Cape May, the Victorian seaside town at New Jersey’s southern tip, is one of the most charming Christmas getaways from New York. Its gingerbread-trimmed houses, inns and churches are decorated in 19th-century style, and the Cape May MAC runs a full season of tours from late November through December.
Quick Facts
| Candlelight House Tours | Select Saturday evenings in December (2025: Dec 6, 13, 20) |
|---|---|
| Tree lightings | Early December (Rotary Park and Congress Hall; West Cape May) |
| West Cape May Christmas Parade | First Saturday in December |
| From NYC | About 3 hours by car via the Garden State Parkway |
Highlights
- Christmas Candlelight House Tours — a self-guided evening tour of decorated Victorian homes, inns and churches, now in its sixth decade. Some inns offer dinner-and-tour packages.
- Holiday lights trolley rides and carriage tours through decorated neighborhoods.
- The Physick Estate — a Victorian mansion with a tall tree, model trains and a Dickens Village.
- Congress Hall Winter Wonderland — a giant tree, maker village, train and carousel on the hotel lawn, plus Breakfast with Santa.
Tips
Book inns early for December weekends. Combine with South Jersey light shows such as Smithville’s floating trees on the drive down.
About Cape May
Cape May, at the southern tip of New Jersey, is one of America’s oldest seaside resorts. After a fire in 1878, much of the town was rebuilt in Victorian style, and today it has one of the largest collections of Victorian buildings in the country. The entire town is a National Historic Landmark District, and its painted “gingerbread” houses and inns are spectacular when dressed for Christmas.
Plan a Cape May Christmas Weekend
- Book a bed-and-breakfast or historic inn early for December weekends.
- Reserve Candlelight House Tour tickets, then take a trolley or carriage tour of the lights.
- Visit the Physick Estate’s Victorian Christmas displays.
- Shop the Washington Street Mall’s boutiques.
- Walk the quiet winter beach and promenade.
Getting There
Cape May is about 3 hours from Manhattan via the Garden State Parkway, which ends in Cape May. Stop at Historic Smithville on the way.
More in New Jersey
See our Christmas in New Jersey guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Cape May Christmas Candlelight House Tours?
On select Saturday evenings in December; in 2025 they were December 6, 13 and 20.
