The 6 Festive History Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Christmas in New York: Private Holiday History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 107 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $165Our pick

Walk from Herald Square to Grand Army Plaza with a private guide who explains how New York shaped Christmas traditions. You’ll see Macy’s, Bryant Park, Fifth Avenue displays, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and sites tied to the Rockettes, at a relaxed pace with time for questions.

“Had a great time learned so much from one tour guide to another well done my friend looking forward to seeing you again perhaps in Philly -Highly recommend you will be amazed thanks Kevin !”

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2.Historic Christmas tour of Lübeck

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 47 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $17Best value

Meet under Lübeck’s Holsten Gate for a 90-minute outdoor tour through the old town and Christmas market. A costumed guide may appear as merchant’s wife Veckinchusen, a Hanseatic merchant, or Dr. Grabow from Buddenbrooks, sharing Advent customs and local legends in German.

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3.New Year’s Eve Drinks, History and Ball Drop Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 11 reviews · 8 hours · from $350

Start at Grand Central and follow New York’s Prohibition story through three bars and speakeasies. You’ll get drinks at the first two stops, a four-hour open bar, food snacks, and a 54th Street viewing area for the ball drop. Guides may include Arial, Ryan, or Rory.

“I want to be as fair as possible. The staff were amazing, and the drinks package was great, as were the bars they took us to. A fair bit of walking, but doable. The thing that I was most dissatisfied with was the distance we were from Times Square. My fault for not investigating this thoroughly before I booked it. We were way too far away, in my opinion. If I had known this, I would not have booked it. I honestly thought we would be in Times Square, so when midnight arrived, I was very disappointed.”

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4.Walking Tour of Historic Dresden with a Christmas Touch. Small group tour.

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $25

Walk Dresden’s old center in a small group of up to 17, tracing its medieval, Baroque, wartime, and postwar story with guides such as Karen and Lawrence. See the Zwinger, Frauenkirche area, Procession of Princes, and Brühl’s Terrace, then finish near the Striezelmarkt for Stollen and Glühwein tips.

“She was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She very easy to hear. Gave some interesting facts about the buildings since she had architectural background.”

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5.Lübeck: Christmas Market and Historical City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews

Join a private English or German walking tour through Lübeck’s Christmas city. Start at Holsten Gate, visit the St. Petri crafts market, Town Hall market, and Marien Church market, and shape the pace around your group.

“The tour was absolutely great. The city guide absolutely infected us with her enthusiasm. It was informative without giving too many "metrics". Anytime again.”

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6.Festive Faro: Historic Christmas Lights & Market Delights

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 2 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $396

Start at Faro’s Arco do Repouso and follow a festive route through the cathedral area, Largo da Sé, the Chapel of Bones, Jardim da Praça Silva Porto, and Faro Municipal Market. Sophia is named as a guide, but confirm the vehicle and Christmas market details before paying the high per-person price.

“Do not book this trip. There is no Christmas tour in Faro. Sophia our tour guide was fabulous and improvised to accommodate the false advertising of this tour. We paid $400 for a 2 hour tuk tuk tour. RIP off”

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