Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour
The holiday lights are an international attraction deep in Brooklyn. You have options!
My walking-only tours (but not vehicle tours) require about 2.5 miles of walking, so please be prepared! I do not drive people to Dyker. (You can take public transit, or taxis.) If you hire a vehicle for the night, it costs more, but is more convenient. Though you still have to walk.
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The Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights is internationally famed for its Christmas lights: dazzling, over-the-top arrays and even animated figures that represent the holiday season. In 2015, Redfin called Dyker Heights the country's best neighborhood to see holiday lights. In 2016, Oyster.com did the same. The popularity has led to significant crowds and even some backlash (which is why we need to be respectful visitors).
The lights are very much a home-grown phenomenon rather than the very impressive municipal efforts around the world. Proud neighbors, in friendly competition, have escalated the shows, sometimes spending significant sums for the displays. (All photos copyright Jonathan Barkey.) 
On our tour, I'll take you on the best blocks and explain how it started. Sometimes--often--we run into the proud homeowners. I can also show you other neighborhood highlights (pastry shops, mmm...) and explain how this part of Brooklyn evolved.
Please note that several companies offer daily large-group bus tours. These are the easiest ways to get to the heart of Dyker, since they pick you up in Manhattan and drive you back. This is also cheaper if you are a small group. Or if you need to hire a vehicle rather than take public transit (or taxis) to get to Dyker. I offer more personalized service and a more extensive route, on walking tours. For example, we can see a charming presepio, a labor of love by a local artisan, that is a traditional Italian village scene, built in what looks like a giant aquarium. See below. 
The season: when to go
The holiday lights generally go up beginning after Thanksgiving--I make no guarantees about progress. Visits typically begin by December 1, though some lights aren't up until after December 8. (That's the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, and some people wait until then to put up decorations.) That said, it's much quieter in the early part of the season, so the trade-off can be worth it. Weekends can be very busy, especially as Christmas approaches. Lights start coming down after Christmas, but mostly remain up through New Year's Day. The timing Lights generally lit up dusk through at least 9 pm. Depending on the size of the group, the scope of the tour, and the choice of transportation (foot or vehicle), we generally need 1 to 2 hours in Dyker. The shorter time period is if you have a vehicle and/or don't want to walk much. The location Dyker Heights is in the southwest part of Brooklyn. From Midtown Manhattan, Dyker Heights is about 50-60 minutes by public transit and 35-50 minutes by vehicle. It's still a fairly long trip by vehicle or subway from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan. I recommend combining the visit with some other stops in Brooklyn, often starting in daylight, then getting to Dyker Heights after dark. See examples at right. A smaller group can be more nimble and see more of the neighborhood, including the main shopping street, Dyker Heights Boulevard, which has several bakeries. I also can recommend restaurants for dinner before or after the tour, nearby or a short ride away in Bensonhurst or Bay Ridge. |
PLEASE NOTE: Click the minus sign (−) on the map to see that Dyker Heights is quite far from other parts of Brooklyn, and farther from Manhattan.
Tours by vehicle
I no longer lead large-group bus tours. But I can work with moderate-sized groups, whether with a vehicle (like a van/limo/party bus) or arriving by taxi or via public transit. A vehicle costs $50-$70/hour beyond my fee (my typical hourly fee, plus a surcharge), but is faster and protects against weather. I cannot book a vehicle for you but can suggest some companies to try. This can be more unwieldy than simply going to a company with a package deal, but it should cost less. . If we have a vehicle, we also can extend the tour of lights to locations in Bay Ridge, which has some great blocks with lights, no crowds (usually), and some lovely architecture. Taking public transit to Dyker is inexpensive but doable, as long as you can walk, as the main attractions are not near the subway. But walking will give you more of a feel for the overall neighborhood, avoid crowds for a period of time--plus it's easy to stop for food or snacks. After the tour, a public bus or car service will be available. We also can mix and match public transit and taxis. In other words, you could also take a taxi/Uber/Lyft to meet me in Dyker. Option 1: Start the tour elsewhere If we leave during daylight, we can easily stop in DUMBO, where there are great views of Lower Manhattan. It's also possible to visit row-house neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights and Fort Greene, or Orthodox Jewish Borough Park, and/or Chinese/Latino Sunset Park along the way. Option 2: Meet in Dyker Heights If you are coming by subway, or by taxi--or if you're hiring a vehicle for the night--I can also meet you in Dyker Heights. Figure 1.5-2 hours in Dyker. Fees My basic fees (click here for details) are based on size of group and time spent, but figure 2 to 3.5 hours (or longer), depending on where I meet you and whether we add anything to the route. (Please note: if you hire a vehicle, I may add a surcharge to account for additional planning.) If you're just meeting me in Dyker, that's a short tour. When you contact me, please let me know your preference, including transit options. Your options include (in order of increasing overall cost):
Please note: One of the charms of Dyker Heights is that it's not optimized for tourism. That's also one of the challenges. That's why smaller groups are more nimble, and we have to be strategic about bathroom stops. |