A few blocks from Times Square, skaters glide across an outdoor rink while shoppers wander between rows of glass kiosks, hot chocolate in hand. Come late in the afternoon and you can browse the market in daylight, then watch the Christmas tree light up the rink as the sky goes dark.
If you’re travelling to New York with Frenzy Tours, Bryant Park is an easy stop to fit into your free time in Midtown. Here’s how we’d spend it.
🛍️ Start with the Holiday Shops
The outdoor market wraps around the rink, with small shops selling handmade jewellery, winter accessories, art and edible gifts. Take a lap before you buy anything. You might find a stocking stuffer, a gift from a New York maker or something sweet for the bus ride home.
The Holiday Shops run from October 28, 2026, through January 3, 2027. They’re generally open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Holiday hours can vary. Holiday Shops hours and vendor directory
⛸️ Go skating in the middle of Manhattan
The rink is the centrepiece of Winter Village. If you’re bringing your own skates, admission is free with an advance reservation. Standard skate rentals range from US$18.72 to US$64.48 before tax, depending on the session. Check a few time slots before booking, especially if you’re visiting on a December weekend.
The rink is scheduled to stay open through February 28, 2027, so you can still skate after the holiday market wraps up. Rink hours and skating reservations
☕ Warm up with hot chocolate by the rink
For a quick bite, try the mini doughnuts at Doughnuttery or split an order from Cheese Wheel Pasta. If you’re ready to warm up, head to The Lodge, the rinkside food hall. Café ’cito serves hot chocolate and churros, and S’mores N’more has something for anyone who likes their marshmallows toasted. Grab a drink and watch the skaters for a few minutes. 2026 food vendor map · The Lodge menus
🎄 Get a photo with the Christmas tree after dark
Walk around the edge of the rink until you can frame the skaters and the tree in the same shot. Late afternoon is our favourite time to arrive because you can see the market by day and stay for the lights. If you’re in town for the tree lighting on December 1, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., admission is free and space is first come, first served. Bryant Park tree lighting details
Book a rinkside igloo with friends
For a longer visit, reserve one of Bryant Park’s Cozy Igloos. These private domes seat up to eight people and look out onto the rink. Each reservation lasts 90 minutes and includes food and drinks. Prices vary by date and group size. Cozy Igloo reservations and menus
Only have an hour? Here’s how to spend it
From Times Square, walk east along 42nd Street toward Sixth Avenue. Bryant Park sits behind the New York Public Library, between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Start with a lap of the market, grab a hot chocolate and finish with a photo by the rink. If you’ve booked skating or an igloo, give yourself more time. On December 31, visit earlier in the day because the park typically closes early on New Year’s Eve. Bryant Park hours and directions
🗽 Visit New York this holiday season with Frenzy Tours
Our three-day New York motorcoach trips from Laval and Montréal depart December 4, 11, 18 and 26, 2026. To ring in the New Year in New York, choose a four-day trip departing December 29 or a three-day trip departing December 30, with hotel options in Manhattan or New Jersey.
