The New York Palace Hotel, a short walk from Saks.

Hotels in this story

Price Dates

Stewart Hotel

Renaissance New York Hotel 57

Lotte New York Palace

Chambers Hotel

The Lucerne Hotel

Recession or not, one thing remains a staple around Manhattan this time of year: the holiday windows. So if you plan on visiting New York, or even if you live nearby, here is a list of some stores you need to stop by for more than a last-minute gift.

: Arguably the most famous shopping destination in Manhattan, Macy’s is beaming with Christmas spirit and plenty of tourist traffic thanks to the new pedestrian zone that opened earlier this year in Herald Square. The windows are adorned with classic Christmas moments and even an interactive “Letters to Santa” touch screen window. 151 West 34 Street. Stay at the nearby Affinia Manhattan.

: This legendary Upper East Side department store always puts on a memorable display of elegant holiday windows. Some of the viewings include couples like Barack and Michelle Obama, Batman and Robin and of course Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. 59th and Lexington Avenue. Stay at the nearby Hotel 57.

: Large windows and big budget fit this luxury department store perfectly. This year Saks is teaming up with Microsoft and Windows 7 to feature scenes from a holiday children’s book, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Flake.” In addition, holiday shoppers that tweet and use the hash tag “#holidaywindows” will see their messages displayed on one of the interactive windows. 611 5th Avenue. Stay at the nearby New York Palace.

: The elegant windows here this season include characters like Mr. Fox, unicorns, and polar bears — as well as antiques and a holiday fashion show. 754 5th Avenue. Stay at the nearby Chambers Hotel.

: Everyone from Wayne and Garth to Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin are on display in paper-mache form at Barneys, where the windows feature 35 years of Saturday Night Live Christmas moments. 660 Madison Avenue. Stay at the nearby Lucerne.

–Andrew Hickey of The Brooklyn Nomad.