© Getty Images

Yuletide landmark - This is the place to begin your New York Christmas experience. The whole town congregates here, where the Rockefeller Plaza features one of the most famous skating rinks in the world.

© Shutterstock

Shopping in the Big Apple - Even the most reticent of shoppers will be tempted by the Big Apple’s bag-load of shops, stores and boutiques.

© Shutterstock

The color of money - Wall Street sets up for Christmas with a fantastic light display, where the Star-Spangled Banner is illuminated across the Corinthian columns of the New York Stock Exchange.

© Shutterstock

Empire State Building - Every year, the spire of this 102-story art deco wonder is bathed in seasonal hues of red and green, the skyscraper’s Christmas colors.

© Shutterstock

Get your skates on - The cold weather brings with it an opportunity to indulge in a favorite winter sports pastime—ice skating. Public venues include Wollman Ice Rink (pictured), located in the southern part of Central Park.

© Shutterstock

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree - The city’s grandest Christmas Tree takes root every December in Rockefeller Plaza. The scene is embellished with colorful and suitably extravagant decoration.

© Shutterstock

Skating in Rockefeller Plaza - For many the “Rock” is Christmas central. Besides the dazzling decorated tree, Rockefeller Plaza boasts the coolest ice rink in town and attracts tourists from around the world. 

© Shutterstock

Winter street food - Sure, NYC restaurants number some of the most celebrated in the world. However, the city’s sidewalks are famed for their no-nonsense street stalls. At this time of year, hot roasted chestnuts or warm buttered bagels are the orders of the day.

© Shutterstock

Macy’s - If it ain't in here, it’s not on the planet! The world's largest department store is the place to shop for Christmas gifts. Watch the kids make a beeline for Santa’s grotto, and take a moment to admire the window displays.

© Shutterstock

Tiffany & Co. - Elegant and sophisticated, the Tiffany flagship store is an especially bewitching Christmas shopping experience. Take a deep breath, and follow Audrey Hepburn’s stilettoed footsteps past rows of glittering diamonds and polished pearls.

© Shutterstock

Saks Fifth Avenue - A byword for luxury, if you’re in the city for a retail splurge of card-melting magnitude, Saks will indulge your seasonal wishes. You can’t miss the store, as its festive facade is always the talk of the town.

© Shutterstock

Christmas concerts -

There’s a host of stellar events taking place in the city over the holiday season. The annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a festive fixture featuring the legendary high-kicking Rockettes, is always eagerly anticipated.

© Getty Images

Manhattan Cocktail, Christmas style - If you only try one drink in New York City, make sure it’s this one. A standout of the cocktail world, a classic Manhattan is two parts whiskey to one part vermouth, plus a couple of dashes of bitters and a garnish. Try one at Slowly Shirley, near Greenwich Avenue.

© Shutterstock

Bryant Park Winter Village - Discover small-town charm in the middle of Manhattan at this open-air market. Browse artisanal shops selling handcrafted jewelry, clothing, home decorations and lots of other one of a kind gifts. Afterwards, grab a chocolate waffle or a mug of hot cider at one of the food kiosks.

© Shutterstock

A walk in the park - New York’s verdant Central Park is a delight to explore any time of year. However, when blanketed with snow, this urban oasis is transformed into a veritable winter wonderland.

© Shutterstock

Holiday Train Show - If you’re in town with the kids, make tracks to the New York Botanical Gardens for the annual Holiday Train Show. A dozen large-scale model railway locomotives chug through a miniature New York City, featuring 150 scaled iconic buildings and structures recreated using bark, leaves, and other natural materials.

© Reuters

Skyline views - There are some fabulous views to be had from the city’s many skyscrapers. Snowfall adds a particular charm to the sprawling canvas below, as this panoramic view from the Rockefeller Center illustrates.

© Shutterstock

Winter Warmer - A bone-chilling New York City winter is good enough reason to sip hot mulled wine. Cup your hands around a glass or two at Bar Odeon in TriBeCa.

© Shutterstock

See the lights in the Heights - For a look at how the boroughs celebrate the festive season, take a trip to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn and tour their annual holiday decorations. The residents try and outdo each other with the brightest and most elaborate light displays.

© Shutterstock

Exploring the city - The mercury may have dipped, but that’s no reason not to explore Manhattan’s gilded tip. Start by ticking off the usual subjects. The landmark Statue of Liberty takes on an extraordinary luster in the reflective sheen of fresh snowfall. Be sure to keep warm!

© Shutterstock

A place of worship - Consecrated in 1879, St. Patrick’s offers tranquil refuge from the city’s sidewalks, and an opportunity to pause and reflect on what Christmas is really all about. The cathedral is North America’s largest, and famed for its stained glass windows. The beautiful rose window (pictured) was designed by Charles Connick (1875–1945).

© Shutterstock

Seasonal snapshots - Winter in the Big Apple brings with it postcard-worthy scenery. If photography is your passion, spend some downtime capturing the city and its parks in all their captivating magic.

© Shutterstock

Go nuts! - Guaranteed to get you in the festive mood, George Balanchine’s adaptation of 'The Nutcracker' is performed every year by the New York City Ballet, ably assisted by marching toy soldiers and the comic figure of Mother Ginger. The one-ton growing Christmas tree prop will leave you wide-eyed.

© Shutterstock

Sledding in Prospect Park - Brooklyn's Prospect Park is a pleasure to explore at any time of year, but covered with a blanket of fresh snow this woodland expanse takes on an entirely new complexion. Its rolling, meandering landscape makes it ideal sledding territory. Just watch out for low-flying snowballs!

© Shutterstock

Rolf’s German Restaurant - Festive kitsch in all its Bavarian “Schwarzwald” glory, Rolf’s riot of seasonal decoration reminds New Yorkers of how the Europeans do Christmas. Try the Wiener schnitzel, but not before you’ve knocked back a schnapps... or six.

© Getty

Union Square Holiday Market - Located in Union Square Park, the annual jamboree is internationally renowned for bringing together a host of local chefs, artisans and handicraft makers, and the rest of the world it seems, in a wonderfully warm and eclectic display of Christmas spirit.

© Shutterstock

Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair - Set in the east side of the iconic Vanderbilt Hall, this is one of the longest running holiday fairs in the city. Visitors can browse 40 curated artisan stalls featuring handmade jewelry, ceramics, fragrant soaps, and all sorts of other attractive and unique handicrafts.

© Reuters

Brooklyn Bridge Walk Into the New Year Tour - If you’re put off by the thought of cheering in the new year in crowded Times Square, why not join a guided tour of the city’s famous Brooklyn Bridge and watch the firework display from this iconic landmark? The tour meets at 160 Broadway at around 10:30 pm.

© Shutterstock

New Year’s Eve in Times Square - One of the world's great end-of-year gatherings, bringing in the New Year at Time's Square is to witness the time-honored tradition of the sparkly ball drop at a minute to midnight. Celebrations begin at 6 pm with live music performed over two stages, but you’ll need to arrive mid-afternoon to bag your spot—saying goodbye to the year will be a test of endurance.

© Shutterstock

Ski into the New Year -

New York City is a convenient hub from which to explore the rest of the state in all its snow-filled glory. If you fancy hitting the slopes after the New Year razzmatazz, Finger Lakes or the Adirondacks are favorite east coast winter resorts.

See also: Favorite skiing destinations around the world. 

© Shutterstock