In brief
- A private-car lights tour is an hourly booking: a chauffeur drives you between displays, waits while you walk, and takes you home. No bus schedule and no subway transfers to Brooklyn.
- The classic loop is Rockefeller Center’s tree, the Fifth Avenue windows, Bryant Park Winter Village and Columbus Circle in Manhattan, then the house displays in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.
- Key 2026 dates: Rockefeller Center tree lighting Wednesday, December 2; Saks Fifth Avenue windows and light show from November 23; Bryant Park Holiday Shops through January 3, 2027; Dyker Heights lights from around Thanksgiving (November 26).
- Best time: a Monday-to-Thursday evening in early or mid-December, arriving in Dyker Heights at dusk (about 4:30 to 5 p.m.) and finishing in Midtown.
- Price with TrueNorth VIP: $110, $130, $150 or $180 an hour by vehicle, with a 3-hour minimum. A 3-hour Manhattan tour starts at $330; a 4-hour Manhattan and Dyker Heights tour in a 6-seat SUV is $520 (about $87 a person).
- Taxes, tolls and fees are included and gratuity is optional. An event surcharge may apply on major event dates and is shown before you book.
What is a Christmas lights tour by private car?
A private-car Christmas lights tour is a chauffeured car booked by the hour for an evening of holiday displays. The chauffeur picks you up at your hotel, home or office, drops you as close to each display as traffic allows, waits while you walk, and drives you to the next stop and back home at the end.
It solves the two hard parts of seeing New York’s lights in one night. The first is distance: the best-known house displays are in Dyker Heights, in southwest Brooklyn, while the tree and the windows are in Midtown Manhattan. The second is the cold: you walk the displays, not the gaps between them.
Compared with a bus tour, you choose the stops, the pace and the start time, and you aren’t sharing the evening with strangers. Compared with taxis or app rides, you don’t search for a new car at every stop on the busiest nights of the year, and the price is agreed before you leave.
The best Christmas lights in NYC for 2026
These are the six stops most private tours are built around. The tree, the Fifth Avenue windows, Bryant Park and Columbus Circle sit between 42nd and 59th Streets in Midtown; Union Square’s market is further downtown, and Dyker Heights is the Brooklyn leg.
Rockefeller Center Christmas tree
Lighting: Wednesday, December 2, 2026
The tree above the rink at Rockefeller Plaza is the centerpiece of any Midtown loop. The tree arrived on November 7 and stays up into January. On lighting night the area closest to the tree is reserved for invited guests and the broadcast, so most visitors come on another evening.
Fifth Avenue holiday windows
Saks light show and windows from November 23
Saks Fifth Avenue unveils its 2026 windows and facade light show on November 23 across from Rockefeller Center. Walk north on Fifth Avenue toward 58th Street for Bergdorf Goodman’s windows, then take the car to Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street if you want the third classic set.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Holiday Shops Oct 28, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027
The holiday shops ring a free-admission skating rink behind the New York Public Library at 42nd Street. Bryant Park lights its own tree on Tuesday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m., and the rink stays open until midnight from November 19 to January 3.
Central Park and Columbus Circle
Columbus Circle market: December
At the park’s southwest corner, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market fills the plaza in December. Central Park South leads east to Grand Army Plaza and The Plaza, where horse carriages line up along the edge of the park.
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn
From around Thanksgiving to New Year
Homeowners on the blocks between 83rd and 86th Streets and 11th and 13th Avenues cover their houses with lights, life-size figures and music. It’s free to view from the sidewalk and is the part of the tour a car helps with most.
Holiday markets
Union Square: November 12 to December 24
Union Square’s market runs from November 12 to December 24, 2026, Bryant Park’s Holiday Shops through January 3, and Columbus Circle’s through December. They are good warm-up stops with food stalls between displays.
Dyker Heights Christmas lights: what to know
Dyker Heights is a residential neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn, next to Bay Ridge. The displays are put up by private homeowners, so there is no ticket, no official schedule and no single switch-on date. Most houses light up around Thanksgiving, displays are fullest from mid-December through Christmas, and some stay lit into early January.
- Where: the main blocks run from 83rd to 86th Street between 11th and 13th Avenues. Start on 83rd and 84th Streets, the most decorated blocks, and add 85th or 86th if you have time.
- Hours: lights come on at dusk, around 4:30 to 5 p.m. in December, and most go off around 9 to 10 p.m.
- How long: plan 60 to 90 minutes on foot for the main blocks, or up to two hours with photos and a dessert stop.
- Getting there: TrueNorth VIP lists the drive from Midtown at about 11.6 miles and 22 minutes in ordinary traffic; allow more on December evenings. By subway, the D train to 79 St or the R train to 86 St leaves a 10 to 15 minute walk each way.
- Parking: there is very little on busy nights. With a chauffeur, you are dropped at the edge of the display blocks and picked up at a meeting point you agree in advance.
- Etiquette: these are private homes. Stay on the sidewalk, keep driveways clear, don’t honk, and cross at the corners.
- Food: local bakeries and delis such as Tasty Pastry Shoppe and John’s Deli are popular stops; check current hours before you go.
Accessibility
The R station at 86 St has an elevator; the D station at 79 St is not on the MTA’s accessible-stations list, and the sidewalks get crowded. A private car that drops you at the corner of the display blocks avoids both stations.
Sample Christmas lights routes by private car
Each route below starts and ends at a Midtown hotel. Times include walking at each stop. On Fifth Avenue the car drops you at one end and meets you at the other, because the sidewalks move faster than the traffic in December.
- 1
Manhattan classic: 3 hours
Columbus Circle Holiday Market and Central Park South, then Bergdorf Goodman’s windows at 58th Street. Walk south on Fifth Avenue to the Saks light show and the Rockefeller Center tree, then ride to Bryant Park Winter Village. From $330 in an Executive Sedan for two, or $390 in an Executive SUV for up to six.
- 2
Brooklyn lights only: 3 hours
Pick-up in Manhattan, the drive to Dyker Heights, 60 to 90 minutes on 83rd to 86th Streets with a cannoli stop, and the ride back. From $330 in an Executive Sedan or $390 in an Executive SUV.
- 3
Manhattan and Dyker Heights: 4 hours
Arrive in Dyker Heights at dusk while the displays are fresh, then drive back to Midtown for the Saks light show, the tree and Bryant Park, which stay lit later in the evening. $520 in an Executive SUV or $600 in a Luxury SUV for up to six.
- 4
Full holiday evening: 5 hours
Free skating at Bryant Park, the Manhattan loop, dinner, then Dyker Heights before the lights go off. $750 in a Luxury SUV for up to six, or $900 in a Luxury Sedan for up to three.
NYC Christmas lights dates for 2026
These are the dates published for the 2026 season when we checked on November 9, 2026. Attractions sometimes adjust hours, so confirm on each official site before your night out.
| What | 2026 dates | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Rockefeller Center tree | Lighting Wed, Dec 2, 7 to 10 p.m.; on view into January 2027 | Area nearest the tree is closed to the public on lighting night |
| Saks Fifth Avenue windows and light show | From Mon, Nov 23 | Facing Rockefeller Center on Fifth Avenue |
| Bryant Park Winter Village | Holiday Shops Oct 28 to Jan 3, 2027; rink to Feb 28, 2027 | Tree lighting Tue, Dec 1, 5:30 p.m.; rink open to midnight Nov 19 to Jan 3 |
| Union Square Holiday Market | Nov 12 to Dec 24 | Outdoor market with food vendors |
| Columbus Circle Holiday Market | December (2026 dates not yet posted) | Ran from early December to Dec 31 in 2025 |
| Dyker Heights lights | From around Thanksgiving (Nov 26) to about New Year | No official schedule; fullest mid-December |
| Radio City Christmas Spectacular | Nov 4, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027 | 90-minute show at Radio City Music Hall |
When is the best time to see the Christmas lights?
The best night is a Monday to Thursday in the first two weeks of December. Nearly every display is up by then, and crowds are lighter than on the weekends before Christmas. Dyker Heights is busiest on mid-December weekend evenings, especially between 5 and 9 p.m.
- Start in Brooklyn: arrive in Dyker Heights at dusk, around 4:30 to 5 p.m., because the homes switch off around 9 to 10 p.m. The Midtown displays stay lit later, so finish there.
- Avoid lighting night unless you are going for the ceremony: expect street closures and heavy traffic around Rockefeller Center on Wednesday, December 2.
- Late November is quieter: some Dyker Heights homes are still being decorated, but the Saks show (from November 23) and Bryant Park are already running.
- Christmas week is the most atmospheric and the most crowded. Book the car early if you want December 19 to 24.
- Dress for the cold: you will spend 60 to 90 minutes walking outdoors in Dyker Heights alone.
How much does a private Christmas lights tour cost?
With TrueNorth VIP, a private lights tour costs $110 to $180 an hour depending on the vehicle, with a 3-hour minimum. That puts most tours between $330 and $900 for the whole car, not per person. The rates include taxes, tolls and fees; gratuity is optional.
| Vehicle (seats) | Per hour | 3 hours | 4 hours | 5 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Sedan (2) | $110 | $330 | $440 | $550 |
| Executive SUV (6) | $130 | $390 | $520 | $650 |
| Luxury SUV (6) | $150 | $450 | $600 | $750 |
| Luxury Sedan (3) | $180 | $540 | $720 | $900 |
Hourly rates and the 3-hour minimum are published by TrueNorth VIP (checked November 9, 2026). The 4- and 5-hour totals are the published hourly rate multiplied out. Sprinter vans for 10 to 13 guests are quoted on request. An event surcharge may apply on major event dates and is shown before booking.
| Tour | Hours | Vehicle | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan classic, couple | 3 | Executive Sedan | $330 | $165 (2 guests) |
| Manhattan classic, family | 3 | Executive SUV | $390 | $65 (6 guests) |
| Manhattan and Dyker Heights | 4 | Executive SUV | $520 | about $87 (6 guests) |
| Manhattan and Dyker Heights | 4 | Luxury SUV | $600 | $100 (6 guests) |
| Full holiday evening | 5 | Luxury SUV | $750 | $125 (6 guests) |
| Full holiday evening, couple | 5 | Luxury Sedan | $900 | $450 (2 guests) |
If you only want a ride to Brooklyn, TrueNorth VIP also prices one-way trips. Its October 2026 examples from Times Square to Dyker Heights were $169 in an Executive Sedan, $196 in an Executive SUV, $229 in a Luxury SUV and $296 in a Luxury Sedan. That works if you plan to take the subway back; for a round trip with waiting, the 3-hour minimum is usually better value.
Extras: child seats are $25 each and are available in SUVs and Sprinters, not sedans. Your exact price is shown before you confirm.
Things to do on a Christmas lights night
- See the Christmas Spectacular: the Radio City Rockettes show runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027 and lasts 90 minutes. Book a one-way ride to Radio City and start the hourly tour after the show.
- Skate for free at Bryant Park: admission to the rink is free (skate rental is extra), and it stays open until midnight from November 19 to January 3.
- Skate under the tree: The Rink at Rockefeller Center sells timed tickets; book ahead for December evenings.
- Shop the markets: Union Square (until December 24), Bryant Park’s Holiday Shops (until January 3) and Columbus Circle (December).
- Watch a tree lighting: Bryant Park lights its tree on December 1 at 5:30 p.m.; Rockefeller Center’s is on December 2.
- Stop for dessert in Dyker Heights: cannoli and hot drinks from a local bakery are part of the tradition.
Where to stay for a Christmas lights trip
Midtown is the easiest base: Rockefeller Center, the Fifth Avenue windows, Bryant Park and Radio City are all within walking distance of each other, so you only need the car for Dyker Heights and the ride home.
- Midtown between Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park: walk to the tree, the windows and the Winter Village; the shortest pickup for the Brooklyn leg.
- Central Park South and Columbus Circle: next to the Columbus Circle market, the park and the top of the Fifth Avenue windows walk.
- Times Square: convenient for Radio City and Broadway, but the busiest streets in the city in December, so agree on a pickup point on a side street.
- Brooklyn: Bay Ridge borders Dyker Heights if the lights are the main reason for the trip.
- Day trips from New Jersey or Long Island: TrueNorth VIP picks up in both, which saves Manhattan parking on the busiest weekends of the year.
How to book a private Christmas lights tour
- 1
Pick the night and start time
Choose a weekday in early or mid-December if you can, and plan to reach Dyker Heights by 5 p.m.
- 2
Choose the car by group size
Executive Sedan for two, Luxury Sedan for three, an Executive or Luxury SUV for up to six, a Sprinter for 10 to 13.
- 3
Choose the hours
Three hours covers Manhattan or Dyker Heights alone, four covers both, five adds dinner or skating.
- 4
Book and see the price first
Book online or call dispatch 24/7. The exact price, including any event surcharge, is shown before you confirm.
- 5
Share your route and meeting points
Send the stops in order and agree on a pickup corner at each one, especially in Dyker Heights and on Fifth Avenue.
Book the tour
Reserve a car and chauffeur with TrueNorth VIP
Tour details on their site: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour
Disclosure: Corporate Travel USA has no business relationship with TrueNorth VIP. We don’t receive a commission, referral fee or any other payment for bookings, and no company paid to appear in this guide. Prices are TrueNorth VIP’s published rates, checked on November 9, 2026; the price shown at booking is the one that applies.
NYC Christmas lights tour: FAQs
How much does a private Christmas lights tour in NYC cost?
With TrueNorth VIP it costs $110 to $180 an hour depending on the vehicle, with a 3-hour minimum, so most tours cost $330 to $900 for the whole car. A 4-hour Manhattan and Dyker Heights tour in a 6-seat Executive SUV is $520, about $87 a person. Taxes, tolls and fees are included and gratuity is optional.
How long should a Christmas lights tour take?
Plan three hours for Manhattan or Dyker Heights alone, four hours to see both, and five hours if you add dinner or skating. Dyker Heights itself takes 60 to 90 minutes on foot, and the Midtown loop of the tree, the windows and Bryant Park takes about two hours.
When do the Dyker Heights Christmas lights start in 2026?
There is no official start date because the displays are put up by private homeowners. Most houses light up around Thanksgiving, which is November 26, 2026, and the displays are fullest from mid-December through Christmas. Some homes stay lit into early January.
When is the Rockefeller Center tree lighting in 2026?
The 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting is on Wednesday, December 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. The area nearest the tree is reserved for invited guests and the broadcast, and nearby streets close, so most visitors see the tree on another evening. It stays up into January 2027.
What is the best night to see the Christmas lights in NYC?
A Monday to Thursday in the first two weeks of December. Nearly every display is up, and the crowds are lighter than on the weekends before Christmas. Arrive in Dyker Heights at dusk, around 4:30 to 5 p.m., and finish in Midtown, where the displays stay lit later.
What time do the Dyker Heights lights turn on and off?
Most displays come on at dusk, around 4:30 to 5 p.m. in December, and switch off around 9 to 10 p.m. Each home sets its own hours, so arrive by 7 p.m. if you want to see every block fully lit.
How far is Dyker Heights from Midtown Manhattan?
About 11.6 miles. TrueNorth VIP lists the drive at about 22 minutes in ordinary traffic, but December evenings are often slower, so allow extra time. By subway, take the D train to 79 St or the R train to 86 St and walk 10 to 15 minutes.
Can the car wait while we walk around Dyker Heights?
Yes. On an hourly booking the chauffeur drops you at the edge of the display blocks and picks you up at a meeting point you agree in advance. Parking is scarce on busy nights, so the car may circle or wait a few blocks away rather than outside a specific house.
How many people fit in the car?
TrueNorth VIP’s Executive Sedan seats two, the Luxury Sedan three, and the Executive and Luxury SUVs up to six. For larger groups, the Jet Sprinter seats 10 and the Executive Sprinter 13; Sprinters are quoted on request.
Are child seats available for a lights tour?
Yes, in SUVs and Sprinters. TrueNorth VIP charges $25 per child seat and doesn’t offer them in sedans, so families with young children should book an Executive or Luxury SUV and request the seats when booking.
What is included in the price, and is gratuity extra?
TrueNorth VIP’s rates include taxes, tolls and fees, and gratuity is optional. An event surcharge may apply on major event dates; if it does, it is shown before you confirm, so the price you see at booking is the price you pay.
Should I book hourly or a one-way ride to Dyker Heights?
Book hourly if you want the car to wait and bring you back, or to visit Manhattan displays too; it starts at $330 for three hours. A one-way ride from Times Square to Dyker Heights started at $169 in TrueNorth VIP’s October 2026 examples, which suits people taking the subway back.
Are the lights still up after Christmas?
Many are. The Rockefeller Center tree stays up into January, Bryant Park’s Holiday Shops run until January 3, 2027, and some Dyker Heights homes keep their lights on into early January. Union Square’s market closes on December 24, so see it before Christmas.
Sources
- Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, Bryant Park Corporation
- Union Square Holiday Market, NYC Tourism + Conventions
- Saks Fifth Avenue unveils “Main Character Energy” holiday campaign, Saks Fifth Avenue via PR Newswire
- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Rockefeller Center
- Radio City Christmas Spectacular sets 2026 return, Playbill
- Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour, TrueNorth VIP
- Hourly Car Service NYC, TrueNorth VIP