New York · HISTORICAL TOURS
24 reviewed
This is the shortlist we’d send a friend, the 15 historical tours worth booking, each with its price, its visitor verdict, and the one thing to know before you commit.
Skip the hassle at NYC’s Natural History Museum. Daylong entry, Gilder Center access, and optional ticketed shows from $37.
“Great experience. We spent few hours and didn’t see everything. Great for a rainy or cold day. We visited NYE week and it was very crowded. It would be nice if they had a max number of ticket sales to prevent overcrowding. And maybe kids area would also be nice.”
A 90-minute guided cruise from Pier 78 with big-city skyline views, a real Statue of Liberty photo moment, and a free onboard digital photographer.
“Wow! What an experience. I thought this was a great tour. The opportunity to see the wonderful sights of New York City; like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building were magnificent. I highly recommend you book this tour. Good for families and solo travelers. You won’t regret this decision Oh yeah, the offer free photo opportunities too.”
A guided 90-minute Hudson River cruise from Pier 78, with Statue of Liberty photo time, skyline narration, and onboard photos for $34.99.
“Although not overly dear! Windows are dirty which made for difficult seeing, not enough seating, found the constant pressures and small sayings asking for tips and the need to pay 40.00 more to get the next VIP. I understand it’s about making a profit however at what expense to loose customers. It would be hard for me to make a recommendation. Not enough staff to serve drinks as well as food and snacks”
Skip the guesswork with admission to AMNH. See dinosaurs, oceans, and the universe in 40+ galleries, plus Rose Center and Gilder Center.
“Easy purchase ans booking. Trustable source. Entry to museum was fast and the place will blow your mind. Highly recommended experience”
A half-day Brooklyn food, history, and culture tour with coal-fired pizza, Polish classics, DUMBO skyline views, and a comfy bus ride.
“This was a great tour of Brooklyn. We learnt so much about the culture and history from our amazing tour guide Laurie. And to top it all off, the food stops were absolutely delicious! Definitely recommend this trip...”
3-hour Prohibition-era walking tour with skip-the-line entry to 3 historic bars and speakeasies, plus cocktails you choose.
“Ryan was an amazing guide, we had a wonderful time learning about NYC history of alcohol.”
Walk Greenwich Village in small groups for cheese, skip-line pizza, fish tacos, Italian bites, and cannoli with local street stories.
“Had an amazing time. Fabulous food places, New York best kept secrets out of the bag with this tour.”
A 3-hour Midtown walking tour of three speakeasy-style bars, with VIP entry and Prohibition stories, plus one complimentary drink for $38.
“Our tour guide, Emily, was absolutely fantastic. She made the experience of learning the history and visiting the sites worthwhile. We had a total blast, each location was unique and exciting. I have already recommended this to everyone I know! 10/10 for sure”
3 hours of Prohibition-era storytelling and three speakeasy-style bars in Midtown. Mobile ticket, walk Times Square to Broadway, buy drinks.
“Kathren was a great tour guide. She was not only informative she was also fun to hang with. It was worth every penny.”
Sample dim sum, roti canai, mochi donuts, and Peking duck with Chinatown history stops and tea, plus sit-down tastings on a 3-hour walk.
“This is a wonderful blend of history and delicious bites tied to the history of Chinese cuisine in NYC! The food was delicious and varied. We especially enjoyed the presentation of the chef’s Peking Duck. Our guide Farshad was funny, entertaining and extremely knowledgeable. His background was in improv which made our tour even more fun! My husband loved the chicken curry with buttery, crispy naan. I loved the dim sum. One of the best ways to explore a culture is by experiencing its food. This tour allows you to do that while soaking up the ambiance of Chinatown. We highly recommend. The two food tours we took were the…”
Explore TriBeCa’s landmark architecture and 300 years of Manhattan change, plus a Ghostbusters firehouse photo stop on a $50 guided walk.
“Our guide was a pro. Funny, insightful, resourceful, and kind. We're locals who have been in the city for 20 years, and we came with our 14-year-old--a tough crowd, and we still came away very entertained and with a lot of new knowledge. Loved it.”
3 Midtown stops with preferred entry and Prohibition-era stories. Skip lines, meet new people, and end near Times Square in 3 hours.
“It was fantastisch, we had a great time. thank you very much, Ariel! Say hello to your mom.”
Private Gilded Age NYC tour on Fifth Avenue with historian storytelling, exclusive addresses, and museum-mile stops, ending at Cooper Hewitt.
“Great Gilded Age tour with Dan. So knowledgeable and Interesting. Highly recommend this tour. An interesting time in New York history.”
A 3-hour Nolita and Little Italy food-and-history walk with seated tastings, wood-fired pizza, Spanish chorizo, and an included wine.
“This tour of Nolita (north of little italy) was so much fun. Our guide Burt entertained us with stories about the neighborhood and we tried 6 different foods from all sorts of amazing restaurants. This tour is a must do!!”
A 2-hour private Christmas history walk through Manhattan’s top holiday stops, from Herald Square to Rockefeller Center, with free admissions.
“Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun !! I’ve been to NY many times but it was great to hear the history behind it.”
