New York at Christmas is magical, but it’s also busy, cold, and full-on. Planning ahead made all the difference for us, especially travelling as a family with a teenager. These aren’t rules, just the things that genuinely helped our trip feel enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
If you’re in the early stages of planning, I’ve also shared our family guide to New York at Christmas, how we got from Newark to Lower Manhattan, where we ate and our must-do’s in New York at Christmas — this post brings all the practical bits together.
Planning Tips for New York at Christmas
1. Book the big things early
If there’s something you really want to do, book it in advance. For us, that meant:
Live sport (NBA and NHL), The Rockettes at Radio City, Ice Skating and Observation decks. We also booked our must-do restaurants.
Having those anchor points in place made it easier to plan the rest of the week around them and avoided disappointment once we arrived.
2. Choose where you stay carefully
Where you stay shapes the whole trip. We loved being based in Lower Manhattan — walkable, well connected, and slightly calmer than Midtown. Also, cheaper than more central locations.
It gave us space to start mornings slowly and retreat in the evenings, while still being close to everything.
3. Get up early (it’s worth it)
Early mornings completely changed our experience of the city. Getting out before 8am meant:
Fewer crowds, softer light for photos, a calmer and enjoyable pace to start the day.
It also left us more energy later on when the city was at its busiest.
4. Mix booked plans with free time
It’s tempting to pack every day, but some of our favourite moments came from unplanned wandering:
Central Park with no agenda, neighbourhood walks and stumbling across festive bars and decorated streets, lazy lunches in restaurants and early evenings when our feet were hurting.
Leaving space in the itinerary made the trip feel balanced.
5. Plan for the cold
December in New York is no joke. Layers were key, along with:
Proper coats, warm and comfortable footwear and gloves and hats. Don’t forget your thermals!
We also built in warm-up breaks — cafés, hot chocolates, and even just ducking into shops — which kept everyone happy.
6. Let your teenager lead sometimes
Giving George a say in what we did made a huge difference. Whether it was choosing food spots, navigating the subway, or picking a game to watch, it helped him feel part of the experience rather than just along for the ride.
7. Expect tired days and embrace them
The days are long, your step count will be high (30k +), and you’ll be tired. But that’s part of it. Some evenings were spent playing cards back at the hotel, reliving the day and planning the next – and those quieter moments became some of my favourites.
8. Plan your itinerary
Plan your itinerary around New York districts is key to ensuring you reduce travel time, and maximise the time you spend on the activities you love the most. Start by grouping activities/food spots and shops by neighbourhoods.
9. Master the subway
Mastering the subway (or at least trying to) enabled us to travel with confidence, we used it daily and it helped to move between neighbourhoods with ease and to rest our tired feet. It can be daunting, I would recommend doing these things:
Pay like a local – either tap-and-go (which we did) or download an OMNY card. Download navigation apps, understand what is Uptown or Downtown and know whether you are riding a local or express train. Know subway etiquette – step aside and let passengers off before you board, move to the centre of the car – don’t stand by the doors and lastly be aware of your surroundings.
10. Understand Tipping
Tipping is a crucial part of service culture in America therefore budgeting for it as part of your planning is essential. Expect to tip between 15-20% in restaurants, $1-2 per drink at bars and a few dollars for hotel staff.
Check the Bill – look for an auto-gratuity, if paying by card you will need to add a tip on the receipt and keep some bills with you.
Planning Tips for New York at Christmas
Final Thoughts
New York at Christmas takes a bit of planning, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. A loose plan, a few key bookings, and room to wander made all the difference for us.
If you’re travelling as a family, especially with a teenager – I hope this helps you shape a trip that feels magical and manageable.
Next up, what I wore in New York at Christmas.
I’m Kerri-Ann or KA as my friends call me, always found with a cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other. I have a huge passion for photography, fitness, fashion and family travel. I started this blog in 2014. It began as my creative outlet after becoming a mummy to our little boy George Archie. I started out blogging about parenting and over the years it has evolved into a blog that covers lifestyle, fashion, family and travel. Today TheKAEdit is ultimately a life and style blog. Thank you for reading x x
