Top New York City Historical Tours

One of the most iconic symbols of America, the Statue of Liberty rises up from New York Harbor, welcoming the immigrants who once entered the United States through nearby Ellis Island. Pay a visit to Lady Liberty and learn the stories of those who passed through Ellis Island with this convenient and flexible tour that lets you choose how long you want to spend at each attraction.

Sail across the waters of New York’s harbor as part of the only tour group allowed on the first ferry of the day to Liberty Island. Learn the history of Lady Liberty and explore the Statue of Liberty Museum on this well-timed tour. Then, head to Ellis Island to discover the stories of the millions of immigrants who journeyed through this historic site.

Get up close and personal with Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty on a tour that covers two NYC landmarks. Listen to the live narration from your guide. Enjoy priority access to the ferry and get the best views of Manhattan as you cross New York Harbor by boat.

Take in all the highlights of New York City on this comprehensive, one-of-a-kind tour. Explore the Big Apple like a New Yorker, as you walk, ride the subway and take the Staten Island ferry. Visit Times Square, the Broadway Theater District, Grand Central Terminal, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and much more. Entrance to the One World Observatory is also included.

In remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, take this guided tour of Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial. Walk through the space of the former World Trade Center in NYC, and get a deeper understanding of the events that took place on that day. Your ticket includes skip-the-line access to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial, as well as the One World Observatory for panoramic views of the city.

Go behind-the-scenes at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, and see parts of the church that are otherwise off-limits to visitors, during this catacombs tour. Meet your guide at a convenient location in Lower Manhattan, and follow them into the church. As you explore, learn all about the landmark’s place in New York history and discover the final resting place of famous New Yorkers past.

Take a break from Manhattan’s major tourist zones on a day trip through Harlem, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Coney Island. Avoid the hassle of planning logistics, and enjoy the views as your guide navigates the way through neighborhoods often missed by visitors. Going with a guide also ensures you spot hidden landmarks and leave with an insider’s understanding of New York’s outer boroughs.

Take a bite out of New York City’s hippest borough on this half-day Brooklyn food and culture tour. From traditional ethnic eateries to culinary hotspots that spark national dining trends, your guide will show you where to eat like a local. Snack on kielbasa and pierogis in the Polish enclave of Greenpoint, satisfy your sweet tooth in DUMBO, and get a taste of farm-to-fork freshness in trendy Williamsburg. Vegetarians can be accommodated.

Alexander Hamilton spent much of his life in New York City, and with this walking tour inspired by the Tony Award-winning 'Hamilton' musical, you can take a deep dive into the Founding Father's life and the making of the hit Broadway show. Whether you have already seen the show, plan to see it soon, or simply love the cast album, this tour provides context to the story and its songs as you explore lower Manhattan.

New York City is so big, it can be difficult to fit everything into one visit. This tour makes seeing NYC’s most interesting neighborhoods—SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown—in one day easy. In SoHo, visit the historic Cast Iron District, and learn about 19th-century architecture. In Little Italy, see mob sites, and hear about John Gotti, an American mobster. In Chinatown, see top highlights and where get the best bargain.

Get a personalized introduction to New York City's legendary arts showcase with this private tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Housing more than 2 million objects, this renowned institution can be overwhelming to explore, so let a private art historian guide show you the highlights from paintings by Vermeer to pop culture memorabilia. Explore at your own pace and concentrate on the museum sections that interest you most with a private tour.

It’s possible to spend an entire day inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and still not see everything, but this guided Met tour is the best way to take advantage of the riches that are inside one of the world’s greatest art museums. See the highlights of the collection and get special insight into the works of art on display, all within a small-group atmosphere.

An instant classic with locals and tourists since the day it opened in 2009, the High Line is a former railway line on the west side of Manhattan that has been converted into a dynamic park. This guided tour walks you through the High Line as well as the cosmopolitan neighborhood it runs through, Chelsea, and reveals amazing architecture and art you might not have noticed on your own.

Pack highlights of New York City’s most interesting neighborhoods—SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown—all into one day with this walking tour. In SoHo, visit the Cast Iron Historic District and learn about 19th-century architecture. In Little Italy, see mob sites and hear about John Gotti, an American mobster. In Chinatown, soak up the sights, smells, and sounds of the neighborhood.

New York City has been known for its yummy food for centuries, but if you don’t know Greenwich Village well, you might pass up some of the city’s most delicious dishes. This New York secret food tour lets you sample a mix of doughnuts, New York-style pizza, cupcakes, bagels, and more, so you can get a taste for the rich history of this historic NYC area.

Prebook your admission to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in lower Manhattan, and guarantee your entry to the center that documented the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. Museum artifacts include first-person accounts of what happened on that September morning in 2001, multi-media displays, and exhibits on history, which commemorate nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks.

Take the guesswork out of a visit to New York’s most acclaimed museum on a small-group tour the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Skip the line and see the most important pieces of the enormous collection—including European paintings, ancient Egyptian sculpture, medieval armor, and pop culture memorabilia—and learn the stories behind the art from an expert guide. Group size is limited to eight for a more personalized tour.

Step into the scenes of your favorite movies and TV shows with this guided tour of New York City’s famous filming locations. A guide helps you to recognize the buildings, shops, landmarks, and parks that have been featured in famous shows and movies such as ‘Friends,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Girls,’ and ‘Spiderman.’ Plus, TV buffs can get the inside scoop most tourists miss by exploring the sites with a guide/local actor.

Sex and the City is one of New York City's most iconic TV shows and this tour lets you follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters. Visit memorable locations from the TV show and movies; stop by the bars where Charlotte, Carrie, Miranda, and Samantha sipped on cosmos and gossiped about guys; see where they bought cupcakes and sex toys; and visit shops seen on-screen.

Central Park is one of New York City's star attractions. Rather than wandering through it alone, you'll have a far richer experience in the company of a guide who knows it well. In a small group, follow your guide through the park on a walking tour that covers the history, structures, plants, animals, and movies associated with the park.

Watch Harlem come alive after dark with a 3.5-hour evening tour to historic churches, landmarks and one of the neighborhood’s best jazz spots. Walk with your guide along vibrant Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, and learn about the cultural heritage of Harlem’s night clubs and gospel churches. Spot some of New York City’s distinctive brownstone architecture as you walk, then finish your evening at a live jazz club, where some of today’s best artists play tunes by Harlem’s music greats.

See New York City at your feet with admission to the One World Observatory, a 3-story destination on top of the western hemisphere’s tallest building. Ride to the 102nd floor and watch the virtual city skyline transform across centuries of history. Learn about the construction of the skyscraper, which has sweeping views across the city, enjoying New York from a whole new perspective.

Get to know Central Park, the most visited urban park in the United States, on a private pedicab tour. Take a leisurely ride around this iconic New York City landmark, exploring its many bridges, fountains and statues while learning about its history and design from the experienced driver/guide. See the spots featured in more than 300 different films since 1908 and discover interesting details and anecdotes about the park.

The High Line, Chelsea Market, and Meatpacking District are three of New York’s hippest and foodie-focused spots; but exploring them is best with a guide for navigation and insider tips. This small-group tour takes you straight to their best spots and offerings. Roam the elevated High Line park, savor artisanal specialities at Chelsea Market, and discover the architecture and food haunts of the Meatpacking District, once home to NYC’s slaughterhouses.