Hosting friends and family during the holiday season can be stressful, especially if you plan on making their experience with you unforgettable.
And if you’re struggling to come up with a festive itinerary full of activities that your guests will love, you may be having what Clark Griswold would call a “full-blown, full-alarm holiday emergency.”
But no fear: We created a guide full of all things holiday in New York City, organized by the type of guest you’re planning for. Whether they love dining at festive restaurants and bars, shopping all of the charming markets or catching a showstopping holiday show, take a look at our recommendations. Happy hosting!
For your nephew who loves trains
Trains have long been a symbol of the holiday season. And if you’re hosting a relative that has a love for trains, whether just during the holidays or all year long, there’s several festive experiences for them in New York City.
Start by visiting the annual Holiday Train Show at the New York Transit Museum’s Grand Central Gallery & Store. This free event aims to capture the magic of New York City during the holidays through a series of festive miniature trains. Several Lionel model trains — including Metro-North, the Polar Express and vintage subway sets — travel a 34-foot, two-level track that begins at a miniature Grand Central Terminal and winds through New York landmarks on the way to the North Pole. The experience is open 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, until February 2026.
And if your guest is in the city on a Sunday, they can ride on the Holiday Nostalgia Train: A restored 1930s vintage subway car that travels on the uptown F line and the Q line every Sunday in December from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The subway car features historic details like rattan seats, paddle ceiling fans, roll signs and period advertisements that transport riders back in time. The fee for this festive tradition, hosted by the New York Transit Museum and the MTA, is the cost of a standard subway fare.
If you’d like to venture out of Manhattan, check out the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. A beloved tradition since 1992, the grand display features a miniature version of New York City with nearly 200 scaled replicas of iconic structures like the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium and the Statue of Liberty, all of which were constructed using natural materials. To go along with it, more than 25 G-scale model trains travel along a nearly half-mile track that runs through the miniature city and overflows into the lawn of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The limited-time exhibit runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and on select Mondays, through Jan. 11, 2026. Tickets start at $25.
For your foodie friends and festive drinkers
A bartender serves drinks at Miracle on 9th Street in New York City.
New York City is known for its dynamic dining scene year round, but the experience is even more elevated during the holidays. So if you’re hosting a foodie or someone who loves to indulge in a festive drink this season, take them to a spot that gets decked out in Christmas cheer.
Miracle, a brand that puts together a series of Christmas-themed pop-up bars throughout the country, has two locations in New York City: Miracle on 9th Street in the East Village and Miracle on 8th Street in the West Village. The interior of both bars include bright colorful lights, shiny tinsel garland, funky holiday patterns and a menu full of festive drinks in charming cups, like Dancing Sugar Plums and the Christmapolitan.
For food, you can splurge for a dinner reservation at Santa’s Winter Wonderland at Pier 15. Run by Watermark Bar, this whimsical waterfront installation is home to festive holiday scenes like Santa’s sleigh and Santa’s workshop, as well as heated glasshouses where visitors can enjoy a curated holiday menu of delicious entrees, cocktails and more. Prices start at $100 for a semi-private table for two and include a complimentary hot chocolate, one entree per guest and access to all of the venue’s outdoor experiences.
You can also visit Jingle Jangle, a holiday pop-up at The Dead Rabbit. This contemporary Irish pub has transformed into a dazzling experience with three floors full of bright twinkling lights, lively green garland and as many ornaments as you can imagine, all set to a magical Christmas soundtrack. It offers a menu with warm seasonal dishes, as well as an array of kitschy holiday cocktails like the Berry Merry, Santa’s Helper and Deck the Halls. Reservations are welcome, but room is set aside for walk-in service as well.
Other festive restaurant and bar options include Papillon Bistro & Bar, Oscar Wilde, Pete’s Tavern and Lorely Beer Garden.
For your entertainment fanatic aunties
The Rockettes are set to start their 100th anniversary season on Nov. 6, 2025. The show will include new adds like immersive sound and classic performances like the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which has been part of the Christmas Spectacular since it began in 1933.
New York City is often considered the entertainment capital of the world, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of shows taking place here throughout the holiday season. And if your guest is a fan of dazzling performances, there are plenty of options.
The most obvious show to see is the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes, “a musical holiday show that first started in 1933. It features nine show-stopping numbers performed by the Rockettes, including original ones like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and “Living Nativity,” as well as an array of other iconic acts, in a festive 90-minute production. The show features live scores from the Radio City Music Hall Symphony, dynamic LED lighting, immersive ceiling projects and elaborate holiday-themed set designs.
Another classic is George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” performed by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. A tradition since 1954, the two-hour performance tells the iconic story of a young girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life through legendary set designs, intricate lighting, captivating choreography and remarkable costumes. It features two alternating casts of 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands and more than 125 children from the School of American Ballet.
Other must-see holiday performances include A Christmas Carol at Perelman Performing Arts Center; The Magic Flute at The Met; and ‘Twas The Night Before by Cirque du Soleil at Madison Square Garden.
For your college girls who like to shop til they drop
The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has returned for 2025, featuring its signature 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink and more than 190 artisan vendors.
If you’re hosting someone who loves to shop, especially at markets with one-of-a-kind gifts, take a tour of New York City’s many holiday markets.
There’s the Holiday Shops at Urbanspace Markets, a European-inspired open-air market part of Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. Featuring more than 190 artisan vendors situated in “jewel box” kiosks, you can find things like local crafts, tasty food, handmade gifts, clothing and more.
Or you can visit the Union Square Holiday Market, the oldest winter market in New York City. This alfresco European-style market brings more than 185 vendors to the park during the holiday season, selling an array of handmade goods, unique gifts and seasonal treats.
Beyond these, consider the Columbus Circle Holiday Market, the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair and the Grand Holiday Bazaar on the Upper West Side.
For your grandmother who would rather window shop
Whether someone already finished up their holiday shopping, or just doesn’t have the room to lug shopping bags back home, you may have a visitor who just wants to explore the city and window shop. So why not take them to see the New York City tradition of elaborate department store window displays?
This year, the theme for the holiday window displays at Macy’s — which started the tradition in the 1870s — is “The Most Wonderful Stories Start Here.” Celebrating the company’s history and its holiday firsts, the displays feature scenes from its original holiday windows in 1874, recreations of its first Thanksgiving Day parade and a nod to Santa’s first arrival at the store in 1861.
At Saks Fifth Avenue, the holiday window displays follow the theme “Your Story in Lights” as an ode to personal holiday traditions. The displays feature a mix of New York City-inspired scenes like Central Park and a sparkling holiday tree.
Other window display themes for 2025 are Bergdorf Goodman’s “The Bergdorf Soirée,” celebrating the joy of a night out in New York City through a series of festive scenes; Bloomingdale’s “Happy Together,” an ode to togetherness and human connection; and Nordstrom’s “Oh, What Funhouse!” that has turned the store into an interactive playground.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NYC holiday activities guide 2025 to enjoy with guests