4-Hour Lights And Markets Walk

New York City Christmas Holiday Lights and Markets Walking Tour. Rated 4.3 across 62 reviews. Runs 4 hours. From $59.

Overview

This four hour walk from Inside Out Tours starts at the main entrance of the Shops at Columbus Circle and finishes at Bryant Park, crossing Manhattan during the Christmas season. A guide leads the group past department store window displays, through traditional holiday markets, and by spots associated with familiar Christmas movies. Along the way the route touches Columbus Circle, Central Park, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Terminal.

The shape of the tour is part browsing, part walking. Time is set aside at markets for locally made crafts and specialty food, and the itinerary lists optional traditional Christmas food and warm drinks, meaning you buy those yourself if you want them. Stops at the markets, the Rockefeller Center tree and rink, and the Christmas Cottage, described as the oldest Christmas shop in the city, give the tour its shopping backbone. Entry is free at every listed stop.

It suits travellers with moderate fitness who like covering ground on foot and do not mind crowds. The group can run to as many as 30 people, and reviewers often mention heavy foot traffic around the popular stops. Anyone hoping to linger long at every market may find the schedule restrictive, but those wanting a guided sweep of Manhattan's holiday highlights in one afternoon get exactly that.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Columbus CircleMeet your guide at the main entrance of the Shops at Columbus Circle, Deutsche Bank Center, 10 Columbus Circle. Start time is 15:00.
2. The Shops at Columbus CircleA 10 minute stop inside the shops, with free admission.
3. Columbus CircleSpend 30 minutes at Columbus Circle, free admission.
4. Central ParkA 10 minute walk into Central Park, free admission.
5. Fifth Avenue20 minutes along Fifth Avenue, passing by Bergdorf Goodman and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Free admission.
6. Rockefeller Center30 minutes at Rockefeller Center, including the famous Christmas tree and skating rink, with Saks Fifth Avenue passed by. Free admission.
7. Bryant Park30 minutes at Bryant Park, free admission.
8. Grand Central Terminal30 minutes inside Grand Central Terminal, free admission.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from people who have taken this walk will help you prepare for a crowded December afternoon in Midtown.

• Pace and fitness. The listing asks for a moderate level of physical fitness, and several reviewers described covering a lot of ground. Expect a steady walking pace with fixed time limits at each stop, which range from 10 to 30 minutes.
• Market time is limited. The itinerary gives each stop a set duration, so plan to buy fast or come back later on your own if a market tempts you. One reviewer reported friction after asking for extra time at the markets, so expect the schedule to guide the day.
• Crowds and timing. One reviewer found Saturday night rough, with long lines making it hard to see much within the allotted time, and recommended a weeknight instead. Booking a weekday may give a calmer walk.
• Do not buy a metro card. One reviewer warned that the tour does not use the subway. You only walk into Grand Central to look around, so a transit pass is unnecessary for this tour.
• Food and drink. Food is not included and drinks are optional extras you pay for yourself. The listing mentions optional traditional Christmas food and warm drinks at the markets, so bring cash or a card if you want to try them.
• Stay close to the guide. With up to 30 travellers and heavy foot traffic, it is easy to lose the group. One reviewer was left behind before Fifth Avenue, and others praised guides who kept everyone together. Keep an eye on your guide, especially at market stops.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, per the listing. Group size can reach 30, which in December crowds can make it hard to keep up or see everything within the time allowed; two reviewers reported being separated from or abandoned by their guide, and one said a weekend visit was badly affected by lines and crowds. No food, drinks, or gratuities are included, and hotel pickup is not provided. Gratuities are at your discretion.

Decisions To Make Before You Book