New York Holiday Lights Open-Top Bus Tour, 1 hr 45 min - Image 1
New York Holiday Lights Open-Top Bus Tour, 1 hr 45 min - Image 2
New York Holiday Lights Open-Top Bus Tour, 1 hr 45 min - Image 3
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New York Holiday Lights Open-Top Bus Tour, 1 hr 45 min - Image 5
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New York Holiday Lights Open-Top Bus Tour, 1 hr 45 min

TourTruth score 4.8 out of 10

Below average

66 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • New York City
  • 1 hr 45 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

See Rockefeller Center, Times Square and Fifth Avenue shine on a guided open-top bus tour through festive New York City.

About this tour

See New York City sparkle after dark on a holiday lights tour aboard an open-top double-decker bus. From the upper deck, take in Manhattan’s festive streets and illuminated landmarks without having to navigate the seasonal crowds on foot.

The route features the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Times Square and Fifth Avenue’s holiday displays. A live English-speaking guide shares stories about the sights and New York’s holiday traditions as you ride. The panoramic, non-stop experience lasts 90–120 minutes, depending on the option. Some departures include a holiday treat at Planet Hollywood, while another option offers a 20% discount on the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. One listed route ends at Planet Hollywood; another returns to the starting point near M&M’s World.

Choose the New York holiday lights tour that suits your plans and enjoy a festive view of the city from the comfort of the bus.

Highlights

  • Admire the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and seasonal displays
  • See Times Square and Fifth Avenue glow after dark
  • Hear stories about New York’s holiday traditions from a live guide
  • Ride through Manhattan aboard a decorated open-top double-decker bus
  • Enjoy a holiday treat at Planet Hollywood or a Rockettes discount, depending on the option

What's included

Included

  • 90-minute holiday lights tour
  • Open-top double-decker bus
  • Live guide
  • Professional photoshoot, with pictures available for purchase
  • Holiday treat at Planet Hollywood
  • 20% discount on the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

Not included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • This is a panoramic, non-stop tour, not a hop-on, hop-off service
  • One option departs from Stop #1 at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World, and finishes at Stop #2 at Planet Hollywood, 42nd Street and Broadway, in front of the Knickerbocker Hotel
  • Another option returns to Stop #1 at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street
  • An additional 7:00 PM departure is available December 19–30
Show 4 more
  • One listing states the tour runs December 3, 2026–January 4, 2027
  • Infants must sit on an adult’s lap
  • Strollers are permitted
  • Wheelchair-accessible transportation and surfaces are listed for one option

Frequently asked questions

How long is the tour?

The listed tour duration is 90–120 minutes, depending on the option.

Is this a hop-on, hop-off tour?

No. It is a panoramic, non-stop bus tour.

Where does the tour start and finish?

Both options start at Stop #1, at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street outside M&M’s World. One finishes there; the other finishes at Planet Hollywood on 42nd Street and Broadway.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

One listing describes the transportation and surfaces as wheelchair accessible.

Are infants and strollers allowed?

Infants must sit on an adult’s lap, and infants and small children can ride in a stroller.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 3.98 on GetYourGuide (Viator shows no usable rating). Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in New York City
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 4.8.

Provider rating distribution in New York City

How many tours in New York City have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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