Christmas lights tour in New York

 

Because Christmas in New York is not only the 5^th Avenue or the Rockefeller Center and its skating ring that though become really impassable due to the impossible chaos reigning at Christmastime.

 

 

When I say impassable…

 

 

…I mean literally: at the traffic lights policemen stretch cords to stop pedestrians at the red light, the line to reach the skating ring even only to take a photo is about kilometres and skating in a such chaos…

 

 

…has nothing to do with what bewitches me.

 

 

#Christmas lights #tour in #New York. Dyker Heights is not to be missed in #December Click To Tweet

 

 

Personally, I prefer Canada where in Toronto, always at Christmastime, under the CN Tower (the television tower), we skated on the little iced lake just on the bank of the great lake, peacefully and spending a nonsense.

 

 

But let’s go back to Dyker Heights and the Christmas lights tour in New York.

 

 

Practically, in a sort of competition at the last colored light and the last decoration, the neighbors challenges each other in decorating sumptuous large houses by all sorts of Christmas theme exaggeration.

 

 

There are specialized companies caring about these preparations and it seems the owners arrive to spend even 20.000 dollars to realize it.

 

 

I assure you that when you’ll walk through the streets of this neighborhood you won’t find it hard to believe it.

 

 

It’s a neighborhood overflowing with richness, of course.

 

 

The result is a real sight: an amazing explosion of lights, snowmen, crèches, colors and Christmas music on the background, of course.

#New York in December is a real sight. Dyker Heights neighborhood is not to be missed! Click To Tweet

 

 

You think some large houses fit up even huge carousels in the garden.

 

 

Don’t expect something refined and elegant (often people overstep any showy limit) but I assure you it’s a wonder and the one I appreciated most in New York.

 

 

Everything we usually see in the movies here comes to life when it’s getting dark.

 

 

Of course, hundreds of people and families on foot come to these streets to take photos frenetically.

 

 

Planning the Christmas lights tour in New York

There are endless tours organized from Manhattan but it’s possible to have a do-it-yourself tour without any problem.

 

 

Useful info for the Christmas lights tour in New York

Best period

Lights are lighted during the period between the Thanksgiving Day and the first weekend after New Year’s Day.

 

 

But keep in mind that no rules exist.

Gardens and houses decorated by an exaggerated way in #New York. To see! #DykerHeights Click To Tweet

 

 

The period to admire the highest number of decorations goes from the second half of December until the New Year’s Day.

 

 

The best area for the Christmas lights tour in New York

The area between the 11^th and the 13^th Street and between the 81^st and the 86^th Street.

 

 

Keep in mind the most sumptuous houses and the most amazing large houses are between the 83^rd and the 85^th Street, but the whole area deserves to be explored, also the neighborhoods not included in this area.

 

 

By now every year the area expands thanks an ever- increasing number of tourists arriving here to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere: this tempts the houses’ owners of the neighboring areas to test themselves in the decorations.

 

 

Tin soldiers and Nativity are one next to the other.

 

 

All sorts of inflatable, carousels, music, carillons and all the rest here live together peacefully.

 

 

Reach Dyker Heights from Manhattan

Reach Dyker Heights and set out alone on the Christmas lights tour is very easy.

 

 

By the R subway as far as Brooklyn, 86^th St stop. Or D line as far as the 79^th St.

 

 

From Manhattan it takes 45 minutes by subway.

 

 

Then you walk for a few blocks to reach the core and start the Christmas lights tour in New York.

 

 

The ideal time is after 5-6pm when it’s getting dark.

 

 

Keep in mind you can’t go too late as after a certain hour, at night, the most part of lights is off.

 

 

To know before the Christmas lights tour in New York

Christmas lights tour in New York is completely free if you have it alone.

 

 

The area is very safe.

 

 

It’s possible to move on foot safely in the evening, too, and the police is very present since there’s a high number of tourists there.

 

 

Houses often don’t have enclosures and the police make tourists respect the private property: the tourists often don’t hesitate to go into the gardens to take better photos.

 

Keep in mind that you will have to walk a lot and the area is a bit hilly.

 

 

Of course, it’s possible to arrive by your own car but often the parking are difficult due to the very high number of tourists.

 

 

Of course, taxis or Uber allow to avoid every problem of this kind.

 

 

A tip that seems taken for granted but it has not to be underestimate.

 

 

Wrap up well.

 

 

Above all when it’s getting dark, the cold can become a problem and it will prevent you to enjoy the evening.

 

 

In December can be really very cold in New York!

 

 

Don’t get caught unprepared!

 

 

I think there’s nothing in the world that could be compared to the wonder of Dyker Heights.

 

 

Your Christmas lights tour in New York will leave you gaping!

 

 

I think to have quite well conveyed the idea through the photos of this post.

 

 

There’s nothing left to do but wish you to have a nice tour if you’ll pass by New York at Christmastime!

 

 

Enjoy calmly the Christmas lights tour in New York!