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The Gingerbread City is made up of structures designed by local architectural firms. 

The Gingerbread City: A Sweet Holiday Destination

Located just steps from the stunning South Street Seaport Christmas tree and amid the cobblestone streets of this old-timey neighborhood, The Gingerbread City first popped up here for Christmas 2023. An exhibit from the Museum of Architecture, and a mainstay of Christmas fun in London, the 2025 iteration is completely FREE to visit.

Walking into the exhibit, the first thing you notice is the sweet smell of spicy gingerbread in the air. The second, likely, is that these aren't your grandma's gingerbread houses! We loved exploring the multiple structures—all completely edible, and all crafted by local architecture firms.

They're colorful and candy-filled: Look for Laffy Taffy-tiled floors and Jolly Rancher-filled windows. Each design reflects the theme for the installation in one way or another: The Playful City.

We loved looking at the colorful rowhouses, reminiscent of our Harlem neighborhood, and seeing a mini version of MSG and Economy Candy. There's a train table sure to thrill little ones and a playful photobooth that lets you turn a selfie into an AI-generated gingerbread cookie starring you—sometimes with hilarious results.

If the smell of candy, confections, cinnamon, and spice overpowers you, you're in luck: There's a cafe ready to serve you gingerbread-themed drinks and Padoca Bakery treats.

If you're just stopping by to explore the playful pastry city, you'll be able to explore it all in about 20 minutes, though FREE timed-entry tickets can be booked online in advance to ensure you don't have to wait.

Book a Gingerbread Workshop at The Gingerbread City to craft your own creation.   

Hands-On Workshops at The Gingerbread City

If seeing and tasting doesn't satisfy your appetite for gingerbread, The Gingerbread City is also offering hands-on gingerbread workshops in a separate space upstairs from the exhibit. Bookable for groups of up to four, you'll be provided all the freshly baked pieces necessary to craft a whimsical gingerbread building—imagined by organizers as a playful gingerbread community center.

The hour-long sessions include all the icing and candy you need to build your house, plus expert instruction. Each gingerbread creation is wrapped up in cellophane and packaged for transport at the end.

Gingerbread workshops cost $139 for up to four people working on one gingerbread kit; an additional kit can be purchased for $65. Take note: This is not a drop-off activity. Each group must have at least one adult.

A word of advice: Plan to explore The Gingerbread City exhibit and have a snack after your workshop to give your structure plenty of time to dry before transporting it home! We thought ours was sturdy, but it was no match for an NYC subway commute at rush hour, and the walls all fell in!

Because the gingerbread workshops are a bit of a splurge—and take a little precision—I'd recommend this activity for ages 10+. If you want to make a family affair of it, younger kids can handle it with more hands-on help from mom and dad!

Need to Know Info for The Gingerbread City

• The Gingerbread City is open daily through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
• Tickets are FREE to explore the exhibit and cost $139 for the workshops. All tickets can be reserved online before visiting.
• Looking for more fun things to do nearby: We've got a list of 20 fun things to do in The Seaport. The nearby Pearl Street Playground is a great place for kids to work off all of that gingerbread-induced energy.

A previous version of this post was published in 2023. Hans Howe Friewald contributed additional reporting. All photos by author