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.

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.

Hop aboard a pedicab—a bicycle-powered cab—for a private ride around New York City's Central Park. Enjoy the undivided attention of your guide and the chance to customize your itinerary to include four stops of your choosing among more than 20 local attractions. Riding in a pedicab will get you around the 843-acre (341-hectare) park much more efficiently than you ever could on foot.

Discover New York City's storied past with a gangsters and ghosts walking tour. Meet your guide for a history tour with a twist and learn about the city's crimes, gangsters, back room deals, and haunted buildings. Stroll between several downtown neighborhoods including Little Italy, Chinatown, and the West Village while listening to spooky stories and mob tales.

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.

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.

Don't waste precious hours on your NYC vacation at the Statue of Liberty when you can try this speedy Lady Liberty cruise that's perfect for travelers with limited time. Just hop aboard and soak up the sea breeze as you're whisked past Lady Liberty. You can marvel at the statue from the water, learn about the landmark from your guide's live narration, and snap a few up-close photos with unobstructed views of this must-see NYC attraction.

Millions of travelers pass through Grand Central Terminal, but most never discover the secrets of this Manhattan showpiece. This tour lifts the lid: spotlighting the origins and evolution of the beaux arts train station from its heyday to disrepair and restoration. Spot detail and design quirks; and hear stories of its past that will give you a deeper understanding of the building than you could get alone.

On this New York to Washington DC tour, check out the nation’s capital in a day with all logistics, transport, and entrance fees included so you’re totally free to focus on the sights. Traveling by comfortable minivan or bus with a guide for commentary—another advantage over an independent trip—view landmarks including the White House and Washington Monument. Plus, visit Arlington Cemetery and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (while Air and Space Museum is closed due to renovations)

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.

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.

Greenwich Village is one of New York City’s most beautiful and most haunted neighborhoods, but just strolling through alone you’d miss out on all the spooky historical facts. This Greenwich Village ghost tour is led by a guide who tells chilling stories of celebrity ghosts, lost children, phantoms, and more as you stroll through Washington Square Park, the New York University campus, and West 10th Street.

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.

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.

Take a day trip from NYC to our nation’s capital, Washington DC. On this fully guided tour you'll travel by a Wi-Fi enabled, air conditioned Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Coach Bus. Visit the most iconic landmarks in DC including Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam, Jefferson and Korean Memorial. You’ll stop by the White House and US Capitol to see both (Please note you will not enter the White House or US Capitol). You’ll see the best of everything Washington DC has to offer! After your tour, return back to NYC.

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.

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.

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.

Lower Manhattan has a rich history going back more than 400 years. From Battery Park to Wall Street, you can take a deep dive into the past on this walking tour. Stop by landmarks like the Charging Bull statue, see Federal Hall, and pass by Trinity Church where Alexander Hamilton is buried. Refuel with a slice of classic New York pizza, included in the tour.

Explore four of New York City’s boroughs with this all-day guided bus tour. Ride around comfortably and learn about Harlem’s African-American history at the Apollo Theater, see the graffiti murals and colorful street art in the Bronx and Brooklyn, immerse yourself in downtown Flushing’s Chinatown, and experience the culture and traditions of Brooklyn’s Hasidic Jewish community.

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.

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.