Where to Stay in NYC at Christmas
This guide is all about where to stay in NYC at Christmas for a festive trip.
Christmas is one of the best times of year to visit New York. The entire city transforms into a magical winter wonderland with Christmas trees, lights, and over-the-top decorations all around.
As a native New Yorker, one of my favorite things to do is walk around admiring the holiday decorations, especially at the hotels. Many of the most iconic hotels in NYC decorate for Christmas, and I’ve included all my recommendations for the most festive Christmas hotels in New York below.
Is it worth visiting NYC at Christmas? Yes, it’s absolutely worth visiting NYC at Christmas. However, I recommend coming in early December or late December/early January if you can. This way you’ll avoid the biggest crowds, because they can get crazy around the holidays. Weekdays and weeknights are also better for enjoying holiday activities in New York than the busy and hectic weekends.
Tip: Be sure to book your hotel for your trip to NYC at Christmas as early as you can! Prices go up the closer you get to the Christmas season, and availability becomes more limited as well.
Related: 18 Biggest Mistakes Tourists Make in NYC
Best Things to Do in NYC at Christmas
Before I get into where to stay in NYC at Christmas and the best holiday hotels, I wanted to share a list of my favorite things to do in New York at Christmas that you should not miss on your trip!
Here are the best things to do in NYC at Christmas:
- Go ice skating at Wollman Rink, Bryant Park, or Rockefeller Center
- See the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall
- Admire the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree at night
- Stroll down Fifth Avenue to window-shop and look at the lights
- Catch a performance of The Nutcracker from the NYC Ballet
- Eat dinner at Rolf’s, the most festive restaurant in New York
- Watch the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday lights show
- Go sledding in Central Park if it has snowed
- Do your holiday shopping at Bryant Park Winter Village
- Sip a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity
- Go to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn for amazing holiday lights
- Meet Santa Claus and his elves at Macy’s
Related: 11 Tips for Visiting NYC at Christmas (From a Local!)
And now let’s get into the best places to stay in New York at Christmas!
Best Hotels for Christmas in New York
Now let’s talk about where to stay in NYC at Christmas.
Most of the best hotels that decorate for the holidays are located around Midtown East and the Upper East Side close to Central Park. This is also where you’ll find many of the most famous holiday activities, like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Fifth Avenue and its holiday shopping and light displays, Radio City Music Hall, Bryant Park Christmas Market, and the Wollman Rink for ice skating in Central Park.
These areas are great for tourists, especially first-time visitors to NYC or families with kids.
However, if you’ve already been to New York several times before, or you want to be in a “cooler” neighborhood, I’ve also included some downtown hotel recommendations on this list. This way, you can stay in a trendier neighborhood that’s not as touristy, but still enjoy that festive holiday flair!
Here are my top picks for where to stay in NYC at Christmas:
- Best overall: The Peninsula New York
- Best uptown: The Mark Hotel
- Best downtown: The Standard East Village
- Best for families: The Plaza
And here’s a full breakdown of the best hotels in New York at Christmas.
Tip: I use and recommend Booking.com for getting the best deal on hotels. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
The Plaza
The Plaza is one of the most iconic hotels in New York City, and they go all out for the holidays with incredible decorations. This hotel is the setting of beloved movies like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and Eloise at Christmastime (there’s even an Eloise shop and Eloise-themed suite at the hotel!)
If you want to have a quintessential “Christmas in New York” experience, this is the best place to stay, especially for families with kids. The location of The Plaza is amazing, right on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South. This is a fantastic place to base yourself on a Christmas trip to NYC.
Lotte New York Palace
Lotte New York Palace is another one of my top picks for where to stay in NYC at Christmas. I actually spent Christmas night here one time, and it was such a special experience. This hotel is located in Midtown East, just one block from Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Fifth Avenue.
You can’t beat the location of this hotel for a trip to New York at Christmas. If you stay at this hotel, I highly recommend booking a room that overlooks St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a spectacular view!
The St. Regis New York
The St. Regis is another New York City hotel that really gets into the Christmas spirit. This opulent hotel receives a holiday makeover every year, making it an extremely festive place to stay at Christmas.
The location of this hotel is also excellent, being in the heart of Midtown East. You’re just a block away from the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and a short walk from Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center.
The Ritz-Carlton Central Park
The Ritz-Carlton Central Park is another memorable hotel for a trip to New York at Christmas. Many of the rooms at this hotel offer truly spectacular and unrivaled views of the skyline and Central Park.
This is a great place to stay in New York at Christmas if you want to be close to popular holiday destinations like Central Park, Fifth Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. The best entertainment in New York is also at your fingertips, with Broadway and the Theater District and Lincoln Center just a short walk away.
The Mark Hotel
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of touristy Midtown East, I highly recommend staying at The Mark Hotel. This five-star luxury hotel is located on the Upper East Side, which happens to be my favorite neighborhood in New York (although I may be a little biased because I live there!)
This hotel has beautiful decorations around the holidays, and you are just steps away from Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and so much more.
The Standard East Village
If you’re looking for a stylish hotel in a trendy neighborhood to stay at on your trip to NYC at Christmas, look no further than The Standard East Village. This hotel is located downtown close to some of New York’s coolest neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, SoHo, NoHo, and the Lower East Side.
The hotel totally transforms around Christmastime, with one of the highlights being the Winter Garden, a bar and restaurant with cozy private yurts and lots of holiday decor. You’re also just a short walk away from Union Square, home to a Christmas market where you can do your holiday shopping.
Dream Downtown
Dream Downtown is another downtown hotel that gets decked out for Christmas. This funky and stylish hotel is located between the super-cool neighborhoods of Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. You’re within close proximity to the High Line, Chelsea Market, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
This hotel becomes a true winter wonderland around Christmas. While it’s known for its massive rooftop terrace pool in the summer, in the winter it becomes a snowy Christmas getaway.
The Peninsula New York
The Peninsula is a grand and luxurious five-star hotel in Midtown East that is one of the best places to stay in New York City at Christmas. The holiday decorations at this hotel are some of the best. It’s also in a great location if you want to be close to the most festive Christmas activities and things to do in NYC.
Located on Fifth Avenue, surrounded by some of the best shopping and holiday window displays, this hotel is located within easy walking distance of Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and more.
The Langham
Finally, The Langham is one of my top picks for where to stay in NYC at Christmas. This luxury hotel is situated in a great location just blocks away from the Empire State Building, Macy’s Herald Square (where you can meet Santa Claus and his elves), and the New York Public Library, which has beautiful decorations.
This chic hotel is also just blocks away from Bryant Park, which transforms into the Winter Village every year with an ice skating rink, giant Christmas tree, and holiday food and shopping market.
The Carlyle
The Carlyle is one of the most exclusive hotels in New York. Located on the Upper East Side, this elegant hotel is a great place to stay in NYC at Christmas if you want a more understated experience and to be away from the extreme holiday crowds of Midtown Manhattan while still being in a great location.
This hotel is located on Madison Avenue, just one block away from Central Park and a short walk away from the museums of Museum Mile, including the Met, the Guggenheim, and the Frick Collection.
Where to Stay in NYC at Christmas
This guide showed you where to stay in NYC at Christmas.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best overall: The Peninsula New York
- Best uptown: The Mark Hotel
- Best downtown: The Standard East Village
- Best for families: The Plaza
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in New York!
Related Guides:
- 11 Tips for Visiting NYC at Christmas (From a Local!)
- How to Visit the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
- 9 Best Hotels in Brooklyn, New York
- 8 Best Luxury Hotels Near Central Park
- Best Time to Visit NYC (From a Local!)
- 18 Biggest Mistakes Tourists Make in NYC
- NYC Bucket List: 90 Things to Do in New York City
