What to Wear in New York in December (7°C)

Highs7°C (45°F)

Lows1°C (34°F)

Rain/snow days~11

Daylight9 h

CrowdsPeak season

December averages for New York (Central Park). Source

December is magical and very busy: the Rockefeller Center tree, store windows and skating rinks, and Times Square on New Year's Eve. Freezing evenings — dress in your warmest layers.

☀️ By day

Long puffer or wool coat, thermal layer and insulated boots.

🌙 Evening

Your festive outfit under a warm coat, plus a hat and gloves.

What's on in December

Typical dates. Many festivals follow lunar calendars, so check this year's dates before you book.

Rockefeller tree, windows and Bryant Park

Late November through December

The tree, Fifth Avenue window displays, ice skating and the Winter Village. You will be outside for hours, so wear thermals and touchscreen gloves.

New Year's Eve in Times Square

December 31

People enter the pens from early afternoon and can't leave and come back. You stand for 8–10 hours in the cold with no bathrooms, so wear full thermals, insulated boots and heat packs.

December packing essentials

Thermal layersShop Amazon ↗

Your December outfit list

Also pack

Showing more covered picks for travellers from India.

Dress code

No dress code on the street — dark, practical layers blend in.
Upscale restaurants and rooftop bars may refuse sportswear, flip-flops or men's shorts in the evening.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential; most visitors walk 10+ miles a day.

Full dress code, activities and common mistakes →

Good weather elsewhere in December

🇦🇪 Dubai27° · Warm, perfect
🇹🇭 Thailand32° · Dry, warm
🇻🇳 Vietnam21° · Cool north
🌺 Hawaii28° · Warm, showers
🇲🇻 Maldives30° · Sunny, calm
🚢 Cruise29° · Sunny, dry

All destinations →

What to wear in New York in December