New York is an extremely popular destination during the festive period, with around 5.2 million people expected to descend on the city from Thanksgiving through to New Year’s Eve. If you’d prefer to check out some of the holiday activities and attractions without the crowds, there’s plenty on offer throughout the different boroughs.
Manhattan
Ice skating is a popular holiday pastime in New York, but if you want a quieter experience, head to the Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park. Here you’ll be able to skate for free (although there is a charge for equipment rental) and browse a range of bespoke shops. If you want to fit in some last-minute Christmas shopping, Manhattan has three Christmas markets: Union Square, Columbus Circle and Grand Central, which are all open through December 24.
The Bronx
A must if you’re in The Bronx for the holidays is the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Gardens. This is a miniature landscape that has model trains chugging past to create a truly magical sight.
Brooklyn
If you’ve booked one of the apartments in Brooklyn, you can check out the Coney Island Holiday Market every weekend from Thanksgiving through Christmas. There is also the opportunity to take a tour of the famous Christmas lights in Dyker Heights.
Queens
A holiday tradition in this borough is Gingerbread Lane at the New York Hall of Science. This is the largest gingerbread village in the world, with more than 1,050 houses all created out of gingerbread.