The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Christmas in New York

Updated on Dec 13, 2024 | Online US Visa

Christmas is one of the most anticipated festivals in the entire year. It is a time of spreading joy to others with Christmas lights, decorations, Christmas trees, and most importantly the gifts present under the Christmas tree. This is a festival that only comes once a year which makes everyone do their best to enjoy Christmas to the fullest.

When it comes to celebrating Christmas, nothing comes close to the celebrations that are observed within New York City. New York becomes a heaven on Earth during Christmas time with the city entirely covered in Christmas light and melody, bringing the joy of Christmas to every nook and cranny.

So, let us take a look at the ultimate guide to celebrating Christmas in New York.

The U.S. Tourist Visa

To travel to New York during Christmas, the first you will need is legal access to travel within the U.S. For this purpose, the U.S. has introduced the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation under the Visa Waiver Program to authorize eligible tourists entry into the U.S.

The U.S. tourist visa also known as the U.S. ESTA is a legal document in electronic form that legally authorizes you to travel within the U.S. without the need to carry a physical visa with you. However, be mindful of the fact that only countries allowed within the visa waiver program can apply for a U.S. ESTA of which there are around 40 countries.

If your country does not fall within the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, you will have to apply for a U.S. visa which can take a lot of time. So, we suggest starting early to prevent delays and rush.

Process of Application for the U.S. ESTA

The U.S. ESTA application is a simple process that if you are pre-prepared with all the necessary paperwork and do not fit in any special cases such as having a criminal background or a history of failed attempts at applying for the U.S. ESTA.

There are different types of U.S. ESTA depending on the purpose for which you are visiting the U.S. so, be mindful of which ESTA you are filling the application for. The application process for the U.S. ESTA is mentioned below:

  • Fill out all the answers to the questions asked by the application form
  • Attach all the necessary documents to the application and pay the fees
  • Wait for the authorities to review your application

Once your U.S. ESTA application has been reviewed, you will either get the U.S. ESTA or the reasons why your ESTA application was rejected on the email address you provided on the application.

To ensure that your U.S. ESTA application is approved, make sure to double-check every answer that you provide in the application and ensure that all documents are attached to the application before submitting the U.S. ESTA application for review.

Things to Do in New York During Christmas

Once your U.S. ESTA has been approved, you can visit New York without any issues and experience the grand celebrations of the USA's most popular city. There are many things one can do in the U.S., but below you will find some of the most fun activities to make the most out of your visit to New York on Christmas:

Visit a Spa

If you are looking for an activity to relax your senses, nothing is better suited to it than spending a day at the spa. Not only will a spa day give you the relaxation you need in your life, but by the end of it, you will also get a glowing and glamorous look that will make you ready for the party on Christmas night.

Shop to Your Heart's Content

There is no better time in the year than the holiday season. All the new items in the shop with some very appealing offerings and discounts make shopping a no-brainer activity to do during the Christmas Season. New York has no shortage of excellent shopping complexes that provide their visitors with a large variety of products and services to fulfill all of their needs.

These shopping complexes are also a beautiful sight to behold during the Christmas season, so go pay them a visit during your trip to New York.

Cheer Your Favorite Stars During Concerts

The U.S. is well known throughout the world for its significance in the music industry. So, it should come as no surprise that concerts are a major part of the U.S. local culture. During Christmas, many popular musicians visit New York to give their fans a special treat for Christmas day.

Wherever you go in New York, the cheer of Christmas will never leave you. So, have a grand time listening to your favorite musicians and cheering them along with your fellow fans.

Add Some New Experiences by Watching a Movie

New York is home to some of the best theatres in the world featuring both the new blockbusters and the timeless classics that everyone loves to watch. Spending your Christmas night in any of these theatres, and adding more movies under your bag is one of the best things you can do in New York during the Christmas season.

Best Places to Visit in New York During Christmas

New York is not just a city full of tall residential buildings and offices but is full of many places that provide excellent enjoyment to all the tourists who visit the city. During the Christmas season, many of these places are decorated in the Christmas cheer thus allowing them to give a completely new experience than all the other times a tourist can visit them. These include:

Take in the Bright Lights of Times Square

Perhaps one of the most iconic places in not just New York, but all of the U.S., Times Square is a part of New York that tourists need to visit in person to experience. The busy streets of this place along with its classic advertising methods make Times Square one of the most iconic places to visit in New York.

Visit the Iconic Statue of Liberty

This statue is the face of New York and by far its most iconic and popular place. It is also the greatest gift ever given to America and symbolizes many aspects of American history and culture that you can only understand once you visit this place and observe all the details of this iconic statue.

Roam Around the Famous Central Park

Central Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New York and is one of the largest parks in America. Other than being a very large place to roam around, the park also has several points of interest for you to visit such as a lake, museum, and a zoo which keeps the visit interesting and indulges tourists within the park for a very long time.

Christmas is a very special occasion for many people around the world. With all the celebrations and joy spread everywhere, it is a time of the year that everyone wishes could continue throughout the year. When it comes to some of the grandest celebrations of Christmas, New York City ranks among the top places in the world.

So, if you wish to visit New York for the Christmas celebrations, start by applying for your U.S. ESTA today and start booking all your reservations in advance.


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