This city of millions has decorated its squares and plazas with magnificent Christmas trees, and the shop-window displays are lavish. People arrive from afar to experience its Christmas markets.
For decades, the grandest Christmas trees have been found at Rockefeller Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Madison Square Park.
Ice-skating is the favourite outdoor activity in wintry New York.
In fact, Rockefeller Center's ice rink is one of the city's most famous winter attractions. This rink never has too many skaters, since only 150 people are allowed on the ice at any one time, for an hour and a half of icy fun.
Bryant Park features a free-entry outdoor skating rink in the middle of Manhattan. After skating, you can warm up in the popular restaurant Celsius, at the edge of the rink. The park also houses a charming Christmas market and, of course, a gorgeous Christmas tree.
Another popular Christmas market is set up on Union Square.
Shopping-street window displays
The city's best-known department stores, around Fifth Avenue, attract crowds of shoppers and passers-by with their Christmassy window displays, complete with sounds and 3D effects.
If you are in the Big Apple on New Year's Eve, the place to be is Times Square: everybody should brave the hordes of tourists here at least once in a lifetime. The best place to admire the fireworks is Grand Army Plaza, near Central Park.
In late February, you can admire a colourful dragon parade in Sara Roosevelt Park in honour of the Chinese New Year.
OneWorld Alliance airlines fly directly from Helsinki Airport to New York (JFK) every day of the week.
