How to spend Christmas, New Year's Eve & Winter in the Big Apple
Winter in the Big Apple
Categories: What to know
TRAVELING TO NEW YORK THIS WINTER? CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR'S EVE AND THOSE "COLD MONTHS" IN CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS
Irene - Your Local Guide to New York City
Hello everyone!I am Irene from New York Welcome and official Tour Guide in New York. My passion is to create itineraries to introduce the city of New York and its surroundings to travelers from around the world. If you are planning a trip to the States and New York City, I can help you plan your stay in the Big Apple. I've been conducting tours in NYC for 4 years, where I spent most of my life. I come from a family that for 2 generations has been working in the tourism industry both in Europe and here in the US (based in NYC, Florida, and Nevada) and I've always been passionate about travels, both taking them and planning them!
Our Walking Tours around NYC and Personalized Tours
Since the year 2000, we have been welcoming international tourists to New York, not personally since I was a child at the time, but after finishing my studies (Alabama University) I joined the family business. We offer different tours and excursions in the city, from classic itineraries to see the main attractions (i.e. Rockefeller, Central Park, Times Square, etc.) ideal for those arriving in NYC for the first time, to more unusual itineraries that will take you discovering off-the-beaten-path areas focusing on unique places and neighborhoods.
What I love doing is to create customized itineraries by varying the length of the tour, adding a private car (for those that don't want to move exclusively on foot/by subway) and maybe including a couple of culinary stops to discover the famous multi-ethnic cuisine of NYC. We can even go to visit the popular Panoramic Rooftops to taste seasonal Cocktails and enjoy great views over the New York Skyline.
Among my clients, I have had honeymooners, groups of friends and large and small families from all over the place. I've had the pleasure of meeting so many people in these past 4 years from different States and Countries, and with many, I have emailed in contact through Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
I hope to meet you soon in New York and show you my beloved "home"
Christmassy Things To Visit In The Big Apple
We are quickly approaching Christmas and The Holidays, and New York is completely decorated and ready to welcome you with thousands of colorful lights, events, and various shows.These are the Christmas Highlights of New York:
- a) Rockefeller Center Plaza with the famous Ice-skating Rink, the most famous Christmas Tree in the world, and the colorful Holiday Show of Saks 5th Avenue with the music from the movie "Frozen".
- b) 5th Avenue from 59th to 50th Street for all the Holiday Windows.
- c) Bryant Park for another classic Christmas Tree, the Ice-skating Rink, and the Christmas Market.
- d) South Street Seaport for the Christmas tree and the famous Pier 17 (recently opened) with the new ice-skating rink on the Rooftop.
- e) Wall Street for the historic New York Stock Exchange Christmas Tree.
- f) The neighborhood of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn for extravagantly decorated houses.
My Bonus Tips
There are 2 Christmas Trees that I particularly like, even if they are not famous for their "lighting" ceremonies, but they have beautiful decorations. Both are located in the Midtown area, one is the Public Library Tree (you can find it in the Astor Hall - main entrance), the other is the Tree of the Lotte Palace Hotel (Familiar with the Series-Tv Gossip Girl? The Palace Hotel was Chuck Bass's home at the beginning of the series!)During Christmas and the Holiday Season, we organize many special tours so we can all better enjoy the magical atmosphere of New York. If you are looking for a local guide and want to organize activities during your stay, email us! It will be a pleasure to plan your trip to New York with you.
My 3 Favorite Private Tours for December in New York
One takes you to Dyker Heights for the Christmas lights, in one we can see all the Christmas windows on 5th Avenue, and one takes us to Wall Street to discover some of the oldest streets of New York.
New Year's Eve - Tips on Where & How to Spend it
What to say about New Year's Eve in New York ... without a doubt it is one of the most celebrated nights, from the famous Times Square Ball Drop to Gala Dinners and various Parties around the city.
New Year's Eve, however, can also become a real "nightmare", lines everywhere, taxis are hard to find, and if you do not know the city well, reaching your destination becomes difficult. People are often "deceived" by skip-the-line passes to non-existent parties and so on ... If you are planning to celebrate New Year's Eve in New York and want information on the famous Times Square "Ball Drop" party, how to participate (timetables, road closures, etc.), or on other programs, both free or for purchase, send us a message in the form you find at the bottom of the page, we will be happy to help you decide what you could do on NYE based on your requests & budget.
Can I give you my suggestion? Unless you are so sure you want to stay from 11 am until midnight waiting standing with no bathroom, look for a party or a place where you can dance and have fun for the evening and the watch the Ball Drop on TV!
In addition to the Gala Dinners, people usually are very happy with the Cruises by the bay aboard elegant Yachts offering a fully plated dinner, music, dances, and Midnight Fireworks ... and with the amazing Manhattan Skyline as the backdrop!
Do you have any doubts, questions or need suggestions? Write us!
You can reach out to us using the form at the end of the page to request help organizing your NYE Night in the Big Apple.
YOUR BEST-FRIEND IN NEW YORK: THE ATTRACTION PASS
You've probably heard of PASSes for attractions and museums that will make you save a few dollars on those admission tickets to famous attractions. The city of New York offers several PASSes, and you can choose based on how many attractions/activities you think you want to do and how many days you want to dedicate to these activities.No PASS is better than another but depending on your needs, a PASS can become more suitable for you. Are you a bit confused? Not knowing what/how to choose? Email us and we will give you our advice.
Meanwhile, we show you these 3 PASSes - Check the differences and offers here:
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The Surroundings of New York and Day Trips
As much as I love New York, I am always happy to leave the big city for one or more days and explore the surrounding areas. There are important cities to visit, such as Boston, Washington DC and Philadelphia, rich in American history and culture. There are the countryside towns of the Hudson Valley (north of NYC), or Long Island where we can arrive to the Hamptons with those beautiful beaches located just 3 hours from NYC. If you love architecture or the Jazz Age, then we can explore itineraries that will take us discovering the architecture of the Vanderbilt's and the best of the early twentieth century by visiting real Mansions along the Long Island Sound, Great Gatsby Style so to speak.There are a lot of itineraries that can be done in a day or two days, so for those of you who have already been to NYC, I highly recommend dedicating a couple of days to discover the surroundings of NYC.
We also organize more comprehensive trips that will take to Niagara Falls, New England, Coast-to-Coast, National Parks and much more! If in your plans there are trips to the States and not just New York City, we are waiting for you.
Will you travel to NY ? - The Next Seasons: Spring and Summer
If Winter brings us the magic of Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, Spring and Summer will bring us longer days, mild-temperatures, colorful tulips, and beautiful Japanese Cherry Trees ... If you are planning a stay in New York , email us and we will help you plan your trip based on the chosen period.
Booking online? How to Trust and Choose The Right Website
If you have arrived on this page, perhaps it's because you have seen one of our Videos on Facebook or because you already follow us on Instagram and other social networks, or you have arrived by chance while looking for information on New York and Christmas Tours.In addition to us, you probably have already found many other websites and agencies that sell NYC, there are many professional guides and tour agencies in the Big Apple and with many, we have been collaborating for years!
In planning the trip and choosing the right tours for you, I advise you to always read carefully what each package includes (and not include) and above all to rely on agencies that know the territory (new york city) well, and that are present and able to help you on location
Whether you book with us or not, I do hope you can still visit New York City and get as excited about this city as we are!
Have a good trip and I hope to see you soon!
Ask us about New Year's Eve in NYC - Dinners, Parties, Fireworks and Times Square!