The Best Holiday Windows in NYC
Christmas-decorated windows are one of the best things to see in NYC during the holiday season.
Macy’s, Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale’s are iconic names that have become famous for decorating the best storefronts in New York.
In today’s article, we give you the main information on where and when to find the most beautifully decorated displays in NYC.
If you haven’t done it yet, we suggest you to have a look to the section in our blog dedicated to the Holiday Season in NYC
The topics that we develop in today’s article are the following ones:
🗓️ When do Christmas windows go up in NYC?
⌚ When it is best to visit the Holiday Windows?
🗺️ What is the Best Area in NYC to see storefronts lit up for Christmas?
2️⃣ Saks 5th Avenue Holiday Windows
When do Christmas windows go up in NYC
The best month to see New York’s Christmas windows is undoubtedly December, when the whole city is decorated for Christmas. But that doesn’t mean that if you visit NYC at the end of November you won’t get to see some (if not all) of them.
If you’ve read our article about the start date of the Christmas season, you already know that most of the Christmas decorations in NYC are up and running the day after Thanksgiving.
When it is best to visit the Holiday Windows?
The best Christmas windows in NYC are beautiful to visit at any time of the day.
If we can give you one piece of advice though, choose to go see them as the sun goes down.
In the dark, among the lights of the city, they are even more beautiful!
What is the best area in NYC to see storefronts lit up for Christmas?
There is no doubt that the best area to see the store windows decorated for Christmas is definitely 5th Avenue. More precisely, the 5th Avenue between 42nd Street (Bryant Park) and 59th Street (Central Park).
Here you will find, one behind the other, many stores decorated for Christmas.
The 5th Avenue itself is decorated for Christmas, with many illuminations in the streets and of course the area of Rockefeller Center, which is the fulcrum of Christmas in New York.
Which are the best holiday windows in NYC?
In our opinion, the best Christmas decorated storefronts in New York are 4 and we present them below:
1. Macy’s Herald Square
Location: Herald Square, at the crossing between 42nd Street and 6th Avenue
The Macy’s Herald Square Christmas windows are unquestionably the most famous in New York and, in our opinion, must not be missed throughout the holiday season.
2021 Holiday Windows were dedicated to Tiptoe, a reindeer that is too self-conscious to fly until he learns to believe in himself.
2. Saks 5th Avenue
Location: on the 5th Avenue, a few steps from St. Patrick Cathedral and the Rockefeller Center
Saks Fifth Avenue’s Holiday Windows are one of the best in NYC for families.
The store frequently adopts a popular children’s book as a theme and incorporates kid-friendly animations.
For example, in 2017 Saks Fifth Avenue used 14 animated windows to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
In 2019 Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Kristoff animated the Saks 5th Avenue Holiday Windows, in coincidence with the release of Frozen 2.
3. Bergdorf Goodman
Location: On the 5th Avenue, a few steps from the Plaza Hotel and Central Park South-Est Entrance
Continue north along Fifth Avenue, and you will come upon the festive display of Bergdorf Goodman, which is located between 58th and 57th Streets. Known for their lavish displays of antiques and couture garments set in wonderfully crafted sceneries, these windows never fail to awe with their extravagant displays.
Bergdorf Goodman’s windows in 2021 were all centered on the topic “The Present Moment”.
With playful and painting-like scenes, each window was a vignette that highlighted celebration, discovery, and mindfulness.
4. Bloomingdales
Location: on the Lexington Avenue and 59th Street
The Holiday Windows of Bloomingdale’s are frequently unveiled in late November, just before Black Friday, so that shoppers can enjoy them throughout the entire holiday season.
Instead of racing through the holiday decorations, take a moment to admire the building itself, which is a work of art in and of itself, with each window illuminated in festive green and red.