square
The legendary department store is famous for its elaborate holiday window displays, which follow a different theme each year. Inside, you will find Santaland, a magical North Pole village. Do not forget to look at the “Believe” sign on the outside of the building.
- Location: 151 W 34th St, New York
- Contact: macys.com | 212) 695-4400
- Pro Tip: The window displays on the 34th Street side are usually the most intricate, but the Broadway side windows are also worth a look.
Bergdorf Goodman Holiday Windows
For high-fashion and artistic holiday displays, nobody does it better than Bergdorf Goodman. Their windows are known for being incredibly detailed, avant-garde, and fantastical. It feels more like visiting a modern art installation than a department store.
- Location: 754 5th Ave, New York
- Contact: bergdorfgoodman.com
- Pro Tip: Spend time at each window. The level of detail is amazing, with hidden elements you might miss at first glance.
Hudson Yards
For a more modern take on holiday decor, head to Hudson Yards. The shopping center is filled with over two million shimmering white lights, creating a sophisticated and stunning star-like display. The centerpiece is a 32-foot hot air balloon suspended in the main atrium.
- Location: 20 Hudson Yards, New York
- Contact: hudsonyardsnewyork.com
- Pro Tip: Go to the second or third-floor balconies for the best photo opportunities of the main light display without the crowds below.
The Shops at Columbus Circle
Located at the entrance to Central Park, The Shops at Columbus Circle hang twelve massive 14-foot stars from the ceiling of their 150-foot Great Room. The stars continuously change colors in a beautifully choreographed show synchronized to holiday music.
- Location: 10 Columbus Cir, New York
- Contact: theshopsatcolumbuscircle.com
- Pro Tip: The “Broadway Underground” market often takes place here during the holidays, making it a great spot to see the lights and do some gift shopping.
Radio City Music Hall & Sixth Avenue
While you are in Midtown, take a walk down Sixth Avenue. You will find giant-sized holiday decorations, including massive Christmas ornaments and colored light displays across from Radio City Music Hall. The facade of Radio City itself is a classic photo spot.
- Location: Sixth Avenue between 49th and 51st Street, New York, NY
- Pro Tip: This area is a great way to approach Rockefeller Center, as you get to see multiple impressive displays along the way.
Lotte New York Palace Courtyard
Tucked away from the street, the courtyard at the Lotte New York Palace hotel is home to a spectacular Christmas tree. Framed by the grand hotel entrance, it is one of the most elegant and photogenic trees in the city.
- Price: FREE
- Location: 455 Madison Ave, New York
- Contact: lottenypalace.com
- Pro Tip: This spot is generally less crowded than Rockefeller Center, making it easier to get a beautiful photo without lots of people in the background.
The Seaport District
With its cobblestone streets and historic buildings, the Seaport is a charming place to see holiday lights. They have a beautiful Christmas tree and decorations throughout the neighborhood, offering a lovely maritime holiday atmosphere away from the Midtown rush.
- Price: FREE
- Location: Fulton St & Front St, New York
- Contact: https://theseaport.nyc/events/holiday-tree-lighting | 646-822-6990
- Pro Tip: Head to the Heineken Riverdeck on Pier 17 for great views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the neighborhood’s festive glow.
New York Botanical Garden GLOW
For an immersive experience, check out GLOW at the NYBG in the Bronx. This is a ticketed event featuring a massive outdoor lightscape that illuminates the garden’s historic landscape and buildings in thousands of colors.
- Price: $$$ (Ticketed event)
- Location: 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
- Contact: https://www.nybg.org
- Pro Tip: Tickets for this event often sell out, especially for weekend dates. Book your tickets well in advance online.
Tavern on the Green
This iconic restaurant in Central Park goes all out for the holidays. The exterior is covered in a warm, glittering blanket of lights, and a beautiful Christmas tree stands in its courtyard. It creates a magical, storybook setting.
- Price: FREE to view from the outside.
- Location: Central Park, W 67th St, New York
- Contact: https://www.tavernonthegreen.com
- Pro Tip: Even if you do not have a dinner reservation, you can walk by and enjoy the view. It is particularly stunning after a light snowfall.
Central Park’s Wollman Rink
While not a light display in the traditional sense, the scene at Wollman Rink is pure holiday magic. Skating on the ice with the festive lights of the rink, the park’s trees, and the glittering Manhattan skyline in the background is an unforgettable experience.
- Price: FREE to view; fees apply for ice skating.
- Location: Wollman Rink in Central Park (enter at 59th St and 6th Ave)
- Contact: https://wollmanrinknyc.com | 1-833-615-3500 | hello@wollmanrinknyc.com
- Pro Tip: The rink is open late, so a nighttime skate offers the most dramatic and festive views of the city lights.
Washington Square Park
For a more downtown, classic NYC feel, visit the Christmas tree under the iconic arch in Washington Square Park. It offers a different, more relaxed atmosphere than the Midtown crowds. It is a beautiful scene, especially after a light snowfall.
- Price: FREE
- Location: Washington Square, New York
- Contact: https://www.washingtonsquarenyc.org | 917-533-8077
- Pro Tip: The park hosts community carol singing on select nights, including Christmas Eve. Check the park’s schedule for dates and times.
Union Square Holiday Market
The Union Square Holiday Market is another wonderful spot that combines shopping with festive sights. The red and white striped stalls are brightly lit, creating a warm and cheerful glow throughout the southern end of the park.
- Price: FREE to enter
- Location: Union Square Park, Southern Side, New York
- Contact: https://www.urbanspacemarkets.com
- Pro Tip: The market is entirely outdoors, so dress warmly. It is a great place to find unique gifts from local artisans.
Brookfield Place Winter Garden
The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place fills its stunning glass atrium with hundreds of glowing lanterns that change color. You can even participate by making a wish at one of the “wishing stations,” which causes the lanterns to glow in a beautiful display.
- Price: FREE
- Location: 230 Vesey St, New York
- Contact: https://bfplny.com/luminaries
- Pro Tip: Brookfield Place also has an outdoor ice rink with amazing views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty.
Knowing how to spend Christmas in New York is all about soaking in these festive sights. Finding the best Christmas lights in NYC is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
Find the Man in the Red Suit
After you have had your fill of twinkling lights, why not plan a visit to see Santa Claus himself? For the best spots to meet him, check out our guide: Best Places to See Santa in NYC (2025): A New Yorker’s Guide.
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