“New York City is an irresistible draw 365 days a year, but a wintertime visit is like no other, with quintessential experiences for ice skaters, art buffs, trendsetters and more,” NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon said. “With shorter lines at attractions and museums, lower hotel rates and attractive deals on theater and dining, January and February are two of the most attractive months of the year to explore the five boroughs.”

Now is the time to explore the vibrant and affordable winter scene to be found in the City’s five boroughs as the official start to the season quickly approaches. Find below some curated recommendations for an NYC winter excursion this season:

Skate in the concrete jungle 

• Pier 17 in Seaport District NYC is home to New York City’s only rooftop ice-skating rink, complete with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan. 
• At the TWA Hotel, the glamorous addition to JFK’s Terminal 5 in Queens, guests can enjoy winter fun at Runway Rink this winter, located on the tarmac near Connie, the 1958 Lockheed Constellation airplane converted into a cocktail bar.
• The Rink at Rockefeller Center is open for the season, offering visitors an iconic skating experience right next to the plaza’s beloved Christmas tree.
• Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is home to NYC’s only free admission skating rink, in addition to various shopping, food and beverage experiences.
• Central Park’s Wollman and Lasker Rinks are back again this year with various free skate and lesson offerings, immersed in stunning views of the iconic park and city skyline.
• Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Brooklyn is a weatherproof experience with roof-covered and uncovered rinks on-site. 
• Each winter the Conrad New York Downtown presents “Conrad Skate with the Greats,” offering hotel guests the opportunity to skate with former Olympians at The Rink at Brookfield Place as part of their stay. 

Hit the (sledding) slopes 

• Those looking to get their sledding fix in New York City should head to its most famous parks: Central Park with Pilgrim Hill, Inwood Hill Park with trails on the Upper West Side, Riverside Park alongside the Hudson and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. 

Cozy up New York City style 

• December through March, the Arlo SoHo hotel will welcome winter with “Après Arlo,” a winter wonderland in the courtyard complete with heated cedar cabins, cozy furnishings and a sophisticated holiday cocktail menu courtesy of the hotel’s bar, A.L.B.
• At the Peninsula New York, the West Terrace of Salon de Ning Rooftop Bar and Terrace has been transformed into Chalet de Ning, an intimate dome experience 23 stories up with fires in chimineas for warmth and Nordic-inspired furniture that completes the cozy aesthetic. Open through April 2020.
• The Hoxton, Williamsburg is celebrating the season with the Winter Hideaways, three glass houses placed in the hotel’s courtyard draped in seasonal decor and ready to host groups of up to 12.
• At the Lodge by STK Rooftop in the Meatpacking District, get a dose of the Rockies in one of Manhattan’s preeminent steak houses where you can decompress in the comfort of the bar with its ceiling-to-roof windows and fur-covered decor.
• 230 Fifth, and its heated igloo rooftop bar, is a popular spot for visitors and locals with its various adult spins on hot chocolate, cider, coffee—and proximity to the Empire State Building. 
• In the Empire State Building’s shadow, the retractable glass-covered rooftop at the Refinery Hotel lets you cozy up by the fire without obstructing any of the gorgeous cityscapes that serve as its backdrop.
• The Library Bar at Sheraton New York Times Square and Southgate Bar & Restaurant at JW Marriott Essex House are perfect for warming up by the fireplace, beverage in hand. 
• The Royalton New York and Lowell Hotel each offer wood-burning fireplace packages complete with desired wood “flavor,” choice of adult beverage and select meals delivered to guests’ rooms.
• At the Black Mountain Wine House in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, visitors can take in the ambience of a winter mountain getaway in this Brooklyn wine bar designed to look like a country cabin. 
• At the Bronx Brewery, in Port Morris, visitors can sip authentic Bronx brews in the Winter Lodge, the winterized backyard that hosts special events year-round.

Check out the City’s new art scene

• A brand-new Museum of Modern Art opened this October, expanded by a third with new and existing collections presented in a wider variety of ways than ever before.
• Fotografiska, a Stockholm-based photography-centric organization, will open in a landmark Flatiron District building this winter paired with a dining concept by Stephen Starr, speakeasy and event space.
• Jackie Robinson Museum, opening this winter, will celebrate the life and legacy of the first African American MLB baseball player with two galleries hosting temporary exhibits and a 75-seat theater in a space near Soho.

Indulge in hot cocoa by a renowned chocolatier

• First opened in 1923, Li-Lac Chocolates is the longest-operating chocolate house in Manhattan, offering sweet treats and unique style. Originally out of Greenwich Village, Li-Lac now has six locations around the City including a brand-new store in Hudson Yards.
• A Slice of Brooklyn Chocolate Tour—NYC’s only chocolate bus tour—stops at four of Brooklyn’s most well-known chocolate shops: Jacques Torres, The Chocolate Room, Raaka Chocolate and LI-Lac Chocolates while also educating visitors on neighborhoods like Red Hook, Cobble Hill, Industry City and Gowanus. 
• Serendipity 3, in Midtown East, is known for turning the drink on its head with a delicious frozen hot chocolate.
• After the premium British Cocoa company opened its first US location near Grand Central Terminal last year at Lexington and 44th, Hotel Chocolat is primed to open a second NYC shop at Columbus Circle soon. Guests can expect a premium selection of chocolate sweets, as well as a café serving a variety hot chocolates, coffees, teas, ice cream and more.

Shop ’til you drop 

• This year Nordstrom opened a flagship women’s store in Columbus Circle—directly across from the men’s store that opened in 2018—that provides shoppers with seven stories of retail and dining.
• This summer, Empire Outlets in St. George, Staten Island, became the first outlet shopping destination in the five boroughs. The collection of waterfront shops includes top brands like Nike, Nordstrom Rack, American Eagle, H&M and Brooks Brothers and is easily accessible from the free Staten Island Ferry.
• Last spring the shops at Hudson Yards opened with Neiman Marcus (the first in NYC) among the 100 marquee brands, along with 25 dining options by household names like David Chang and José Andrés. 

See a new Broadway show 

• The outrageous romantic comedy Slave Play has created a buzz with its provocative nature since debuting in 2018 and will complete a 13-month run at the end of January. 
• Jagged Little Pill, the onstage adaptation of the Alanis Morissette’s Grammy-winning 1995 alt-rock album, was previously an off-Broadway favorite, now at Broadhurst Theatre.  
• The Inheritance, the two-part West End transfer that takes on the dynamic between generations of gay-rights activists, opened this November and is expected to close in March.   
• This month West Side Story, one of the most famous Broadway love stories of all time, is back on Broadway for a limited-time revival through September 6. 

Tour Manhattan and get your workout in at the same time

• Kill two birds with one stone with Fit Tours, which combines fitness and sightseeing with unique tours including Central Park 5K and 5K Core Tour, both offered in January and February (dress accordingly).