Bryant Park: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Manhattan: 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour

1. From Manhattan: 4-Hour Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour

Experience Christmas in New York City on a comfortable bus tour of Dyker Heights, world-known for its luminous light displays. Witness the festive decoration tradition that the residents have kept alive since the 1980s. Drive from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Enjoy this lively Italian-American neighborhood with your tour guide. Due to narrow streets, buses are not allowed in Dyker Heights, so hop off the bus and follow your guide to the two most illuminated streets in the area. See Lucy Spata's house, which started the tradition of Dyker Lights in the '80s. Walk along the most spectacularly decorated houses. Next, stop at the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights. Enjoy the view of the Manhattan Skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge for about 25 minutes. Return via the Manhattan Bridge. End the experience at Bryant Park, where you can visit its famous winter market on your own.

NYC: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour

2. NYC: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights & Skyline View Bus Tour

Get into the Christmas spirit, the most wonderful time of the year, in New York City's borough of Brooklyn on a bus tour through Dyker Heights. Be charmed by the spectacular holiday decorations, the neighborhood's glittering lights, and festive displays. Your guide will take you on the bus from Midtown Manhattan to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights. Along the way, the guide will tell you some great New York stories. On the way to the Christmas Lights, stop for a bathroom break and a photo op of the sunset over the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. Once arrived in Dyker Heights, you will get off the bus and the guide will show you the most beautiful and spectacular houses in this wonderful Brooklyn neighborhood. On your way back to Manhattan, the bus will make a photo stop at Brooklyn Bridge Park, where you will get off the bus for a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge. From there, make your way back along the East River with an astonishing view of Williamsburg, the Brooklyn skyline, Long Island City, the Queens skyline, the Empire State Building, and the Midtown Manhattan Skyline as well as the famous Queensboro Bridge. Your tour will end close to one of the most beautiful New York City holiday markets, the Winter Village at Bryant Park. Feel the magical atmosphere Christmas brings as you drive through the many neighborhoods and experience New York in a new way.

New York City: Christmas Holiday Tour of Manhattan

3. New York City: Christmas Holiday Tour of Manhattan

Meet your guide in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral and get the chance to go inside to see the interior decorated for Christmas. Continue to the Rockefeller Center, famous for its winter ice rink and magical Christmas tree. Learn how the complex of buildings became such a popular place for holiday celebrations. Take a souvenir photo of the famous Christmas tree. Then, walk to Radio City Music Hall, where the Rockettes create magic every day. Move down town to the Bryant Park Holiday Market and walk past the window displays of the 5th Avenue shops. End in front of Macy's and learn the history of the world's largest department store.

New York City: The Ride Interactive Bus Tour

4. New York City: The Ride Interactive Bus Tour

When New York entrepreneurs and creative types join forces, ultramodern entertainment in the form of a 45-foot long bus with stadium seats, surround sound, and street performances ensues. Take this interactive 65-75 minute bus ride and see New York from an entirely unique perspective. It turns the streets of New York into a stage, bringing entertainment and tourism together to create a city experience that everyone, from tourists to native New Yorkers, can enjoy. The RIDE drives through New York and features performances in front of sights, such as Grand Central, 42nd Street, Bryant Park, and more. It’s Broadway without the limitations of a stationary theater, and a bus tour with a theatrical twist. Each of the mobile theaters hold 3 rows of stadium seats, plus the most modern audio and visual technology, including speakers that bring inside sounds out onto the street, enabling RIDErs to go “On Air” and interact with the city.

New York City: Art Deco and Architecture Landmarks Tour

5. New York City: Art Deco and Architecture Landmarks Tour

Start your tour in beautiful Bryant Park and head off to explore the history of midtown and its many Art Deco architectural masterpieces, as well as other beautiful styles like Beaux-Arts. Hear about the origins of NYC's landmarking laws from your expert guide. Get a unique perspective on the Empire State Building. From there, travel up historic 42nd street where you will see numerous historic buildings. View several early, key Art Deco masterpieces including the gorgeous Chrysler Building, and many lesser-known landmarks with stunning decorative architecture. Admire a few stunningly preserved lobbies. Visit Grand Central Terminal, the world's largest train terminal, and one of NYC's most beautiful interior spaces. Journey up 5th avenue to see the guide's favorite Art Deco hidden treasure in midtown, before ending at Rockefeller Center.

New York City: Christmas Markets and Lights Walking Tour

6. New York City: Christmas Markets and Lights Walking Tour

Get into the Christmas spirit on a 4-hour walking tour of New York’s most attractive holiday markets, and find unique gifts among the vast array of hand-crafted goods, local art and crafts, and fashionable winter attire. Meet your guide at Columbus Circle and set off in the glow of the city's winter lights. Experience the magic of New York during the holiday season, stopping to admire the dazzling window displays of all the department stores and boutique shops. Sample traditional foods and warming drinks as you take in Manhattan's holiday light displays, Christmas movie locations, and charming holiday decorations along the way.

NYC: Highlights of Manhattan Tour in a Classic Car

7. NYC: Highlights of Manhattan Tour in a Classic Car

Our incredible vintage car tour takes you on a unique journey through the iconic streets of Manhattan. Learn about the rich history of New York’s Roaring Twenties, the Prohibition Era as well as the rise of speakeasies in the city. This experience will unlock a stimulating and unprecedented journey through the original roots of Manhattan that you will never forget. As you ride in your vintage vehicle, you'll witness the recognizable landmarks and skyscrapers of Midtown Manhattan, such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, Chrysler Building, and Rockefeller Center. Your personal tour chauffeur will regale you with stories and anecdotes about the city's colorful past.

New York: City Highlights Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

8. New York: City Highlights Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 14.5+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of New York City in 14-16 hours. Once downloaded, your tour of New York City begins at 764 Doris C Freedman Pl. From there you will head south to Trump Tower and hear about Former President Donald J. Trump’s organization’s headquarters. Keep driving and you will see St. Patrick's Cathedral on your left - a fantastic Roman Catholic cathedral in the middle of this modern city. After that, you’ll reach The Rockefeller Center - known for its famous observation deck, the "Top of the Rock,". Then you’ll come across Times Square - perhaps the most visited tourist destination in the world. As you continue to drive, you will see and hear about some more iconic landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and Madison Square Park. Did you know Madison Square Park’s history dates back to the late 1700s when it was used as a potter's field and a military parade ground? As you continue to drive, you will hear much about the city’s history and tourism through the decades. Canal Street is next, followed by City Hall Park. From there, continue on Pearl Street and hear about the infrastructural development taking place in the city over the years. Coming up is the Manhattan Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge is one of the three iconic bridges that connect the vibrant borough of Manhattan with the charming Brooklyn. Up next is the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a suspension bridge that spans the East River, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City. From here, head to the Financial District of New York. It is the historic and symbolic heart of New York City's financial industry, home to the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the American Stock Exchange, among many other financial institutions. If you decide to take a walk, make sure to use our Wall Street Self-Guided Walking Tour. Coming up ahead is Battery Park. The park is named after the artillery battery stationed there in the late 1700s to defend the city. Highly recommend you take the Battery Park Self-Guided Walking Tour. Coming up next is the One World Trade Center, also known as Freedom Tower, is the main building of the World Trade Center complex, which is located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. After that, you will drive alongside the Hudson River and arrive at one of the city’s newest parks - Little Island. As you reach the end of the tour, you will also hear about the city’s ongoing fight against the forces of nature. Finally, you’ll arrive at Columbus Circle. Columbus Circle is an important and iconic landmark of New York City, it's a must-see destination for any tourist visiting the city, and it offers a great variety of activities and landmarks. Your tour concludes here.

New York: Midtown Manhattan City Exploration Game

9. New York: Midtown Manhattan City Exploration Game

Imagine you’re a young reporter who has just moved to New York City in hopes to make your “big break.” You’ve recently received a lead that suggests magic is here in Midtown! Your lead instructs you to meet him in Grand Central, where he’ll provide you with everything you need to discover a Secret Society of Magical Persons. As you solve challenges, the story unfolds and exact directions on your phone will guide you to the next location. Ready for an adventure? The city game starts at the Grand Central Station. It will take you around 1.5 hours to complete and you can also explore at your own pace: pause the game and resume anytime from the location where you paused it. You will finish at The Plaza Hotel. After your booking. you will receive an email on how to download the game to your phone. You can play on your own, in a large group or in several smaller groups that compete against each other and meet at the final stop of the game. For larger groups, one person can purchase access for the entire group by selecting the number of people in the group. All group members will be able to download and play the city game on their phones. Alternatively, each person can make their own purchase.

NYC: Midtown Manhattan Self-Guided Walking Tour

10. NYC: Midtown Manhattan Self-Guided Walking Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Note: This 3+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Midtown Manhattan in 1 hour. Explore New York City’s Midtown Manhattan on a self-guided walking tour via an app that functions as a guide, narrator, and GPS map. See New York’s most iconic landmarks and learn their history, from the Empire State Building to Times Square. Enjoy animated videos to visualize parts of the tour. Begin your tour at Columbus Circle, then head to Carnegie Hall, where music legends have performed for over a century. Get the story behind the hall and its founder before moving on to the ornate Russian Tea Room, a Manhattan staple since 1927. Next, visit the city’s most famous hotels, the Ritz and the Plaza. These five-star digs aren’t just landmarks, they’re also packed with Manhattan history that you’ll get to uncover. After that, get a chance to see the famous Pulitzer Fountain. Snap a few photos to save the memory before heading down Fifth Avenue, where New Yorkers come to get their high-end apparel from stores like Saks, Bergdorf, and Louis Vuitton. Then, head to the Saint Regis hotel and learn of the fierce legal dueling between the Astors and the Vanderbilts surrounding this gorgeous landmark. The route continues to the iconic Rockefeller Center. From the ice rink to the NBC studios seen in “30 Rock,” this is a must-see New York landmark. Afterward, it’s time to say hello to Broadway and get a glimpse at the city’s thriving theater scene. A tour of New York City wouldn’t be complete without Times Square, so that’s up next. Explore this memorable square and learn about its transformation from a criminal haven to a tourism hub. If you’re ready to take a break from walking, enjoy a stop at Bryant Park, a perfect oasis that has also seen plenty of Hollywood magic over the years. When you’re ready, head to the city’s most astonishing architectural marvels: the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal. Take in the stunning designs while learning about how they both came to be. Then it’s on to the vast New York Public Library, which houses a staggering 125 miles of shelving and is used to transport books from floor to floor using pneumatic tubes! Finish off your tour learning the full, fascinating history behind the Empire State Building as you walk to New York’s most iconic skyscraper.

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What people are saying about Bryant Park

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 756 reviews

This was a really nice outing for my daughter and I. I had reservations about the travel time on a bus but it actually turned out really nice to sit down and rest after exploring the city earlier in the day while also getting a brief history of the NY neighborhoods as we passed each one. The Christmas displays in Dyker Heights did not disappoint. Would definitely recommend to others for a fun holiday experience. The guide, Mike, was great and the bus was clean and comfortable.

My partner and I absolutely enjoyed ourselves! We went on Xmas day and it was crowded but our tour guide Mike answered my call because we got lost from the group because I just had to buy a tshirt to remember my experience there and Mike was very knowledgeable about the area and extremely friendly! We loved it from beginning to end!

Mike was awesome! He was very informative from the time the tour started to the time it ended. He gave plenty of time to see everything and take pictures. The bus was very comfortable and it had a restroom that was really convenient. I would definitely recommend this tour, it is definitely worth it!

Amazing tour to see the lights. Was a very cold night but glad it was not raining! nice tour lady and special to go on Christmas Eve

The lights were awesome and our guide Mike was amazing!