Visiting New York City during the winter holidays is not only about visiting the city’s iconic places and landmarks; it becomes about experiencing the one-of-a-kind holiday vibe of the Big Apple. Lights, decorations, mesmerizing holiday window displays, holiday markets, and stunning and famous NYC Christmas Trees.
When you visit NYC during Christmas, you will find gorgeous Christmas trees everywhere – from hotel lobbies and shopping malls to parks and squares, and iconic. I want to share with you five of the most beautiful and probably the most visited Christmas trees in New York.
Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree
If you are wondering where is the Christmas tree in New York, the one that you most likely see in the movies, the main Christmas Tree of New York City, that is the tree. It is located in Rockefeller Center, one of the most popular NYC attractions with its iconic ice skating rink.
Honestly, this is not my favorite Christmas tree. Don’t get me wrong; the tree is stunning when you see it for the first time. It looks pretty much the same year after year, and being the most famous Christmas Tree in New York City, it attracts a crowd of spectators. I am a New Yorker, and New Yorkers are always in a rush. The place gets packed, and you will be moving at a very slow speed, bumper to bumper. I like the tree but only go there when making a tour of the city for someone else.
I’ve been only once to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center with some friends from visiting the city. It gets super crowded.
Get ready, have some patience and plenty of time, and of course, excitement to see the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center!
Christmas Tree In Bryant Park
The holiday vibe in Bryant Park, which is slightly smaller than the Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree, is fantastic. This park is quite busy and packed at any time of the year and any time of the day. The Christmas tree looks fabulous with the New York Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in the background if you look at it from 6th Avenue. The tree gets decorated each year differently and beautifully blends into the whole holiday vibe of the park with its holiday market, ice skating rink, and holiday lounge.
Even though Bryant Park gets packed with tourists and locals looking for souvenirs and holiday gifts or enjoying the view of ice skaters synchronously moving in one direction as a flock of birds with some persons doing their first steps on the ice, the atmosphere is fantastic! You can feel it!
New York Christmas Tree on Wall Street
Christmas Tree on Wall Street next to The New York Stock Exchange is always big and beautiful. The holiday spirit is there, and the view is very New Yorkish, Yet to me, the holiday vibe is overpowered by the coldness and strictness of the Financial District, which is fine. That is what makes New York so vibrant.
The good thing, this place rarely gets packed as the two above. Go there when you need a chance to rest from the crowd. There is a smaller Christmas Tree by Charging Bull, beautiful in its way too. It’s just a 5-10 minute walk from the Christmas Tree on Wall Street.
The Plaza Hotel Christmas Tree
Lotte New York Palace Christmas Tree
Leave a Reply