chloedickensonLast Updated on 18th September 2025
This post about the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2025 contains affiliate links.
Are you planning a festive trip to New York City and want to see the spectacular Dyker Heights Christmas Lights? This ultimate guide includes everything you need to know about visiting Dyker Heights at Christmas, including the best bus tours, a comprehensive neighbourhood map and more!
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights are one of the most spectacular holiday decorative displays in the world. Located in Brooklyn, New York, approximately one hour from Times Square via subway, the holiday lights at Dyker Heights are a quintessential part of the holiday season in New York City.
If you’re visiting NYC at Christmas and want to know more about the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2025 season, this guide is for you!
Need more help planning your festive trip to NYC? Use the code XMAS20 to get 20% off my Ultimate New York City Christmas Travel Guide Ebook and join my FREE New York Facebook Group to receive daily updates, tips, advice & inspiration!
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Where are the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights?
The best holiday lights and festive displays at Dyker Heights can be found from 11th Avenue to 13th Avenue and from 83rd to 86th Street, although you’ll also see extravagantly decorated houses as far down as 77th Avenue!
84th Street is probably the best street to see the most holiday displays in the Dyker Heights neighbourhood, but I would definitely suggest making your way from 77th Street to 87th Street between 11th Avenue and 13th Avenue to see as many decorated houses as possible!
The best time to visit the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights is between 5 PM and 9 PM in the month of December. Some houses in the neighbourhood keeps their lights on until midnight, but most houses turn the lights and decorations off between 9 PM and 10 PM.
Read more: 40 Fun Things To Do In New York At Night
History of the Christmas Lights Tradition at Dyker Heights
The Dyker Heights neighbourhood in Brooklyn, NY dates back to the late 1800s and was originally created as a luxury housing development by Walter L. Johnson.
The decorating of houses in the Dyker Heights neighbourhood is said to have first started in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until Lucy Spata began decorating almost every single inch of her house on 84th Street in the 1980s that the tradition really kicked off!
The Spata’s house is one of the most famous and notable houses in the neighbourhood, but there are hundreds of houses in the vicinity that all contribute to the magic of the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights annual tradition!
Read more: What Is New York Famous For?
How do I get to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights?
Dyker Heights is a neighbourhood located in Southwest Brooklyn in New York City. If you’re staying in Manhattan and want to travel to Dyker Heights, there are a few ways to get there.
For the purpose of this guide, I’ve included directions of how to get to Dyker Heights from Times Square, but naturally, the directions and timings will differ depending on where you’re staying in New York.
Read more: 40 Best Hotels Near Times Square, New York City
Subway
The easiest and quickest way to get to Dyker Heights from Manhattan is via subway.
It takes approximately 45 minutes via subway (and an additional 15 minutes on foot) to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights from Times Square. There are three subway lines (D, N and R) that go from Times Square to Dyker Heights, and each subway line takes you to a different stop.
- The D train takes you to the 79th Street subway station and from there, it’s a 20-minute walk to the Dyker Heights lights displays.
- The N train takes you to Fort Hamilton Parkway subway station and from there, it’s a 25-minute walk to the main area of the Christmas Lights.
- The R train takes you to the 86th Street subway station and then it’s a 20-minute walk to the Christmas Lights.
The easiest and most convenient station is probably the 86th Street station, but it depends on where you’re travelling from in Manhattan as to which train you’ll need to get.
Read more: How To Use The New York Subway As A Beginner
Bus
You can also get the bus from Manhattan to Dyker Heights which takes around one hour and 30 minutes. If you’re travelling from Times Square, you’ll need to walk 10 minutes to the bus stop at 5 Avenue & West 44th Street and then ride the X38 bus for an hour to 86 Street/7th Avenue and then walk another 10 minutes to get to the lights.
The bus is a good option if you’re staying in Lower/Downtown Manhattan, but it’s much easier to take the subway if you’re staying in Midtown/Times Square.
Uber/taxi
An Uber/taxi from Midtown Manhattan to Dyker Heights will cost at least $70 one way and will take at least an hour to drive there. This is the least efficient and definitely the most expensive way of seeing the holiday lights in Brooklyn, so I would advise against using this method of transport.
Can I drive through Dyker Heights Christmas Lights neighbourhood?
It is possible to drive to/through Dyker Heights, but I would highly advise against driving in New York altogether as a tourist as it’s super expensive and a lot of hassle!
Many locals will choose to drive around the neighbourhood and see the lights from the warm comfort of their car, so not only will you struggle to find parking, but you’ll also experience quite a bit of traffic throughout the neighbourhood, so I would advise against driving in Dyker Heights unless absolutely necessary.
Tour
Aside from taking the subway and checking out the lights for yourself, the best way to see the famous Brooklyn Christmas Lights is on an official tour. In the section below, you’ll find a list of the top-rated tours in New York to see the Dyker Heights Lights.
Read more: 40+ Best Things To Do In New York In December
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights map
The map above shows the best area to see the Christmas Lights, as well as a few notable houses that are definitely worth visiting! You can get a copy of the map via this Google Maps link!
Read more: 7 Best Ways To Get From JFK To Manhattan
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights dates 2025
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights holiday season usually begins the weekend after Thanksgiving (27th November 2025) and usually lasts until the beginning of January.
Some people put together their holiday lights display just after Thanksgiving, whereas others might wait until the beginning of December. Therefore, the best time to visit Dyker Heights is anytime in December!
Read more: Best Things To Do In New York City On Christmas Day
The best Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours 2025
I’m a huge advocate for exploring the Brooklyn Christmas Lights on your own as I think it’s a better way to experience the entire neighbourhood, but I completely understand that many people prefer tours and thankfully, there are plenty of New York Dyker Heights holiday tours!
Below, I’ve put together a list of the top-rated Christmas Lights tours of Dyker Heights Brooklyn with a detailed explanation of each tour so you can see which one is best for you!
The cost of each of the tours below differ depending on availability and demand, which is why I haven’t listed the prices in this guide. Click on each of the tour links below to see the most up-to-date price.
Read more: 111 Bucket List Things To Do In New York
4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour with Scatto a New York – 4.6* (1,881 reviews) from $59
This 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour provided by Scatto a New York also includes round-trip transportation via bus from Times Square and an extensive walking tour of some of the best houses in the neighbourhood.
The tour also includes a 25-minute stop in Dumbo to admire the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline before returning to Times Square via the Manhattan Bridge.
NYC: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour with Sir Paddy Inc – 4.6* (796 reviews) from $69
Provided by Sir Paddy Inc, this 4-hour Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour from Midtown Manhattan to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn includes a professional tour guide who will give you plenty of information about the iconic festive neighbourhood, as well as numerous stops for photo opportunities of New York’s most famous sights.
The tour concludes near the Bryant Park Winter Village, so you can then spend the evening at yet another one of the city’s best holiday attractions!
4-Hour Christmas Lights Luxury Bus Tour with NY See Tours – 4.6* (209 reviews) from $95
Provided by NY See Tours, this 4-hour excursion from Manhattan to Dyker Heights includes transportation via a luxury passenger bus!
As well as seeing the spectacular festivities of the highly-coveted Brooklyn neighbourhood, you’ll also see the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Window Displays and the breathtaking Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Heights. The tour starts (at Greeley Square Park) and ends (at the Palace Hotel) in two different locations, so it’s important to bear this in mind when booking.
Holiday Lights Bus Tour From Manhattan with Tour America – 4.5* (846 reviews) from $60
This epic Christmas Lights tour with Tour America is one of the most highly-rated bus tours that takes you through the residential area of Dyker Heights to see the best lights and displays in the neighbourhood.
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours in total and includes round-trip transportation by bus from Times Square, as well as a knowledgeable tour guide who will explain all about the long-lasting holiday traditions of Dyker Heights!
4-Hour Brooklyn Christmas Magic Tour with Royal City Tours – 4.4* (547 reviews) from $60
Complete with a professional tour guide and transportation by bus, this 4-Hour Brooklyn Christmas Magic Tour provided by Royal City Tours from Manhattan includes a guided walking tour of the best inflatable Santas, nativity scenes, light displays and more of Dyker Heights!
On your way back to Manhattan, you’ll also get the chance to stop at the Brooklyn Bridge to take in the views of the impressive skyline at night.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours summary
- NYC: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour – 4.6*
- From Manhattan: 4-Hour Christmas Lights Luxury Bus Tour – 4.6*
- Dyker Heights Holiday Bus Tour – 4.5*
- Holiday Lights Bus Tour From Manhattan – 4.5*
- 4-Hour Brooklyn Christmas Magic Tour – 4.4*
Top tips for visiting Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Brooklyn
- Aside from paying for the subway to get there, it’s completely free to visit Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (providing that you don’t book a tour!).
- New York City can get extremely cold in December, so be sure to bring warm clothing such as a big winter coat, a hat, scarf and gloves.
- Visit the lights between 5 PM and 9 PM for the best chance to see as many houses lit-up as possible.
- Remember to be respectful when visiting the Christmas Lights; while the homeowners in the neighbourhood expect to see many tourists during the festive period, it’s important to be mindful that these are people’s homes, so you need to extend a high level of respect for people’s privacy.
- Bring a few dollars in cash with you. There are numerous charity donation boxes located throughout the neighbourhood that raise money for various causes. Of course, it’s not a requirement to donate any money, but it is a nice festive gesture!
- There are a few restaurants located nearby where you can enjoy a bite to eat before or after seeing the lights, including an Outback Steakhouse, Las Chelitas Mexican restaurant, Viva Mexico Restaurant and Krispy Pizza.
- Consider booking a tour to see the holiday lights if you want the comfort and convenience of travelling in a warm bus!
Is Dyker Heights Christmas Lights worth it?
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights is 100% worth visiting during the holiday season in New York! It’s one of the best and most beautiful holiday displays in the world and it’s definitely a must-see while in NYC!
Along with the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Wollman Rink in Central Park and the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Light Show, the Christmas Lights in Dyker Heights are one of the best festive attractions in New York City!
Read more: 20 Best Christmas Trees In NYC
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights photos
Because it’s one of the most beautiful and festive places in New York City, here are a few bonus photos of the remarkable Dyker Heights Christmas Lights to inspire your trip!
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Pin for later – Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Brooklyn NY
Have you ever seen the Dyker Heights holiday light displays in Brooklyn NY? Is it somewhere you’d like to visit on a festive trip to NYC? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!
