Trains are a way of life for most New Yorkers, but come Christmastime these holiday train shows in NYC add a little sparkle to New Yorker's favorite form of transportation as little engines and cabooses take center stage during the holiday season.
The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show is always one of our must-do Christmas events in NYC, with electric model trains whizzing by nearly 200 NYC landmarks made out of acorns, twigs, bark, berries, leaves, and other botanical bits and pieces. My family and I make it a point to go every year—it's truly a quintessential New York holiday experience. There's a reason it's No. 43 on our list of the top 100 things to do with kids in NYC.
But, the big NYBG holiday train show isn't the only holiday train show in town. Read on for more details on all the Christmas train shows the city has to offer this season, including the return of the beloved New York Transit Museum's Holiday Train Show for the first time since 2019. And, for an extra special holiday treat, take the kids on a full-size Christmas train ride with these nearby Polar Express and Santa trains.