Evening Walk, Radio City Exterior

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

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.

• Footwear and pace. The listing calls the walking moderate and asks for comfortable shoes.
• December crowds. Guides were repeatedly credited with keeping the group together and finding spots for photos anyway. If tight crowds are a problem, this is the trade-off for touring at Christmas.
• Dress for weather. The tour runs in all weather conditions, so the listing advises dressing appropriately. Warm layers, a hat and gloves are the sensible call for a December evening outdoors in Manhattan.
• What is not included. Gratuities, Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets, and ice rink entry at Rockefeller Center are all excluded. Budget separately for the show if that is the plan, and note there is no hotel pickup either.
• Leave large bags. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the tour, nor are pets, alcohol, or smoking. Travelers coming straight from a hotel checkout will need somewhere to stow bags first.
• Photo stops. The tree at Rockefeller Center is the signature photo of the tour, and the listing promises a souvenir shot there. Reviews suggest guides actively find angles and spots for pictures despite the crowds.

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