New York anchors the American holiday season as both an entertainment capital and a walkable neighborhood city. The combination of department-store windows, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and the density of Midtown means a single afternoon can take you through several distinct holiday traditions on foot.

• Tree at Rockefeller Center: The Norway spruce above the ice rink has been the city's symbolic seasonal centerpiece since the 1930s.
• Department Store Windows: Saks, Macy's Herald Square, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdale's each unveil curated installations along Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
• Stage and Concert Halls: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker at Lincoln Center, and concerts at Carnegie Hall run throughout the season.
• Hotel Lobbies and Holiday Tea: Afternoon tea at the Plaza, cocktails at the Carlyle's Bemelmans Bar, and the Lotte New York Palace's seasonal courtyard installation give the city an indoor holiday tradition centered on its historic hotels.