New York · HISTORICAL TOURS
A New York trip always runs out of days before it runs out of ideas. These 15 history tours earn the slot, priced and timed so you can choose quickly.
Spend a day at the American Museum of Natural History, across from Central Park. Your ticket covers more than 40 permanent halls, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and the Gilder Center. Choose a ticket that adds one or more special exhibits, a planetarium show, a giant-screen film, or the butterfly vivarium.
“Amazing experience for everyone ❤️ My family and I had such a great time”
Sail from Pier 78 past Hudson Yards, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. A live English-speaking guide adds stories and humor, while an onboard photographer helps with pictures. You get indoor and open-air decks, restrooms and a snack bar; one complimentary digital photo is included, excluding the Statue of Liberty.
“Very friendly guide and has everything nice explained 😊 Thanks Molly 🙏”
Cruise the Hudson for about 90 minutes past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan’s skyline. A live guide narrates the route, with guides such as Darius and Molly praised for lively delivery. You can choose a daytime or city-lights departure; seating is first come, and some seating and photo options may cost extra.
“Lovely experience,staff so friendly and helpful. Lucky for us the weather was kind and we had a beautiful sunset with liberty proudly in the background.”
Visit more than 40 galleries at the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. General admission includes the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Richard Gilder Center, but not ticketed shows or special exhibits. Allow at least three hours, pick up a paper map, and check how your voucher is exchanged for an admission ticket.
“The museum was really great experience! The building itself is also really nice looking. We visited into butterfly “show” and that was actually amazing. Highly recommend the museum but have to have time to see all”
Start in Greenwich Village and cross into Brooklyn with a licensed guide. Over 4.5 hours, sample foods such as pierogi, kielbasa, coal-fired pizza, falafel, and cannoli while touring Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Carroll Gardens, and DUMBO by air-conditioned bus. Guides including Laurie and Rick have led the tour. A short park stroll offers Manhattan views.
“Laurie was enthusiastic, well versed , and really into getting out tour group involved and immersed in Brooklyn. I enjoyed the various food selection that was offered. There was enough to eat that I did not have to have dinner that day. I highly recommend this tour if you are want an introduction to this fascinating borough of New York.”
Spend three evening hours walking to three distinct Manhattan bars, lounges, and speakeasies with a guide who connects each stop to Gilded Age and Prohibition history. Hear about gangsters, bootleggers, reformers, and nightlife’s return. Drinks cost extra, and you’ll need valid photo ID and smart, venue-appropriate clothing. Guides have included Ariel, Ryan, Katherine, and Rori.
“Absolutely awesome! Our guide was very very nice, funny and answered every question with great knowledge! Awesome tour. Highly recommended.”
Walk Greenwich Village for three hours with a licensed guide and a generous tasting menu that can stand in for lunch. Sample Murray’s mac and cheese, Joe’s pizza, fish tacos, Italian specialties, meatballs and cannoli, while hearing about Village history and seeing the Friends building and historic streets. Guides include Marie, Bert, Cindy and Ted.
“I cannot say enough good things about Cindy! This tour far exceeded my expectations. I originally booked it as a fun way to spend time with my family and enjoy some small tastings around Greenwich Village, but it turned out to be so much more than that. The tour was engaging from start to finish, blending history and local insight with delicious bites from places I may never have discovered on my own. Cindy truly made the experience exceptional. She was attentive, funny, and inclusive, making everyone feel welcome and part of the group. Her energy and storytelling brought the entire tour to life. I feel so lucky that she…”
Walk Midtown with a local guide such as Ryan, Ariel, or Kate, stopping at three bars that may include a 1920s speakeasy, a Victorian-style bar, and a beer garden. Hear stories about Prohibition, immigration, Broadway, and Restaurant Row. Entry is included, one drink is complimentary at a stop, and other drinks are at your own expense.
“A brilliant experience Tim our guide was very informative and good fun would definitely recommend this”
Follow a licensed local guide through Midtown for three hours, hearing stories of Prohibition and the Gilded Age while stopping at three bars, from historic-feeling speakeasies to modern cocktail rooms. Guides such as Ryan, Ariel, Walter, and Katherine have led the tour. Admission is included, but drinks and food are extra. You must be 21 or older and dress upscale casual.
“Went to three different bars with an absolutely fabulous guide. There was only one other person on the tour so we had a great time getting to know each other. The first bar was amazing and definitely wouldn’t have found on my own, the other two were fun but not what I would consider a typical speakeasy. If you’re travel solo, definitely do this as it’s a great way to get some company and some fun bars. If you’re with a group, you can do your own tour easily.”
Spend three hours walking Manhattan’s Chinatown with a licensed guide, stopping for seated dim sum, Malaysian curry and roti, Peking duck, mochi doughnuts and egg tarts. Guides such as Bert, Farshad and Chip have led tours, though assignments can vary. Food and tea are included, and the group is capped at 18.
“Had the most enjoyable time eating our way through China Town! What makes this very unique was the fact that we get to sit down at the restaurants and be served!! I highly enjoyed the different teas at every meal as well!! The dumplings were out of this world good! It was a very relaxing and enjoyable experience! There were also bathrooms at every stop!!”
Spend about two and a half hours walking through Tribeca with a guide, seeing more than 15 locations and tracing the neighborhood’s shift from farmland to a sought-after New York address. Expect architectural details, local stories, and a stop at the Ghostbusters firehouse. Tours start near Tweed Courthouse, cost $50, and are limited to 15 people.
“Megan was a great guide and we enjoyed the tour alot. Thank you again and hope to be on one of your tours again.”
Walk about 1.5 miles from 8th Avenue to Times Square, stopping at three Midtown bars, pubs, and speakeasies. Your English-speaking guide shares stories of immigration, politics, and Prohibition while arranging expedited entry. Drinks are extra, and the venues call for neat, upscale casual dress.
“The bars were great. Beautiful bars. I never know where to go in nyc. Now I do.”
Spend 150 minutes walking Lower Manhattan with a licensed English-speaking guide. Visit sites tied to slavery, abolition, and the Underground Railroad, including Fraunces Tavern, Trinity Church, Wall Street, and the African Burial Ground National Memorial. Past guides have included Maia, Ludie, and Sean; the guide on your date may differ.
“Liked our guide Maia. Just the three of us for a pretty intimate walk.”
Spend two hours walking Harlem with an English-speaking local guide, from the Apollo Theatre and Abyssinian Baptist Church to the Schomburg Center, Bill’s Place, and Strivers Row. Hear stories of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Fidel Castro. On Sundays, the tour includes skip-the-line access to a gospel experience at a local church. Guides have included Altovise and Ron.
“He was great! Went out of his way to bring everyone in on the tour”
Walk from Doughnut Plant in Williamsburg to Peter Pan in Greenpoint, sampling doughnuts and hearing about local food, art, and neighborhood history. The tour costs $75, lasts about two hours, and is capped at 10 people. Guides Rob, Justin, and Tarik have led tours, though your guide may differ. The route requires more than a mile of walking.
“This is a great tour if you want to taste a bunch of amazing donuts. Its a nice walk to four amazing bakery in Brooklyn. You will taste a lot of donuts and the guide will help you choose the best ones. The guide tells a lot about donuts and the history. And he will guide you through the neighborhood.”
Pick a skyline, a ferry or a neighborhood.
