Things to Do in New York in January 2026

New York in January is one of the coldest months of the year. It's windy, the days are bright, and it doesn't snow much. If you like the cold you'll have a great time, as long as you bring winter clothes and shoes that can handle low temperatures.

Now that you've been warned about the cold, know that this is one of the cheapest times to travel to the city. After the holidays few tourists show up, and flights and hotels drop in price.

New York in January: things you shouldn't miss

New York hands you something great every day of the year, and January is no exception:

1. The Rockefeller Center tree

The most famous Christmas tree in New York, the enormous Rockefeller Center tree, stays lit until mid-January. If you travel around then, you can still see it.

You'll get to enjoy the holiday atmosphere at Rockefeller Plaza at a much calmer pace, since the crowds of tourists who come to New York in December have already thinned out.

2. Deals at Woodbury Common

On January 1, practically every store in New York is closed. If your plan is to spend the first day of the year shopping, the good news is that Woodbury Common Outlets will be open. It's a famous outlet mall a little over an hour north of New York.

If you love shopping, you'll start the year beautifully with the clearance sales on top brands and first-quality merchandise at this famous mall north of New York.

3. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club

Another fun way to kick off the new year in New York is watching the Coney Island Polar Bear Club. Read more details on the club's website.

It's an annual event at Coney Island where a group of brave souls plunge into the freezing Atlantic to shake off their hangover (1 p.m. on the Coney Island boardwalk, near Stillwell Avenue).

If you dare to join them, all you need is your swimsuit. If not, enjoy watching everyone else freeze.

4. Broadway Week

The last week of January kicks off Broadway Week, an event where you can buy 2-for-1 tickets to a number of musicals.

Broadway Week online sales usually start on January 5 each year. If you decide to travel then, move fast, because those tickets go quickly.

If you don't manage to get Broadway Week tickets, don't worry. January is low season, so you'll find better seats and cheaper prices for musicals anyway.

Check out our page to learn how to buy discount Broadway tickets.

5. Ice skating in New York

Several of New York's ice skating rinks are still open in January. The link has the details on each one. A few of them even run into the first days of March.

Even if you don't know how to skate, stop by for the atmosphere and one of the most classic scenes of New York in winter.

6. The New York Botanical Garden train show in January

Through mid-January you can visit the holiday train show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. We'll have to wait until the date gets closer to confirm the exact 2026 opening date.

It's more than 400 meters of toy train track winding past 150 scale models of New York icons built entirely from leaves, twigs, and seeds from the garden's trees.

An unforgettable outing if you're traveling to New York with kids. You can read more about the train show on the Garden's website.

7. Museum hopping in January

Cold days are perfect for a museum feast, and New York has plenty to go around!

Read the museum guide to plan your visit and learn how to get the most out of tourist discount passes and free days at New York museums or reduced-price admission.

8. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The third Monday of January each year honors Martin Luther King Jr. It's a national holiday, so banks, schools, and many businesses close.

Most New York attractions are open that day. Still, I'd check before you go so you don't waste a trip.

There's a parade that Monday along Fifth Avenue between 61st and 86th streets if you'd like to go.

9. Restaurant Week in January

New York City Restaurant Week takes place every year during the last weeks of January and the first weeks of February. As soon as the exact 2026 dates are confirmed, I'll let you know.

During those days there are discounts at the city's priciest, most celebrated restaurants (more than 380 of them!). Several even have Michelin stars.

You'll get lunches or dinners at genuinely affordable prices. To pull it off you need to book early on the event's official site.

10. Big discounts in New York

January in New York is big discount season, with clearance sales at stores and malls all over. It's a good time to shop.

Read where to shop cheap in New York to put together your shopping itinerary.

11. Free walking tours in Spanish around New York

Did you know there are several free tours in Spanish in New York? They run all year, even in the coldest months.

How these free tours work is simple: you tip the guide at the end, based on what you thought of the experience 😀.

You can even reserve all the free tours in advance, and you should, because spots fill up fast:

🏙️ Free tour of Downtown Manhattan

🍎 Free tour of Midtown Manhattan

🇮🇹 Free tour of Chinatown and Little Italy

🏢 Free tour of Manhattan's Village

⛲ Free tour of Central Park in Spanish

Weather in New York in January

January is the heart of winter in New York. You'll need heavy clothing to stay warm and handle the icy wind: a waterproof jacket and shoes, scarves, gloves, and a hat.

Average temperatures range from a high of 4°C to a low of -3.5°C.

Days are very short (it gets dark around 4:30 pm).

Recommended hotels for staying in New York in January

We put together a selection of hotels for spending Christmas in Manhattan.

This list of the 5 most-booked budget hotels among the NewYorkando travel community may help too 😉:

📍 West Side YMCA on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

📍 HI New York City Hostel also on the Upper West Side.

📍 NY Moore Hostel very well located in Brooklyn.

📍 Pod Times Square in the heart of Manhattan.

📍 Holiday Inn in Chelsea, one of NYC's most iconic neighborhoods.

Traveling on different dates?

Take a look at the guide Best month to travel to New York. There I walk you through what happens in New York each month of the year so you can figure out which one works best for what you want to do in the city.

If you like the cold, I also recommend traveling to New York in February. It's another of the cheapest months in the city.