18 Actually Fun Things to do in NYC in Winter

Winter in NYC is magical (ok, and also really cold).

January and February might not have the same charm that the Christmas season does. But there are still plenty of fun things to do in NYC in winter time!

If you are thinking about visiting NYC in the winter, here are a few things you should know right away:

Winter weather in NYC stretches from November-April. It won’t be bitter cold during that entire time, but you also shouldn’t be surprised if you experience a snowstorm during any of those months. (My friends visited me during their spring break a few years ago and we had a ton of snow during their trip!)
Locals like to “hibernate” during the winter, so it might seem a bit emptier than usual. Don’t let the cold stop you! Take advantage of the somewhat quieter city.
You’ll be able to score some great deals during the winter. Check out Restaurant Week and the 2-for-1 Broadway offers if you visit in late January/early February (we’ll go into way more detail about these below!).

Alright, if you’re not scared away by the cold (I promise it’s really not all that bad) and are ready to plan your trip, keep reading my list of the 18 Actually Fun Things to do in NYC in Winter.

You can also check out some of my other NYC posts here:

8 Historic Sites in NYC + My FAVORITE Dessert Shops Near Each One!

How to Visit the Met Museum: Tips & Tricks from a Local

How to Get Discount Broadway Tickets: 4 Tricks I’ve Used to Score Cheap Tickets

18 Actually Fun Things to do in NYC in Winter

Eat on the Cheap with Restaurant Week

This tops my list because it’s one of my favorite parts about winter in NYC. As you guys know, I love food and I REALLY love a good deal, so this is absolutely perfect for me.

NYC Restaurant Week is the time when some of the city’s best restaurants offer a special menu at a discounted price. Check out the details below and go ahead and make a reservation now so you can score one of these deals.

Head’s up, not all of the restaurants offer both the lunch and dinner menus so just double check the menus for each specific restaurant before making a reservation.

WHEN: January 21- February 9, 2020

WHAT: 2-course lunch for $26 or 3-course dinner for $42

WHERE: Hundreds of restaurants around NYC

HOW: Browse the menus & make a reservation HERE!

Ice Skate + More at Bryant Park

Christmas may be over, but the Bryant Park Winter Village is sticking around! You’ll be able to ice skate until March 1 (P.S. if you have your own skates this rink is free to use!). Besides ice skating, the park is hosting a few other wintery activities, including the chance to ride bumper cars on the rink or a knitting session in a cozy igloo. Check out their website for all the details!

WHEN: Ice Skating until March 1, 2020

WHAT: Ice skating rink + a winter festival

WHERE: Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan

HOW: Reserve your skating time online or just show up to enjoy the festivities

See The Holiday Train Show

Another holiday event that’s still going strong is The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden. You can watch as a train travels through an impressive display of NYC’s most iconic sights. There’s even one last adults-only Bar Car night on January 18 where you can enjoy the display with a craft cocktail in hand.

WHEN: Saturday, November 23, 2019 – Sunday, January 26, 2020

WHAT: A model train travels through a display of more than 170 iconic NYC landmarks

WHERE: New York Botanical Garden

HOW: Get tickets online in advance

Attend the New York Times Travel Show

Chances are if you are reading this post, you like to travel. Why not attend an international travel conference to learn more about the industry? The New York Times Travel Show takes place at the Jacob K. Javits Center each January. You’ll be able to interact with 700+ travel booths, attend talks with leading travel professionals, and spark your wanderlust.

WHEN: January 24 – 26, 2020

WHAT: An international conference with leading travel professionals

WHERE: Jacob K. Javits Center

HOW: Register online to secure your spot

Indulge Indoors

Don’t let the cold weather keep you from enjoying a food market. Smorgasburg (my favorite foodie gathering in NYC) moves indoors during the winter months. You’ll still find 75 vendors serving some of the city’s best street food eats but you don’t have to worry about a potential Nor’easter ruining your plans.

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-6pm

WHAT: 75+ street food vendors

WHERE: 25 Kent Ave. – 8th Floor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

HOW: Show up and enjoy!

Ride a Giant SeeSaw

A new art exhibit lets you bring out your inner child. This interactive exhibit called, “Impulse” takes over the Garment District Plazas on Broadway. Have fun riding these giant ‘grammable seesaws. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, these also light up!

WHEN: January 6 through February 1, 2020

WHAT: An interactive art exhibit with 12 giant seesaws

WHERE: The Garment District Plazas between 37th and 38th St. on Broadway

HOW: Hop on a seesaw and have fun!

Stick it out for Cheap Tickets

I love a good deal, especially when it comes to Broadway tickets. One of my favorite ways to score cheap seats is by standing in line for rush tickets. (You can read all about my tips for scoring Broadway tickets in this post: How to Get Discount Broadway Tickets: 4 Tricks I’ve Used to Score Cheap Tickets) During the winter, you’ll have a better chance of getting rush tickets since most people won’t want to stand outside in the cold for 2+ hours.

WHEN: It depends, but I typically get in line for rush tickets 2 hours before the box office opens

WHAT: Discounted tickets to Broadway shows

WHERE: The rush line generally starts at the box office for each theater. But, keep in mind that not every show offers rush tickets. I check the Playbill website for updated info!

HOW: Usually, if you get in line about 2 hours before the box office opens you’ll be able to purchase rush tickets. So wear layers, go with some friends, and make a fun morning out of it!

Cozy Up in a Board Game Cafe

If you don’t want to just go to another bar (or are participating in Dry January) opt for a board game cafe instead. The Uncommons in Greenwich Village is a great place to spend a few hours challenging your friends to a game of Catan or SushiGo. The walls are lined with hundreds of games so you’ll never get bored!

WHEN: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – Midnight, Friday-Saturday 8:30am – 1am, Sunday 8:30am – 11pm

WHAT: A cafe where you can play any board game imaginable

WHERE: 230 Thompson Street

HOW: You have to pay by the hour to play ($10 per person or $5 for students on Mon-Thurs, with a three-hour limit during peak periods). You may have to wait, but you can put your name on a list and hang out nearby to wait for your turn. Groups of 5+ can make a reservation online for $15/person

Play Some Trivia

Here’s another fun alternative to a night in with Netflix. (Seriously, nothing wrong with that I just get a bit restless in the winter!) Check out TriviaAD‘s website for a list of their upcoming games. I play a few times a month and these are always challenging but tons of fun. TriviaAD hosts themed games, so you can test your pop-culture knowledge with topics like Disney Movies, Friends, or The Office.

WHEN: Times vary, but you can pretty much find a game every night of the week

WHAT: Theme-based pub trivia

WHERE: Tons of bars throughout NYC & New Jersey

HOW: Register online before showing up. Once you arrive, check-in and have fun testing your trivia knowledge!

Take a Cooking Class

Why not use the winter to learn a new skill? You can find so many different cooking classes in NYC. Some of my favorite places to check are:

Airbnb Experiences
Milk Bar (where to can learn to make Christina Tosi’s famous Milk Bar Pie)
Cookie acaDŌmy (learn the secrets of edible cookie dough)
Taste Buds Kitchen
The Brooklyn Kitchen

WHEN: Check the schedule for each class

WHAT: A hands-on cooking or baking class

WHERE: Cooking schools & restaurants around NYC

HOW: Find a class online, sign-up, and get ready to learn!

See the Dorothea Lange Exhibit at the MOMA

The winter is a perfect time to explore the city’s museums. One I am most excited to visit this winter is the MOMA (which recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation). From February-May, the MOMA will host an exhibition of the American documentary photographer Dorothea Lange. The exhibit will feature some of her groundbreaking Depression-era pieces plus some of her lesser-known works.

WHEN: February 9–May 9, 2020

WHAT: A special exhibit of Dorothea Lange’s photography

WHERE: MOMA

HOW: This exhibition is included in your general admission ticket (P.S. the MOMA is free on Friday nights from 5:30-9pm)

Drink in an Igloo

If you haven’t yet had the chance to drink in an igloo bar, there’s still time! These trendy bars have been popping up all over NYC this winter, but my favorite is still the 230 Fifth Rooftop. They might not have the most creative drinks or the best food, but you don’t have to pay a cover for the igloo and there isn’t a food + beverage minimum. The igloos are first-come-first-serve so arrive early to stake out your spot!

WHEN: The Igloos stay up from November-May

WHAT: Drink boozy hot chocolate in an igloo with a view of the Empire State Building

WHERE: 230 Fifth Rooftop

HOW: First-come-first-serve on the igloos!

Get 2-for-1 Experience Tickets

NYC Must See Week takes place from January 21-February 9 and this is your chance to experience the touristy attractions for half the price. If you’ve always wanted to visit the Empire State Building’s observation deck or take a tour of Madison Square Garden this is a way to do it without spending a ton of money. Browse the offerings on their website and sign up before the experiences sell out.

WHEN: January 21- February 9, 2020

WHAT: Discounted NYC Experience Tickets

WHERE: Museums & attractions throughout NYC

HOW: Purchase your discounted tickets on the website

Celebrate Chinese New Year

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the Year of the Rat in NYC. Check out the Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival on January 25 where you can watch lion dances, hear hundreds of firecrackers, and enjoy plenty of dumplings. Keep the festivities going with a Lunar New Year Parade on February 9.

WHEN: The Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival is on January 25, 2020 and the Lunar New Year Parade is on February 9, 2020.

WHAT: The Lunar New Year celebration

WHERE: Both celebrations take place in Sara D. Roosevelt Park at Grand Street (the parade starts at Mott & Canal and travels to the park)

HOW: Show up and join in the celebrations!

Warm Up with Some Hot Chocolate

Not that you need an excuse to drink hot cocoa, but the cold weather makes it way easier to justify this tasty treat. You’ll find some great hot chocolate options throughout the city, but here are my top picks:

Devocion– My favorite NYC coffee shop is serving a seasonal hot chocolate (or ask for it to be made as a mocha) & its dang delicious!
Dominique Ansel– Stick out the line for an Instagram-worthy blooming marshmallow on your hot cocoa
Squish Marshmallows– Another great option if you really just want a side of hot chocolate with your marshmallow
Daily Provisions– A satisfying drink made with 3-types of chocolate

WHEN: Opening times vary

WHAT: A cozy cup of hot chocolate

WHERE: Cafes around the city

HOW: Order your drink, sip, and enjoy!

Watch the Super Bowl

As it gets a bit closer, bars around the city will start announcing their Super Bowl packages. I’ll update this as more are announced, but one event that’s already caught my attention is the Super Bowl watch party in Bryant Park. This is a free event in The Lodge. No tickets or reservations are required!

WHEN: The Super Bowl is on February 2, 2020 at 6:30pm

WHAT: Basically the biggest sports holiday in America

WHERE: Bars around the city will show the game, including The Lodge in Brant Park

HOW: You may have to RSVP or register for some bars, but the event at The Lodge is free and doesn’t require a reservation

Laugh at a Comedy Show

There are some great comedy shows in NYC, so why not check some out this winter. UCB is my favorite comedy theater in the city and they offer some great shows every night of the week. Don’t miss ASSSSCAT 3000, UCB’s flagship show (this was started by a troupe include Amy Pohler). This Sunday night always sells out so get your tickets early!

WHEN: You’ll find comedy shows every night of the week

WHAT: ASSSSCAT 3000 is UCB’s flagship show

WHERE: There are tons of comedy theaters around NYC, but UCB in Hells Kitchen is my favorite

HOW: Get your tickets online in advance!

Go Ice Skating

You still have time to go ice skating this season. As I mentioned earlier, the Bryant Park rink is open until March 1 and The Rink at Rockefeller Center stays up until April 19!

WHEN: You can ice skate until spring

WHAT: Ice skating

WHERE: The most iconic rinks in the city are The Rink at Rockefeller Center and The Bryant Park rink

HOW: Reserve your spot online in advance for Rockefeller Center or Bryant Park

I hope you enjoyed my guide to the best things to do in NYC in winter. Are you planning a trip to the city soon? What are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below!