The Ultimate New York City Holiday Weekend Itinerary with Kids
New York City at the holidays with kids means the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Fifth Avenue windows, skating under the skyscrapers and a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3. It’s also the busiest stretch of the year in the city, and the families who have the best time are the ones who booked the hotel and the Rockettes early.
I book New York for families every December. Here are the 2026 dates to know, my holiday weekend itinerary with kids, and the hotels I put families in to be right in the middle of the lights.
New York City Holiday Dates to Know for 2026
- Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park: opened October 28, 2026, with more than 180 vendors at the Holiday Shops. The shops run through January 3, 2027, and the free-admission rink stays open through the end of February.
- Saks Fifth Avenue holiday windows and light show: debut Monday, November 23, 2026, at 611 Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. Saks hadn’t announced the nightly showtimes when I wrote this, so check before you go.
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Thursday, November 26, 2026, with the balloon inflation by the American Museum of Natural History the afternoon before.
- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting: Wednesday, December 2, 2026. The tree stays on display after the lighting (Rockefeller Center hasn’t posted 2026 viewing hours yet).
Dates and hours can change, so double check anything time-sensitive before you go.
The Ultimate New York City Holiday Weekend Itinerary with Kids
Friday: Bryant Park and the Fifth Avenue Lights
Check in to your hotel (that hopefully you booked with me and had a beautiful welcome amenity waiting for you!), then head straight to the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park (40th to 42nd Streets, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues). Skating is free (skate rental is extra), and the Holiday Shops are a fun wander with little ones. New this year, Serendipity 3 has a spot at the market with its famous treats.
Once it’s dark, walk up Fifth Avenue for the windows. The Saks Fifth Avenue light show plays across the street from Rockefeller Center, and from there you can stroll past Tiffany and Bergdorf Goodman. End the night at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
Saturday: The Rockettes and the Brooklyn Lights
Spend the morning at Rockefeller Center. FAO Schwarz (30 Rockefeller Plaza) has the giant piano, the LEGO Store is steps away, and The Rink at Rockefeller Center sells timed skating tickets if your kids want to skate under the tree.
The big one: the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes. The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission, which is the perfect length for kids, and holiday weekends sell out, so book as early as you can.
Nap time, then dinner. If your kids can handle a later night, a Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour in Brooklyn is a kid favorite. Whole blocks of houses go all out with lights, and the tour takes care of the driving so you don’t have to.
Sunday: A Carriage Ride and the View from the Top
Bundle up for a horse and carriage ride through Central Park, then warm up with the frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 on East 60th Street (yes, frozen, and yes, the kids will want it anyway). Before you head home, go up to Top of the Rock for the city views from right above the tree.
Going Over Thanksgiving Weekend?
Add the Macy’s balloon inflation on Wednesday afternoon. The giant parade balloons get blown up around the American Museum of Natural History, and last year viewing ran from 1 to 6 pm, with the public entrance at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. A baby carrier is much easier than a stroller in the crowds. On parade morning, Midtown streets close early, so leave plenty of time if you’re heading to the airport.
The Best Hotels for the Holidays in New York City with Kids
For a holiday weekend, I put families right in the middle of the lights, near Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue. Every one of these comes with complimentary perks when you book with me.
Lotte New York Palace: The Holiday Courtyard
The Palace courtyard is all decked out at Christmas (it’s the photo everyone wants), and you’re one block from Rockefeller Center and across Madison Avenue from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I always book the Towers (floors 41 to 55, with private elevators and skyline views), which is where your perks apply.
Best for: families who want the holiday courtyard and Rockefeller Center a block away.
Booking Your Hotel With Free Jetset Perks
How to Book Lotte New York Palace with Perks
- $100 daily breakfast credit in the Towers
- $100 food and beverage credit plus a $100 spa credit per stay
- Upgrade on arrival*, early check in and late check out* (*if available at check in)
There is no markup or fee to book hotels with me. Just extra perks for you, and the best rates and exclusive offers, always! You can also see live rates and book yourself on my portal. Password: JETSETTERS.
The Peninsula New York: On the Window Route
The Peninsula is on Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, right in the middle of the holiday windows, and the indoor pool is a lifesaver on a cold afternoon.
Best for: families who want to walk out the door into the windows, plus a pool for the kids.
Booking Your Hotel With Free Jetset Perks
How to Book The Peninsula New York with Perks
- Daily breakfast for two
- $100 hotel credit to use during your stay
- Upgrade on arrival*, early check in and late check out* (*if available at check in)
There is no markup or fee to book hotels with me. Just extra perks for you, and the best rates and exclusive offers, always! You can also see live rates and book yourself on my portal. Password: JETSETTERS.
The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue: Room for the Shopping Bags
The Langham is a short walk from Bryant Park and has some of the biggest rooms in Manhattan (the Junior Suites are 840 square feet), which is a dream with kids and holiday shopping bags. Ask me about the Little New Yorker Experience for the kids: a play tent, a chocolate Empire State Building and New York plush toys to take home.
Best for: families who want the most room to spread out, close to the Winter Village.
Booking Your Hotel With Free Jetset Perks
How to Book The Langham, New York with Perks
- Daily breakfast credit of $90 per room
- $100 food and beverage credit per stay
- Upgrade on arrival*, early check in and late check out* (*if available at check in)
There is no markup or fee to book hotels with me. Just extra perks for you, and the best rates and exclusive offers, always! You can also see live rates and book yourself on my portal. Password: JETSETTERS.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel: A Holiday Card in NoMad
Set partly in a restored Gilded Age mansion in NoMad, The Fifth Avenue Hotel already feels like a holiday card, and Café Carmellini downstairs is one of the prettiest dining rooms in the city. For a family of four, the Parlour Suite (a king bedroom plus a queen sofa bed in the living room) is the easy pick.
Best for: families who love design and want a quieter base south of the Midtown crowds.
Booking Your Hotel With Free Jetset Perks
How to Book The Fifth Avenue Hotel with Perks
- Daily American breakfast for two at Café Carmellini
- $100 food and beverage credit per stay
- Upgrade on arrival*, early check in and late check out* (*if available at check in)
There is no markup or fee to book hotels with me. Just extra perks for you, and the best rates and exclusive offers, always! You can also see live rates and book yourself on my portal. Password: JETSETTERS.
The St. Regis New York: Steps from the Windows
The St. Regis New York is on East 55th Street just off Fifth Avenue, steps from the windows and Central Park, with all the old New York glamour you want at the holidays.
Best for: families with older kids who want to be steps from the windows and the park.
Booking Your Hotel With Free Jetset Perks
How to Book The St. Regis New York with Perks
- $45 Breakfast Credit: A $45 per person daily credit for up to two guests per bedroom, at La Maisonette or via in-room dining.
- Up to $200 Credit: A $100 food and beverage credit, good at in-room dining, The Drawing Room and La Maisonette. Book a Designer Suite or higher and you get another $100, for $200 total.
- Upgrade on arrival*, early check in and late check out*, plus VIP recognition on property (*if available at check in)
There is no markup or fee to book hotels with me. Just extra perks for you, and the best rates and exclusive offers, always! You can also see live rates and book yourself on my portal. Password: JETSETTERS.
Want more holiday ideas? My holiday guide to New York City has my favorite festive bars, restaurants and markets. Traveling with toddlers? Don’t miss my New York City weekend guide with toddlers, and for the rest of the year, my ultimate guide to New York City with kids.
FAQ: New York City at the Holidays with Kids
When is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting in 2026?
Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
When do the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday windows open in 2026?
The windows and light show debut Monday, November 23, 2026, at 611 Fifth Avenue. Showtimes hadn’t been announced when I wrote this.
Is ice skating at Bryant Park free?
Yes. Admission to the rink at the Bank of America Winter Village is free, and skate rental is extra.
How long is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular?
About 90 minutes with no intermission, a great length for kids.
What is the best hotel in New York City at Christmas with kids?
Lotte New York Palace for the holiday courtyard and Rockefeller Center a block away, or The Peninsula New York for Fifth Avenue and an indoor pool.
Book Your Holiday Weekend in New York with Me
Holiday weekends in New York fill up fast, especially Thanksgiving week and the weekends in December. Booking your hotel with me is complimentary. You get the best rates plus VIP perks like daily breakfast, a $100 hotel credit, room upgrades and early or late check-out when available, and VIP recognition on property.
Fill out this inquiry form here and I’ll help you plan your trip, or you can go directly to my travel portal and see my exclusive travel advisor rates and book yourself with all of my perks included! The password is always JETSETTERS (save this page to your bookmarks for future trips!)
