Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Tour from Manhattan

Dyker Heights and its Christmas lights

Dyker Heights is a quiet Italian-American residential area of Brooklyn that has become world-famous for its Christmas decorations. Residents have kept the tradition alive since the 1980s, filling the front gardens and facades of their houses with lights, figures and music. It is one of the top things to do at Christmas in New York, and many visitors ask how to see the Dyker Heights lights without a car.

The narrow streets do not allow buses, so you get off and follow your guide on foot along the two most brightly decorated streets. You see the house of Lucy Spata, whose display started the tradition, and hear how the neighbourhood competes each year. The decorations are normally on display from late November until early January, and they cannot be seen from the bus.

Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Manhattan skyline

After Dyker Heights the bus continues to Brooklyn Bridge Park, on the East River waterfront under the Brooklyn Bridge. This is one of the best places in the city to photograph the Manhattan skyline, with the Brooklyn Bridge and the towers of Lower Manhattan reflected in the river after dark.

The stop lasts about 25 minutes, which is enough for photos and a short walk along the promenade. It is also a chance to warm up in the winter air and take in the evening lights, so wear a warm coat and gloves. The bus then returns to Manhattan over the Manhattan Bridge.

Ending at Bryant Park and its winter market

The tour finishes at Bryant Park in Midtown, a green square behind the New York Public Library. In the holiday season the park hosts a winter market with small shops and an ice rink, and you can explore it on your own after the tour. The Winter Village is a favourite of visitors who want to combine the lights with seasonal shopping.

From Bryant Park it is easy to reach Times Square, Grand Central Terminal and the subway, so you can continue your evening in the city. Allow time for the journey back, since the tour can last from about 3.5 hours to a little over 4 hours depending on traffic.

Planning your Dyker Heights tour

The tour departs in the late afternoon from a meeting point in Manhattan, so you reach Dyker Heights when the lights are on. Hotel pick-up is not included, and the meeting point is confirmed in your voucher. Toilets are available on the bus.

Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes, since about an hour is spent walking outdoors, sometimes in the cold. Food and drinks are not allowed on the bus, and pets and bikes are not allowed either. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments because of the walking, so please consider this before booking your place.