New York City: Christmas Holiday Tour of Manhattan

Evening Walk, Radio City Exterior

New York City: Christmas Holiday Tour of Manhattan

★ 4.3 59 verified reviews on the listing

from $25 per person, live price on the listing

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Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Cancel for free. The live booking page posts this tour's exact terms.

Group
Walking tour, Radio City exterior views
Meeting point
St. Patrick's Cathedral entrance, 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022.
Cancellation
Cancel for free. The live booking page posts this tour's exact terms.

New York City: Christmas Holiday Tour of Manhattan. Rated 4.3 across 59 reviews. From $25.

Overview

This walking tour starts at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue and works its way through Manhattan's Christmas decorations, ending outside Macy's. The route takes in the cathedral interior, Rockefeller Center and its famous tree, Radio City Music Hall, the Bryant Park Holiday Market, and the shop windows along Fifth Avenue. A local guide leads the group the whole way and shares the history behind each stop, including how Rockefeller Center became a holiday destination and the story of the world's largest department store.

The tour suits travellers who want the major Christmas sights of Manhattan in one guided walk rather than piecing them together alone. Guides come in for frequent praise in reviews, with several travellers naming their guide as the best part of the evening and highlighting the mix of humour and history. Be clear on what this is not: it does not include tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, entry to the Rockefeller Center ice rink, or transport of any kind. It is a walking tour, in whatever weather December serves up, on streets that reviewers repeatedly described as extremely crowded.

The meeting point is in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and there is no hotel pickup. Admission to the cathedral is part of the tour, except on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when it is not available. Gratuities for the guide are not included in the price.

What's Included

Included

  • Local guide

Not Included

  • Gratuities
  • Tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular
  • Entrance to the ice skating rink at the Rockefeller Center
  • Hotel pickup

Itinerary

  1. Meet at St. Patrick'sThe group gathers in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. There is no pickup or transport; travellers make their own way to the meeting point.
  2. Inside the cathedralThe guide takes the group inside St. Patrick's Cathedral to see the interior decorated for Christmas. Admission is not available on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
  3. Rockefeller CenterThe walk continues to Rockefeller Center, home of the winter ice rink and the famous Christmas tree. The guide explains how the complex became such a popular place for holiday celebrations, and there is time for a souvenir photo of the tree.
  4. Radio City Music HallThe route passes Radio City Music Hall, where the guide points out the holiday lights and talks about the Rockettes. Tickets to the Christmas Spectacular show are not included.
  5. Bryant Park Holiday MarketThe group heads downtown to the Bryant Park Holiday Market.
  6. Fifth Avenue windowsThe tour walks past the Christmas window displays of the Fifth Avenue shops.
  7. Macy's finishThe tour ends in front of Macy's, where the guide covers the history of the world's largest department store.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this tour goes, from December crowds to what the ticket does and does not cover.

Common issues. The biggest complaint across reviews is crowd density, which comes with touring New York at Christmas rather than being a flaw in the tour; one reviewer said they would never return to New York in December at all, though they still praised their guide. Another reviewer left the group early because they had already seen everything on the route, which is worth weighing if you know Manhattan well. The listing itself flags that cathedral admission is unavailable on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and the tour runs in all weather conditions. No show tickets, rink entry, or hotel pickup are included.

Decisions To Make Before You Book

Where does the tour meet?

In front of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. There is no hotel pickup or any transport on this tour; it is entirely on foot from the meeting point to Macy's.

How long is the tour?

Duration is on the live listing. The route runs from St. Patrick's Cathedral through Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Bryant Park Holiday Market, and the Fifth Avenue windows, finishing at Macy's.

Are tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular included?

No. The tour passes Radio City Music Hall and covers the holiday lights outside, but tickets to the show are listed as not included. The same goes for entry to the Rockefeller Center ice rink. Gratuities for the guide are also separate.

Can we go inside St. Patrick's Cathedral?

Yes, the tour includes a look at the cathedral interior decorated for Christmas. The one exception is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when admission to the cathedral is not available.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancel for free. The live booking page posts this tour's exact terms. The listing also notes there is no need to confirm your reservation with the office before the tour.

What should I wear and bring?

Comfortable shoes are the listed recommendation, since a moderate amount of walking is involved. Dress for the weather because the tour operates in all conditions. Leave luggage and large bags behind, as they are not allowed, along with pets, alcohol, and smoking.

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