Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour in New York

Christmas in New York is magical: snow in Central Park, ice skating, lights, christmas markets.. But there’s a special place you can’t stop visiting if you travelling for the season and it’s Dyker Heights. In this post you’ll find info about the spectacular Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour.

This post was updated august 2024

No matter if you celebrate Christmas, this place will fascinate you. I mean, even the Grinch would love it.

What is Dyker Heights?

Dyker Heights is a neighborhood located in southwest Brooklyn where every Christmas the neighbors decorate their houses with lights, ornaments, and even artificial snow!

This crazy tradition was initiated by Lucy Spata, a neighbor who decided to fill her home with Christmas lights in 1986 . From that year, more neighbors started decorating their houses each year and competing to see who has the most extravagant, huge and original Christmas decor.

They not only decorate the houses with lights but some owners even have motorized displays, Christmas cribs with Mariah Carey songs and all sorts of extravagant ornaments. Believe me the place is crazy! It is definitely one of the top 3 things to do in Christmas in New York.

When to visit Dyker Heights?

There is no exact date but most of the homeowners start hanging their Christmas lights and decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving.

The best time to see the lights at Dyker Heights is mid-December through New Year. Most lights remain on until the first days of January.

The closer to Christmas, the more people will be visiting the neighborhood. I had the great idea to go just on Christmas night and the neighborhood was crowded but I still enjoyed it.

How to get to the Dyker Heights from Manhattan

There are two ways to get to Dyker Heights: on your own or on an organized tour.

How to get to Dyker Heights on your own

The simplest way to get to Dyker Heights from Manhattan is to take the D train to 18th Av in Brooklyn or the R train to 86 St. in Brooklyn. It’s a 20′ minute walk from the subway stations to the most popular houses on 84th St.

This is the cheapest option but also the slowest. it takes about an hour travel time by subway from Manhattan.

Another option to go on your own is getting there by taxi. Travel time is about 40 minutes from Midtown. The only problem is that aren’t yellow taxis in Dyker Heights so you’ll need to request a taxi from your phone to go back to Manhattan.

It’s not recommended to get there with your own car due to traffic and parking.

Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour

The best option so you don’t worry about transport is taking the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour.

The tour departs from The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel, located in 790 7th Ave. This guided tour last approximately 3.5 hours and allows you to explore the houses of Dyker Heights on foot and by bus. The tour is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars in GetYourGuide. It always sells out early so don’t forget to purchase your tickets. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance and receive a full refund.

Book your Dyker Heights tour tickets here

• You may also be interested in: New York Holiday Lights and Movie Sites bus Tour

Some tips for visiting Dyker Heights:

• Dress warmly: Winter in New York can be very cold so it is extremely important that you bring the right clothes. Download the FREE New York winter packing list here.
• Don’t go too late: about 4:30 pm , most owners turn on the lights. After 9 pm many neighbors turn off their lights so I recommend going early.
• If you go on your own: make sure you mark on Google maps the most popular houses so you don’t miss them.
• Food: Dyker Heights is a residential neighborhood, so there aren’t big shops or restaurants in the area. Some neighbors sell hot chocolate or snacks, mostly on weekends. As a recommendation and especially if you’re visiting with children: bring warm drinks and a snack. There are some restaurants located on 3rd, 4th or 5th street.
• Be prepared for traffic: as you can imagine, it will be crowded, especially in the most famous Christmas houses. You’ll find fewer crowds after Christmas Day.

For more info about New York read: The best things to do in New York

Best houses in Dyker Heights:

• The Lucy Spata house located at 1152 84th St.

Obviously you can’t miss Lucy’s house, the creator of this Christmas tradition.

• The Polizotto House located at 1145 84th St.

• The Giant Nutcrackers House

The most popular houses at Dyker Heights are located from the 83th St to the 86th St between 11th and 13th Avenues.

Anyway there are stunning houses all over the neighborhood and I’m sure you will love Dyker Heights as much as I did. It’s a really unique place to visit if you’re in New York during the holidays and I really recommend you visit it.

Othere New York posts:

• Best things to do in New York during Christmas
• Winter in New York
• New Year’s Eve in New York
• Cheap hotels near Times Sq in New York

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