Christmas in New York: 4 Ideas for a Movie-Perfect Holiday

Christmas in New York is something you should see at least once in your life. Every mall Christmas carol you've heard a thousand times in movies and TV shows comes to life in New York.

The whole white Christmas thing, the lights, Santa and the Thanksgiving parade, the giant Christmas trees, people ice skating, epic adventures in malls and toy stores that come alive: all of it actually makes sense in New York.

What to do at Christmas in New York

Here are 4 ideas so you don't feel home alone during Christmas in New York and can make the most of your trip to the city that is Christmas itself:

1. Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The first time this tree was lit was back in 1931, and ever since, the annual lighting of Manhattan's most famous tree, usually on the last day of November, is the ceremony that kicks off the holiday season.

The huge pines chosen to star in Christmas in New York are decorated with more than 50,000 LED lights and a Swarovski crystal star on top (it's impressive how Americans never miss a chance for a little product placement).

Right in front of the tree is the big ice skating rink you've seen in the movies.

2. Window shop until you drop

New York is a shopping mecca, and at this time of year, especially after Christmas Eve, you'll find incredible deals worth taking advantage of.

But beyond the shopping, this is the season when boutique and department store windows get lavishly decorated. Just looking at them is an experience in itself.

A good route is to walk up Fifth Avenue from Rockefeller Center, heading north, then turn onto Madison Avenue to keep marveling at the windows of the big, elegant stores.

To save you time, here are 4 classic Manhattan stores listed north to south whose holiday windows you have to see:

Bloomingdale's

📍Address: Lexington Avenue, near 59th Street.

Bergdorf Goodman

📍Address: Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets.

Saks Fifth Avenue

📍Address: Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets.

Macy's

📍Address: Broadway at 34th Street.

3. Visit Santaland at Macy's

At the classic department store Macy's you can walk through a Hollywood version of Christmas, a scene that feels more like Disney but is part of the holiday cliché that all of us raised on TV should see at least once.

You'll visit a fictional North Pole, complete with elves and a bearded Santa (a real beard, so don't go pulling on it) who'll take your gift requests. Just don't go on weekends unless you want to lose your mind.

Early on a weekday, right when the doors open (9 am), is the best time.

4. Christmas beyond Manhattan

Don't forget what I always tell you: New York doesn't end in Manhattan, that's just the beginning. To prove it, here are two very Christmassy ideas in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

🚂 See the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx:

From mid-November through mid-January you can watch a toy train run along more than a quarter mile of track, weaving past scale models of New York icons like St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Brooklyn Bridge and Yankee Stadium. Worth it =)

🎄 Walk the streets of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to see the over-the-top holiday decorations on the houses:

It's just like the movies. This neighborhood is a bit out of the way, so it helps to take a guided tour of the Christmas lights if you're short on time.

I hope this helps you avoid feeling home alone if you find yourself spending the holidays in a big city like New York, which can sometimes make you feel anonymous. Just ask Macaulay Culkin.

Skip the homesickness during Christmas in New York

New York at Christmas is a fantastic city to visit without feeling like an ingrate for leaving the family behind over the holidays.

Over there it isn't a family holiday, since almost everyone comes from somewhere else. Christmas Eve in New York is a commercial celebration surrounded by snow, lots of lights and, above all, stores. So zero guilt. Go enjoy it.

Bundle up. Snow in December is always a possibility in New York, and later in the month temperatures swing between 41°F and 23°F.

Check the weather forecast.

Looking for a hotel for Christmas in New York?

It's important to book your accommodation in advance, that way you'll find better deals and lock in your first choice in a city that's packed at this time of year.

Merry Christmas!