Last Updated on November 7, 2022
There’s no better time than the holiday season to try new things. This is why the Union Square Holiday Market is a time-honored tradition for many people, as it features new booths and items to sample every year. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or some holiday-themed treats, there’s truly something for everyone at this unique holiday market!
The Union Square Holiday Market has been offering millions of people goods since 1972. Over the last 45+ years, it’s become a must-see destination for locals and tourists alike. There is now a warming station and lounge for those extra cold days, a kid’s art studio to get the young ones involved and inspired, and more vendors than ever before.
The Holiday Market is open from November 21–December 24. Its hours are Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 9 PM; Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
If you’re finally going to visit the Holiday Market, that’s great! But if you are visiting New York City from out of town, it can feel overwhelming to plan the entire trip. This is understandable — New York is an incredibly expensive city to be a tourist in, making it important for you to get the most value for your dollar.
To help you figure out just the best way to book a trip to NYC for the Union Square Holiday Market, we’ve created a guide filled with the best tips and tricks.
Where to Stay
As you might imagine, many hotels in New York City are very expensive. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot of money to visit NYC! In fact, some hotels are technically outside of NYC that are easier to get to than many hotels in the city! For example, many hotels in Jersey City, NJ are very close to Manhattan and are significantly cheaper than any hotel on the island. On top of this, you are also closer to Union Square than you would if you were staying at an expensive AirBnB in Brooklyn or Queens!
If you’re looking for the best hotel in the Jersey City area, you can’t do much better than the Hyatt House Jersey City. At this hotel, you may even get a better view of Manhattan than if you were to stay on the island! The view of the skyline is especially beautiful at night, so if you stay here be sure to take some photos before you go to sleep. Candlewood Suites Jersey City is another great option if you’re traveling with a larger family. The hotel offers many suite-style accommodations, so you don’t have to rent multiple rooms and leave your kids to cut loose.
How to Get to Manhattan
It might seem inconvenient to get to Manhattan from Jersey City, but it’s quite easy. All you have to do is take the PATH train to get there before transferring to your desired subway line! It will take you about 30 minutes to get to Union Square from Jersey City, a travel time that is quicker than getting there from other parts of NYC.
Affordable Food Around the Area
If you’re planning on spending a lot of money at the Holiday Market, it makes sense that you would want to save money during the rest of your trip. Saving money doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to eat low-quality meals, though. NYC has some wonderfully affordable places to eat if you know just where to go!
Those looking for cheap eats in Manhattan should definitely go to Chinatown. It’s not too far from Union Square by the subway. The Lung Moon Bakery, the Golden Steamer, and Mei Lai Wah are all great options for cheap baked goods and dishes. Though you might not want to eat at a bakery for a meal, you’d be surprised at how filling and tasty a lot of the buns can be! If you want to go to one specific place, we recommend going to the Golden Steamer and trying their pork buns!