Things to do in New York

9 Best NYC Walking Tours | New York Walking Tour Guide

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New York, “The Big Apple”, “The City That Never Sleeps”, “The Empire State”, call it what you want to call it, this city is well-known all throughout the world, and in fact, is one of the most visited cities in the world! Also known as America’s most culturally rich city, New York is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, with people from every corner of the globe making this city their home. With so many people and so much history, there is bound to be a lot to see and experience in New York and, lo and behold, there is. From exquisite art museums to goliath structures and monuments to mouth-watering food, there is literally nothing that this city doesn’t have. And with so much on offer, it can get overwhelming for a tourist visiting New York for the very first time. But worry not, for there is a simple and immensely enjoyable way to experience the best of New York - going on a good' ol NYC Walking Tour.

We have curated the best rated NYC Walking Tours, so strap on your best walking shoes and get going around NYC!

NYC Walking Tours


While the term 'Walking Tours' is self explanatory, the best part comes when walking tours have an added element to it. In New York, you can choose from a plethora of walking tours, but based popular ratings, the 3 best NYC Walking Tours are : Themed Walking Tours , Running Tours and Borough Tours. Read on to know more about each of these tours and what suits your interest best.

New York Walking Tours
New York Walking Tours
New York Walking Tours

Best NYC Walking Tours


Choosing the best walking tour in NYC can be quite a task, considering the umpteen options you have. However, we have narrowed down the best walking tours nyc for you based on Tripadvisor reviews and Headout customer reviews. Take a look at the different types of walking tours in NYC - from themed tours to running tours to borough specific tours and enjoy walking around the Big Apple!

New York Themed Walking Tours


1

Central Park TV and Movie Sites Tour

Run Time

Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday

Price

$22

Duration

2 hours

nyc walking tours

It is well known that New York, particularly Central Park, has been a set location for tons of movies and TV shows over the years. On this tour, you get to experience this side of Central Park and take a look at some of the famous places you must’ve seen on television. Some of the stops include the place where the cast of Glee danced and sang “I Love New York”, the famous ice-rink which was featured in “Love Story” and “Serendipity” and Bethesda Terrace which was in the final scene of “The Avengers”. The entire tour features 40 stops and takes place over the course of 2-hours, an absolute must do for TV and movie buffs.


2

Gossip Girl Sites Tour

Run Time

Friday - Sunday

Price

$43

Duration

3 hours

nyc walking tours

One of the most popular NYC Walking Tours, get a chance to see Manhattan from the eyes of the Gossip Girls! On this tour, you get to explore one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the city, the Upper East Side. Live the life of a Gossip Girl as you traverse through the streets of Manhattan as a young, elite socialite. And don’t forget to carry your camera, as you will have a ton of photo opportunities, when you come across many of the sites and places from the show. There’s only one thing left for you to decide, who do you want to be - Serena or Blair?


3

Sex and the City Tour

Run Time

Monday - Sunday

Price

$43

Duration

3.5 hours

nyc walking tours

One of the most popular TV shows to come out of the USA, this tour gives you the chance to relive the lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda from the series - Sex and the City. From the site of Carrie and Big’s wedding rehearsal dinner to Carrie’s famous brownstone stoop, you get to visit over 40 locations that were featured in the TV show and the movies. And to make it even sweeter, you get exclusive access to special discounts at some retail outlets! This 3.5 hour tour is bound to make you feel like you’re on an episode of the show.


New York Running Tours


4

America's Roots

Run Time

Friday

Price

$43

Duration

4.2 miles

nyc walking tours

Explore the roots of America on this 1.5 hour running tour starting from Castle Clinton Memorial in Battery Park. Learn about the series of events that occured in NYC from the time of Dutch settlement all the way till the birth of a New Nation. As mentioned earlier, New York is a city built by immigrants and ‘outsiders’, and on this tour you get the chance to see how these various groups built the very foundations of this city. Some of the stops on this tour include Wall Street, Fraunces Tavern, City Hall, African Burial Ground, Trinity Church and many more.


5

The Village

Run Time

Wednesday

Price

$48

Duration

4 miles

nyc walking tours

New York, since time immemorial has been home to many celebrities, including Bob Dylan, Ernest Hemingway and Carrie Bradshaw to name a few. You may be wondering why I chose these names, well, they all have something in common - West Village! Explore this wonderful and quaint area of the city, as you run down quiet, tree-lined streets, something you don’t see very often in the concrete jungle that is NYC. Run along Washington Square Park and the High-Line walking park, a beautiful elevated park, before concluding your tour with a delicious, free coffee at a local coffee shop in the Village.


New York Borough Walking Tours


6

Brooklyn, Portrait of a City

Run Time

Wednesday - Saturday

Price

$77

Duration

3 hours

nyc walking tours

Explore the biggest of New York’s five boroughs, Brooklyn. During the course of this tour, you will get an idea of the social and economic history, the unique and famous architecture and the dynamic cultural makeup of New York’s most fascinating area. The tour starts off by walking across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, before which you make your way to Brooklyn Heights, an affluent neighbourhood located here. Get a closer look at the federal-style brownstone buildings and the tree-lined streets which are often associated with this borough. Finish off the tour by strolling along DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a trendy gallery zone.


7

Central Park, American Landscape

Run Time

Monday-Sunday

Price

$77

Duration

3 hours

nyc walking tours

Known as the physical and spiritual heart of New York, Central Park is a literal Garden of Eden in an otherwise concrete jungle. Designed and constructed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is a true testament to man’s unimaginable ability and vision. Join a local landscape architect, as he takes you through this epitome of urban design, for an in-depth exploration of the park, its social function, design and rich history. This 3-hour walk will take you to some of Central Park’s lesser known spaces and monuments, as well as enlighten you on a century-and-a-half’s worth of of local and national heritage.


8

Lower East Side Walking Tour

Run Time

Thursday

Price

$37

Duration

3 hours

nyc walking tours

On this 3-hour tour, munch and explore your way through the eclectic neighbourhood of the Lower East Side. What was once an immigrant and working class rich area of NYC is now an upscale locale lined with trendy clubs, bars, restaurants and art galleries. Follow your expert guide as he walks you through the Lower East Side and describes the architectural development and general history of the area. You also get to discover and taste the history of the famous NYC bagel, along with some other scrumptious food tastings.


9

Meatpacking, Industrial Heritage and the High Line

Run Time

Monday-Sunday

Price

$76

Duration

3 hours

nyc walking tours

Get a glimpse of a time forgotten, when New York was at the epicentre of American Commerce, as you explore and meander down Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Also get a chance to learn about the High Line, an old elevated railway built for freights trains (in 1933) that has now become an icon of modern urban landscape architecture. You will be guided by an architect or historian, who will take you through the history and significance of these 2 areas and help you trace the rich and colourful heritage of New York’s industrial age, right from the 1840’s up until the modern day.


Ready for an NYC Walking Tour?


Check out our curation of the best NYC Walking Tours here, or look for attractions in NYC .