31 Things to Do in NYC When It’s Cold to Beat the Winter Blues

Bowling and rock climbing are among the numerous drop-in activities I’ve enjoyed when I visit Chelsea Piers, and those two in particular are perfect choices if you’re looking to have some fun on a dreary winter day. Plus, this popular NYC destination boasts numerous restaurants where you can drink and dine when you’re done.

Feeling fancy? Put on your most stylish ensemble (there’s a dress code) and head to this iconic 5-star hotel to indulge in afternoon tea and light bites at the famous Palm Court restaurant. I remember this novel experience from when I was a little girl and now, as a mom to a tween, it strikes me as a perfect mother-daughter-date idea. Still, I imagine it’s just as enjoyable with another adult with whom you can keep the high society fun going by enjoying a glass of bubbly at the hotel’s Champagne bar. If the tea and wine combination has left you feeling sufficiently toasty, you might even be ready to brave the cold and take a stroll through Central Park.

When the weather outside is frightful, watching a movie is kind of a no-brainer. But the experience is far more enjoyable if you force yourself off the couch and head to a cool independent theater instead. Film Forum and Angelika are two of my personal favorites. Film Forum is great for classic films, while Angelika is better for foreign films, but you can catch a cool indie flick at either.

Governors Island is a popular destination for bike riding, grilling, drinking beers and chowing down on tasty food truck fare under the summer sun, but it’s actually a very appealing place to visit in the winter this year as well. QC New York, a spa located on Governors Island, has all the familiar treatments on the menu. It also boasts numerous amenities that offer guests some welcome reprieve from the cold weather, including luxurious, heated pools, lounges, indoor fire pits, heated walkways and tunnels, and unparalleled views of the city skyline. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed a very wonderful date night at QC New York last winter with my partner; my massage was stellar but the time we spent together gazing at the cityscape while bathing in the warm pool was the highlight of our visit for sure.

The New York Aquarium—the oldest aquarium in the United States—is a low-key and relaxing place to spend a cold winter day. It also boasts over 500 species of marine life and 18 different species of sharks and rays, so there’s no shortage of things to see and learn. Oh, and its location on Coney Island is just a short boardwalk stroll away from Nathan’s Famous, so you can finish off your visit with one, or maybe two, of the best hot dogs around. (If you’re visiting with kids, I recommend you steer clear of the very appealing candy store that’s also just a stone’s throw away…unless you’re prepared to drop another $50 on a couple pounds of pure sugar, that is.)

Is there anything cozier than cuddling with dozens of soft and fluffy kitties? I think not. Good news: You can do exactly that at the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, the only non-profit cat cafe in New York, and a place I love to visit with my family on cold or rainy days. This beloved safe haven for cats has rescued more than 7,000 felines since its founding in 2007, and I’m guessing many more cat-lovers have passed through the cafe doors to snuggle the friendly rescues that roam around within.

Central Park, Rockefeller Center and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park are all excellent places to go if you want to embrace the cold with a couple hours of ice skating. I took my kids to Central Park last year for a few hours of total humiliation (i.e., shrieking and clinging to the wall desperately) that was fun for all nevertheless. Just be sure to bundle up…and consider treating yourself to a steaming cup of hot cocoa once you head off the ice and hang up your skates.

Here, a department store that fell from heaven and landed in Battery Park to bestow upon every budget-conscious fashionista the gift of steeply discounted designer styles. If you’ve never experienced the magic of Century 21, the time is now. Just be warned—the markdowns on top-notch attire are so alluring, you actually can go broke there if you’re not careful. (And yes, I know this from experience, since C21 is my all-time favorite place to shop.)

There are lots of novelty museums popping up as of late, but they aren’t all created equal—particularly not if you consider a museum to be a place where you actually learn something. Fortunately, SPYSCAPE lives up to its promise to provide guests with an immersive experience that’s also genuinely educational. Note: I visited once on a date with my partner and had so much fun that I returned a couple weeks later with my kids. As for the details, you can expect a self-guided tour featuring numerous exhilarating challenges (read: interactive games) that cover every aspect of espionage and impart plenty of historical information for context. You will also be given a personalized spy profile based on how you handled said challenges. (Psst: they can actually be repeated as many times as you want if you’re not pleased with your performance or just want to kill some more time.)

Conveniently located near Chelsea Piers (you know, because you just went bowling or rock climbing), the Chelsea Market is a perfect place to warm up on a winter day and I always pop into it when I’m in the neighborhood. The marketplace is filled with boutiques, as well as food shops and restaurants serving up every kind of gourmet fare under the sun. In other words, if you have a food craving to satisfy or a desire to escape the cold and do some window shopping, this is the place to go.

There’s no better place to see the city than from the top of the World Trade Center. Executive Editor Alexia Dellner, who recently visited with her family, says, “I lured my kids with the promise of hot chocolate from the cafe at the top, but everyone was super impressed by the sky high views of NYC and loved pointing out the various landmarks…and the opportunity to take photos on a ski lift and Santa’s sleigh were the icing on the cake.” File this one under family-friendly photo ops. 

The CAMP store is another one of Alexia’s recommendations—namely because it “always has some sort of immersive experience that’s fun for kids and is currently doing a Bluey immersive experience that any fan of the show will go nuts for.” She does note, however, that it’s not the cheapest thing to do because the toy store can cost a pretty penny if you follow its siren song (or give into your kids’ relentless begging).

This classic NYC experience is often enjoyed by tourists and neglected by Big Apple residents—but whichever category you belong to, a cold day or night in the city is the perfect occasion to catch a show on Broadway. Go solo, grab a friend or bring a date for a memorable theater experience. Not sure what to see? Six is reportedly amazing and Hamilton is still a must-see (duh). And our own VP, News and Entertainment, Phil Mutz gave rave reviews to five shows he’s recently seen.

The Russian and Turkish Baths on East 10th street is a beloved East Village establishment that has been treating New Yorkers to an affordable spa experience since 1892, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to warm up on a cold winter night. There are intensely hot saunas where you can sweat it out, a pool where you can refresh yourself with a cold plunge, massage therapists who don’t mess around and a cafe that serves up authentic Russian eats and cold beers. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind (and blessedly budget-friendly) wellness experience, the banya fits the bill.

Just a stone’s throw away from Carnegie Hall, you’ll find yet another iconic NYC destination with high society vibes. You might recognize the opulent Russian Tea Room from TV and movies (Gossip Girl, When Harry Met Sally and Manhattan, to name a few), but its art deco interior and decadent menu are even more fabulous in real life—provided you have enough pocket money to afford the pricy fare, that is.

NYC is home to some of the best art museums in the world and the frigid winter months are an ideal time to explore them. Check out the extensive modern art collection at MoMA, take in 5000 years’ worth of art from around the world at The Met or browse the European paintings and artifacts at the Getty; whichever museum you choose, you’re sure to get a fascinating dose of culture.

If you’re interested in doing an art gallery crawl, we recommend heading to Chelsea and the Lower East Side. Bring a pal so you can exchange opinions on the fresh and exciting art you find and definitely say yes to any free wine or hors d'oeuvres that might be on offer.

The New York Botanical Garden has an oh-so festive display, the Holiday Train Show, in the beautiful outdoor landscape that consists of more than 25 G-scale model trains chugging along over a half-mile of track and past remarkably detailed, scaled models of NYC’s most iconic landmarks. Anyone with daytime tickets to the garden can see the impressive show, but if you’re over 21 years of age you can opt to see it at night while sipping spiked cider at one of the garden’s Holiday Train Nights. (A fine winter date night idea, no?)

These heated bubbles offer refuge from the cold, as well as an intimate and Insta-worthy dining experience for couples and friends, and they can be found all over the city. That said, Somewhere Nowhere is by far my favorite place to enjoy an igloo experience—namely because this rooftop spot boasts gourmet fare and breathtaking views of the city skyline, plus a complimentary bottle of bubbly with every reservation.

Ramen is one of the most comforting and satisfying things you can eat on a cold winter day and you can get your fix in any borough. Momofuku Noodle Bar in Manhattan, Wanpaku in Brooklyn and HinoMaru in Queens are among our favorite places to warm up with a nourishing bowl of this Japanese noodle soup.

If you’re one of the many who suffer from mild seasonal depression—you know, because winter is cold and gloomy, and all your friends have gone into hibernation—it might be time to seek out some levity and laughter with a night out at a comedy club. Fortunately, NYC is replete with up-and-coming comedic talent and you can find a list of notable venues here.

In addition to being a beautiful NYC landmark, this bustling transit hub is home to a boatload of shops, fine dining restaurants and casual eateries with crave-worthy fare. Go to admire the exquisite architecture and stay until you’ve finished a fantastic lunch and had your fill of people-watching. 

This lively speakeasy on the Upper West Side is owned by Lady Gaga’s father who opened the restaurant with the intention of creating a dinner and entertainment venue that showcases local artistic talent. The Italian fare is excellent and the programming, which includes drag shows, cabaret, live music and more, can all be enjoyed for nothing more than the cost of your meal.

If ice skating is a little too chilly (or just too hard), check out the Oculus roller rink, which is up and running from November 22, 2024 until January 5, 2025 and features a very festive holiday display. Anyone over the age of eight can skate, and it’s a great opportunity to have some active fun after tackling your Christmas shopping list.

Fans of Sex and the City might be familiar with this NYC spot as the site where Carrie got stood up on her wedding day, but you don’t need to be a fan of the show to appreciate the beauty of the monumental main branch of the city’s public library system. Browsing the stacks here is also a pretty dreamy and very romantic way to spend a frigid winter day.