Christmas is a season filled with excitement and joy. It’s the festival that makes December special. December which is symbolized by its sadness and solitude otherwise becomes cheery as Christmas approaches. NYC is known to be the center of many cultures. People from all across the world know that NYC holds a special place when the welcoming time of Christmas arrives. It’s the stunning holiday lights in NYC which act as a magnet for people all across the world. As December arrives, the influx of people in this city of prestigious heritage becomes doubled.
One reason for that is to explore the Christmas joy unique to this city. As we all know that NYC is among the few cities in the world which are adorned on a huge scale for Christmas. As every nook and corner of NYC illuminates with the spark of Christmas, there are some places that are especially known as the heartbeat of NYC during Christmas. If you are a newbie in this city of opportunities, then creating a list of the most significant places during Christmas time might be a little hard. But you don’t need to fret because we have got it all sorted out for you.
So keep on reading till the end because we are going to unravel some surprises for you on our way to this Christmas journey.
The Best Places to See Stunning Christmas Lights in NYC 2022
Every year, the entire NYC gains special attention from people because of the elegance and color associated with Christmas. Just like every other year, Christmas this year has brought special colors to the city which is definitely going to bring out your childhood nostalgia of finding stunning holiday lights in NYC back.
Rockefeller Center
If there is a place that has gained the status of a landmark for NYC during holidays, it’s the Rockefeller Center. Located in the heart of Manhattan between 48th and 51st Street, the center is actually a shopping district that consists of 14 buildings altogether. The complex started functioning in 1933 and since then, it has become a global identity for NYC. Every year, the center arranges the lighting of the complex’s giant Christmas tree which is one of the best sites to behold.
In fact, those who attend the lighting ceremony of the annual Christmas tree here at the complex have to book their tickets right out before the festivities for the holidays begin. People from around the world attend the lighting ceremony and the final countdown before lightning is one of the best things you can expect in this life. The best part is the fact that you can not only enjoy the sparks of Christmas over here but there is a giant underground skating rink located alongside the center. So, you can also ice skate for a while as you are in this grand city.
Cartier 5th Avenue Mansion
If you want to enjoy the vintage vibes of the renaissance, go to the heart of Manhattan. The 653 Fifth Avenue Mansion of Cartier becomes a tourist attraction during the days leading to Christmas. This building was originally developed by the exceptional architect Robert W. Gibson who designed the original block at 5th Avenue in 1905. Later on, further modifications were made with time and this turned out to be one of the most significant commercial districts of the city.
Every year, during Christmas, the facade and the building are adorned with the sparkles of Christmas lights. The style of illumination changes every year, but still, it becomes so appealing that you can’t resist loving it. On the nights leading to Christmas, you will find everything that is specified to be an ideal Christmas time. From the gift-based theme to cute Santa and his elves. Adding color to the scene are the nutcrackers who have an army to daze the beholding eyes.
Dyker Heights
Christmas is a season of joy, and every neighborhood gets the traces of this magical hour. Dyker Heights is known to be the home of the best Christmas lights. The Italian-American neighborhood in the southwest corner of Brooklyn is known for its exceptional beauty during Christmas. The best part about this neighborhood is that unlike other places in NYC, you won’t be finding a historic monument. Unlike other places, here, every home is adorned with the spirit of Christmas.
In fact, the Christmas lights in this neighborhood are the most beautiful of all. You will find Santa sitting at the doorsteps or elves knocking at the doors. There are beautiful flower wreaths all wrapped up in the Christmas cheer, which are quite a sight. You can go to this neighborhood any time before Christmas but the best time to enjoy this beauty is at midnight when everything is calm as the sea. Though, before Christmas, even midnight doesn’t seem like an average NYC midnight but many families love enjoying this fascinating wonder.
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is another important place in NYC which is situated right in the heart of Manhattan. This 9.6-acre plain of land is located between fifth and sixth Avenue in the main neighborhood of Manhattan. The park is known to be the home to many perennial plants which have been there since 1897. On its eastern wing, you can find the prestigious New York Public Library, as the western half itself is art located right above the underground library stacks.
Though summer is the perfect time to witness the seasonal beauty of the bloom, winter has a special side that reflects right when the month of December strikes.in winter, this park turns into an exceptional “Winter Village” where you can find a wide ice rink for ice skating, and many significant winters support events over here. As the time of Christmas arrives, the entire park becomes symbolic of the North Pole where fairy lights light up the freezing temperatures, and you can find cute Christmas shops in the park where the keepsakes of Christmas add up to the beauty.
New York Botanical Garden
Plants make nature glow, and Christmas enhances that glow. The 250 acres of land of New York Botanical Garden is a vast place to discover the wonders of nature and the spirit of Christmas together. The New York Botanical Garden is amazing during Christmas because of its exceptional NYBG glow show. This show is special in that the glow of Christmas is shown in a different dimension.
The plants over here are lightened and a diversity mingles with mesmerizing sights. Plus, the Holiday Train Show is another fascinating show arranged during Christmas. This is a huge sight to behold because it gives a magical effect to the Christmas feelings, especially at night time. The best time to visit this magical place is obviously the nighttime when the show is arranged with all its vigor.
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The Peninsula Hotel
The Peninsula Hotels Chain illuminates brighter with the Peninsula Hotel in New York. This 5-star hotel becomes extra special during the holidays because it collects all the cozy feelings of a perfect Christmas. Located on the fifth avenue, this hotel not only offers you vintage vibes, but you can also explore the giant jingle-belled Christmas tree, a tiny nutcracker army, and so many Santa Clauses.
Its rooftop winter bar gives you the authentic feeling of being somewhere at the North Pole. With scattered Christmas trees, exceptional fairy lights, and piling Christmas gifts, this can be a perfect place for you to party during Christmas time.
Upper East Side
If you just want to take a quick walk in the Manhattan neighborhood on a cozy December day, then the Upper East Side is the best place for you. It’s a residential as well as a commercial district that is illuminated beautifully during Christmas time.
From the moving nutcrackers to the silently sitting Santas on the doorsteps, you can get rustic vibes throughout the neighborhood. At night, there is a whole fairytale magic going out there in the neighborhood. All the trees at the pathways are adorned beautifully with fairy lights, and walking by them feels so aesthetically pleasing.
Radio City Musical Hall
No other place can put out a great Christmas show than “The Showplace of the Nation”. Located at 1260 Avenues of the Americas, the Radio City Musical Hall has witnessed many historical performances since 1932. At the time of Christmas, the theatre plays a lot of beautiful Christmas carols but the actual beauty is doubled up by the Christmas lights.
The giant Christmas tree-styled lighting at the top of the theatre serves as a spectacular sight during Christmas time. As you step inside the theatre, it seems as if you have made your way into the workshop of Santa. Everything feels so cozy when the literary world collides with the spirit of Christmas.
Hudson Yards NewYork
This newly found neighborhood on the West side of Manhattan has garnered its spot as one of the most special places to see during Christmas. This neighborhood is primarily known to be the home of many modernized minimal apartment sites, culinary places, shopping districts, and cafés.
Here, the founding pillar is adorned with fairy lights at the time of Christmas. You find amazing air-balloon-styles fairy lights here in this neighborhood which seems so enchanting. Altogether, the big and small Christmas trees all over the neighborhood enhance the charisma of the place at the hour of Christmas.
Citi Field (Amaze Light Festival)
Citi Field is known to be the home of many excellent baseball games. However, this year, this amazing baseball field has turned into a spectacular Christmas ground. The Amaze Light Festival, undoubtedly the biggest holiday light festival, came to the Citi field on November 19.
This light festival has made the whole ground a cozy and sparkling Christmas site. You can enjoy the light festival every day till the new year. The festival is going to continue till January 6. You can find the best lighting works at the festival, where everything seems out of the world and magical. So, if you expect to see something wonderful this Christmas, the Amaze Light Festival at Citi Field can be a treat.
Final Thoughts
Well, these are the ten amazing places to see stunning holiday lights this Christmas in NYC. If you are planning to make this Christmas memorable with the gleam of color, each and every place in this list can treat you with its amazing sparkle right throughout Christmas.
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