A Holiday Day Trip to New York City
City Sidewalks, busy sidewalks. Dressed in holiday style…
No city does the holidays quite like New York City. From decked out store fronts, to fabulously decorated trees, to festive bars, and outdoor holiday shopping markets, there is so much to see on a holiday visit to New York City! And after watching Home Alone 2 more times than I can count, I had to take a trip into the city to see all the sights!
Planning a visit to the Big Apple this holiday season? Check out my recommended day trip itinerary and travel tips below for a fun and festive day in the city! We did this exact itinerary and it was so much fun!
New York City Day Trip Itinerary:
Pick up a coffee from Ralph’s Coffee, the cutest coffee truck in NYC which also happens to be driven by a teddy bear.
Head to Radio City Music Hall to see the giant red ornaments and candy canes just across the street.
Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the largest Christmas tree in NYC.
Enjoy the most delicious chocolate dessert options including waffles and crepes, along with a hot chocolate at Max Brenner chocolate shop.
See the unique holiday displays along Fifth Avenue. Be sure to stop by Saks at night for the holiday light show.
Shop at the Union Square Holiday Market - the City’s largest Greenmarket with over 150 vendors.
Stop by The Courtyard at Lotte New York Palace for their beautiful tree and decorations, as well as, an outdoor hot chocolate and cocktail bar.
Go ice skating at Bryant Park Winter Village.
Walk the decorated hotel lobbies at The Peninsula Hotel and The Plaza Hotel.
Find your favorite holiday window display at Macy’s on 34th Street (one of the largest department stores in the world).
Grab a cocktail at Papillon Bistro & Bar which goes all out with holiday decorations from floor to ceiling.
Tips for Traveling to the City:
Planes, trains, or automobiles - there are lots of choices for travel into the city and getting around once there.
We opted to travel from Western Mass into the city via Amtrak and I would absolutely recommend this option. Round trip travel was about a three hour train ride. The trains were all on time, they had comfortable seats, and there are restrooms available as well. Ticket prices vary and you can often find a deal for tickets, as Amtrak offers various promotions throughout the year. And the best part? The train arrives into Penn Station which is within walking distance to most of the sites on the day trip itinerary!
