Dyker Heights Lights On Foot

New York City: Dyker Heights Christmas Walking Tour. Rated 4.7 across 40 reviews. From $69.

Overview

This walking tour pairs New York's classic holiday scene with the Christmas lights of a Brooklyn neighborhood known for having some of the most amazing displays in the world. It begins at Rockefeller Center, where the group takes in the Christmas tree, the holiday lights and the ice rink, before riding the subway together to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn. There is no hotel pickup, so the group meets at a set meeting point.

Dyker Heights is the heart of the outing. Houses there are dressed in thousands of colorful lights, giant inflatable Santas, reindeer and toy soldiers, and some homes run synchronized music and light shows. The guide tells the story of Lucy Spata along the way. The evening can finish with an optional stop in DUMBO for a night view of the skyline framed by the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Anyone who prefers can simply stay on the subway and ride back toward Manhattan with directions from the guide.

The tour suits visitors who want the lights with the logistics handled. One traveller wrote that they could not have reached the neighborhood on their own, since getting there is not easy and there are too many streets to cross, and that going with a guide made the trip work. It runs holiday season evenings, led in English.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the small squareThe meeting point is a small square near the café, where the guide holds a flag showing the language selected at booking.
2. Rockefeller CenterThe group sees the famous Christmas tree, the holiday lights and the iconic ice-skating rink.
3. Subway to Dyker HeightsThe group travels together by subway to the Brooklyn neighborhood. Subway fare is not included in the tour price.
4. Dyker Heights lights walkWalk the decorated streets past houses covered in lights, inflatables and synchronized shows, while the guide shares the story of Lucy Spata.
5. Optional DUMBO stopThe guide gets off at DUMBO with those who want the night skyline view between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. This stop is optional.
6. Return to ManhattanTravellers make their own way back. The guide provides directions for the ride to Manhattan.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this tour goes, from the cold to the subway fare.

• Dress warmly. The listing asks for warm clothing, and one reviewer noted the cold even while enjoying the lights. This is a holiday-season tour spent mostly outdoors, so hats, gloves and layers matter.
• Prepare to walk. The listing warns plainly that this is a walking tour with a long walk, and asks for comfortable shoes. Duration is on the live listing, so reasonable stamina helps.
• Pay the subway. Subway fare is not included, so budget for the rides to Brooklyn and back. Tips and gratuities are also excluded.
• Optional DUMBO finish. The group splits at the end of the evening. The guide gets off at DUMBO with those who want the skyline view, while anyone who prefers can stay on the subway and head back with directions provided.
• Guides and languages. Tours run in English, and the guide identifies the group with a flag at the meeting point. Reviewers describe the guides as friendly, informative and entertaining.
• Bring a camera. The listing lists a camera among what to bring. Between the Dyker Heights displays and the optional DUMBO skyline view, there is plenty to photograph after dark.

Common issues. The subway ride out to the neighborhood felt long to one reviewer, and another felt the guide added little beyond directions for getting there by metro. There is no hotel pickup, and subway fare, tips and gratuities are extra. The tour involves a long walk in cold weather, which the listing itself flags, so it demands reasonable stamina and warm clothing.

Decisions To Make Before You Book