A guide to the best Christmas markets in NYC to visit during the winter, from famous Bryant Park Winter Village to the cozy Union Square Holiday Market!
If you’re planning to spend Christmas in NYC, nothing can prepare you to the beauty and uniqueness of the city.
The festive season translates into every gorgeous cafe and restaurant’s menus, with hot chocolate, holiday brunch menus and other colorful lattes dressing up with cute decorations.
With sparkling lights, ice skating rinks and seasonal treats, NYC’s Christmas markets are hotspots you just can’t miss during the holidays.
NYC’s Christmas Markets: 7 Spots To Visit for Food and Gifts
Whether you’re wandering around Grand Central for cozy gifts at the Holiday Fair or just want to treat yourself to a vintage bit at the Turnstyle Holiday Market, NYC has plenty in store for you.
Christmas feels very different from the fall in NYC, with a stronger emphasis on spiced drinks, gingerbread cookies, and other unique souvenirs.
And while it can get chilly in the city, the holidays, at least in New York City, feel like anything is possible, and it really is a time to feel jolly and at peace.
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Bryant Park Winter Village
Open from end October to January, the Bryant Park Winter Village is not only one of the biggest Christmas markets in NYC, but also offers a free admission ice skating rink – perfect if you’re visiting on a budget.
We’re in the heart of Manhattan, and since the Winter Village is located only minutes away from Times Square and the New York Public Library (with its free rooftop!), Bryant Park makes for a great spot to spend the day.
Once you’re done browsing for handmade gifts, street food and other hot cocoa, why not explore the nearby Grand Central Terminal?
There’s another Christmas market inside that you can check out in the cozy warmth before, maybe, catching a Broadway show!
Read: London’s Regent Street: 7 Pretty Christmas Places to Visit
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Columbus Circle Holiday Market
If strolling around Central Park is an amazing experience during the spring and the fall for picturesque scenes, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market is yet another reason to spend some time in the park.
Nestled at the southwest corner of Central Park, this Christmas market is open from end November until December 31, and one that channels vibes of a quaint European village during the festive season.
Handmade home decor bits, handcrafted jewelry, fresh pastries, street food, hot chocolate…
The Columbus Circle Holiday Market has it all, and more, right in the green beating heart of the city.
Read: The Best Things to Do During The Fall in NYC
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Grand Central Holiday Fair
From mid-November right up to Christmas, visitors who would like to enjoy an indoor holiday market will find themselves right at home at the Holiday Fair in Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall.
On the smaller side, the Holiday Fair features handmade jewelry vendors, home decor, prints, and seasonal treats, making for a great place to shop with cozy warmth.
When you are done browsing, you’ll find plenty of famous NYC spots just a few blocks away, like Bryant Park and its sparkling Winter Village, Times Square, or the Chrysler Building with its Art Deco design.
Before you leave, though, make sure you take some time to admire the quirky zodiac ceiling in the terminal – or, if you’re getting hungry, why not get a tasty meal in a cute restaurant?
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Manhattan
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Union Square Holiday Market
Located in Union Square Park, the Holiday Market is another classic winter spot to visit when in New York City, and a favorite for locals and visitors alike.
Here, over 160 vendors offers unique items from fashion to home decor, eco-friendly products, artisanal crafts and delicious snacks – a warm pretzel and hot apple cider should take the chilly away from the day in a heartbeat!
Once you’re done, you’ll find around Union Square plenty of other cool spots to visit, like The Strand on Broadway, a pretty bookstore in which many gift ideas await, or tread Union Square Park to admire public art installations scattered around.
If you’d like to keep the festive streak going, take the subway to other Christmas markets like Bryant Park, or make your way to the Rockefeller Center to enjoy views of the skyscrapers softened by the huge Christmas tree!
Read: The Best Christmas Decorations in London
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market
Lesser-known that Christmas markets at Bryant Park and Grand Central, the Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market takes place from end November right up to Christmas and gives off cozy neighborhood vibes in Downtown Brooklyn.
Established in front of the historic Brooklyn Borough Hall (perfect photo spot during Christmas!), the market offers a mix of local and regional vendors for unique holiday decorations, street food, warm drinks and artisan crafts.
The Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market, with its smaller vendor selection, makes for a more relaxed way to discover the Brooklyn area in the winter, but just as festive – plenty of hidden gems are to be found there.
When you’re done visiting, you’ll find DUMBO a short walk away and its Christmas lights under the Manhattan Bridge.
It’s the perfect place to catch free views of NYC, and a strategic point to check out more shopping opps and food spots at City Point nearby!
Read: The Best Cafes to Work on the Upper East Side
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Turnstyle Holiday Market
One of NYC’s edgiest Christmas markets, the Turnstyle Holiday Market is located in the underground market at Columbus Circle, and runs from mid-November up to the New Year.
At the Turnstyle Holiday Market, prints and handmade art, independent jewelry brands and scented candles bring another layer of coziness to a shopping day in NYC.
This is the very spot to check out if you’re looking to buy unique gifts in NYC, with dozens of street food and pastry stalls galore thrown in the mix and Central Park just steps away!
Read: The Best Christmas Markets in London For Festive Fun
Best Christmas Markets in NYC: Oculus Holiday Market
In the heart of the Financial District, you have another one of the smaller Christmas markets of the city; the Oculus Holiday Market at the World Trade Center.
Open from end November up to Christmas, the Oculus Holiday Market is set inside one of NYC’s most striking landmarks, with a selection of vendors that offer anything from artisanal gifts to seasonal treats.
Nearby, you’ll find many other famous NYC attractions; the 9/11 Memorial and Museum or Liberty Park are both located seconds away.
If you’d like to break away from the city vibe for just a bit, walk along the Battery Park City Esplanade for gorgeous waterfront views and a romantic moment.
Then, why not check out delicious Italian food options at the Eataly Downtown marketplace inside the Oculus?
Read: 9 Pretty Cafes in London With Dazzling Christmas Decor
NYC’s Christmas Markets: 7 Spots To Visit for Food and Gifts
Visiting Christmas markets only makes for part of NYC’s winter magic.
There’s so much more to do during the holiday in the city, from historic streets covered in snow to Christmas decorations in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights and the quirky Gingerbread Lane.
For something cozier, check out the Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market and the lovely Chelsea Market – and why not discover some of NYC’s must-visit photo spots before going back home?