A quick Google search for “best walking tours in NYC” will return a seemingly endless list of options from which to choose. Broaden your search to “walking tours in NYC” and that list becomes even more daunting.
Now, I’m not one to shy away from options, especially when it comes to exploring different parts of the world and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. But the amount of options does make picking the right walking tour overwhelming, which in my opinion, takes a lot of the fun out of it.
After all, one of the big reasons I like walking tours is because they don’t require much thought. You just show up.
So, in the interest of helping you make a quick and stress-free decision during your next trip to the Big Apple, here are some of the best walking tours in NYC.
Best Walking Tours in NYC in 2022
New York Catacombs by Candlelight
You may have been to the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan, but I bet you haven’t been to the catacombs. If that’s the case, I highly recommend The New York Catacombs by Candlelight Tour.
The tour, which lasts for about 1.5 hours, takes you underground—led by candlelight—to explore the resting place of five priests, two bishops, and 33 families.
Additional Information
- Departure: 266 Mulberry St, 266 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012, USA
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Price: From $37
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
No visit to NYC is complete without the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The tour, which admittedly included a ferry ride that’ll get you off your feet, brings you up close and personal to two of the country’s most powerful symbols of freedom.
This tour includes individual guided tours of both Liberty Island and Ellis Island, while also granting you access to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Immigration Museum on the respective islands.
Additional Information:
- Departure: Castle Clinton National Monument, New York, NY 10004, USA
- Duration: 3-5 hours
- Price: From $44
New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour
If you want to see all New York City has to offer in one fell swoop, the New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour is for you.
The tour, which lasts for approximately 6 hours, brings you face-to-face with many of NYC’s most iconic landmarks, buildings, and locations, including Time Square, Central Park, The Empire State Building, The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and a whole lot more.
Additional Information:
- Departure: 770 7th Ave, New York, NY
- Duration: ~6 hours
- Price: From $99
NYC Lower East Side Culture and Food Tastings Tour
The NYC Lower East Side Culture and Food Tastings Tour combines some of the culture and food of the Lower East Side into a 3-hour adventure.
The tour starts at the African Burial Ground National Monument before continuing on to New York City Supreme Court, Columbus Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, Sara D Roosevelt Park, the Lower East Side, and a pass by the Tenement Museum.
Nestled into this tour is a taste of the LES, too, including a traditional cookie, fried Chinese dumplings, a cheesy Italian tasting, a savory Jewish baked good, and even a surprise local treat.
Additional Information:
- Departure: African Burial Ground National Monument, 290 Broadway, New York, NY
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Price: From $81.63
Greenwich Village Walking and Food Tasting Tour
Just like no visit to NYC is complete without the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the same can be said about all the good eats the city has to offer.
The Greenwich Village Walking and Food Tasting Tour let you try a few of them, including Molly’s Cupcakes, Mamoun’s (falafel), Bleecker Street Pizza, and Hudson Bagels. Oh, and you’ll walk past the Friends Apartment (or at least the facade they used during filming).
Additional Details:
- Departure: Molly’s Cupcakes, 228 Bleecker St, New York, NY
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Price: From $79.99
Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour
The MET is overwhelming. Full stop. There’s just so much to see and only so much time. That’s why I love Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum Guided Tour.
The tour, which lasts for approximately 3 hours, will, of course, highlight some of the most impressive works on display in the biggest art museum in the United States and fourth-largest museum in the world—think Jackson Pollock, Picasso, and Van Gogh. (Plus, you get to skip the entrance line.)
Additional Details:
- Departure: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY
- Duration: ~3 hours
- Price: From $52.00
Central Park Walking Tour
There’s nothing like a mindless stroll through Central Park, but if you’re looking to dig a little deeper into the history, structures, plants, animals, and movies associated with one of the world’s most famous green spaces, the Central Park Walking Tour is for you.
Additional Details:
- Departure: West 59th Street, W 59th St, New York, NY
- Duration: ~2 hours
- Price: From $44.20
Related: 10 of the Best Gardens in NYC
NYC Secrets of Grand Central Walking Tour
Anything with “secrets” in its title is right up my alley. Grand Central, built more than 100 years ago, is known by millions of people around the world—but there’s a lot most people don’t know.
Like, for example, the celestial ceiling in the Main Concourse didn’t turn out as planned. At some point during the painting, the order of the constellations was painted in reverse. Although much of the painting was fixed, Orion remains backward.
Learn about this and more on The NYC Secrets of Grand Central Walking Tour.
Additional Details:
- Departure: 89 E 42nd St, 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY
- Duration: ~1.5 hours
- Price: From $35
Walking Tours in New York City: A Few You Shouldn’t Pass Up in 2022
There’s no denying that NYC can be a stressful place, especially for people like me who aren’t used to the hustle and bustle.
That said, the longer I’ve lived in the general area (there is no chance I could ever live full-time in the city), the more I realize there’s a lot of calm to be had, too. Some of the best walking tours in NYC are all examples of just that.
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