NYC Christmas Hotels: Stay Close to the Tree, the Windows and the Lights
December is the most magical month in New York, and the busiest. These NYC Christmas hotels put you close to the Rockefeller Center tree, the Fifth Avenue windows and the holiday markets.
Quick answer
For a Christmas trip, stay in Midtown between Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and Bryant Park. Lotte New York Palace, The Plaza, the New York Hilton Midtown and Warwick New York are all a short walk from the tree. Book early, ideally by late summer, and expect December prices to be the highest of the year.
Why location matters most in December
In December, Midtown sidewalks are packed. Getting from your hotel to the tree and back can take twice as long as usual, and taxis crawl. So the best Christmas hotel is the one you can walk from, ideally within ten minutes of Rockefeller Center.
The big holiday sights are close together. The Rockefeller Center tree and the ice rink sit between 49th and 50th Streets. The Saks Fifth Avenue light show is right across Fifth Avenue. Radio City Music Hall, home of the Christmas Spectacular, is one block west. Bryant Park’s Winter Village is about ten minutes south.
The tree usually goes up in mid-November and is lit in a televised ceremony around the end of November, then stays up into January. See our Rockefeller Center Christmas tree hotels guide for more.
The classic Christmas hotels
Lotte New York Palace at 455 Madison Ave sits behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a five-minute walk from the tree. Its historic Villard Houses courtyard is dressed for the holidays most years.
The Plaza at 768 Fifth Ave is the Christmas hotel from Home Alone 2, facing Central Park and the start of Fifth Avenue’s window displays. The lobby and the Palm Court are decorated every year. The St. Regis New York at 2 E 55th St and The Peninsula New York at 700 Fifth Ave are both right on the Fifth Avenue window route, and both go all out on holiday decor.
Closer to the tree, at a lower price
New York Hilton Midtown at 1335 Sixth Ave is a huge, practical hotel about five minutes from Rockefeller Center and Radio City. Warwick New York at 65 W 54th St is a 1920s hotel with a classic feel and a short walk to the tree.
Near Bryant Park, Archer Hotel New York at 45 W 38th St and Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square Central at 136 W 42nd St put you close to the Winter Village rink and holiday shops. Hotel Edison at 228 W 47th St in the Theater District is a fair-priced base about ten minutes from the tree.
Even these more affordable hotels charge much more in December than in the rest of the year. That is just how the Christmas season works in New York.
The holiday markets and lights
Bryant Park Winter Village has a free-admission ice rink (skate rental extra) and rows of glass holiday shops. Union Square Holiday Market fills the south end of the park with gift stalls. The Columbus Circle market sits at the corner of Central Park. The Grand Central Holiday Fair runs inside Vanderbilt Hall. Dates vary, so check each one before you go.
The Fifth Avenue windows run from Saks at 50th Street up toward Bergdorf Goodman at 58th Street. Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street has its own famous windows and Santaland. For a whole night of lights, Dyker Heights in Brooklyn is the most famous neighborhood display. Our NYC Christmas lights and holiday markets guides have the details.
How to book a Christmas hotel in NYC
Book early. The best-located hotels for mid-December can fill up months ahead. Late summer or early fall is a good time to book.
Pick refundable. Book a free-cancellation rate, then check prices again closer to the date.
Go early in the season. The first two weeks of December are often a little cheaper and less crowded than the week before Christmas. The days between Christmas and New Year’s are the most expensive and the most crowded.
Plan around big nights. The tree lighting night, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve all bring street closures and huge crowds in Midtown. If you are not coming for those, pick other nights.
Our NYC in December guide covers weather, events and what to pack.
A simple Christmas day plan in Midtown
Start early at the tree, before 9 a.m., when the plaza is calm. Walk up Fifth Avenue past the windows to The Plaza and Central Park. Have lunch, then head to Bryant Park for skating or the shops. After dark, come back for the Saks light show, which runs on a loop through the evening, and see the tree lit up.
If you have tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, book a hotel within walking distance so you can skip the taxi line after the show. Our Radio City Rockettes guide has tips on seats.
How to Plan Christmas Hotels in NYC: Rates, Subway Access, and Seasonal Timing
When researching hotels for christmas in new york city and planning around Christmas Hotels in NYC, comparing block-by-block walkability, express subway connections, and seasonal rate shifts helps you get the most.
Common questions
What is the best area to stay in NYC at Christmas?
Midtown, between Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and Bryant Park. Most of the big holiday sights are within walking distance.
Which hotel is closest to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree?
Hotels around 48th to 54th Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues are closest, such as Lotte New York Palace, New York Hilton Midtown and Warwick New York.
When should I book a hotel for Christmas in NYC?
As early as you can, ideally by late summer. Book a refundable rate and check prices again later.
Are NYC hotels more expensive at Christmas?
Yes. December, especially the week before Christmas and the week before New Year’s, is usually the most expensive time of year for Manhattan hotels.
When is the Rockefeller Center tree lit?
Usually on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, in a televised ceremony. The tree stays lit into January. Check this year’s dates before you plan.
Keep reading
NYC Christmas guide · Rockefeller tree hotels · NYC Christmas lights · NYC holiday markets · Ice skating in NYC · New Year’s Eve hotel tips