6 History Tours at Christmas Worth Booking

1.Christmas in New York: Private Holiday History Tour

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

Join a private, two-hour holiday walk through Manhattan with a local guide such as Kevin. Hear how Santa, department-store windows, Christmas trees, and seasonal customs took shape while visiting Macy’s, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Morning and afternoon departures make this a flexible family outing.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun !! I’ve been to NY many times but it was great to hear the history behind it.”

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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 walk through the old town and Christmas market. A costumed German-speaking guide may appear as merchant’s wife Veckinchusen, a merchant, or Dr. Grabow from Buddenbrooks. Expect Advent customs, local legends, cobblestones, and a finish near the market.

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

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

Spend eight hours tracing New York’s Prohibition past through three bars and speakeasies, with drinks at each stop and a four-hour open bar from 8 PM. Guides such as Arial, Ryan, and Rory have hosted the evening. You finish near 54th Street, where you can watch the Times Square ball drop from 12 blocks away.

“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 historic center with guides such as Lawrence or Karen, tracing its medieval, Baroque, wartime, and postwar story. You’ll see the Zwinger, Royal Cathedral, Procession of Princes, Brühl’s Terrace, and Christmas markets, with time for Stollen and Glühwein afterward. The small group has a maximum of 17 people.

“Wow! Tour guide was so knowledgeable and English was excellent!!! She was accommodating to the group needs and wove history and current architecture and christmas season together for a very worthwhile excursion! Highly recommend.”

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5.Lübeck: Christmas Market and Historical City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews

Meet your English- or German-speaking guide beside Lübeck’s Holsten Gate for a 1 or 1.5-hour private walk through the Old Town at Christmas. See the craftsman market at St. Petri, the town hall market, and the historic market by Marien Church while hearing Hanseatic stories and local traditions. Food and drinks cost extra.

“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

Walk through Faro’s Christmas sights with a private English-speaking guide, beginning at Arco do Repouso and ending at the Municipal Market. You’ll see Faro Cathedral, Largo da Sé, the Chapel of Bones, and Jardim da Praça Silva Porto. The tour lasts about two hours, but the festive displays and transport arrangements may vary.

“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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