Best New York City Christmas Lights Tours 2025
If you are visiting New York City and hoping to see the Christmas lights, store window displays, and holiday markets, there are multiple ways to view them, including on a guided tour.
Most of the known Christmas lights are in Midtown Manhattan. Did you know that the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights is also well-known for its elaborate Christmas light display?
Many of the tours on this list are walking tours. There are options for smaller group tours with less walking involved.
The Dyker Heights tours generally include a bus ride from Manhattan. For a more budget-friendly option, you can choose to take a tour that meets in Brooklyn.
Yes, you can visit all these sites on your own, but you will learn so much more (and you won’t get lost) on a guided tour to see Christmas lights in New York City.
I lived in NYC for over a decade, and even I went on a tour to see the Christmas lights! When my family visited, we took a walking tour of Dyker Heights, and it was well worth taking a tour instead of going on our own (which is what we did another year).
Keep reading to find the best NYC Christmas lights tours.
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Christmas Holiday Tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔ St. Patrick’s Cathedral
✔ View Store Window Displays
✔ Visit a Holiday Market
✔ Budget-Friendly
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔ Meet in Brooklyn
✔ Hear stories about the neighborhood
✔ 4 tour times each day
Christmas Lights Tours in Manhattan
Christmas Holiday Tour of Manhattan
⭐ 4.5/5
🗺️ St. Patrick’s Cathedral
💲 25, $15 for kids 6-13, free for 5 and under
🕒 2-hour tour, end of November-December, 6 pm
✔️ Book Now
Begin your tour at St. Patrick’s Cathedral before walking to Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park. See the Christmas displays in the store windows along 5th Avenue and end the tour at Macy’s.
This New York City Christmas Lights Tour includes all the Christmas highlights in Midtown Manhattan.
This tour goes into St. Patrick’s Cathedral most days. It does not enter the cathedral during tours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Find more things to do in New York City in December.
Christmas Markets and Christmas Lights Walking Tour
⭐ 4.3/5
🗺️ 10 Columbus Circle
💲 55, $45 for kids under 12
🕒 4-hour tour, specific days at the end of November and until mid-December, 3 pm
✔️ Book Now
Meet at the Shops at Columbus Circle by Central Park before taking a guided walking tour to see store displays, Christmas movie locations, and holiday markets.
Purchase your own food and drinks while you explore the markets. Find unique gifts and learn about the holiday season in New York City on this 4-hour tour.
Note that this tour does not take place the week of Christmas.
Need a place to stay while you are in New York City? Here are family-friendly hotel options.
New York City Holiday Lights Walking Tour
⭐ 5/5
🗺️ 977 6th Avenue
💲 60
🕒 4-hour tour, Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in December, 5 pm
✔️ Book Now
On Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in December, you can join a 4-hour walking tour that begins at 5 p.m. and meets in Midtown.
This New York City Christmas Lights Tour is not suitable for kids under 13.
The walking tour of New York City’s Christmas lights lasts 3-4 hours. It includes a subway ride(where visitors need to have their own subway card).
This tour does not take place on Christmas Day.
New York Holiday Lights and Movie Sites Tour
⭐ 4.1/5
🗺️ Meet at 1889 Broadway near 63rd Street
💲 78, $62 for kids 6-9, under 5 free
🕒 2.5 hours, End of November-Early January, 6:30 p.m.
✔️ Book Now
On Location Tours takes visitors to famous TV and movie sites year-round. From the end of November until the beginning of January, they have a special New York Holiday Lights and Movie Sites Tour.
See landmark attractions and store displays in addition to popular holiday movie sites. Movie sites include scenes from Elf, Home Alone 2, and Miracle on 34th Street.
While kids under 6 can participate for free, they are not guaranteed a seat. They may need to sit on their parents’ laps.
High tea is a fun thing to do in NYC around the holidays. Some locations even have a special holiday themed high tea.
Private NYC Christmas Walking Tour
⭐ 4.5/5
🗺️ Meet at 5th Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets
💲 80 for adults, $75 per child
🕒 2 hours, End of November-December, 5:30 pm
✔️ Book Now
A minimum of 2 adults can sign up for a private Christmas-themed walking tour of New York City. This tour begins at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown.
Your private tour guide will take you inside the cathedral. Then move on to Rockefeller Center to see the ice skating rink and Christmas tree. You will stop at Radio City Music Hall, see store displays, and stop at the Bryant Park holiday markets.
The tour ends at Herald Square, which is located between 34th and 35th Streets at 6th Avenue.
Another option for a private Christmas themed tour in New York City is the Iconic Christmas Tour. Visit multiple Christmas Markets on this festive tour.
Guided Christmas Lights Pedicab Tour
⭐ 5/5
🗺️ Meet at 4th Street and 7th Avenue
💲 120 per person
🕒 45-minute tour, Mid-November to mid-January, Hourly 6 pm to 11 pm
✔️ Book Now
Groups of 2 to 3 can meet at Central Park for a guided pedicab tour of the Christmas lights and decorations around Midtown New York City.
See Central Park lit up at night, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and some hidden gems.
✔️ Takes place rain or shine, includes rain cover
✔️ Blankets provided, dress warm
✔️ A unique way to travel through Midtown
Did you know that you can take a holiday cruise around Manhattan? Enjoy cocoa and cookies while listening to Christmas carols on a 90 minute long sightseeing cruise.
Magical Horse Carriage Ride Christmas Lights Tour of NYC
⭐ 4.5/5
🗺️ Meet at 59th Street and 6th Avenue
💲 415 per carriage of up to 4 adults
🕒 40 minutes long, mid-November to mid-January
✔️ Book Now
Mid-November through mid-January, you can take a carriage ride down the streets of New York City late at night to see the Christmas lights.
Three tour times take place almost every day at 9 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m.
This tour includes a licensed guide, blankets to keep you warm, and treats for the horses.
A maximum of 4 adults is allowed per ride. Two kids under 7 are the equivalent of 1 adult passenger.
The carriage ride costs the same whether you have 1 passenger or 4.
Looking for more holiday fun? Go see the Rockettes perform at Rockefeller Center!
Christmas Lights Tours in Brooklyn
Though the tours below all take place in Brooklyn, many of them include pick-up in Manhattan. Most of the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours are similar. Read carefully to determine which tour is best for your group.
¿Prefieres un tour en español? Hacer este recorrido por las luces navideñas de Dyker Heights con Interviejes NY.
Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour from Manhattan
⭐ 4.5/5
🗺️ 10th Avenue and 41st Street, Ends at Bryant Park
💲 59, $49 for kids 3-14, under 3 free
🕒 4 Hour Tour begins at 4:15 pm daily in December
✔️ Book Now
Note that pick up and drop off are in 2 different locations for this 4-hour bus tour from Manhattan to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn.
This tour takes place throughout December, with the last tour of the season occurring on January 1st.
Kids under 3 do not need a ticket so long as they ride on the lap of an adult. Kids 3-14 can get a kid’s ticket, and everyone else needs an adult ticket.
✔️ Guided 1-hour walking tour of Dyker Heights
✔️ Restrooms available on the bus
✔️Drop off at Bryant Park Holiday Markets
The Ultimate Luxury NYC Bucket List for Kids includes hotels with kid-friendly accommodations.
Dyker Heights Holiday Bus Tour from Manhattan
⭐ 4.5/5
🗺️ Meet at 161 Broadway, Times Square
💲 60 for adults, $50 for kids, under 2 free
🕒 3.5-hour-long tour, daily in December at 5 pm and 6 pm
✔️ Book Now!
Board a bus in Times Square and ride to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, a neighborhood known for its elaborate Christmas lights.
While you arrive on the bus, you do have the opportunity to walk around both Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge. Both Brooklyn neighborhoods have beautiful Christmas decorations.
The tour lasts 3.5 hours and takes place twice daily in December.
✔️ Hear from homeowners about their Christmas decorations
✔️ Learn about local holiday traditions
✔️ Dress warm, this tour proceeds in rain or snow
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour (Meet in Brooklyn)
⭐ 4.2/5
🗺️ 8626 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
💲 21
🕒 1.5-hour-long tour
✔️ Book Now
For those who would rather meet up in Brooklyn and save the transportation fee, sign up for this 1.5-hour-long walking tour of the Dyker Heights Christmas lights.
Arrive on the subway, and the tour guide will meet you outside the subway station. Note that the subway ride from midtown Manhattan is about 1 hour long.
Four tours take place each day in December, leaving at 4:30, 5:00, 7:00, and 7:30 pm.
✔️ Guided walking tour (about 2 miles or 3 kilometers total)
✔️ Hear the stories of the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
✔️ Learn about the first person to start the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tradition
Private Limo Tour from Manhattan
⭐ 4.3/5
🗺️ Pick up from your Manhattan hotel
💲 948 for up to 7 guests
🕒 3-hour tour, End of November to Early January, 4 pm to 10 pm start times
✔️ Book Now
Prefer a private tour and door-to-door service? Book a private limo tour from Manhattan to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn.
The limo will pick you up at your hotel and drive up to 7 guests to Dyker Heights. Then, you will walk through the neighborhood for 30-40 minutes to see the Christmas lights up close.
Return to the limo for your ride back to Manhattan with stops in Dumbo and at Wall Street for photos.
Find more Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours!
New York City Christmas Lights Tours Wrap-Up
New York City is known for its holiday displays, but where are the best places to see them?
Whether you are visiting the city for a short period of time and want to ensure that you get to see the best Christmas lights, or you live in NYC and want to learn more this festive season, there are plenty of options for holiday tours.
Both walking tours and bus tours are available. You can opt to stick to Midtown or expand all the way to Brooklyn to find incredible Christmas light displays and hear the stories behind the decorations.
Most of these tours only take place in December. A few tours expand into the end of November and the beginning of January. Be sure to book early to ensure you can participate in your first choice.
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