How to Visit Dyker Heights Christmas lights in NYC
If you're lucky enough to visit New York at Christmas, don't miss the best decorated neighbourhood in the whole city. It's like something out of a film!
Lights from one of the houses in Dyker Heights | ©Hellotickets
New York at Christmas offers many things to do: illuminated shop windows, decorated streets and avenues, ice skating rinks... But if there's one thing you can't miss, it's the decorations in Dyker Heights.
With a lot of imagination and creativity, the residents of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn have turned their neighbourhood into a must-see attraction in New York at Christmas. You've never seen anything like it except in the movies. Get ready for a display of Christmas colours and lights and set off to discover one of the best neighbourhoods in New York!
Brooklyn Christmas Tour
Discover Dyker Heights on a tour of Brooklyn and marvel at the neighbourhood's Christmas lights.
The best way to explore this incredible place is by taking a guided bus tour to see the spectacular Christmas decorations put up by the residents themselves.
The Christmas tour of Dyker Heights is undoubtedly a great idea for those looking for a plan to enjoy Christmas in New York. The bus tour through the streets of Brooklyn to see the Christmas decorations on the houses will leave you speechless and will be one of the best memories you'll have of your time in the city during this magical season.
You'll see the extravagant lights, snowmen and impressive Santa Claus figures that decorate the houses in this residential area, whose residents have turned it into a very popular destination at this time of year. The local guide who will accompany you will tell you how this original idea came about in Dyker Heights and you will be able to take the best photos throughout the tour.
Recommended if... you want to discover this corner of New York where you will be dazzled by the Christmas light show put on by the residents, which you will enjoy even more when travelling in a comfortable bus that takes you there and back from Manhattan.
What is Dyker Heights like?
Dyker Heights is actually a residential neighbourhood in Brooklyn that would be nothing special were it not for the fact that every Christmas its residents get into the Christmas spirit and transform their homes into a place that looks like something out of an American film, thanks to the huge display of decorations and lights so typical of this time of year.
Some choose discreet and sophisticated lights to decorate their homes, while others go overboard and fill every inch of space with all kinds of garlands, baubles, inflatables and Christmas figurines that sing carols. To explore the streets and enjoy this spectacle in comfort, I recommend signing up for the Dyker Heights Christmas tour.
Why visit Dyker Heights at Christmas?
If you like Christmas decorations and lights, I highly recommend it because it's quite a sight to see an entire neighbourhood decorated in an "American style" for Christmas. The residents go to great lengths to impress visitors every year, and visitors have a blast taking pictures of all kinds of Santa Clauses, reindeer, snowmen, elves and more. When the sun goes down, you'll be hard pressed to find a house that isn't lit up!
How to get to Dyker Heights?
Dyker Heights is located in southwest Brooklyn, between the neighbourhoods of Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge. You can get there on your own by public transport or take a Christmas tour of Brooklyn in a comfortable vehicle that will take you there and back from downtown Manhattan.
By public transport
Dyker Heights is approximately one hour by subway from Manhattan. There is no subway station, but the neighbouring neighbourhoods do have stations. There are several options for getting there by public transport (you can check the New York subway guide here).
- Take the R subway line and get off in the Bay Ridge neighbourhood at the 86 St stop. There are cafés and shops around this subway stop, so if you need to use the restroom or want to buy something to warm up, you'll have to do so here. Remember that Dyker Heights is a residential neighbourhood and there are hardly any shops. To get there, you only have to walk about 15 to 20 minutes from the underground.
- Take the D subway line and get off in the Bensonhurst neighbourhood at the 79th St. stop. Although there are some shops in this area, the atmosphere is not the same as in Bay Ridge. A 20-minute walk from the subway station will take you to Dyker Heights.
- You can also take the X28 bus from Wall Street, which will drop you off at 86th St. and 12th Ave., a five-minute walk from the decorated houses. To return to Manhattan by bus, take the B1 bus.
What is the Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour like?
Christmas is a magical time of year in New York, and there are many ways to enjoy it. If you love the Christmas atmosphere, I recommend taking the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour so you don't miss out on any of this tradition, as there are details you might miss if you go on your own.
Not only will you see the lights in this picturesque neighbourhood, but you'll also explore it while listening to the guide's anecdotes about this fun event in Spanish, and you might even meet some of the owners of the brand-new houses. What's more, you won't be so cold in the middle of winter in New York, as you'll travel comfortably in a vehicle with the group instead of changing public transport.
To top it all off, on the way back to Midtown, there's a stop at the Brooklyn Bridge to take in the spectacular Manhattan skyline. All in all, this is a very comprehensive tour to enjoy the Christmas spirit of New York, and I guarantee you'll leave Dyker Heights with a smile on your face. If you're also a Christmas lover, don't miss the best Christmas trees in New York.
What are the most famous houses in Dyker Heights?
The most spectacular decorations in Dyker Heights are located between 83rd and 86th Streets and between 10th and 12th Avenues. Since this is a neighbourhood initiative, not all the houses in the neighbourhood are decorated every year, but there are always surprises. These are the most popular:
Lucy Spata's house
The home of the woman who started this tradition attracts crowds of tourists. It is like the jewel in Dyker Heights' crown. You'll recognise it by the army of dazzling figures in the garden, including snowmen, toy soldiers and dozens of angels, which she placed there in honour of her mother, who died in 1986. It is located at 1152 84th Street.
Polizzoto family home
On the same street, at number 1145, is the Polizzoto family home, which stands out for its giant Santa Claus at the entrance, the spectacular merry-go-round in the garden and toy soldiers almost 9 metres high.
James Bonavito's house
The Christmas decorations at this house are considered the most elegant in Dyker Heights, and James Bonavito knows a thing or two about the subject, as he is the owner of the Christmas decoration company B&R.
Gold, white, green and red lights decorate the façade and garden, along with life-size figures.
Sam the Greek's House
This is a three-storey house located on 71st Street & 14th Avenue, which is decorated from top to bottom with 260,000 lights and no detail is spared. Sam himself turns them on when Christmas arrives.
Blue Christmas House
The outdoor decorations are all blue. Inside, half of the house is decorated with Christmas motifs and the other half for Hanukkah, as the family who lives there is half Christian and half Jewish.
When do the lights in Dyker Heights go on?
There is no exact date for when the Christmas lights in Dyker Heights are turned on, although some residents do so on Thanksgiving weekend. However, the best way to ensure that all the decorations are lit is from mid-December until Christmas Day. Some residents even leave them on until after New Year's Eve.
What is the best time to visit the neighbourhood?
In December, the sun sets around 4:30 PM in New York. I recommend going to Dyker Heights a little before dark so you can see the lights come on, but if you can't, don't go too late, as many houses turn off their lights at 9 p.m.
Christmas decorations are most lit up on weekends, but that's also when the neighbourhood is most crowded, and some houses are packed with people.
Fun facts about the Dyker Heights Christmas lights
When did the Dyker Heights Christmas light tradition begin?
It all started in the 1980s, when neighbour Lucy Sparta decided to decorate her house with Christmas decorations in honour of her late mother. Little by little, other neighbours joined in, and today it has become an annual event and an unofficial neighbourhood competition to see who can decorate their house the best during Christmas. In fact, some families even pay professional decorators to create a customised and unique design for them.
This tradition attracts thousands of people to the Dyker Heights neighbourhood every year and is so popular that guided tours have been created to show visitors every little detail of the neighbourhood.
Where do the neighbours keep their decorations for the rest of the year?
Many residents store their decorations in their own homes, either in storage rooms or garages. These homes are quite large, so with a little organisation, it's not surprising that they have a specific space to store them.
Other residents have their decorations stored by decoration companies, as they are the ones who provide the lights and decorations when families hire their services.
How much do the decorations cost?
It depends on the decorations and the size of the house, but figures range from £5,000 to £20,000 between electricity bills and the services of specialist decoration companies. A fortune!
Other tours to see the Christmas lights in New York
If you love this time of year and love seeing Christmas lights, you've chosen the best city to soak up the Christmas spirit that completely envelops the streets of New York. Here are some of the best tours to see the Christmas lights apart from Dyker Heights, so you can book the one you like best:
- Night helicopter flight to see the city lights from New Jersey — from £253
- Christmas lights tour by limousine — from £466
- Horse-drawn carriage tour to see the Christmas lights — from £291
What else to do in New York at Christmas?
Christmas is one of the most magical times to experience New York. The city is filled with Christmas trees, lights, carols, decorated avenues and shops... Without a doubt, it's the time to visit the city because it's beautiful and there's so much to see. As Andy Williams said in his popular song: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, don't miss Rockefeller Center at Christmas, where you can see its historic tree and skate on its ice rink. And if you feel like exploring the city beyond Manhattan, the Christmas lights at the Bronx Zoo will leave you speechless.
And since you're in Brooklyn, I recommend you visit the neighbourhood (if possible, see it in daylight before arriving at Dyker Heights so you can enjoy its markets, architecture and parks...). If you're up for it, here's a guide I've put together on what to see and do in Brooklyn or what to see and do in Williamsburg, New York's Jewish neighbourhood.