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Christmas in New York: Private Holiday History Tour

Christmas in New York: Private Holiday History Tour

Overview

This is an expert led private tour to experience the magic, spectacle and spirit of the holiday season on an enchanted journey through the history of holiday traditions. This first class tour of Christmas in New York takes you to the most spectacular seasonal sites in the heart of Manhattan and reveals the inspired stories behind them. Get ready to enjoy the festive tales and stories behind time honored traditions that will bring the spectacle of the city to life for an unforgettable holiday treat.

- Discover the history and secrets behind the many merry customs we associate with season.

- Learn the magic behind Macy’s and uncover the miracles of 34th street.

- Stroll by a popular ice rink through to a local holiday village market

- Encounter the dazzling holiday displays along Fifth Avenue.

- Delight in the magnificence of Rockefeller Center

- Experience the true spirit of Christmas at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

- Take iconic holiday pictures of your unforgettable experience

City: New York City

Mon 23 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $150.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $150.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Expert local guide

Private tour

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a walking tour conducted at a leisurely pace
Dress appropriately for the winter weather
Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended
Children 7 and under are free per accompanying adult
Masks are recommended but not required outdoors. Masks and/or proof of vaccination may be required to enter any indoor facility

What To Expect

Macy's Herald Square

Worlds Largest Department store

New York Public Library

Discover the stories that inspired holiday traditions

Bryant Park

Stroll through the winter village

Fifth Avenue

World class shopping and holiday displays

Rockefeller Center

Iconic art deco complex and home to the most popular christmas tree

Radio City Music Hall

Home of the Rockettes and Christmas Spectacular

St. Patrick's Cathedral

The largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States

Show 4 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (104)

X130NJcarolh

Dec 2019

My visitors from Texas found Mr Draper via TripAdvisor's rave reviews so I booked the tour for the four of us for December 5, 2019. We could not have been more pleased with his expertise and knowledge of the history regarding the Gilded Age. He was the best! We would recommend Mr. Draper to anyone. All of us left there raving about the tour and promising to come back for another one. There was a lot of walking involved and all 4 of us are over 60, but we had no problem at all.

timhanlin

Oct 2019

We had heard about Kevin Draper and New York Historical Tours from a good friend in New York. We wanted an interesting and educational morning in New York. Kevin gave us a number of options and we settled on the Alexander Hamilton Tour. It was a wonderful experience! Kevin provided an excellent 2 hour tour. Kevin is an excellent tour guide and an extremely knowledgable historian. He presented complex facts in a clear and a concise manner. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and look forward to having him as a tour guide again the next time we are in New York

DrWendellW

Sep 2019

Having only a limited number of days in New York to check items off our bucket list, we needed an excellent guide with a plethora of knowledge and enough spare energy to keep us going. I fortunately found New York Historical Tours under the ownership and direction of Kevin Draper, CEO (Chief Experience Officer). My wife and I had used a private tour guide while in Scotland, and had a wonderful one on one experience ~ away from groups and tailored to fit our style of tourism. Kevin was incredibly knowledgable, affable, professional and customized our bucket list to 1) see the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access and the new museum, 2) get a brief but comprehensive history of Ellis Island without disembarking, 3) work our way to Katz’s Delicatessen (we are big “When Harry Met Sally” fans) all the while getting a feel and history of the local neighborhoods, as well as learning how to use the Metro system to develop a nice level of familiarity and comfort in the East Side of Manhattan where we were staying. A standout feature on a tour with Kevin is his attention to detail in planning our time together. I call him the Master of Timing and Positioning. For example he suggested catching the first ferry to the Statue of LIberty. When we met him, he had already purchased our tickets. While on the ferry, he kept us comfortably shaded, then took us to key positions to get the best views of Lady Liberty while giving us an incredibly interesting history of the Statue. By the time we left the island, it was getting swamped with tourists and school groups. Superb timing indeed. On the way to the Metro, he pointed out the very interesting history of Battery Park and surrounding buildings and branch of the Smithsonian museum. We wound our way through Little Italy, Chinatown, Nolita and Jewish neighborhoods on the way to Katz’s. Amazingly the line was short, but a madhouse inside. Kevin knew how to maneuver to the right cutter, get a table and we had a delicious lunch. As we left, the line had grown to over a block long with over an hour wait. Again the Master’s timing was impeccable. He gave us more fascinating history of different areas as we headed back to the Metropolitan Museum where we ended our incredible tour. Our 6 hour private tour went by so quickly, and we were comfortably exhausted. As a historian, Kevin is a walking talking wealth of knowledge about New York, and has tremendous pride in this amazing city. We can enthusiastically recommend him for those seeking the best in personal tours of the Big Apple. In fact, we look forward to using his services on a return trip to New York which can’t come soon enough.