’Tis the season… 🎅✨ ready to get into the Christmas spirit?
Every winter, New York City transforms into a unique winter wonderland, filled with twinkling lights, beautiful holiday markets, and the sweet scent of cocoa drifting through the air. Shopping for the perfect gift doesn’t have to be stressful, it can actually be so much fun, diving into those unmistakable NYC holiday vibes!
NYC’s holiday markets are ranked among the best in the world, and I can’t wait for you to experience them all!
🗽 Find Your NYC Holiday Market Vibe
Every holiday market in New York has its own rhythm, from the glittering skyline views of Bryant Park to Brooklyn’s creative spirit.
✨ Go where the vibe matches your mood:
- For classic Christmas magic → Bryant Park
- For shopping and sparkle → Macy’s Holiday Square
- For cozy indoor elegance → Grand Central
- For local New Yorker charm → Union Square
- For creative indie flair → Brooklyn
- For romantic holiday strolls → Columbus Circle
Whichever one you choose, the city guarantees the same warm, wonderful, this is why I love New York feeling. ❤️
❄️ Bryant Park Winter Village – Opens October 24, 2025
Perfect For: Dreamers chasing that classic Christmas in New York feeling – ice skating under skyscrapers, sipping cocoa by the tree, and soaking up pure holiday magic. It’s a winter wonderland in the heart of Midtown where snowflakes meet skyline lights.
If you feel like New York starts celebrating Christmas earlier every year… you’re not wrong.
Bryant Park Winter Village kicks off the holiday season on October 24, transforming Midtown into a sparkling postcard scene just before marathon weekend.
This is usually where I grab my first cup of hot chocolate of the season and take my first “holiday in New York” photo. It’s so easy to forget it’s still technically fall, unless a sunny day reminds you by briefly turning the rink into an ice-water pool – LOL 😂.
🎄 P.S. Don’t miss the Bryant Park Tree Lighting Ceremony — it’s one of my favorite moments of the season! I included it (and a few other must-see trees) in my Best Christmas Trees in New York City guide.
🛍️ Stroll through the European inspired open-air market filled with food vendors, crafts, and unique gifts from local makers. Grab something sweet from No Chewing Allowed!, a Bryant Park favorite. There are more than 180 glass-walled kiosks packed with handmade ornaments, candles, jewelry, and NYC-themed treasures!
⛸️ Enjoy the city’s only free-admission ice rink when you bring your own skates. Reserve a slot in advance to skate for free or rent skates on-site.
🎵 Stop by the Lodge: A cozy après-skate escape with drinks, bites, and live events, from book talks to dance nights and pop-ups.
📍 Location: Bryant Park, between 40th & 42nd St / 5th & 6th Ave
🗓️ Dates: October 24, 2025 – January 4, 2026
🕓 Hours: Open Monday-Friday 11am-8pm | weekend 10am-8pm (Many Shops are open for extended hours, especially on peak holiday dates)
Holiday hours:
Thanksgiving Day: 11am-8pm
Christmas Day: noon-5pm
New Year’s Eve: 10am-8pm (The park may close before 8pm on NYE!)
New Year’s Day: 11am-8pm
🎥 Vibe: Classic NYC holiday charm, festive, romantic, and cinematic.
✨ Insider Tip: Go on a weekday right before sunset, grab cocoa, stand by the fountain, and watch the lights flicker on around the rink. It’s pure movie-scene magic.
🎁 Macy’s Holiday Square – Opens November 8, 2025
Perfect For: Shoppers who love the sparkle of a European Christmas market wrapped in New York energy – twinkle lights, iconic Macy’s windows, Santaland, and plenty of holiday photo-ops.
The Macy’s Holiday Square by Urbanspace officially kicks off its first phase on Saturday, November 8, transforming Broadway into a festive lane filled with delicious aromas and cozy winter vibes.
🍴 Phase 1: Food Vendors Only
This early section, located between 35th and 36th Streets, focuses entirely on food and seasonal treats, offering everything from warm empanadas and dumplings to artisanal sweets and cocoa. It’s also home to the brand-new Herald Haus & Bar, a warm and inviting lodge where you can sit, sip, and soak in the holiday spirit.
💫 Phase 2: Retail + Gift Vendors (Opening Dec 3)
After the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the market expands across Broadway & 6th Avenue (32nd–36th St), with 30 + curated vendors offering handcrafted gifts, jewelry, NYC-themed keepsakes, artisanal candles, and winter accessories. The full experience runs through January 3, bringing back the magic of last year’s beloved holiday market by Urbanspace.
Between 32nd and 36th Streets, Broadway transforms into a festive lane of super cute wooden chalets, the scent of roasted nuts in the air, and the Christmas music echoing through Herald Square. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a European Christmas village… with that New York iconic energy twist.
🛍️ Stroll through the Herald Holiday Market (part of the Urbanspace family) and get inspired by handcrafted ornaments, NYC-themed gifts, artisanal candles, winter accessories, and gourmet treats from local makers, from handmade chocolates to NYC-style hot pretzels. Every corner offers something special, and the market makes the perfect stop before or after exploring the store.
🎅 Step inside for Santaland: Meet Santa himself, wander through Macy’s Christmas Village, and take in the elaborate holiday décor that makes Herald Square sparkle every year.
✨ Insider Tip: Starting on November 23, you can make a reservation to meet Santa at Macy’s between Nov 28 and Dec 24!
📍 Location: Broadway between 32nd–36th Streets, Herald Square
🗓️ Dates: November 8 – January 3 (🎄 Closed Christmas Day)
– Herald North (35th – 36th St): Nov 8 – Dec 30 | Mon-Sat 11 AM-9 PM | Sun 11 AM-8 PM
– Herald Square (34th – 35th St): Dec 3 – Jan 3 | Mon-Sat 11 AM-8 PM | Sun 11 AM-7 PM
– Greeley Square (32nd – 33rd St): Dec 3 – Jan 3 | Mon-Sat 11 AM-8 PM | Sun 11 AM-7 PM
🎥 Vibe: Pure holiday buzz, festive, nostalgic, and perfectly Midtown.
✨ Insider Tip: Go around golden hour when the street glows under the lights, and you can capture the market and Macy’s famous holiday windows in one perfect shot.
🎁 Grand Central Holiday Fair – Opens November 11, 2025
Perfect For: Lovers of classic New York elegance – warm lights, marble halls, and timeless charm. Step inside Grand Central’s golden glow and shop under its celestial ceiling for a touch of holiday nostalgia.
When the weather turns frosty and the city streets feel too cold to stroll, the Grand Central Holiday Fair is your cozy escape. Step inside the Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Terminal: New York’s only indoor holiday market, and one of the city’s most elegant seasonal experiences.
From November 11 to December 24, you’ll find around 40 curated artisans selling high-quality, handmade goods, everything from silk scarves and leather gloves to jewelry, ornaments, and fine art prints. The vaulted ceilings and golden chandeliers add a touch of old New York glamour, making shopping here feel like stepping into a scene from a classic holiday film.
🛍️ What You’ll Find: Unique, upscale gifts from independent designers, perfect for something meaningful and beautifully made. Timeless beauty.
📍 Location: Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St & Park Ave
🗓️ Dates: November 11 – December 24, 2025
🕓 Hours: Mon-Fri 10 AM – 7 PM | Sat 10 AM – 7 PM | Sun 11 AM – 6 PM
🎥 Vibe: Refined, classic, and timeless; the perfect escape from winter chill.
✨ Insider Tip: Visit in the afternoon and wait until the station’s golden light hits the marble walls; you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another era.
🎁 Union Square Holiday Market – Opens November 13, 2025
Perfect For: Those who want to shop local and feel like true New Yorkers – creativity all around, apple cider, and gifts that tell a story.
The Union Square Holiday Market is one of NYC’s most beloved holiday traditions for New Yorkers. There’s something about Union Square during the holidays that feels unmistakably New York.
From November 13 to December 24, you’ll find over 150 local artisans and independent vendors lining the park with twinkling lights, evergreen garlands, and the cozy scent of hot apple cider in the air.
🛍️ Wander through the “labyrinth” and discover handcrafted jewelry, vintage maps, leather goods, candles, ornaments, and small-batch gourmet treats. It’s the perfect place to find thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts, or simply soak in the festive atmosphere while people-watching with a cup of cocoa.
🍪 Don’t Miss:
The food stalls here are next-level, with hot cider doughnuts, truffle popcorn, and local bakeries serving holiday cookies that taste like nostalgia.
📍 Location: Union Square Park, 14th St & Broadway
🗓️ Dates: November 13 – December 24, 2025
🕓 Hours: Weekdays 11 AM – 8 PM | Saturdays 10 AM – 8 PM | Sundays 11 AM – 7 PM
🎥 Vibe: Local, cozy, artistic, a little bohemian and full of heart.
✨ Insider Tip: Go right before sunset, as the city lights up, grab a cup of cider and surrender to one of those “this is why I love New York” moments.
🎄 Brooklyn Holiday Market – Opens November 15, 2025
Perfect For: Creatives and locals at heart who love design, craftsmanship, and neighborhood warmth. Expect handmade treasures, thrift finds, and the unmistakable Brooklyn magic that makes you want to stay a little longer.
If you prefer local vibes over the midtown rush, you might want to check Brooklyn’s holiday pop-ups and markets ✨
🛍️ What You’ll Find: Art prints from local illustrators, home décor by Brooklyn artisans, thrifted fashion finds, and handmade treats, full of that Brooklyn-style authenticity that makes every find feel personal.
📍 Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market (DUMBO Archway + Plaza)
Every Saturday and Sunday from November 15 through December 21, more than 40 vintage and handmade vendors fill the DUMBO Archway and Plaza with treasures from mid-century collectibles to handmade ceramics, art prints, jewelry, and cozy winter accessories.
🗓️ Dates: Saturdays & Sundays, Nov 15 – Dec 21
🕓 Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM
✨ Insider Tip: Check the Construction Cone tree in the Dumbo Archway Plaza from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve – it’s another hidden gem only locals know.
📍 FAD Market at Empire Stores
Inside the Empire Stores Lobby, FAD Market curates a beautiful selection of unique presents and one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers, featuring independent artists and sustainable brands.
🗓️ Dates: Daily, December 1 – 21
🕓 Hours: 11 AM – 6 PM
🎥 Vibe: Creative, local, and full of Brooklyn soul.
✨ Insider Tip: Spend the entire day in Brooklyn like a local – follow my One-Day Itinerary in Brooklyn to discover all my favorite spots nearby.
🎄 Columbus Circle Holiday Market – Opens December 2, 2025
Perfect For: Romantics and dreamers looking for that movie-scene moment. Stroll through Central Park with a pretzel or hot cocoa as city lights shimmer against the winter sky.
Right at the south west entrance to Central Park, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market feels like walking into a Christmas card. 🎁✨ It’s one of the most picturesque holiday markets in New York, and a must for anyone chasing that cozy, cinematic NYC feeling.
From December 2 to December 31, more than 100 vendors fill the square with handcrafted gifts, art, décor, and gourmet food from around the world. You’ll find everything from hand-knit scarves and ceramic mugs to wooden toys and NYC-inspired prints.
🍫 Foodie Tip: This market smells amazing… hot chocolate, empanadas, churros, and mulled wine! Grab a snack and walk into Central Park for the most peaceful moment of the holiday season.
📍 Location: 59th Street & Central Park West, Columbus Circle
🗓️ Dates: December 2 – December 31, 2025
🕓 Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 AM – 8 PM
🎥 Vibe: Elegant and cozy, it’s one of those places where time slows down… even in December!
Final Thoughts
Skating under the city lights, sipping cocoa by the tree, and browsing handmade treasures: that’s Christmas in New York City. ✨
From Bryant Park to Brooklyn, every holiday market tells its own story; sparkling, cozy, unforgettable. Take your time, soak in the lights, and let the city remind you why the holidays in NYC are pure magic: joy, wonder, and that “this is why I love New York” feeling.
❤️ SAVE & SHARE this guide with someone you’d love to wander NYC’s holiday markets with, and keep it handy for your Christmas trip!
Send it to the person you’d love to explore NYC’s holiday markets with 🎄
