New York the Weekend Before Christmas

Either the most magical idea I've had, or the most ridiculous.

A few months ago, my husband and I decided to take a December weekend and head to New York City to soak up the Christmas lights, the energy, and whatever holiday magic we could squeeze into two days. The weekend before Christmas felt like a gamble — crowds, cold, chaos — but also like the perfect time to lean into the season.

Saturday morning started early. We have the option of taking either the bus or the train from home, and this time we chose the bus. We boarded the 8:00 a.m. bus and arrived in New York City around 1:30 p.m. (A quick note if you’re planning this route: the bus ticket says Penn Station, but it actually drops you at the corner of 34th Street and 9th Avenue.)

From there, we walked about 20 minutes to our hotel. Thankfully, our room was ready, so we dropped our bags, freshened up, and headed back out into the city.

Our first stop was Los Tacos No. 1 — a non-negotiable for me. I stop here every time I’m in New York. I lived in Tijuana for two years, and this is the closest thing I’ve found to the tacos I fell in love with in Mexico. They never disappoint.

Next on the agenda: hot chocolate. We made our way toward Rockefeller Plaza and stopped at La Maison du Chocolat. The hot chocolate was rich, warm, and absolutely worth it. From there, we joined the sea of people gathered around the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Yes, it was crowded. Yes, everyone else had the same idea. And honestly? It still felt magical.

After weaving our way through the crowds, we headed back toward the hotel, grabbed pizza along the way, and were back in our room by 5:30 p.m. We had a show to see at 7:30, and later that night we walked through Times Square around 10:30 — just to feel the energy of it all. Loud, bright, overwhelming, and somehow still fun.

Sunday morning was slower. We slept in and left the hotel around 9:30 in search of a bagel. The lines were long (a theme of the weekend), so we kept walking until we found a local deli, grabbed bagel sandwiches, and called it a win.

From there, we headed toward Central Park on our way to The Met. Even in winter, Central Park is a wonder — quiet in its own way, stripped down and beautiful. We spent a few hours at the Met, one of my favorite art museums. The art is incredible, and the Egyptian exhibits are especially fascinating. I could wander those rooms for hours.

After the museum, we went in search of pastrami and landed at Carnegie Diner. We walked in, were told we needed a reservation, walked out, made a reservation, and walked right back in — a very New York experience.

Next up: the Brooklyn Bridge. We took the subway into Brooklyn and walked back into Manhattan. It was cold, but iconic, and absolutely worth it.

We had plans to stop at Magnolia Bakery for something sweet, but once again the line was longer than we were willing to wait. Instead, we headed back to the hotel, ordered Magnolia through DoorDash, watched a Christmas movie, ate banana pudding in bed, and called it a night. Honestly? Perfect.

Monday morning came quickly. We caught the 9:00 a.m. bus home, tired, full, and grateful for a weekend that felt festive, cozy, and just the right amount of chaotic.

Here's our weekend itinerary.

I am on winter break, so we came home Monday, but we could have easily taken the 5:00 pm bus home.

Saturday: Arrival + Holiday Magic

• 8:00 AM – Depart by bus (or train)

• 1:30 PM – Arrive in NYC

  • Note: Bus drop-off is at 34th Street & 9th Avenue, not directly inside Penn Station

• Walk ~20 minutes to hotel and check in- Our hotel was The Muse- which is just a block away from Time Square.

• Drop bags, freshen up, and head out

Afternoon

• Lunch: Los Tacos No. 1 - There are several locations. We went to the one located near Time Square. The line was long, but it moves quickly.

  • A must-stop for incredible tacos

• Walk toward Rockefeller Plaza

• Hot Chocolate: La Maison du Chocolat

Early Evening

• Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

• Stroll through the surrounding holiday decorations

• Grab pizza nearby for a quick dinner

Evening

• Return to hotel around 5:30 PM

• 7:30 PM: Broadway show

• Late-night walk through Times Square for the energy and lights

Sunday: Museums, Central Park & Iconic Walks

• Sleep in

• 9:30 AM: Head out for breakfast

  • Bagel shop if the line is manageable

    • I love Ess-A Bagels and Broad Nosh. Both are very popular and will probably have long lines.

  • Local deli backup (highly recommended)

Late Morning

• Walk through Central Park

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Plan 2–3 hours

  • Don’t miss the Egyptian exhibits

Lunch

• Carnegie Diner

  • Make a reservation (even same-day)

  • They have good Pastrami Sandwiches (I think Katz Deli is better)

Afternoon

• Subway to Brooklyn

• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge back into Manhattan

  • Dress warmly — it’s cold but iconic

Evening

• Attempt Magnolia Bakery (lines are common)

• Alternative: DoorDash Magnolia to your hotel

• Cozy night in with a Christmas movie and banana pudding

Monday: Head Home

• 9:00 AM: Depart NYC by bus

• Arrive home tired, festive, and very full

Tips for a December NYC Weekend

• Expect crowds — especially near Rockefeller Center and Times Square

• Wear warm, comfortable walking shoes

• Have backup food plans if lines are long

• Balance busy sightseeing with slow, cozy evenings