10 Things to Do in New York in January

The beginning of the year is a good time to set goals. Like a blank notebook, we have the opportunity to fill the pages of our time with what makes us happy. And is there anything that makes you happier than traveling?

During the month of January in New York you can finish enjoying the holiday season, celebrate the Chinese New Year, take advantage of the best sales and much more. I leave you with a list of resolutions in the form of the best plans for you to enjoy the city to the fullest.

While December is the most expensive month to visit New York, January is a time when you can save more money than any other time of the year. First, because it is no longer high season, and second, because it is a month full of offers! And one of the most important ones are those of Broadway shows thanks to BroadWay Week.

For a couple of weeks you can find promotions as sweet as paying half price 2x1 in the most famous musicals like Wicked, The Lion King, Aladdin and many more. What are you waiting for? Do not forget to check in advance the plays because I warn you that it is very possible that the tickets are sold out.

As you can see, in January you can enjoy awesome deals, but that's not all you can enjoy! Winter Jazzfest takes place during this month. If you love jazz, this festival invites you to enjoy dozens of concerts in the Village and other corners of New York. The star of the Jazzfest are the Friday and Saturday night concert marathons.

You can find jazz concerts in addition to three jazz marathons at various venues around the city. Two of them are on consecutive days and are held in Manhattan. Also in Brooklyn a marathon is held a week later. There is also a special children's concert during the day.

Surely if you go through the Winter Jazzfest you will want to know more about this style of music; the right place to do it is Harlem and these are the best places to hear jazz in this neighborhood.

New York never rests and proof of this are the sales that come after the big holiday of the year, Christmas. If you don't need an excuse to go window shopping in the Big Apple, imagine what it's like to go in the middle of the sales season.

Until January 2 you can take advantage of endless offers in New York, and in places where they already have regular sales such as Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, where there are discounts all year round on top brands, you can enjoy even more discounts! Museums and tourist attractions are all well and good, but make no mistake: the outlets are a must-see when you go to New York. Leave some room in your suitcase because when your acquaintances find out that you'll be in New York during the sales season, they're going to be asking you to do more than one thing for them.

January is literally the coldest month of the year in New York. The freezing temperatures and the usual rainy days cause the water droplets to turn into snowflakes that will cover the city and with it Central Park.

The great park is transformed every season, but winter is undoubtedly the time when the makeover is most significant. The trees are dyed white, the paths are filled with snow and the result is an endearing postcard photograph. Remember to come prepared with waterproof and warm clothing!

As I mentioned in the previous activity, ice rinks are still located all over the city, and luckily they are not as crowded as during the Christmas season. During the month of January there are still many, such as Central Park, Rockefeller Center, but I want to recommend a very special one: the ice rink at the William Vale Rink Hotel. This ice rink is located on the 23rd floor of a skyscraper that will offer spectacular views where you can enjoy the skyline of the city.

And speaking of views ... if you are lucky enough that New York is snowed in the month of January (something very likely) you can not miss the views that will offer viewpoints like the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center.

After having devoured the best offers of Broadway musicals, it's time to devour the delicious menus of New York at an outrageous price thanks to Restaurant Week. For a week (which in reality is always a little longer) you will have access to the best restaurants in New York at a reduced price.

It is true that New York is an expensive city, but on these dates you can eat at very good prices even in Michelin-starred restaurants. Some of them have fixed prices for lunch and dinner, so don't you think it's a good opportunity to take a bite of the Big Apple? Of course,don't forget to book, tables are flying!

Although December is the month to celebrate Christmas par excellence, January is not far behind in terms of activities typical of this time of the year. The cold abounds in the city and there are still some of the Christmas trees and more activities such as skating rinks or model trains, along with the most emblematic trees and Christmas markets where you can find very good prices due to the end of the holiday season. Take advantage!

Chinese New Year, a different kind of Christmas

And you may already know that, while in the West the end of the year is part of Christmas, in China they have a slightly different calendar. They celebrate the Chinese New Year and can you guess? Well yes, you are in luck because it is usually in January or February. Check the exact date before your trip and do not hesitate to visit Chinatown to live this unique experience.

The No Pants Subway Ride will leave you speechless... and pantless! One day a month every January, this curious event is celebrated in which the subway is filled with people without pants. The origin of this story is located in 2022 when seven people got on at different stations and rode the amount of seven stops without pants. Each year that number has grown to become a phenomenon.

To find out when it is celebrated and more information about this curious day you can visit the official website and if you do not want to get lost in the subway take a look at our New York Subway Guide. Of course, I am not responsible for the cold that you can incubate if you join this initiative that, in my point of view, would be more appropriate for a month of less cold.

In every vacation destination there is a "Must See" list, a list of places you can't miss if you are going to visit that place. Well, New York was not going to be less and if you visit the Big Apple in January you are in luck because this month you can enjoy Must See Week, a week in which many of the attractions and many of the best museums in New York offer impressive discounts.

In total you have more than 70 unique experiences at bargain prices. One example is that you can purchase tickets to the Empire State Building, the One World Observatory, the Whtney Museum and many more with 2-for-1 ticket offers. These days you will mingle with New Yorkers as they are the first to take advantage of these discounts so buy your tickets in advance because these offers sell out very quickly!

Martin Luther King is one of America's most iconic figures. He led a racial revolution that started the change that still endures today in terms of racial discrimination. The third Monday of January commemorates his figure and for New York is a holiday where businesses and schools close, although the main tourist attractions are still open.

It is a great day to see the city at leisure, without the hustle and bustle of people going to work and the stress that during the rest of the year is installed in the Big Apple. However, if you have the opportunity my recommendation is that you check the calendar to be part of some of the events that are organized around the figure of this American hero; it can be a very authentic experience.

As I mentioned, January is the coldest month of the winter in New York. Temperatures hover between -5ºC and about 4ºC but in addition, New York's characteristic cold is very damp and the wind chill is even lower. In addition to wearing warm clothes, buy warm socks and T-shirts because you are going to be quite cold.

That is why you should make the most of all the hours of sunshine. This time of the year dawns around 7AM and the sun disappears on the horizon around 5PM, which leaves us a day of about 10 hours to enjoy the Big Apple to the fullest. Because although the city never sleeps... the sun does!

That the cold abounds at this time of year is an opportunity to travel to New York even for the coldest, and is that flights and hotels usually have more affordable prices for tourists to continue visiting the city. And if you add all the activities I've explained above... you have no excuse!

Although a trip to New York will never be cheap, if you plan it in advance and make coincide all the "special weeks" that take place in this month, of course the visit will be much more profitable.