If you live in Brooklyn or visit New York during Christmas, one of the most popular attractions to enjoy during the wintertime is the Dyker Heights Christmas lights display. Every year around this time, people flock to catch a glimpse of these beautiful lights. Our ultimate guide will tell you everything you need to know about Dyker Heights and their Christmas Lights Festival so that when December rolls around, you have no problem navigating your way through the crowds and enjoying it as much as possible!
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”QAYEq45j” upload-date=”2021-11-14T09:32:23.000Z” name=”VIDEO: The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour ” description=”” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
5 Amazing Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours
Thinking about taking a Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour? But which Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour is the best? We’ve done several of these tours during the Christmas season and here are our experiences and recommendations.
These are the Best Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours 2023
You have a choice of several tours – what they have in common is that they start in Manhattan and go all the way to Dyker Heights. Since the streets are too narrow for buses, the guide will lead you through the neighborhood on foot.
What are the differences between the various Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tours? On the way back to Manhattan, some stop at the Brooklyn Bridge, others at Bryant Park Winter Village or at the famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.
My tip
Since the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours are one of the most popular activities at Christmas time, tickets are often sold out quickly. Your best bet is to directly purchase the tickets in advance online. So, grab your tickets, admire the area around Dyker Heights in Brooklyn and enjoy the holiday spirit to the fullest!
Details on each Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour
Looking for more details? Here we go:
-
01
From Manhattan: 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour
Bus Tour
in
Dyker HeightsOur Highlight
This tour through the Christmas Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn is one of the most popular and most booked tours at Christmas time in New York. In front of the Row NYC Hotel (45th Street and 8th Avenue) you will be picked up by a bus and drive over one of New York’s bridges to Brooklyn – you will have a wonderful view of the New York skyline. Once in Dyker Heights, you will be guided by a guide through the main streets with the most beautiful Christmas lights. The next stop is the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO (about 25 minutes) – the tour ends at Bryant Park Winter Village with the famous ice skating rink. The Dyker Heights tour is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit!
-
02
From Manhattan: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Bus Tour
Bus Tour
in
Dyker HeightsOur Highlight
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights bus tour starts in Manhattan and takes you past Battery Park to Brooklyn – and there to the most famous neighborhood for Christmas lights: Dyker Heights. As with many other Dyker Heights tours, you will be guided through the illuminated streets. What makes this tour special is the stop at the Brooklyn Bridge on the way back. From here you can see the beautiful Manhattan skyline before you reach Times Square at the end of the tour.
-
03
NYC Christmas Lights Limousine Tour – Dyker Heights in Brooklyn
Other Tours
in
Theatre District
This private tour with guide and limousine is the most exclusive Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour ever! You will be picked up at the hotel and then you will start towards Brooklyn. On the way you will see the Brooklyn Bridge and of course the beautifully decorated Dyker Heights.
Another highlight is the stop at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Especially for families this tour is interesting, because you book the limousine (it offers space for 6 people) for you alone!
-
04
3.5-Hour Brooklyn Christmas Magic Tour from Manhattan
Other Tours
in
Dyker Heights
In the Dyker Heights district, countless beautifully decorated houses await you, which could not be more colorful and glittering. The Dyker Heights tour is considered one of the best Christmas tours in New York and promises the typical New York Christmas atmosphere from the perspective of the locals. First you take the hop on hop off bus (pick up at the Empire State Building or Trip Hotel NYC in Manhattan) to Dyker Heights – there you get off and can explore the neighborhood with an experienced guide.
-
05
From Manhattan: 4-Hour Christmas Lights Luxury Bus Tour
Bus Tour
in
Dyker Heights
The Dyker Heights tour takes you from Greeley Park (33rd Street between 6th Avenue & Broadway, that’s near the Empire State Building) with a luxury bus to Brooklyn, where you can admire the many decorated houses. The next stop is the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, from where you will have a sensational view of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. The tour ends at Rockefeller Center, where you will see the famous Christmas tree!
What Is the History Behind Dyker Heights?
Dyker Heights is a residential neighborhood that was created in the late 1800s by a wealthy housing developer named Walter Johnson. He named his community Dyker heights after the Dyker Beach and Meadow that the development overlooks.
Dyker Heights Brooklyn is charming and historical, with most homes still maintaining the original architecture, all while avoiding influence from apartment buildings or condos desiring to move into this community. In fact, most of the houses on the block are originals.
The neighborhood sits on a hill between Bay Ridge, Gravesend Bay, Borough Park, and Bensonhurst. The area is surrounded by 7th and 14th avenues, Belt Parkway and 65th Street. Due to their Christmas lights tradition, Dyker Heights has become a notable attraction for New Yorkers to visit during the holiday season.
The History Behind Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Festival
There are many stories surrounding the Dyker Heights Christmas lights festival tradition, with the oldest one dating back to the early 1940s. However, the real story began with one of the original residents, Lucy Spata, who decorated every inch of her house on 84th street with Christmas lights in the 1980s. Every year for the next 40 years, they’ve continued to decorate their home, adding something new every year.
When neighbors saw the extensive light displays, they started to decorate their own homes. It slowly grew throughout the neighborhood, with every house engaging in a friendly competition to out-decorate each other. Today, more than 150,000 people visit Dyker Heights every year to enjoy the stunning light displays spanning over multiple blocks.
When To Visit The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights begin the day after Thanksgiving and run through New Year’s Eve. The neighborhood will start to turn on the lights around sunset every evening and keep them on until around 10 pm.
Although this area becomes more congested with people as you head into the winter holiday season, many visitors feel that going during these few weeks before Christmas provides them with their most magical memories.
It’s best to visit Dyker Heights during the weekday to get the most out of your visit!
This popular attraction is the busiest during the weekend, so try to avoid this time frame if you have the ability to visit on a less-trafficked day.
Insider Tips to Dyker Heights
If you’re ready to make the most of your trip to Dyker Heights, we’ve got you covered. Follow our insider tips below to ensure you’re not missing out on any of the beautiful light displays.
- While the lights are officially “turned on” the day after Thanksgiving, not every house will be decked out with Christmas displays. If you want the full experience, it’s best to wait until the first week of December to view the Christmas lights.
- You’ll also want to go after a snowfall since most of these houses consist of bright LED string lights that really stand out against the snowy background.
- Expect lots of walking and cooler weather when you visit. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and extra layers to stay warm and comfortable during your visit.
- Most of the homes feature some type of donation box next to the lights display as a way to give back to their communities. Make sure to bring change or cash with you if you plan to support these fundraisers.
Whether you’re visiting the city for a few days or staying here all season, you need to see the Dyker Heights lights to make your holiday experience as cozy and memorable as possible. Check out our top recommendations for Dyker Heights Christmas tours to ensure you have an incredible experience with this yearly tradition.
Enjoy The Dyker Heights Brooklyn Christmas Lights!
