Mechanical window displays, synchronized light, and sound shows, not to mention Santa Claus and toy soldiers surely await you in this winter wonderland.
All tickets include a donation to New York City's Toys for Tots. Lighting and window displays we visit on the New York Holiday Lights Tour:
Mechanical Window Displays: Marvel at the enchanting mechanical window displays that captivate audiences every year.
Synchronized Light & Sound Shows: Enjoy the brilliant synchronized light and sound shows that bring the city to life.
See Santa Claus & Toy Soldiers: Get into the festive spirit with exciting encounters with Santa Claus and toy soldiers.
Iconic Lighting & Window Displays:
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Saks Fifth Ave
Macy’s Herald Square
Barneys
Bergdorf Goodman
Tiffany & Co.
Experience the magic of New York City’s holiday season on a 2-hour walking tour featuring the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the dazzling Fifth Avenue window displays.
Our New York Christmas Lights Tour is perfect for holiday enthusiasts eager to witness the city's iconic festive displays.
We're proud supporters of New York City Toys for Tots (we've donated over $18K since we started in 2018!) and every ticket includes a donation.
Guests get a close up spot to see the ornaments and decorations on the Rockefeller Holiday Tree.
Easily recommendable! To see the places where real history took place and to learn of real people who came from Harlem and made changes in the world was very interesting and valuable. Lady Altovise knew her stuff! She was fun and engaging while telling true and inspirational stories. Gives me pride for Harlem and our country. A tour to do while you’re in NY!
I took a Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO sightseeing tour with Renee from Tours by Foot, and she was absolutely incredible. As a New Yorker, I’m always curious to learn more about my own city, and I feel like I hit the jackpot with Renee as my guide. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating history and stories.
In one fantastic walk over the bridge, I learned far more than I expected to in just a few hours. I highly recommend Renee to anyone looking for a memorable, informative, and enjoyable sightseeing experience.
Michael was a fantastic tour guide. His enthusiasm and knowledge was so appreciated by all of us. He is definitely a great ambassador for the best of NYC.
Had the best experience with Lady Altovise on her Saturday afternoon tour of Harlem. My mother discovered her on YouTube and booked her for us to experience while my parents visited. I’ve lived in Harlem for 10 years and still learned so much. She was amazing!
Lady Altovise did an outstanding & professional tour of Harlem! The Soul of Harlem Stroll: History & Heritage Tour was so entertaining and informative! You must take it if you’re visiting NYC! ATL Fans!
Great overall experience. Miss Altovise was fun, funny, knowledgeable, welcoming during this walking tour. It was a beautiful day and we were able to see lots of sites, people, and street entertainment throughout the trip. She welcomes questions which was fun!
Altovise was AMAZING!!! We have been in NYC for five days and have taken multiple walking tours of the city, but this was by far the most entertaining and enlightening tour we took! We could not recommend Altovise enough!
Lady has been a really great tour guide. Her vibe and her knowledge make her an amazing professional. She knows the neighborhood, and the neighborhood knows her!
We took this tour through Brooklyn and it was amazing! Even though I knew the neighborhood I had no idea of the amount of history and fun facts I’ve learned. I’ll take more of these tours when I return to NYC. Renee was a delight and so knowledgeable!
Renee’s Brooklyn tour was really terrific! She is knowledgeable, warm and down to earth. We learned a ton and had so much fun! We hope to take her Greenwich Village tour too!
This late review is about the Greenwich Village Neighborhood Tour I joined back in June 2024. The guide Renee was awesome! She was fun and knowledgeable. She knew a lot about the neighbourhood and could give us direction very precisely. I joined the Chinatown tour by another company and it was boring...Renee's pace was not too fast but we still got to visit different places. She also educated us with local social etiquette. I really enjoy her tour. PS. If you are a fan of Friends, you will walk pass the building which the show used as transition.
The Tour with Michael was great. If you want to get information about New York and his buildings he is the one you should ask. Great Tour, greate gut.
Highly recommended.
Such an incredible tour! Super interesting, with so many important historical details. We loved every second of it. Our tour guide was so fun and knowledgeable, would highly highly recommend booking!
Michael was fantastic! He went far beyond just a tour and was able to answer a variety of questions from our group! I highly recommend him and this tour!
Join Tours by Foot as we experience the holidays in the city that only New York can offer.
We will take advantage of the subway to beat the street traffic, keep warm, and catch some underground holiday music.
Learn about the artists and backgrounds of these wonderful displays, including the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
We end our tour at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree!
Lighting and window displays we visit on the New York Holiday Lights Tour:
Mechanical Window Displays: Marvel at the enchanting mechanical window displays that captivate audiences every year.
Synchronized Light & Sound Shows: Enjoy the brilliant synchronized light and sound shows that bring the city to life.
See Santa Claus & Toy Soldiers: Get into the festive spirit with exciting encounters with Santa Claus and toy soldiers.
See the famous Macy's windows!
Iconic Lighting & Window Displays:
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Saks Fifth Ave
Macy’s Herald Square
Barneys
Bergdorf Goodman
Tiffany & Co.
And much more!
See marvelous store front displays in Midtown Manhattan. (Specific stores and displays vary by year)
If you prefer to stay warm, there’s also an On Location Tours Holiday Lights & Movie Sites bus tour. Get more information on the bus tour version here.
Tour information
This tour is NOT wheelchair accessible. We cannot accommodate wheelchairs or non-foldable strollers.
The tour runs at 7 PM daily. Additional time slots will be posted as needed (no tour on New Year's Eve).
Approximately 2 hours.
Please have a Subway Metro card with enough value for one subway ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a walking tour or a bus tour?
It’s a walking tour through Midtown Manhattan with one quick subway hop to avoid traffic and stay warm. We focus on Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center — no bus required!
What will we see on the NYC Christmas Lights Tour?
Expect Fifth Avenue’s famous holiday windows — Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue’s illuminated façade, Tiffany & Co., and more (the lineup changes each year).
We’ll also see St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Bryant Park’s Winter Village when open, and end at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Where do we meet and end?
We meet in front of the New York Public Library lions at Fifth Avenue & 41st Street. The tour ends at Rockefeller Center near the Christmas Tree and skating rink.
Is the Saks Fifth Avenue light show included?
We view Saks’ holiday windows and festive façade lighting as part of the Fifth Avenue displays.
The synchronized light show varies by year—if it’s running, we’ll definitely catch it!
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Due to crowded sidewalks, narrow curbs, and a short subway ride involving stairs, this tour isn’t wheelchair accessible.
Guests with foldable strollers are welcome.
What time does the tour run?
Tours usually start at 7:00 PM each night during the season, with extra departures on peak dates in December.
Check the booking calendar for the latest times and availability.
And much, much more
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