There aren't many cities in the world where you'll find a better selection of tours lead by passionate guides ready to share their knowledge and experiences with visitors. See the city from a boat, fly over in a helicopter, explore by bike or go on fun walking tours while learning about New York City's history, culture, architecture, cuisine, theater and photography.
Liberty Helicopters
You can live a lifetime in New York City and still not see everything. With Liberty Helicopters Big Apple tour, however, you can come close, at least when it comes to the big picture. From Ellis Island to Freedom Tower, from Governor’s Island to the Empire State, you get to see most of the city landmarks from the perspective normally reserved for picture books or business tycoons. Everything looks different from above, and for about 15 minutes you will see New York City from a completely new perspective.
All tours start at the downtown Manhattan heliport. Check for combo packages that will take you on a continuing tour of the city by bus or boat after you land or that will allow you to do other interesting things to do once your flight is over.
Big Apple Greeter
Coming to New York City for the first time can be a bit intimidating. If you do not have a friend or a relative to take you around and show you the ropes, you might feel lost. Seeing the city with a Big Apple Greeter is like having your favourite uncle or a cousin showing you around. There are about 300 of them, true New Yorkers, people who volunteer their time to help visitors enjoy their favorite city more. They are not professional tour guides, but they have life-long experience in the city and will show you parts not mentioned in any guide book.
They will take you to their favourite bagel shops or hot dog stands, and by the end you will fall in love with the place and see it the way they do: as a bunch of neighbourhoods, each unique, fun, diverse, full of history and culture, and full of people who, like your greeter, want you to feel at home and come back. Phone: 212-669-8159
911 Ground Zero Tour
No visitor will be able to take the 911 Ground Zero Tour and stay emotionally uninvolved. Depending on the tour you decide to take, you will visit Ground Zero, the 9/11 Memorial, the 9/11 Museum, and the Freedom Tower Observatory. You will also visit St. Paul’s Chapel, the site of a rescue center on the day of the event.
You will see the Firemen’s Memorial Wall and hear the stories of acts of extraordinary heroism and overwhelming tragedy that happened on that day. You will be able to see the new World Trade Center towers and the Freedom Tower rising into the sky, the tallest structure in the Western world. Phone: 646-801-9113
Circle Line Cruises
Head out onto the water with a Circle Line Cruises. See the New York Skyline in style as you cruise past the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the famous Yankee Stadium. Take their landmark cruise and see the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building and much more in one easy cruise. There is nothing more beautiful than New York by night so if your schedule permits, take their Harbor Lights Cruise which departs at dusk.
Watch the sun set behind the Statue of Liberty during this magical hour and a half tour. Children under three cruise free, making a Circle Line Cruise a must do for the entire family.
SANDEMANs New York Tours
For those on a budget, check out SANDEMANs New York Tours. They offer a free two hour tour around New York which will take you through Wall Street, Broadway and many other must see sites. Hear the history of New York and local stories that will remind you of just how special New York truly is. See old and new combined, in the city that never sleeps, with a local New Yorker as your guide.
SANDEMANs offers tours that are highly informative and entertaining. These tours are suitable for the whole family, making it a low cost family day out. Phone: 347-853-5713
Rockefeller Center Tour
No trip to New York would be complete without a visit to Rockefeller Center. Take the tour and learn the history of one of New York’s most recognized landmarks. Hear the story of founder John D. Rockefeller Jr, and his vision for Rockefeller Center. Marvel at the one of a kind art and architecture that you will find at every turn.
Head up to the Top of the Rock and stand 259 meters above the city where the views are unrivaled. Shop, skate and eat during your visit; it’s a perfect day out for the whole family.
Oscar Wilde Tours
Oscar Wilde Tours will show you the gay side of New York City. New York is, and has been, home to many gay artists and notable gay figures who have played a huge role in shaping both American culture and gay history. The city is bursting with gay stories, and Oscar Wilde Tours is bringing them out of the closet. They offer a two-hour walking tour of the Metropolitan Museum where you will learn the museum’s gay secrets, from ancient Greece to Picasso’s portrait of Gertrude Stein.
You can also take a tour of Greenwich Village where the gay liberation movement was born, and where gay artists have lived and loved, from Walt Whitman to Andy Warhol. Special tours are also available: a walking tour of the East Village, with gay figures such as Allen Ginsberg and Quentin Crisp, and a bus tour of the complete gay city, from Harlem to Brooklyn Heights, covering New York gay history from the 17th century to today. All tours are a fascinating mix of historical facts, art history and city lore. Phone: 646-560-3205
Real New York Tours
It is impossible to see the whole of New York City in a day unless you have a very good tour guide. Real New York Tours will take you on a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps with one of the native guides that have been exploring New York since they were toddlers and have all kinds of stories to tell you about it. You can choose group tours that will take you to all the main sites and introduce you to the New York subway. Or you can take one of the private tours where you can tell the guide what you are interested in and he or she will tailor it to your taste.
You will get to walk narrow neighborhood alleys, eat the best hot dogs, visit fabulous but unknown art galleries, and meet some very special people, who, like your guide, make this city so unforgettable. Phone: 917-572-7017
Broadway Up Close Walking Tours
If you are a theatre buff, you must have dreamed of getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the hidden world of big theatre productions – all the drama, displays of ego, and passionate displays emotion that happen before the curtain raises. You can gain intimate knowledge of and a private visit to the Broadway theatre district with one of people who are part of it – real working actors and production managers. The Broadway Up Close Walking Tours will take you from the south end of the theatre district on 41st street all the way to 45th street between 6th and 8th Avenues.
You will hear stories about the big successes and tragic flops, get the inside scoop on big Broadway legends, and hear about some intimate experiences from your own guides. There will be a ghost story or two as well. The tours take a bit less than two hours. Be prepared to walk, be amused and entertained, and take some fabulous photos. Phone: 917-841-0187
New York Media Boat
Some people like to take their sightseeing slowly in order to soak up the atmosphere. Others prefer to do it at full throttle. New York Media boat is for speed junkies – it will actually go up to 30 knots between stops at the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Freedom Tower, and everything else you will encounter along the Hudson river. You will go aboard the same type of boat CNN journalists and the Navy SEALs use on their missions.
Your captain Bjoern Kils is a former TV cameraman and has quite a few stories to tell. He is also full of knowledge and legends about the landmarks you will pass by. For about an hour and a half, you will have the adventure of your life. You might get a little wet, but you will love the thrill of the ride.
Ahoy New York Food Tours
New York City is famous for many things, but there is no place on Earth with such a diversity of foods from every corner of the world. New York has everything from fancy five-course meals made by celebrated chefs to fabulous bagels and hot dogs from street vendors, and visiting this city without experiencing its rich food offerings is not an option. Ahoy New York Food Tours will take you to two of the most celebrated food districts – Chinatown and Little Italy. The three-hour food tours are a delicious mix of food, culture, and history.
You will get to visit and grab a bite to eat at the more than 100-year-old Italian cheese store – the oldest in America. You’ll also stop by a pastry shop with incredible Italian pastries, an authentic, colorful Chinese dumpling shop, and the oldest Chinatown tea parlor. You will get plenty to eat, an earful of stories, and a noseful of smells, and you will surely be back for more. Ahoy New York Food Tours, Phone: 646-681-3994
Manhattan by Sail
Tall ships played a big role in the history of Manhattan Island. You now have a chance to board one of them and take a 90-minute tour of the picturesque and fascinating New York Harbor. Manhattan by Sail offers all kinds of tours, including basic sails around the island to cocktail parties, wine tasting, sunset tours, weddings, and private charters on one of their two magnificent sailboats.
Shearwater, built from native hardwoods in 1929, is the 82-foot schooner, an elegant Gatsby-era yacht that can accommodates up to 48 passengers. Clipper City is a replica of schooners that used to haul lumber a century ago, a 158-ft. long sailing ship that is New York’s biggest and most elegant and can accommodate 134 passengers.
Inside Broadway Tours
When people think of New York City, they often think of Broadway. Take an Inside Broadway Tour through the New York Theatre District. Each tour guide is a professional actor, singer or director who is well informed to tell you not only the history of Broadway Theatre but also their secret backstage stories. Learn about the audition process and the journey to opening night.
On this walking tour, you will visit Hell’s Kitchen, Shubert Alley, Sardi’s, 42nd Street and much more. This two-hour tour is perfect for the whole family and those who adore theatre. Phone: 212-245-0710
Harlem Heritage Tours
Harlem Heritage Tours is an authentic tour company that will take you on a unique tour through the streets of Harlem. Led by Harlem locals, the tours will introduce you to the authentic culture and history of this district. Choose one of the walking tours where you will hear world renowned gospel singing, or take the Harlem Civil Rights Tour and learn about Harlem’s impact on the American Civil Rights Movement.
For those with more time, there are day tours available that offer a full immersion into the fascinating Harlem history. Phone: 212-280-7888
Foods of New York Tours
Each city that you visit will have its own set of unique culinary delights and New York is one of the most diverse destinations for food lovers. The Foods of New York Tour offers fantastic food tasting and cultural walking tours through several of New York’s boroughs. Become a local for the day and try food from speciality food shops, ethnic eateries and local restaurants. Foods of New York offers six different food tours so there is something for every taste. If you have more time, check out one of their cooking classes or book a custom tour for your event.
Style Room
There is a new way to explore New York City if you are a visiting fashionista. It is called Style Room, and it is a tour of fashion designer studios and showrooms guided by fashion expert and shopper extraordinaire Karen Parker O'Brien. She will take you on a whirlwind tour of NYC fashion spots behind normally closed doors, accessible only to the invited and initiated. Not only you will meet fashion designers face-to-face and see some of the latest designs and trends, you will be able to buy all that your heart desires for up 65% off retail. During this private VIP tour that lasts five hours, you will be brought to up to five different fashion designers’ studios showrooms. Phone: 646-245-5316
