Christmas Walking Tours in the USA: Our 15 Picks for December

1.Brooklyn: Dyker Heights Christmas Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 249 reviews · 1h 30m · from $21Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Gigi’s Bakery, then walk about three miles through Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. You’ll see the neighborhood’s most elaborate Christmas displays, hear about Lucy Spata and local decorating traditions, and learn the unwritten rules behind the lights. Guides have included Derek, Max, Nick, Nic, and Catherine.

“I am already a Brooklynite, but I wanted to take my LOs out to see the lights which they actually enjoyed. Even though the weather was not up to part, the light displays and big houses trumped that aspect. Thank you to our tour guide Catherine, who was knowledgeable of the history of Dyker Heights and Brooklyn and made the experience even more exciting.”

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2.New York Christmas Holiday Small-Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 69 reviews · from $28

Start at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 6 pm and walk through Midtown’s brightest holiday sights with a local guide. You’ll see Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Fifth Avenue, Bryant Park’s market, the Diamond District, and Macy’s Herald Square. Guides such as Gabby, Cameron, Luke, and Patrick add history and help manage the holiday crowds.

“The tour was amazing! Lots of interesting history and we hit all the hot spots! Lots of time for pictures at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree & other highlights. Our tour guide Gabby was Terrific! She made the tour so interesting with fun facts and managed to keep our group together in the packed holiday crowds. 10+++ review out of 10”

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3.Chicago-Style Holiday Hike: Festive Food and Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · from $84Top rated

Walk central Chicago with a local guide such as Mickey, Brooke, Julia, or Lillian, stopping for deep-dish pizza, a brownie, a Chicago hot dog or Italian beef, cider, and holiday sights. The three-hour tour is limited to 15 people and includes quick access to Christkindlmarket, Millennium Park, and State Street displays.

“We really loved this tour. Brooke was knowledgeable with great energy. Loved her! One suggestion. During holidays when kriskrindlmarket cups are available, serve last stop hot chocolate in them for people taking tour.”

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4.Brooklyn Christmas Lights Walking Tour at Dyker Heights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $21

Walk through Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights with guides such as Ryan, Slava, John, and Derrick, seeing the neighborhood’s famous Christmas displays and hearing stories about its traditions and decorated homes. The 90-minute route covers about three miles, begins near a subway station, and ends among the lights. Bring warm clothes, sturdy shoes, and patience for crowds.

“Wow! I've been wanting to do this for a couple of years and so happy that I finally did! Ryan was a great tour guide - he's been a tour guide for I think 18 years and you could tell the enthusiasm that he had for the city, the neighborhood and this particular tour. He explained a lot of the history of the neighborhood and the lights and also was great maneuvering a large group through very crowded streets and sidewalks. Definitely recommend and so happy that I did it!”

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5.New York City Christmas Holiday Lights and Markets Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · from $59

Start at Columbus Circle at 3 p.m. and follow a guide through Manhattan’s Christmas markets, Fifth Avenue windows, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and Grand Central Terminal. Guides such as Joseph, Charles, Charlie, and Kathryn share holiday history and help you find worthwhile stalls. Expect crowds, cold weather, and plenty of walking.

“Store windows on fifth avenue and Saks music/light show were great. Kathryn’s sharing of various pictures of the mansions and other historical sites were interesting.”

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6.Private Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Holiday Decorations Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $125

Walk Colonial Williamsburg with a private guide such as Bambi, Will, or Cynthia, learning how fresh fruit, herbs, flowers, and historic objects become judged holiday decorations. The 90-minute route covers Merchants Square, Duke of Gloucester Street, the Capitol, Governor’s Palace, and Bruton Parish Church. Parking and seasonal treats are included, but Colonial Williamsburg admission is not.

“Cyndi was very knowledgeable and shared historic information as well as details about the materials and construction process of the beautiful colonial decorations. We got to ask lots of questions and the walk was just the right amount of time and distance. It was nice to have just our group. The ginger cookies and hot chocolate were a nice treat! We would recommend Cyndi as a guide to anyone who enjoys history and gardening.”

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7.Colonial Williamsburg: Christmas Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 14 reviews · from $25

Walk Colonial Williamsburg with an English-speaking guide in colonial costume, starting at the Capitol Building. Over two hours, you’ll see festive decorations, hear how 18th-century residents marked Christmas, learn the story of America’s first Christmas tree, and uncover the Masons’ unusual December 27 service.

“Tom did an excellent job and had so many great stories about the building and time period. He knew the origin of so many sayings we still use today. It was so fun and informative!”

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8.New York Christmas Holiday Lights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours 20 minutes (approx.) · from $20Best value

Follow a licensed guide, including Mike, from the New York Public Library to Rockefeller Center for an evening of holiday sights. You’ll see the wreath-wrapped library lions, Bryant Park’s Winter Village, Macy’s Christmas windows, Central Park’s duck pond, and the Rockefeller tree. Expect about 8,000 steps, one subway ride, and a maximum group of 25.

“My experience with Mike was excellent. He made sure the team had the context of places and spots he was taking us through.”

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9.New York: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 6 reviews · 90 minutes - 3 hours · from $49

Walk about 2 miles through Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights with an English-speaking guide, seeing extravagant homes, giant Nutcrackers, Santas, reindeer, and thousands of lights. Tours may begin at 211 W 43rd St or 8216 13th Ave, with walking time listed at 90 minutes and total duration varying up to 3 hours.

“The tour guide was so nice and fun and gave a lot of information about NYC on the bus. The part when we walked around Dyker Heights was crowded with other groups and it was difficult to keep together with our group and tour guide. The Christmas lights were pretty though.”

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10.Private New York City Christmas Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 5 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $80

Meet your private English-speaking guide at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a two-hour holiday walk through Midtown. Visit Rockefeller Center, see the Christmas tree and ice rink, pass Radio City Music Hall, browse Bryant Park’s market, and finish at Macy’s Herald Square. Guides can adjust the route to your group.

“Our tour was awesome. Our guide not only showed us all the amazing lights but added interesting history of the area. She also catered the trip to what we wanted to see and took very nice pictures of us by the tree to have. Would highly recomend, a great way to see New York City during Christmas time.”

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11.1 Hour Christmastide Walking Tour in Virginia Past and Present

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $25

Walk one hour through Colonial Williamsburg with Lonnie Sandifer, stopping at Bruton Parish Church, decorated historic homes, St. George Tucker House, and Raleigh Tavern. You’ll hear how Christmas was observed in the 18th century, how Virginia traditions changed, and how to make similar decorations yourself.

“Wonderful guide and we learned some interesting facts. Our guide was friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed this one hour walk. It was just enough and gave us plenty of time to explore on our own the rest of the day.”

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12.Williamsburg: Christmastime in Virginia Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 1 hour

Join an English-speaking guide for a leisurely one-hour walk through Colonial Williamsburg’s Christmas display. Starting at Duke of Gloucester and Palace Green Streets, you’ll learn about 18th-century holiday customs, handcrafted decorations, and simple ways to make similar designs at home. Colonial Williamsburg admission is not required.

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13.NYC: Christmas Holiday Guided Walking Tour with Dessert

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Walk from Grand Army Plaza along Fifth Avenue to Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park with an English-speaking guide. Hear Christmas stories, visit Home Alone 2 locations, see St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Radio City, and the famous tree, then finish with dessert. Guides named Jared and Tom have earned strong praise for their storytelling.

“The tour was amazing, highly recommend the tour for anyone wanting a great holiday experience!”

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14.Christmas NOLA Style Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · from $35

Walk the French Quarter from Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop to Jackson Square with a local guide, taking in St. Louis Cathedral, decorated homes, celebrity residences, and holiday traditions. Expect a relaxed history tour mixed with ghost, vampire, voodoo, and film stories. Drinks are optional and extra, and the Christmas decorations can vary by season.

“Cody’s knowledge and timing were great— just the right amount of walking and stopping. He was friendly, engaging and gave us an excellent tour.”

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15.Ultimate NYC Christmas Lights At Night Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $48

Join Daria, a 20-plus-year New Yorker with window-display experience at Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, and Macy’s, for a three-hour evening walk through Manhattan’s Christmas sights. You’ll see Macy’s, Bryant Park, Saks Fifth Avenue, Radio City, Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, and Rockefeller Center. Expect plenty of walking, photo stops, and a small group of up to 12.

“Daria took us around to all of the major Christmas windows and the holiday sights along the way. There was a good mix of information about the history and current designers of the windows and time for us to discuss what we liked and didn't like. A Really fun way to spend the evening.”

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