“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”
YES! My favourite time of year! And what better way than to spend it in New York as a solo female traveller.
Is Solo Female Travel in New York Safe?
Absolutely! The city really does never sleep, and the streets are busy right up til midnight. I felt perfectly fine wandering around by myself and found the locals super nice as well.
Travelling alone to New York is a fantastic way to see the city. Christmas really is as magical as they say it is and such a wonderful time to visit- even if you are travelling alone. I loved having the freedom to go where I liked and to fit in as many attractions and sights as I could!
There is so much to see and do here, you won’t have time to get bored or lonely. New Yorkers are very friendly people too, so you can easily strike up a conversation and get some local tips.
So, what to do in New York at Christmas if travelling alone? Here’s my festive solo female travel guide to Christmas in New York…(You’ll be booking that dream trip in no time!)
Shop Until You Drop!
Shopping in New York is so much fun- there are so many huge shops and department stores to get lost in and they are open til late every night. At Christmas they look even better, with pretty and magical decorations around. This is a perfect place to do a bit of Christmas shopping for family and friends. There are also a lot of sales around at this time of year too!
There are many shopping districts in NYC from the department stores of Midtown Manhattan, the designer shops at Madison Avenue, quirky Soho joints and hipster Williamsburg vintage shops. There is something for everyone and you can literally shop for days. Although its nice to shop with a friend, I also find it a great solo activity as you can get so much more done without holding someone up (or vice versa).
Take Some ‘Me Time’ in Central Park
I loved walking around Central Park at Christmas, lights were slowly being put up, the leaves were still orange and red and there’s nothing better than walking outside in the cold when you’re all toasty with a big scarf and hat! Central Park is huge and there are many different paths to explore. Take some time out for yourself, sit and read a book or hire out a bike if the weathers too cold for sitting. It’s also a great place for people watching as there’s so much activity and various things going on.
See the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
Travelling alone in New York doesn’t mean you have to miss out on amazing shows like the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. I booked my tickets in advance online to make sure I didn’t miss out. You can also go to the TKTS for discounted West End shows on the day. It didn’t matter that I was alone because you’re not talking to anyone when watching the show! If you love Christmas, then this is one to watch and a great tradition for a lot of New Yorkers who have seen it many times over.
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Time Your Trip for Thanksgiving Too!
I arrived in New York the evening before the Thanksgiving Day parade. This was so much fun and even though it was pretty cold standing there, it was 100% worth it. If you time your trip around Thanksgiving, you can get the best of both as the Christmas displays are already being put up.
There’s so much excitement in the air- adults and kids alike. I would recommend getting to the parade early though to get a good spot- it gets seriously busy. I was on the Upper West Side on 73rd Street and thought it was an excellent spot.
Check Out the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Centre tree lighting ceremony is performed the weekend after Thanksgiving is very popular with both locals and tourists. Although the tree lighting ceremony is said to be spectacular, with live performances in the evening, I opted out and visited a couple of days later when it was somewhat quieter.
There is outdoor ice skating and wooden stools where you can indulge in a nice cup of warm cocoa. The decorations are really pretty and there is a lively and festive atmosphere all around. You can’t help but get wrapped up in the Christmas spirit.
Admire the New York Christmas Window Displays
The Christmas window displays of Macy’s, Barneys, Bloomingdale’s, Tiffany & Co and Saks Fifth Avenue are a sight to behold. The elaborate displays even have queues lined up for people wanting a closer look. They are magical and well thought out- bringing dreamy winter scenes to life. It’s so sweet watching the little kids fascinating by the bright lights of these beautiful displays (and me too 😊). The displays inside the stores are worth checking out too.
Explore New York’s Museums
Art galleries and museums are great places to explore alone. You have no one else waiting for you and no time pressure. There are so many incredible galleries in New York, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, History Museum, the Guggenheim and MOMA – Museum of Modern Art (which is free on Friday nights btw).
Most of the galleries require a suggested donation and some are charged. Another great place where you can see free art, is in Chelsea. From 18th-25th streets there are small galleries along each road, sometimes with better art than the bigger galleries. You can send a few hours gallery hopping before treating yourself to a warming coffee. There are some quirky independent coffee shops around this area for you caffeine lovers.
| More on NYC at Xmas: Inspiring Photos of New York in Winter |
See the Dyker Heights Christmas Light Displays
This was one of my favourite things to do in New York. Travel on the subway over to Brooklyn or walk the Brooklyn Bridge to see this local suburb of Dyker Heights put on a real Christmas display. These are just regular people’s homes (well, they are very nice homes, some of which are HUGE!). Every year the residents put on incredible light displays outside their homes for everyone to enjoy.
Travelling alone, I went as soon as it got dark, so I didn’t have to stay out too late. It can take some time to see everything though, so I ended up leaving about 11pm. I found the place still busy so felt perfectly find taking the subway back at this time.
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See the City From Above
As a solo female traveller in New York I loved the fact that I could get up and fit in a much as I could during the day. One of my favourite attractions was the Top of The Rock (Rockefeller Centre). For this I woke up early and was there by 8am- there was already a small queue, but I pretty much just walked straight through.
The light at this time is so beautiful, casting a soft glow over the city as it wakes. You can get some excellent shots from up here and see the city from another viewpoint. The Empire State Building is another great viewpoint. I chose to go around 10pm at night when there were no crowds.
Go Ice Skating at Bryant Park
Although it may not seem like an activity to do alone, I always find that even when I’m with someone else, you still get split up and end up skating around by yourself anyway! A wonderful festive activity to try or even just to watch others doing it. It can be quite amusing watching people attempting to skate and wobbling all over the place!
At Bryant park there’s also a Christmas market, selling souvenirs, handmade goods, donuts, hot dogs and hot cocoa- a great way to spend an evening.
Enjoy a Movie at the Cinema
Going to the movies is a great activity to do alone as let’s face it- you don’t talk during the film anyway. There are many cinemas dotted all over New York. This is a great activity if you’re travelling alone- there will probably be some great xmas movies on too.
Peek into Grand Central Station
Grand Central is a huge and busy terminal in the city, which is totally worth taking a look inside. The huge painted ceilings and pleasing Christmas decorations are worth a photo here. It will be busy but it just adds to the vibe of the place.
Hop on Hop off Bus
I’m usually not one for taking the tourist buses but it was included in my New York Explorer Pass (you get to pick how many attractions you want to see, giving you discounts and queue jumps). I thought it was a really good way to see the city in short space of time. Plus, you’re likely to meet many other travellers on the tour. There are 3 routes and I suggest going on all of them to get a good overview of the city.
Sip Hot Cocoa at Union Square Holiday Market
Another sweet Christmas market, here you can buy intricate and handmade unique gifts for loved ones, indulge in some sweet treats and wander around with a warming hot drink in hand. Spend a relaxing evening soaking up the atmosphere whilst listening to the live music.
How to get around New York?
The subway is your best bet. I found it really simple to use and if you do get stuck people are friendly enough to help you. You can buy a 7-day unlimited Metro card, that allows unlimited travel for a week, which I think was definitely worth it. Taxi’s will be expensive and probably take longer too! A lot of the city is also really walkable, and this can be the best way to see places you would have missed otherwise.
Where to Stay in New York?
Places near Midtown and Times Square will be extremely busy at this time of year and therefore expensive but great if you want that central location. The Upper West Side is where I stayed, as I found a good deal on an Airbnb. I found this a perfect location- 2 blocks from Central Park, 1 stop on the Subway to Midtown and in a quiet neighbourhood. There are also a few budget hostels around this area.
If you’re looking for something further afield then Brooklyn and Williamsburg are quirky, hipster areas and there are more hostels and Airbnb’s here and they will be cheaper too. It will take around 40 mixtures to get back into Manhattan though.
Hope you enjoyed this Solo female travel guide to Christmas in New York.
Wherever you choose to stay, whatever you choose to do, you can be sure that travelling solo to New York at Christmas will be every bit an adventure. I loved this time of year and if I were to go back again, I would go during the festive season. There’s something so uplifting and exciting in the air that leaves you wanting more.
For a detailed 7 day New York itinerary read this: How to Spend 7 days in NYC
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