|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Tours in New York |
Walking Tours
New York's streets were made for walking. In fact walking is the best way for visitors to really explore the city. There are numerous guided tour operators, including Big Onion Walking Tours (tel: (212) 439 1090; website: www.bigonion.com , who, for over a decade, have offered entertaining, informative and contemporary tours of New York's historic districts, ethnic neighbourhoods and interesting destinations like the Brooklyn Bridge. Tours last about two hours. Departure points vary depending on the tour - these are clearly listed on the website.
The self-guided, audio tour, Walkin' Broadway (tel: (212) 997 5004 or 1 866 692 2929/NYC BWAY; website: www.walkinbroadway.com), gives participants a chance to learn the stories and secrets of Broadway while hearing snippets of great musicals. Before long, participants find themselves singing and dancing from one theatre to the next. Purchase tickets and start at Colony Music, 1619 Broadway at 49th Street.
Ellis Island Tours (tel: (212) 229 0202; website: www.ellisislandtours.com), led by Tom Bernardin, author of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook, gives visitors a comprehensive view of what it was like to immigrate to America.
New York's parks offer some intriguing rambles. Wildman Steve Brill (tel: (914) 835 2153; website: www.wildmanstevebrill.com) leads one-of-a-kind foraging tours through Central Park, Prospect Park and other natural settings, pointing out edible roots and plants along the way.
Bus Tours
Gray Line New York Tours (tel: (212) 445 0848 or 1 800 669 0051; website: www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing) offers closed- and open-top double-decker bus tours, calling at numerous stops around the city in a two- to three-hour loop. The ‘All Loops Tour' offers hop-off hop-on tours of Manhattan with 50 stops. Tickets are valid for 48 hours. Buses depart from Gray Line Visitors Center at 777 Eighth Avenue (between 47th and 48th Streets) among many other locations. A Slice of Brooklyn bus tours (tel: (212) 209 3370; website: www.asliceofbrooklyn.com) organises fun and informative tours of Brooklyn including a tour of the area's best pizzerias.
Boat Tours
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (tel: (212) 563 3200; website: www.circleline42.com) is the only cruise line that circles Manhattan Island, with a three-hour narrated Full Island Cruise, departing from Pier 83 on 42nd Street on the Hudson River. Other options include the two-hour Semi-Circle Cruise, the evening two-hour Harbor Lights Cruise (March to November), or the Liberty Cruise Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (May to October). At both Pier 83 and Pier 16, South Street Seaport, adventurers can take a spin on the ‘Beast' speed boat for a 30-minute thrill ride.
Other Tours
Big Apple Greeters (tel: (212) 669 8159; website: www.bigapplegreeter.org) is a free service sponsored by NYC & Company. A knowledgeable, native New Yorker will escort one to six people who are travelling together to special places such as neighbourhoods, sites or ‘off the beaten path' destinations. Reservations and schedule must be confirmed in advance.
Much like a walking tour service provider, Bike the Big Apple (tel: (201) 837 1133 or 1 877 865 0078; website: www.toursbybike.com) offers a range of interesting thematic bike tours for short and longer distances. Tour rates include bike and helmet hire. Liberty Helicopters (tel: (212) 967 6464 or 1 800 542 9933; website: www.libertyhelicopters.com) gives visitors a bird's eye view of famous New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, and Central Park. Helicopter flights depart from the West 30th Street and 12th Avenue heliport.
On Location Tours (tel: (212) 683 2027; website: www.screentours.com) operates bus tours of the sites of America's top TV shows, including Sex and the City and The Sopranos. Other tours include ‘Central Park Movie Tour' and ‘Manhattan TV and Movie Tour'. Tours last from two to three and a half hours. Booking is essential for all tours and meeting points vary depending on the tour taken; hotel pick up and drop off is not available.
New York's streets were made for walking. In fact walking is the best way for visitors to really explore the city. There are numerous guided tour operators, including Big Onion Walking Tours (tel: (212) 439 1090; website: www.bigonion.com , who, for over a decade, have offered entertaining, informative and contemporary tours of New York's historic districts, ethnic neighbourhoods and interesting destinations like the Brooklyn Bridge. Tours last about two hours. Departure points vary depending on the tour - these are clearly listed on the website.
The self-guided, audio tour, Walkin' Broadway (tel: (212) 997 5004 or 1 866 692 2929/NYC BWAY; website: www.walkinbroadway.com), gives participants a chance to learn the stories and secrets of Broadway while hearing snippets of great musicals. Before long, participants find themselves singing and dancing from one theatre to the next. Purchase tickets and start at Colony Music, 1619 Broadway at 49th Street.
Ellis Island Tours (tel: (212) 229 0202; website: www.ellisislandtours.com), led by Tom Bernardin, author of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook, gives visitors a comprehensive view of what it was like to immigrate to America.
New York's parks offer some intriguing rambles. Wildman Steve Brill (tel: (914) 835 2153; website: www.wildmanstevebrill.com) leads one-of-a-kind foraging tours through Central Park, Prospect Park and other natural settings, pointing out edible roots and plants along the way.
Bus Tours
Gray Line New York Tours (tel: (212) 445 0848 or 1 800 669 0051; website: www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing) offers closed- and open-top double-decker bus tours, calling at numerous stops around the city in a two- to three-hour loop. The ‘All Loops Tour' offers hop-off hop-on tours of Manhattan with 50 stops. Tickets are valid for 48 hours. Buses depart from Gray Line Visitors Center at 777 Eighth Avenue (between 47th and 48th Streets) among many other locations. A Slice of Brooklyn bus tours (tel: (212) 209 3370; website: www.asliceofbrooklyn.com) organises fun and informative tours of Brooklyn including a tour of the area's best pizzerias.
Boat Tours
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (tel: (212) 563 3200; website: www.circleline42.com) is the only cruise line that circles Manhattan Island, with a three-hour narrated Full Island Cruise, departing from Pier 83 on 42nd Street on the Hudson River. Other options include the two-hour Semi-Circle Cruise, the evening two-hour Harbor Lights Cruise (March to November), or the Liberty Cruise Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (May to October). At both Pier 83 and Pier 16, South Street Seaport, adventurers can take a spin on the ‘Beast' speed boat for a 30-minute thrill ride.
Other Tours
Big Apple Greeters (tel: (212) 669 8159; website: www.bigapplegreeter.org) is a free service sponsored by NYC & Company. A knowledgeable, native New Yorker will escort one to six people who are travelling together to special places such as neighbourhoods, sites or ‘off the beaten path' destinations. Reservations and schedule must be confirmed in advance.
Much like a walking tour service provider, Bike the Big Apple (tel: (201) 837 1133 or 1 877 865 0078; website: www.toursbybike.com) offers a range of interesting thematic bike tours for short and longer distances. Tour rates include bike and helmet hire. Liberty Helicopters (tel: (212) 967 6464 or 1 800 542 9933; website: www.libertyhelicopters.com) gives visitors a bird's eye view of famous New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, and Central Park. Helicopter flights depart from the West 30th Street and 12th Avenue heliport.
On Location Tours (tel: (212) 683 2027; website: www.screentours.com) operates bus tours of the sites of America's top TV shows, including Sex and the City and The Sopranos. Other tours include ‘Central Park Movie Tour' and ‘Manhattan TV and Movie Tour'. Tours last from two to three and a half hours. Booking is essential for all tours and meeting points vary depending on the tour taken; hotel pick up and drop off is not available.
View Our Airport Guides for New York:
(New York) John F. Kennedy International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
(New York) La Guardia Airport