New York City is a magical place any time of the year, but if you’re not afraid of the cold, there’s no better time to visit than during the winter. From snow-covered parks and ice skating rinks to cozy cafés and bars, there is something for everyone.
The entire city becomes more beautiful when blanketed in a layer of frost and snow. If you want to get the most out of your holiday in New York, plan ahead and book hotels as soon as possible.
Here are some fun ideas to try if visiting the Big Apple in the winter months.
A Guide To Visiting New York During The Winter
Winter is a great time to visit New York if you want to maximize your trip. You’ll find the city is quieter and less crowded than at other times of the year. Fewer people are visiting, so there are fewer lines and crowds to fight.
The Rockefeller Center and Times Square are decked out in their Christmas finery, complete with lights and decorations. You’ll be able to enjoy festive Broadway shows, visit Santa in his sleigh at the Macy’s Department Store, and window shop with festive door fronts and themed displays.
Get Cozy in Your Hotel
Regardless of when you’re visiting New York City, you’ll need to make sure that you’re staying somewhere with a great view of the city. The best place to do this is from the windows of your hotel room while enjoying a warm fireplace and a cup of hot chocolate.
There are plenty of hotels in New York City with amazing views that purposefully create a cozy theme to help visitors feel relaxed and comfortable in an otherwise busy city. Being able to see the whole city in a new light when New York is at its most beautiful is something you have to see to believe.
Go Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
If you’re visiting New York in winter, you’ll find that Rockefeller Center becomes a winter wonderland. There are ice skating rinks, Christmas trees, and fun activities for everyone. You’ll be able to ice skate, go on a ski ball ride, visit Santa at his winter retreat, and enjoy hot chocolate while admiring the Christmas trees.
Watch this to get a glimpse of how it looks like:
The ice skating rink brings all the glamor to New York City. There’s a reason so many movies like Home Alone 2 and Elf shot some of their iconic scenes here. The ice skating rink in the middle of the park is surrounded by Christmas trees that are unmatched anywhere else. For more options check our post about the best ice skating rinks in and around NYC.
Walk Through Central Park While It’s Snowing
You’ll need to make sure that you don’t miss out on visiting Central Park. This iconic park is a stunning green that sticks out in the concrete jungle for most of the year. But it looks especially beautiful covered in a layer of snow. You’ll be able to walk through the park and admire its famous landmarks, such as the Bethesda Fountain.
Even though it will be cold, walking through Central Park can be a literal winter wonderland. Normally, the park is crowded with tourists, street shows, and locals getting fresh air, but during the winter, you can find silence and tranquility.
Go On A Food Tour To Find The Best Hot Spots
Make sure not to don’t miss out on any of the best hot spots in the city. One of the best ways to do this is by going on a food tour. You’ll be able to visit the best cafes and restaurants as well as sample some of the best hot drinks and warm foods New York City has to offer.
New York City is a melting pot of different cultures, which means a huge variety of food. There are dozens of food tour options that range from traditional New York street foods to tours that allow visitors to try food from around the world.
Doing a food tour also opens up your eyes to other businesses and things to do in the area that may otherwise go unnoticed. A common travel practice is to do a food tour and then look for other things to do the next day.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram