The 14 Festive Evening Experiences That Earn Their Price

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

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

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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2.Funchal: Christmas Lights Sightseeing Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 145 reviews · 1h 15m · from $41

Ride through Funchal’s decorated old town, cathedral, market, gardens, central square, and hotel district in a private open-top VW Beetle. Guides such as Miguel and Rodolfo add local stories, with hotel or cruise-terminal pickup and drop-off included.

“Fabulous way to see the Christmas lights with a very knowledgeable guide”

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3.Bastille Day Special Evening Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 83 reviews · 2 hours · from $224

Board at Port de Solférino for a two-hour Bastille Day dinner cruise with a three-course French meal, Champagne, wine, water, and coffee. You’ll pass the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, bridges, and illuminated Paris, with a chance to watch the national fireworks from the Seine.

“Terrible experience, awful food and different from what was advertised when purchasing the tickets. We bought the dinner option with veal and were served duck liver pâté and a piece of guinea fowl, and the portions were tiny for the very expensive price we paid. The only good thing was the super attentive waiters, because the guy who checked the table reservations was also rude. I do not recommend this boat; you can find better and cheaper boat tours.”

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4.Funchal Christmas lights sightseeing night tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $42Top rated

Ride through Funchal in a classic open-top Volkswagen Beetle while a local guide such as Rudolph, Rodolfo, Miguel, or Michael points out the city’s Christmas displays. The private 75-minute tour includes hotel pickup in Funchal and passes the Farmers Market, Old Town, and decorated hotel districts.

“We had a great time. Our driver was knowledgeable and willing to help first time visitors learn a little about Funchal while enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights!”

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5.Salzburg Christmas Eve Tour to the Silent Night Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 35 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $90

Leave central Salzburg at 3 pm by coach for Oberndorf, where you can browse Christmas stalls, learn the story of *Silent Night*, and attend a multilingual Christmas Eve service. Expect cold weather, crowds, outdoor standing, and a moving finale at the chapel.

“Last time I went was about 20 years ago. Maybe 200-300 people. A mass, then singing of Christmas carols and finally singing Silent Night by all in the crowd. Now, bus loads of people can't hardly move. No more mass only the story of the composition of the song. When they finally got around to singing Silent Night, no one in the horde sang, only the local choir. Better off staying in Salzburg and attending church in one of the many spectacular churches in the town.”

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6.Silent Night Oberndorf Christmas Eve Tour from Salzburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 32 reviews · 4 hours · from $88

From Salzburg, join an English or German speaking guide for a four hour Christmas Eve visit to Oberndorf. Walk beside the Salzach, learn how Silent Night began, then join candlelit festivities and sing the carol in several languages. Dress warmly, as much of the service takes place outdoors.

“Great communication, our tour guide Kylie was awesome. She had such a great and fun energy. Not too much to see once the service got going and as predicted it was super cold but such a lovely thing to do on Christmas Eve. Really enjoyed it.”

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7.London Christmas Eve Illuminations Guided Tour by Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $80

Spend Christmas Eve touring London’s illuminated landmarks by comfortable coach. An English-speaking guide shares stories as you pass Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, and St Paul’s Cathedral. The tour lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes.

“The tour guide and entire experience was amazing!!! We got information on the history of Christmas lights in some of London’s most iconic areas and were treated to a bottle of mulled wine!”

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8.Viva’s Big Christmas Show Night Out! Christmas’s Party Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $31Best value

Spend a festive evening at Viva Blackpool, with doors opening at 6pm for food and drinks before a Christmas party show at about 8pm. Expect comedy, singers, dancers, seasonal songs, party numbers, and host Leye D Johns. The experience lasts about three hours and is for ages 16 and over.

“Came to Blackpool for our Christmas do, and safe to say I was pleasently surprised. Entertainment was outstanding and a really good laugh. Staff were spot on and couldn't help enough. Would recommend.”

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9.Christmas Light Night tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 9 reviews · from $79

Leave Midtown at 7 PM by minibus for Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge, where oversized Santas, glowing stars, reindeer, and lavish home displays light up Brooklyn. An Italian-speaking guide leads the evening, with Emanuela praised for helpful New York tips.

“Molto bello ed emozionante per una persona che ha sempre sognato di vedere le luci di Natale in America…. Da precisare la guida Emanuela veramnte molto brava e preparata, ci ha dato delle chicche molto utili per il nostro viaggio a New York 🥰 Grazie Rocco & Rosa”

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10.Night Holiday Lights and Cocoa Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 6 reviews · 1h 30m · from $110

Board a decorated 1920s-style yacht at Chelsea Piers for a 90-minute holiday cruise. From the heated grand salon or open deck, see Lower Manhattan, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty at night. Your ticket includes one beverage, with snacks and extra drinks sold onboard.

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11.Malaga: Christmas Night Tour and Lights with Tuk Tuk

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 5 reviews · 1 hour · from $35

Ride a 100% electric tuk-tuk through Malaga for one hour, stopping at Gibralfaro views, La Malagueta, Malaga Park, Atarazanas Market, and the Picasso Museum. Your driver-guide explains the route in English, Spanish, French, or Arabic, with Christmas music and room for eight people.

“The guide was very friendly and informative. I expected a tour billeted as a Christmas tour to include more Christmas-focused sites. It was also cold, and blankets were not provided or offered, which made it less comfortable.”

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12.3-Night Christmas City Break in Cairo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $604

You’ll spend four days in Cairo with private airport transfers, three hotel nights, daily breakfast, and an English-speaking guide. Visit Giza’s Great Pyramid and Sphinx, then see Tutankhamun’s mask and other treasures at the Egyptian Museum. Mohammud is one guide the company has used on past tours.

“We enjoyed our 14 day tour of Giza, Cairo, Luxor, Aswan,Nile Cruise, Abu Simbal and Hurghada. Lady Egypt Representatives meet us at the airport and we’re with us thru the duration of our stay. We wanted for nothing. I would highly recommend them. Gavin and Maryann Duffie. December 2022”

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13.London Christmas Lights Private Night Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $362

Join professional Fine Art photographer Lou for a three-hour private walk through London's Christmas lights. Learn night photography at Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, Soho, Carnaby Street, and Oxford Street, using your own camera and receiving practical help with settings, framing, and light trails.

“Despite the damp conditions, I had a brilliant evening of tuition, guidance, advice and support making a real difference to the images I captured (and will capture in the future). Many thanks Lou, thoroughly recommend this.”

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14.Ultimate NYC Christmas Lights At Night Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $48

Join Daria, a 20-plus-year New Yorker and former window-display artist for Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, and Macy’s, on a three-hour night walk from Herald Square to Bloomingdale’s. You’ll see major holiday windows, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park Market, and festive Fifth Avenue sights. Wear warm clothes and good shoes.

“Daria’s Christmas window tour was absolutely magical! As a New Yorker, I’ve always loved the holiday windows, but hearing the history and insider stories made it such a unique and special experience. A perfect festive night out with friends—I’d recommend it to both locals and visitors!”

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