New York Christmas Windows: 2025 Guide to Holiday Displays
New York Christmas Windows 2025 transform the city into an open-air museum of lights and creativity. From Macy’s Herald Square to Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, the most famous department stores compete to deliver dazzling displays that attract millions of visitors each holiday season. These festive windows are free to enjoy, making them one of the best Christmas traditions in New York.
If you are planning your holiday trip, seeing the Christmas windows is a must alongside other iconic experiences like the Rockefeller Center Tree, Dyker Heights Lights, and the holiday markets. To plan your visit, explore our complete guide to the Best Things to Do at Christmas in NYC.
We also share daily updates, photos, and videos from the streets of Manhattan on our Instagram page @MyChristmasInNewYorkCity. Follow along to discover the magic of the holiday season in real time.
In this article, we’ll show you when the New York Christmas windows open, which stores have the most spectacular designs in 2025, and how to see them all in one morning with our exclusive Christmas Morning in Manhattan Tour.
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When Do New York Christmas Windows Open and How Long Do They Stay Up?
New York Christmas windows usually debut in mid to late November, just before Thanksgiving. This timing allows the stores to be ready for Black Friday shopping and the start of the holiday season. The unveiling events are often big moments, with performances, celebrity appearances, or countdown ceremonies. Saks Fifth Avenue, for example, traditionally draws huge crowds for its opening night.
Most Christmas windows stay up through early January, giving visitors plenty of time to enjoy them even after the New Year. Macy’s Herald Square typically keeps its displays until January 1, while Bergdorf Goodman and Saks often leave theirs until the first week of the month.
If you are wondering when is the best time to visit, evenings create the most magical atmosphere. The lights glow brighter, and Fifth Avenue feels festive with decorations and music. However, mornings or weekdays are better if you want to avoid heavy crowds and take photos more comfortably.
You do not need tickets to see the Christmas windows in New York. They are completely free and accessible to everyone. Just remember to dress warmly and plan extra time, as sidewalks can get very busy during December.
Macy’s Holiday Windows 2025
Macy’s Herald Square is where the tradition of New York Christmas windows began. In 1883, Macy’s unveiled the first animated holiday displays, turning shopping into an experience that drew crowds from across the city. Since then, the store has become the benchmark for festive windows in New York, inspiring generations of visitors.
Each year, Macy’s Christmas windows follow a special theme. For 2025, you can expect six elaborate windows along Broadway, mixing animation, music, and interactive features designed to delight children and adults alike. Past displays have included beloved stories, playful characters, and heartfelt holiday messages.
The windows usually debut right before Thanksgiving and stay up until New Year’s Day. Even late-night visitors will find them glowing brightly, making Macy’s one of the best stops after a walk through Herald Square’s other decorations. Crowds can be heavy in December, so visiting in the morning or on weekdays makes the experience more relaxed.
If you want full details about the Macy’s Christmas windows, including this year’s theme, hours, and insider tips, read our complete Macy’s Christmas Windows guide. Combining this stop with nearby attractions like Bryant Park Winter Village or the Empire State Building makes your visit even more special.
Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Displays 2025
Saks Fifth Avenue hosts one of the most famous Christmas window displays in New York. Every holiday season, the store’s facade transforms into a festive stage that attracts thousands of visitors daily. Saks has become known for combining luxury fashion with imaginative storytelling, creating windows that are both elegant and playful.
In 2024, Saks made headlines by canceling its long-running light show for the first time in years. Instead, the store focused on a fashion-themed display that celebrated its 100th anniversary. For 2025, the windows are expected to return with a new theme, continuing the tradition of artistic design while keeping the facade beautifully illuminated throughout the season.
The unveiling event usually takes place in late November and often features live music, celebrities, or special performances. Once the curtains rise, the displays remain on view until early January, giving visitors plenty of time to enjoy them.
The Saks Christmas windows are free to see and are located directly across from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, making them one of the easiest stops to combine with other Midtown attractions. For more photos, videos, and insider tips, check our full Saks Fifth Avenue Christmas Windows guide.
Bergdorf Goodman Christmas Windows 2025
Bergdorf Goodman’s Christmas windows are known as the most artistic in New York. Unlike Macy’s or Saks, which often create family-friendly or fashion-inspired themes, Bergdorf focuses on high-concept designs that feel like museum-quality installations. Each year, the store’s team spends almost a full year planning the displays and several weeks building them, resulting in some of the most detailed and creative windows in the city.
For 2025, the Bergdorf Goodman windows are expected to continue their tradition of bold and imaginative storytelling. Past displays have included intricate sets filled with rare materials, handcrafted props, and unexpected artistic references. Visitors can always count on Bergdorf to surprise with windows that are as sophisticated as they are festive.
The displays usually debut in mid to late November and remain up until early January. They line the store’s famous corner at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, right across from the Plaza Hotel and just steps from Central Park, making it one of the most photographed holiday stops in Midtown Manhattan.
Bergdorf Goodman’s reputation as the most artistic of all New York Christmas windows adds to the city’s holiday magic. If you’re planning your visit, make sure to allow extra time here, as the intricate details often reveal something new each time you look.
Bloomingdale’s Holiday Windows 2025
Bloomingdale’s Christmas windows are some of the most playful and creative in New York. Every year, the Lexington Avenue flagship store unveils a bold holiday theme that mixes pop culture, music, and fashion into colorful displays. These windows are designed to feel modern and fun, attracting both families and style lovers during the holiday season.
In recent years, Bloomingdale’s has collaborated with Broadway and Hollywood productions, including a “Wicked Good Holiday” celebration in 2024 inspired by the musical Wicked. For 2025, the theme is expected to once again bring together music, interactive elements, and imaginative storytelling, making the windows a lively contrast to the more traditional designs found on Fifth Avenue.
The windows usually debut right before Thanksgiving and stay up through early January. Unlike some other stores, Bloomingdale’s often adds interior pop-ups or holiday installations that extend the theme inside the store, giving visitors an extra reason to step in and explore.
Located at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, Bloomingdale’s windows are slightly outside the main Fifth Avenue route but worth the short detour. The combination of color, sound, and creativity makes this stop one of the highlights of New York Christmas windows.
Other Famous Fifth Avenue Windows and Decorations
Fifth Avenue is more than department store windows. Each year, luxury boutiques transform their facades into dazzling works of art that make the street itself feel like a Christmas attraction.
Cartier covers its building with a glowing red bow and sparkling lights, creating one of the most photographed holiday spots in the city.
Tiffany & Co. designs elegant displays that highlight its famous jewelry, while Dior often unveils glamorous windows filled with glittering ornaments and couture touches.
Louis Vuitton has recently surprised visitors with oversized luggage trunks and bold festive decorations at its new flagship, turning shopping into an art installation.
Coach also embraces the season with creative holiday themes that bring warmth and color to its windows.
Adding to the spectacle, the Swarovski Star above Fifth Avenue shines brilliantly during December. Suspended high above the crowds, it has become an icon of New York’s holiday season, guiding visitors toward the Rockefeller Center Tree just a few steps away.
Together, these displays make Fifth Avenue one of the most magical places in New York at Christmas. Walking this stretch offers a mix of luxury, artistry, and festive energy that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Christmas Hotels With Festive Windows and Facades
Luxury hotels along Fifth Avenue and Central Park play a big role in New York’s holiday atmosphere.
The Plaza Hotel, standing proudly at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, is one of the most photographed hotels in the world during December. Its entrance, holiday wreaths, and elegant windows give the building a timeless Christmas charm, and the Pulitzer Fountain beside it often features festive decorations that add to the magic.
A short walk down the avenue, The Peninsula New York turns its historic facade into a sparkling canvas of lights. Each year the display changes slightly, but the illuminated arches and glowing garlands always make it a favorite photo stop.
The St. Regis New York, with its grand Beaux-Arts architecture, complements the season with refined holiday touches that match its sophisticated style.
These hotels don’t just welcome guests, they also become part of the holiday experience for everyone walking past. They are proof that New York’s Christmas magic isn’t limited to stores but shines across the city’s most iconic addresses. For a deeper look at festive hotel decorations and where to stay during the holidays, you can read our complete guide to the best hotels in New York for Christmas.
How to See the Best Christmas Windows in One Day
Exploring New York Christmas windows on your own means walking long distances in the cold and navigating heavy December crowds. Our Christmas Morning in Manhattan Tour offers a much easier way to enjoy the city’s most magical holiday displays. Traveling on a comfortable coach bus, you’ll avoid the endless walking and instead enjoy a curated route with short stops to get out, stretch your legs, and take pictures at the best spots.
The tour covers all the highlights in just one morning. You’ll see the facade tree at Radio City Music Hall, the Fox Christmas Tree, and the giant ornaments and candy canes on Sixth Avenue. There’s time to admire the walk-through Christmas tree, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the skating rink, and the Channel Gardens. Along the way, you’ll stop at Saks Fifth Avenue holiday windows, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Cartier’s mansion, the dazzling Swarovski Star, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton’s new flagship, and the artistic Bergdorf Goodman windows. The tour also includes visits to the Lotte New York Palace Christmas Tree and Grand Central Terminal with its festive Holiday Lane.
To make the experience even more special, the tour ends at Papillon Christmas Restaurant, where you’ll have a reserved table waiting for you. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a festive meal in a holiday setting after seeing the very best Christmas windows in New York.
Conclusion: Celebrate the Holidays With New York’s Best Windows
The tradition of New York Christmas windows is one of the most magical parts of the holiday season. From the historic displays at Macy’s to the elegant artistry of Bergdorf Goodman, each store offers its own take on festive storytelling. Saks, Bloomingdale’s, and the luxury boutiques of Fifth Avenue add even more sparkle, while iconic hotels like The Plaza, The Peninsula, and The St. Regis complete the picture with their dazzling facades. Together, they turn Manhattan into a glowing stage that draws visitors from all over the world.
While you can see these displays on your own, December in New York often means crowded sidewalks and long walks in the cold. Our Christmas Morning in Manhattan Tour is the easiest way to experience all the highlights in comfort. You’ll travel by coach bus, enjoy short walks to take photos, and end with a reserved table at Papillon Christmas Restaurant. In just one morning, you’ll see the most famous windows and holiday sights without the stress of planning.
New York Christmas windows are free, festive, and unforgettable. Whether you admire them independently or join us for a guided experience, they remain one of the best reasons to visit New York during the holidays.
Author: Written by Dora Formica on behalf of My Christmas in New York
