Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by Erin Donahue

There are so many great photo spots in the city all year round, but Christmas lights in NYC are an extra special experience! The holiday season kicks off immediately at midnight on November 1, right after Halloween, as people are just raring to go. No, really. Some content creators even start posting about the holidays when it’s still summer. The annual Thanksgiving Parade in late November marks the peak holiday season, when every corner of the city sparkles with lights and decorations.

Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of the holidays in NYC because the tourist crowds overwhelm me, but that being said, the blinking lights and decor give such a magical feeling this time of year. If you’re visiting for the first time, expect festive chaos and pure wonder in equal measure.

The best part is you don’t have to spend a dime to see New York sparkle during the holidays. All of the Christmas light displays listed below are completely free to visit. This list grows every year as I explore new places, but these are the best Christmas lights in NYC, in my opinion. Every one of them is a spot in my holiday photo rotation that I return to annually.

When Do Christmas Lights Go Up in NYC?

Most displays go up right after Halloween, around November 1, and stay lit through early January. The Thanksgiving Parade in late November marks peak season, when nearly every corner of the city sparkles with lights and decorations. If you’re planning a trip specifically to see the lights, late November through December is your window, and most displays start winding down shortly after New Year’s. Keep reading for exactly where to see Christmas lights in NYC. Every spot below is free!

Watch Where To Find The Best Christmas Lights In NYC on YouTube

Hudson Yards

Hudson Yards is one of the newest areas of Manhattan, and it’s already become one of the most popular spots to see Christmas lights in NYC. There are over two MILLION white lights lighting up the area. If you want to get pictures when it’s empty and have the whole floor to yourself, go early, around 8 a.m.

Best Photo Locations:

• The Great Room (main entrance)
• 2nd & 3rd floor balconies (face west)
• The shopping area by Athleta

The Shops at Columbus Circle

Another giant mall, The Shops at Columbus Circle, has the ‘Holiday Under The Stars’ 14-foot displays hanging from the ceiling of the Great Room. Watch the free light show performance that goes off every day from 5-11 p.m., every half hour, with the stars blinking to holiday music.

This is one of my preferred spots for portraits during the holidays. The stars make for a cool bokeh background behind the subject.

The Plaza Hotel

If you’ve ever watched Home Alone 2, you’ll recognize this iconic Fairmont-managed hotel instantly. The lobby displays beautiful Christmas decorations. However, be warned: they have an annoying “no professional cameras” policy, so you’ll have to sneak a few shots with a camera, or just use your phone.

Lotte New York Palace

Located behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Lotte New York Palace Christmas Tree is one of the most recognizable photo spots in NYC during the holiday season. It’s also known as the Gossip Girl Christmas tree, since the original series was filmed here. You know you love it! XOXO, GG

Tavern On The Green

When I first walked into Tavern On The Green during the holidays to photograph a client proposal, I audibly gasped. It literally took my breath away! The outdoor patio has a large Christmas tree and nutcrackers throughout the area, but the real scene stealer is the front entrance. Inside, warm lighting and rich wood tones make it feel like a chapter in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.

Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is one of the coolest places to visit any time of year, but especially during the holidays. Whenever I go to Chelsea Market and walk the corridors, the first thing I think about is how the building used to be the old Port Authority building, long before Google took over in 2010.

During the holidays, lights and Christmas trees decorate the whole place, but my favorite spot is the giant clock that’s framed with tons of string lights.

Rockefeller Center

If you want to see Christmas lights in NYC, obviously, Rockefeller Center is the most iconic spot to go. The tourist crowds are INSANE though! If you want to see the lights without the crazy crowds, you’ll have to sacrifice some sleep either late at night or early in the morning. Even then, tourists have also figured out the photographer’s hour, and there are now crowds before sunrise. At this point, the only time to avoid the crowds here is on a rainy day. Another option is booking a VIP tour where you get access to exclusive parts of the center, like 620 Loft & Garden.

Most people don’t realize this, but the tree isn’t lit 24/7. These days, workers light the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree daily from around 5 am to 12 am, but it used to be 6 am. My first attempt at seeing the lights without crowds back in 2021 failed when workers turned on the lights at 5:50 am. I ended up waking up at 4 a.m. twice within a week because I was determined to get the video and pictures I needed. Happy to say mission accomplished!

5th Avenue Christmas Lights in NYC

Walking down 5th Avenue during December is basically a movie scene. Between Central Park South and Macy’s Herald Square, nearly every storefront glows with holiday decor. I noticed they often reuse displays from past years but rotate them between locations, so it’s never quite the same.

Don’t miss these iconic holiday spots on 5th Avenue:

• Saks 5th Ave: Right across the street from Rockefeller Center, Saks has its own famous light show that runs from 4:35 pm to 11:35 pm, every 10 minutes. It lasts about 5 minutes and is a traffic-stopping experience. However, as of the 2024 season, Saks canceled their light show.
• Cartier Flagship Store
• Bergdorf Goodman
• Pulitzer Fountain

Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave) Christmas lights in NYC

Across the street from Radio City Music Hall, a bunch of the corporate offices have large decor adorning their main entrances. This area holds nostalgia for me; I used to work here in my corporate days and spent many years here, so it always feels like home.

What Christmas decorations to see along Avenue of the Americas:

• Giant Nutcrackers – UBS building (1285 6th Ave)
• Giant Red Ornaments – (1251 6th Ave)
• Giant String Lights – (1251 6th Ave)

Winter Village at Bryant Park

The Bryant Park Winter Village features a massive Christmas tree, ice rink, and dozens of pop-up shops. Stop by to enjoy some hot chocolate or even get on the ice with a pair of skates. The ginormous Christmas tree there makes for a fabulous backdrop while strolling through all the vendor shops. However, be prepared to blow your budget. The prices of everything here are a rip-off.

Union Square Holiday Market

Another marketplace further downtown, the Union Square Holiday Market, has a bunch of small business vendors to check out. They’re around for about a month and then pack it up right before Christmas.

I’ll let you in on a photographer’s tip to get a skyline shot with the market: head into Burlington, Whole Foods, or DSW across the street and shoot from the window.

Brookfield Place Luminaries

I used to spend a lot of time in Lower Manhattan, especially FiDi, but it’s such a journey to go there now. Brookfield Place hosts one of the most unique installations: Luminaries. It’s 650 glowing LED box lanterns that change color to music. The display runs daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and stays up through January.

Zuccotti Park

Just a short walk from Brookfield Place, Zuccotti Park lights up with clusters of Christmas trees each year. I always like to associate places with current events, and every time I go to Zuccotti Park, I think about how it was, at one point, the HQ of Occupy Wall St. Long past that point in time, it’s now just another place that makes for great Christmas lights in NYC during the winter. Can you say bokeh central?

Dyker Heights

Deep in Brooklyn (and I mean deeep), many families within the Dyker Heights neighborhood go all out and deck out their houses. This isn’t your typical string-a-few-lights situation. Many homeowners spend thousands of dollars to hire professional lighting companies to install over-the-top displays that rival theme park attractions.

The neighborhood has gotten so famous that Christmas lights tour bus companies now bring groups out here, which is funny to me because you could just take the subway. Most of the homeowners in this Brooklyn neighborhood hang their Christmas lights and decorations after Thanksgiving, with many of them also putting up Halloween decorations. It’s pretty awesome to see how seriously the neighborhood takes the holiday spirit! You can find lit-up homes between 11th and 13th Avenues from 83rd to 86th St.

Tips for Visiting Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

Crowds start forming right after sunset, so go early if you want to avoid them. Weeknights are calmer than weekends. Most homeowners turn off their displays around 9 p.m., so plan to arrive before then. Dress warm, and bring a camera!

Best ways to get to Dyker Heights:

• By subway: Take the D train to 79th St & New Utrecht Ave, then walk 15 minutes to 11th–13th Aves between 83rd–86th St.
• By car: Parking is limited, so go early or consider a rideshare.

Public Christmas Trees In New York City

Did you know the country’s first-ever public tree-lighting ceremony was actually in Madison Square Park? Since then, there have been tons of tree-lighting ceremonies throughout the city to bring their communities together for holiday cheer. There are so many public Christmas trees around the city that I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of all their tree-lighting ceremonies.

Bonus: Year-Round Christmas lights in East Village

When the holidays end, but your festive spirit doesn’t, head to Panna II Garden or Milon, two side-by-side Bangladeshi Indian restaurants in the East Village decked out in Christmas lights year-round.

Both serve the same food, but Panna II gets all the attention and all the crowds. In my experience, Panna squeezes its tables closer together, and the food’s smell seems more pungent. I enjoyed the same food at Milon and did a photoshoot in peace because Milon was empty. If you have the opportunity to eat at either restaurant, be prepared for pushy hosts and waiters! It seems to be part of their “charm,” but it can be off-putting when you’re deciding whether to eat there or not.

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FAQs About Christmas Lights in NYC

When do Christmas lights in NYC start?
Most displays go up right after Halloween (around November 1) and stay lit through early January.

Where are the best places to see Christmas lights in NYC for free?
Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, Bryant Park, Hudson Yards, and Dyker Heights all have incredible free displays. They’re some of the best NYC Christmas lights you’ll find anywhere in the city.

What time do Christmas lights turn off in NYC?
Most displays shut down around midnight, but neighborhood lights like Dyker Heights usually go dark by 9 p.m.

Where can I photograph NYC Christmas lights without crowds?
Go early. Hudson Yards is emptiest around 8 a.m., and Rockefeller Center is quietest right before the tree lights turn on, around 5 a.m. Weeknights are also calmer than weekends almost everywhere on this list, especially in Dyker Heights.

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