For families seeking a holiday tradition in New York City, Macy’s Santaland at Herald Square will again require reservations for visits during the 2025 season. Santa Claus will arrive in the city following the conclusion of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and take up residence on the eighth floor of the flagship store from November 28 through December 24.
Santaland features a 13,000-square-foot Christmas village, including displays such as an enchanted forest, a rainbow bridge, snowcapped mountains, reindeer, and Santa’s sleigh. Each year, about 200,000 people visit this attraction. After touring Santaland, visitors can meet Santa for a brief conversation and have photos taken with him.
Reservations are free but must be made online starting at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time six days before each visit date. For example, those wishing to attend on November 28 can book their spot beginning November 23. Macy’s recommends bringing a printout of the reservation with its QR code.
The hours for Santaland generally run from morning until around 9 p.m., though specific times may vary by day. Even with reservations, wait times can range from 30 to 90 minutes to see Santa. The busiest periods are typically Black Friday, weekends, and the final days before Christmas. Visiting on weekdays earlier in December may result in shorter waits.
Admission is free; however, official photo packages start at approximately $40 and involve waiting in an additional line after seeing Santa. Guests are allowed to use their own devices for photographs as well.
Macy’s accommodates special requests regarding Santa’s appearance or language preferences; these can be noted during reservation or communicated to staff upon arrival. Those needing accessibility accommodations are encouraged to indicate this when booking and contact santalandnewyork@macys.com for further assistance. Sensory-friendly time slots will also be available on select dates.
Visitors are advised that while it may be cold outside during winter months in New York City, Santaland itself tends to be warm indoors; dressing in layers is recommended.
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