Experience Elf, Home Alone Sites When Visiting New York City for the Holidays

Image: Christmas in New York City.  (Photo Credit: rabbit75_ist / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Image: Christmas in New York City. (Photo Credit: rabbit75_ist / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 11:10 AM ET, Mon November 20, 2023

There’s nothing as magical and beautiful as New York City for the holidays.

And On Location Tours will help you see in person what you have only seen on television. Start with Buddy.

“Buddy The Elf, What’s Your Favorite Color?” This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved Christmas movie, Elf! The film, starring Will Ferrell, has blossomed into a classic staple of the holiday season. Because, after all, Buddy knows Santa Claus. He really knows him!

Join On Location Tours and hop aboard their annual Holiday Lights & Movie Sites Tour.

In addition to locations from Elf, other memorable sites featured on the tour include the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, where Kevin McCallister reunites with his mother in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Macy’s breathtaking holiday window displays, as seen in Miracle on 34th Street; Bloomingdale’s, featuring the iconic black cashmere gloves from Serendipity, and more.

The tour explores several Manhattan neighborhoods, including Midtown, the Upper West Side, and the Upper East Side, making it a great sightseeing tour for anyone looking to get a taste of the Big Apple. The tour guides are local New York City actors and actresses who share little-known facts, behind-the-scenes info, and fun trivia questions to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

The Holiday Lights & Movie Sites Tour departs from 63rd Street & Broadway, near Columbus Circle (exact location given upon purchase). The public tour costs $58 for adults and $32 for children. 

The public tour runs daily at 6:30 p.m. Private tours run daily at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and can be booked for small groups of up to 22 passengers, at $135/person (3-person minimum).


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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