Christmas Trips · CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TOURS

The 15 Best Christmas Lights Tours

104 tours  ·  from $11 a head

The switch-on is the show, and the only real question is what you watch it from. These 15 compare open decks, walking loops and the Brooklyn bus runs on price, length and how much of the route is actually lit.

London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide - What you see on the route
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London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide

1.Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5,410 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $33Our pick

See Regent Street, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the London Eye, and Big Ben on a 60 to 90 minute evening bus tour. A live English-speaking guide such as Shaun, Emma, or Ethan adds London history, jokes, and photo tips. Choose an open-top view or the warmer lower deck.

“It was amazing despite the cold. The tour guide gave full information and the bus wasn’t crowded took many pretty pics”

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From Manhattan: 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour - Meeting in Midtown and settling onto the bus
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From Manhattan: 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour

2.4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,426 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Ride from Midtown Manhattan to Dyker Heights on a modern coach, then walk for about an hour among spectacular Christmas displays. Guides such as Matt, Antonio, and Jorge add New York stories along the way. Finish with skyline and Brooklyn Bridge views at DUMBO before returning to Bryant Park.

“Excellent, mick was a fab tour guide, very informative about the tour and city! Really enjoyed our time”

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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide - Starting beside the London Eye
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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

3.London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,040 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Ride from the London Eye through The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Big Ben. A live English-speaking guide provides history, jokes, and Christmas facts. Arrive early for the best open-top seats, dress warmly, and expect traffic delays.

“We loved our London Christmas lights tour! It was freezing cold on the top level, but it was worth it! We loved seeing the lights and sights of London without being on the ground in the large crowds! We learned a lot, our tour guide was amazing!”

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NYC: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour - Battery Park City brings the first big view
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NYC: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour

4.Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,192 reviews · 4 hours · from $69

Ride from Midtown to Dyker Heights with a live English or German-speaking guide, then walk among Brooklyn’s famous Christmas displays. The tour also stops at Battery Park City and Brooklyn Bridge Park for sunset and skyline photos. Guides such as Stefan and Glen add city stories along the way.

“Stefan and Mr George were great! was after a unique tour and was not disappointed, got some great photos and stories from our guide. Definitely recommend”

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London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top - Starting outside the Grand Hotel
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London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top

5.London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,132 reviews · 1h 15m · from $37

Ride a classic 1960s Routemaster around central London for up to 75 minutes, with a guaranteed top-deck seat and an English-speaking guide. Expect Oxford Street lights, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, grand department-store windows, Christmas music, jokes, and chilly open-air views.

“Absolutely fantastic well worth the money and fabulous way to see all of London at Christmas”

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Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Tour - What the one-hour Dyker Heights walk feels like
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Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Tour

6.Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 920 reviews · 3 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $63

Ride from Midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn with a local guide, walk Dyker Heights for an hour of extravagant decorations, pause for Brooklyn Bridge views, then finish at Bryant Park Winter Village. Guides such as Jorge, Gary, Mike, and Antonio add city stories along the way.

“I have mixed feelings about this tour. Objectively, the tour operating company was good. Easy to locate and get on the tour bus. Our driver was fantastic. Wayne navigated the traffic and streets safely. Our tour guide Jimmy was awesome. I loved all of the knowledge he gave us. My husband and I talked about it for hours afterwards. He is truly passionate and an amazing guide. I would love to have him on a historical walking tour! Where I am torn is on some of the logistics. First, you get a bathroom break early on in the drive, you stop and have a few minutes before heading to Dyker…”

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New York City: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour - Starting in Midtown and crossing Manhattan
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New York City: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour

7.Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 838 reviews · 4 hours · from $46

Ride from Midtown Manhattan through Hudson Yards and Brooklyn to Dyker Heights, where you walk among lavish Christmas displays. Guides such as Jay, Jorge, Tanya, and Emily add local history and humor, while stops at Bay Ridge and DUMBO provide skyline views. Spanish and English tours are available.

“Augustine was a good tour guide in making sure everyone was in attendance following along. His light saber was a great idea and was able to be seen from a distance. I appreciated the bus and the bus driver Amari because it was cold outside and to have a warm bus available to take us to and back was convenient. The Christmas music was great. I was thinking it would be nice if there were some Christmas snacks. But overall, it was worth the bus ride in the cold with Bay Ridge and DUMBO included.”

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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus - St James’s, Piccadilly Circus, and the Anteros lights
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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus

8.Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 770 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $48

Ride an open-top 1960s Routemaster from Embankment through the West End, passing Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Big Ben, and the London Eye. English-speaking guides such as Rory, Lola, and Katie add seasonal facts, jokes, and music.

“We all really enjoyed the tour and Lola was a great guide.”

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Dyker Heights Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour - The Midtown departure and ride to Brooklyn
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Dyker Heights Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour

9.Dyker Heights Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 591 reviews · from $60

Ride from Midtown Manhattan to Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge with a professional guide, then walk among extravagant Christmas displays before a Brooklyn Bridge or DUMBO photo stop. Guides such as Camila, Daniel, Steve, and Alan are known for lively commentary, music, and local stories.

“It’s was beautiful very beautiful place, but every year it’s more and more people on the street. The bus was nice, The tour guide was cheerful, joked a lot, and stopped us at beautiful locations.”

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Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour - Walking through Dyker Heights after dark
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Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour

10.Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 270 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $95

Ride from midtown Manhattan through Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, then walk Dyker Heights with guides such as Dave, Fred, or Jay. You’ll see decorated homes, take skyline photos at Fulton Ferry Landing, visit Washington Square Park, and finish by Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree.

“I expected more. The tour itself was nice but I think overpriced. Although some of the Christmas decorations were nice I have seen better in Austin neighborhoods. The bus had loud rattling buzzing noises so we couldn’t hear clearly what was being said by the tour guide. I did not use the bathroom on board but overhead several people grumble about no running water.”

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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus - Oxford Street: The Big Opening Display
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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

11.Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 245 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $43

Ride through central London for 90 minutes beneath the Christmas lights of Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Knightsbridge. Your English-speaking guide points out Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and other landmarks. Guides have included Clive, Toby, and Frank, though the upper deck and route are not guaranteed.

“Best experience ever especially after we had terrible experience at another tour operated by the classic tour. Great driver and very professional and experienced guide. Our family and our friend family had a great time.”

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New York City Christmas Lights Private Horse Carriage Ride - Rockefeller Center and the Christmas Tree
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New York City Christmas Lights Private Horse Carriage Ride

12.New York City Christmas Lights Private Horse Carriage Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 237 reviews · 45 to 50 minutes (approx.)

Spend 45 to 50 minutes in a private horse carriage for up to four people, beginning in Central Park and continuing along Fifth Avenue. Your driver points out holiday displays, Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center. Blankets are supplied, and drivers such as Omer, Atakan, and Muhammad may stop for photos.

“Had a wonderful evening carriage ride to see the Christmas lights on Christmas evening. Atakan was our driver and Freddie was our horse. Atakan did an awesome job showing us the window displays and light shows. Great vantage point without being in the crowds. My husband and I were given a blanket to keep warm in the temps and the selected Christmas music was perfect. Atakan took our photo while in the carriage and got to take a few pics with Freddie afterward and even fed him a couple of carrots. It was the quintessential NYC experience. Highly recommend! A must do activity. Thank you Atakan & Freddie!”

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London: Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour - Starting at Embankment Station and Bus Stop 40B
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London: Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour

13.Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 233 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $43

Ride an open-top bus from Embankment through London’s Christmas-lit West End, passing Trafalgar Square, St James’s, Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Whitehall, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Festive music plays on board, and you can finish at Trafalgar Square’s Christmas market.

“Işıklı caddelerin çoğundan geçmedi. Aynı yerde dönüp durdu. Parasına kesinlikle değmez.”

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London: Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour incl walking tours - Regent Street, where the lights take center stage
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London: Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour incl walking tours

14.Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour incl walking tours

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 227 reviews · from $45

Ride from Coventry Street through Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Oxford Street, Marble Arch, and Grosvenor Square. You get a one-hour Christmas lights tour, English live commentary, audio in 10 languages, Wi-Fi, a festive playlist, and app-based walking tours.

“Not great if you don't speak English. We are bothered by the noise the guide makes with his microphone and we can't hear the audio through the headphones which barely work. We also spend more time in traffic jams and are stuck in place for an hour, in short I don't recommend it.”

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From Manhattan: 4-Hour Christmas Lights Luxury Bus Tour - The ride begins at Greeley Square Park
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From Manhattan: 4-Hour Christmas Lights Luxury Bus Tour

15.4-Hour Christmas Lights Luxury Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 222 reviews · 4 hours · from $95

Ride a heated bus from Herald Square through Manhattan to Dyker Heights, then walk past lavish Christmas displays with a licensed NYC guide. Guides such as Fred, Ray, Dave, and Jared are known for city stories. The evening includes Brooklyn Bridge Park and a finish near Rockefeller Center.

“Tom, Dave and Richie the driver were absolute stars. Tom your knowledge and one liners had us in stitches. You're a brilliant tour guide! Thanks to all of you for looking after my mother-in-law too, really appreciated! see you again when we're in New York!”

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New in Christmas Lights Tours

★ 4.5From Santiago: Christmas Lights of Vigo And PontevedraFrom $536 reviews
★ 5.0Dyker Heights Holiday LightsFrom $473 reviews
★ 4.9Denver: Holiday Lights & Sights Bus TourFrom $428 reviews
★ 4.8Christmas market lights tour bus through Berlin, free mulled wine (2.5 hours)From $326 reviews
★ 5.0Christmas Lights Taxi Tour with Hotel Pickup6 reviews
★ 4.7Christmas in Santiago de Compostela: a tour among lights and stoneFrom $114 reviews
★ 4.7Christmas in New York: Skip-the-Line Holiday Lights TourFrom $1394 reviews
★ 5.0Christmas in New York: Iconic Holiday Lights TourFrom $1402 reviews
★ 4.5Lights of Joy Christmas Drive-Thru11 reviews
★ 3.5Holiday Lights Trolley Tour12 reviews
★ 5.0Philadelphia Holiday Lights Private 2.5 Hour Driving TourFrom $6913 reviews
Holiday Lights Trolley Tour BYOBFrom $608 reviews
★ 4.5Longwood Gardens Holiday Lights Tour from PhiladelphiaFrom $1498 reviews
★ 5.0Holiday Lights Walk Tour Hibiya Midtown Tokyo Station MarunouchiFrom $266 reviews
★ 5.02h Xmas Lights Panoramic Vespa Sidecar TourFrom $11815 reviews

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Christmas Bus & Trolley Tours35Christmas Walking Tours43Horse Carriage Rides10Winter Wonderland & Ice Rinks22City Tours15
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