Skaters glide along an ice rink under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Photograph: By Hassan Mokaddam
Photograph: By Hassan Mokaddam

Where to go ice skating in NYC

Lace up your skates for some top-notch ice skating in NYC. Glide among the skyscrapers or skate beneath the Brooklyn Bridge while making magical holiday memories.

Rossilynne Skena Culgan
Contributor: Shaye Weaver
Advertising

Ice skating in NYC is more than just a fun activity—it’s a time-honored tradition that brings out the holiday magic in the city. While a few rinks stay open all year, there’s something extra special about skating in winter, especially during the holiday season. It’ll have you feeling festive in no time, warming your heart as you twirl (or stumble) on the ice.

For the ultimate holiday vibes, you can’t beat the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center or the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. These spots are packed with holiday spirit, along with great food and drinks to keep you fueled up. But if you’re after a more laid-back vibe, some of NYC's parks have quieter, less crowded rinks for a more relaxed skate.

Turn it into a full-day adventure by pairing your skating session with visits to the city's best holiday markets and holiday light displays. Whether you’re a beginner, a skating enthusiast, or ready to bust out your best triple salchow, NYC has the perfect rink for you. And if you’d rather keep your feet off the ice, roller skating is always an option for some high-speed fun.

Before you head out, don’t forget to check each rink’s opening dates and times to make sure they’re ready for you!

Ice skating in NYC

  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Midtown West

Have your main character moment with the bronze gilded statue of the Greek legend Prometheus. Whether the weather is frigid or balmy, nothing stands in the way of New Yorkers and their time on the ice. Fun fact: The attraction, which first opened on Christmas Day in 1936, was meant to be temporary, but it has stood the test of time to become one of the most coveted things to do in New York, especially during the holidays. 

Tickets start at $21 per person, but the exact price depends on the date, the time of day and age. Skate rentals are available for $12. Local skaters can also purchase a membership to have access to the rink and unlimited skating throughout the season. 

  • Things to do
  • Markets and fairs

If you want to eat, shop and go ice-skating all in one-go, The Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park is the spot. The 17,000-square-foot outdoor rink is free and open late, however, you’ll still have to rent skates (or BYO). It’s a veritable winter wonderland: After your time on the ice, warm up with hot chocolate at the cozy rinkside lodge. 

Advertising
  • Things to do

Manhattan is home to the most iconic outdoor ice rinks in the city, but this rink in Brooklyn gives them a run for their money. Roebling Rink in Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a chance to skate beneath the Brooklyn Bridge with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. 

This is the second year for the rink, and it runs November 25, 2024-February 2, 2025. The rink is open daily Mondays-Thursdays, 2-9pm; Fridays-Sundays, 10am-10pm. Tickets cost $10/person with skate rentals priced at $7.

  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Central Park

Braving the crowds is worth it for the priceless Central Park scenery you can see as you glide around Wollman Rink. Since it opened in the 1950s, the rink at the southern end of Central Park has delighted locals and visitors alike who cherish skating under the stars with the backdrop of the city's skyline.

During the skating season, enjoy skyline views, rinkside igloos, and an expanded skate school. Tickets range from $15 to $38 for adults, depending on date of entry, children and senior tickets cost $10 all season; skates $12. Plus, there are some excellent discounted options to check into.

Advertising
  • Sports and fitness
  • Battery Park City

Considered by some to be the best ice skating rink in Manhattan, this winter favorite is located on the plaza in front of the Brookfield Place Winter Garden.

At 7,350 square feet, it's even bigger than the Rink at Rockefeller Plaza and it gives New Yorkers a reason to visit during the colder months as well (the outdoor spot overlooking the North Cove Marina is extremely popular in the summer).

On weekdays, get a 60-minute session for $15. On weekends, a 60-minute session costs $17. Skate rentals range from $5-$7. Tickets are on sale now for November 16, 2024-March 2, 2025.

After your time on the ice, head inside the downtown mall for some much-needed retail therapy and, perhaps, a coffee and a bite to eat at one of the many food purveyors found on site.​

  • Attractions
  • Parks and gardens
  • Prospect Park

Ahh, is there anything more picturesque than Prospect Park during the fall and winter? We have a feeling you’ll be spending a lot of time there this season, particularly for the park’s massive arena, which transforms from roller rink to ice haven come wintertime. The walk through the park to view the foliage is a bonus, so save time for a stroll.

For 2024, pricing is $10.60 to skate during the week and $15.25 on the weekends. Skate rentals are $10.35. There's a covered rink and an uncovered rink, both are open daily. Here are the full hours.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Harlem

This sizable outdoor rink is open to the public Friday through Sunday and has a roof to prevent December snows and April showers alike from raining on your Ice Capades. And since Riverbank State Park overlooks the Hudson, you’ll have nice views of the river and the George Washington Bridge as a backdrop. You could even stop by Sofrito, which is on the premises, after a brisk day of skating.

It’s just $6 for adults and $5 for children; skate rental is $6. Here are the details on 2024 opening hours.

  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Chelsea

There’s no need to wait until winter to glide across the two NHL-size rinks at this megacomplex—they’re open year-round for general skating as well as hockey and figure skating. Unlike most indoor ice arenas, this one doesn’t feel like a cave; ample windows afford sweeping views of the Hudson River to the west. You can book a freestyle skate session here.

Advertising
  • Sports and fitness
  • Coney Island

This seaside rink keeps people flocking to the area even after Coney Island’s theme parks have closed for the season. The 50-year-old venue began its life as the Ravenhall Baths, a saltwater swimming pool that was quite the Coney Island hotspot in its day. It was destroyed by fire in 1963, after which the space was converted into a destination for the heavily sweatered and uncoordinated. It’s $9 to skate and $5 per skate rental.

  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Queens

Need some skating tips before you attempt to navigate Manhattan’s obstacle-ridden ice? Head to this Queens arena, where dozens of weekly classes are available in addition to daily open sessions.

If you need to refuel after all that gliding, the World Ice Cafe serves rinkside grub during most public skating hours. Admission is $8 for weekdays and $12 for weekends and holidays; skate rental is $6. You must register online before you arrive to skate.

Advertising
  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Staten Island

This indoor ice arena is the only rink on Staten Island to stay open year-round, though public skating is available only on weekends (Friday–Sunday). Tickets cost $15 for adults; $13 for kids; and $8 for skate rentals.

If you want to hit the Zamboni slick during the week, join a freestyle figure-skating or open-hockey session.

  • Things to do
  • Ice skating
  • Staten Island
  • price 1 of 4

Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island boasts some of New York’s few remaining wetlands and a pretty nice ice skating rink that’s open just on the weekends and certain holidays during the winter season. As the only outdoor rink on Staten Island, the rink draws skaters of all ages to this beautiful park. 

For this season, the rink is open Saturday, November 16, 2024 through Sunday, March 30, 2025. It’s $14 to skate and $7 to rent skates.

Advertising
  • Sports and fitness
  • Sunnyside

World Ice’s sister arena has the added benefit of a second, smaller skating area for spillover. The five boroughs’ only rooftop rink, it stretches to NHL size under a weatherproof air dome. (If it’s good enough to withstand Canadian temperatures, it can handle the wussy NYC winter.) The additional rink—made of synthetic material—gives smelly adult-leaguers a place to practice their hockey stops while you enjoy your leisurely laps. 

Right now, public skate sessions are on Sunday afternoons. It’s $12 to skate and skate rental is $8. You must register online before showing up to skate.

Need to warm up a bit?

  • Cafés

New York's hot chocolate revival can be traced back to City Bakery more than 20 years ago, but even though that bakery bastion shuttered in 2019, the scene is still piping hot. One reason? Baristas. A great coffee shop is often a great hot chocolate spot—that latte-quality milk can make all the difference when you want a cocoa to lift your spirits when battling the brutal cold.

But whether you get it from your corner Joe joint, one of the city's best bakeries, or from a bar as a warming hot cocktail, hot chocolate in NYC has never been better. There are so many high-quality options in this city that you could go on a season-long cocoa crawl, and try everything from classic cups to more creative expressions. (Cardamom almond milk hot chocolate, anyone?)

Fancy techniques aside, the best cocoas are comforting—there's a reason why hot chocolate is one of the defining flavors of childhood.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to best restaurants in NYC

Advertising
  • Travel

The perfect winter getaway from NYC requires a few things: hot chocolate, a crackling fireplace, wool sweaters and a cozy cabin to cuddle up in. Whether you need lodging at ski resorts near NYC or somewhere rustic chic for a girls’ weekend, this list of cabins near NYC on Airbnb has got you covered. After just a few hours of driving, you could be snuggling in a chalet in the Pocono Mountains, relaxing in a geodesic dome in upstate New York or sipping a hot toddy in a trendy container cabin in the Catskills. No matter where you choose to go, escaping the city to a snow-covered wonderland has to be one of the top things to do in the winter.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to weekend getaways from NYC

Note: please check the latest travel guidance before booking your trip.

Recommended
    More on Christmas
      You may also like
      You may also like
      Advertising