If you only have one night for the holidays in New York, spend it on foot in Midtown. The most famous sights sit within a short walk of each other, and almost all of them are free to look at.
1. Start at Rockefeller Center
The big tree is the centerpiece. This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, and the tree stays lit into January. The rink opened in October, so you can skate under the tree or just watch from the plaza. Expect crowds on weekends, so a weekday evening is easier.
2. Walk the Fifth Avenue windows
Head up Fifth Avenue to see the animated window displays at the big department stores. They are usually unveiled in mid to late November and stay up into early January, though the exact reveal dates are announced each year. St. Patrick's Cathedral, right across from Rockefeller Center, is worth a look inside during the day.
3. Cut over to Sixth Avenue
A few blocks west, Sixth Avenue puts on its own show: giant red ornaments stacked beside a fountain, strings of lights wrapped around the trees, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular running from November 4 through early January. Come at night, when the red lighting on the water makes the ornaments glow.
4. Finish at Bryant Park
The Winter Village at Bryant Park is expected to open around October 23, with holiday shops and a free-entry ice rink. The park's own tree lighting is planned for December 1. It is an easy place to warm up with a hot drink at the end of the walk.
If you have another night
Union Square's Holiday Market runs from November 12 through Christmas Eve. In Brooklyn, the houses of Dyker Heights go all out from late November, with lights and music on the blocks around 11th to 13th Avenues.
Tips
Go on a weeknight if you can, dress warmer than you think you need to, and check each organizer's page for the latest dates before you go. Dates in this guide came from public announcements and can change.
