Here is a guide to six New York City locations featured in classic Christmas movies.
As Christmas approaches, families and friends across the globe will gather together to share in the cherished tradition of watching their favorite holiday movies. The list of Christmas classics grows each year, bringing the festive magic alive on screen. From black-and-white award-winning depictions of Santa to the cheesy love stories under the mistletoe, one location that’s featured above the rest in these seasonal stories is New York City.
Many fans have traveled to New York to recreate the onscreen magic by taking photos under the twinkling lights or spending hours mesmerized by the lavish window displays on 5th Avenue. For anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting New York in December, here’s a guide to six of the locations featured in popular Christmas movies.
1. The Rink at Rockefeller Center
At Rockefeller Center’s iconic ice rink, skaters glide below the towering Christmas tree that draws spectators from all around the world. In the heart of Manhattan, Rockefeller Center is located just a few blocks away from Times Square. With its proximity to so many tourist attractions, the rink draws a large crowd of visitors during the month of December. Tourists and New Yorkers alike line up around the rink to skate on the ice below as classic Christmas music provides a soundtrack to the experience. The tree is lit during a televised ceremony with live performances following Thanksgiving each year—and remains lit until early January.
It’s also a beloved symbol of Christmas featured in the 2003 film Elf, which tells the story of Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole, who travels to New York City. Rockefeller Center is a stop during Buddy and Jovie’s first date, where they marveled at the size of the tree and shared their first kiss on the ice.
Rockefeller Center featured in Elf. New Line Cinema
2. Macy’s Herald Square
Macy’s Herald Square is the department store chain’s flagship store, located on 34th street between 6th and 7th avenues. Macy’s has been a presence in Manhattan for over 150 years. Though it’s original location was 14th Street and 6th Avenue, Macy’s has been an icon of Herald Square since 1902 as it covers an entire city block with 11 levels.
This Macy’s had a starring role in the 1947 Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street, as the location where the real Kris Kringle fulfilled his role as their in-store Santa Claus.
