15 New York City History Tours Worth the Morning

1.American Museum of Natural History Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15,447 reviews · 1 day · from $37Our pick

Spend a full day at the American Museum of Natural History with access to more than 40 permanent halls, the Rose Center, and the new Richard Gilder Center. Add one or all ticketed exhibitions, such as Impact, the butterfly vivarium, a space show, or the giant-screen film. The museum is wheelchair accessible and offers free Wi-Fi plus a useful Explorer app.

“Amazing experience for everyone ❤️ My family and I had such a great time”

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2.American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,931 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $37

Visit the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side with admission to more than 40 permanent halls, the Rose Center, and Richard Gilder Center. Allow at least three hours, and plan carefully because special exhibitions, the planetarium, films, and butterfly vivarium cost extra. You may need to exchange your voucher for an entry ticket.

“Very thorough museum. Staff was so helpful for kids finding iconic characters from night at museum. Good mix of education for adults and children”

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3.NYC: Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 474 reviews · from $36

Follow an English-speaking guide through three historic Manhattan bars, lounges, and speakeasies. You will hear about gangsters, bootleggers, Gilded Age women, the causes and collapse of Prohibition, and the return of nightlife. Drinks cost extra, with beer around $10 to $14 and cocktails or wine around $18 to $25.

“Way beyond expectations! Hilarious guide, great stories, delicious drinks, and COOL spots. Would do this again, loved our time in NYC on the tour!”

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4.Hamilton and Washington Revolutionary Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 182 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $52Top rated

Follow a licensed New York City guide through Lower Manhattan for three hours of Revolutionary history, from Bowling Green and Fraunces Tavern to Federal Hall and Hamilton’s grave at Trinity Church. Expect a small group of up to 16, plenty of standing, and lively stories about Hamilton, Washington, Burr, and the musical’s real-world settings.

“Our tour guide was named Bruce, he was phenomenal!! It was clear and evident that he did not just have a cookie cutter regurgitation of information; he truly LOVED the material he was discussing and was so knowledgeable. He was probably the most engaging tour guide I have had. He was funny, kind and so very enjoyable to be around. 10/10 recommend BRUCE!”

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5.#1 Rated NYC Chinatown Food and History Walking Tour with FNYT

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 171 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Walk through Manhattan’s Chinatown with an English-speaking NYC guide such as Bert, Farshad, or Chip. Expect seated tastings of dim sum, Malaysian roti, Peking duck, mochi doughnuts, and egg custard tarts, plus stories around Chatham Square, Doyers Street, and Columbus Park. The $99 price includes food, tea, and lunch-sized portions.

“I've enjoyed food tours in cities all over the world. This one made the top of the list!! Bert is an excellent guide who knows the area and the restaurants well. The variety and quality of the food is terrific. Book this tour and come hungry!!”

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6.Tribeca Architecture And History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 141 reviews · from $50

Spend 2.5 hours walking from Tweed Courthouse into Tribeca with a guide such as Meghan Sara. See more than 15 historic sites, cast-iron buildings, grand residences, and the Ghostbusters firehouse while learning how farmland became one of Manhattan’s priciest neighborhoods.

“Meghan was very enthusiastic and shared a lot of cool information! Highly recommend! Ask her about the beavers of New York .”

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7.NYC: Night Out Prohibition History Bar and Speakeasy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 128 reviews · 3 hours · from $36

Spend three hours walking Midtown with guides such as Ariel, Ryan, Sarah, or Steven, stopping at three bars, pubs, lounges, and speakeasies. You’ll hear about immigration, politics, Prohibition, and Midtown’s changing streets, with express entry and preferred service. The $36 fee covers the guide and visits, but drinks and food cost extra.

“Really great guide, Rory. Fun, energetic, engaging. Great stops, fun facts. Would do again”

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8.Lower Manhattan Secrets And History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend about three hours walking Lower Manhattan with a small group of no more than 15 people. Your English-speaking guide connects the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, Trinity Church, Battery Park, and One World Trade Center through stories about New York’s beginnings, finance, immigration, and 9/11. The tour ends with a slice of New York pizza.

“Our tour guide Megan was amazing. She had a huge amount of knowledge and was clearly very interested in the history of New York. She had some great tips for photo ops, bathrooms, and even things to do after the tour. We very much enjoyed our tour and really glad we did it.”

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9.NYC: History of Slavery & Underground Railroad Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 87 reviews · 2h 30m · from $49

Spend 150 minutes walking Lower Manhattan with an English-speaking guide from Inside Out Tours. Visit the African Burial Ground National Memorial, former Underground Railroad sites, Fraunces Tavern, Trinity Church, and Wall Street while learning about slavery, abolition, resistance, and the New Yorkers who helped people escape.

“This tour was excellent. Shaun was extremely knowledgeable and had many fascinating stories to share about the American slave trade. It was a rainy afternoon, but it didn't matter; he thoughtfully delivered most of the information while we were sheltered and the tour was so interesting, the weather was barely noticeable. I would love to do the tour again – if I was still in the USA! – and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in gaining a better understanding of America's history of black slavery. 10/10”

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10.Soul of Harlem: Strivers Row, Apollo Theatre, Gospel History

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 87 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Walk Harlem with a local English-speaking guide and trace the stories of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Fidel Castro, and the Harlem Renaissance. See Strivers’ Row, the Apollo Theater, Bill’s Place, the Schomburg Center, and Abyssinian Baptist Church. On Sundays, your booking includes skip-the-line access to a gospel experience at a local church.

“What a great tour. The guide was a local and told us about the history and the current culture of Harlem. She also had tips about where to eat after the tour.”

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11.New York: Mafia and Gangster History Tour in Little Italy

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 79 reviews · 2 hours · from $40

Walk one mile through Little Italy with an English-speaking guide, often Tom or Thomas, and trace New York’s mob story from Black Hand gangs to John Gotti. Visit the Ravenite Social Club, Lt. Petrosino Square, the Police Building, and Umberto’s Clam House. Expect photos, newspaper clippings, and a small group of no more than 10.

“Tom was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and friendly.”

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12.NYC: Central Park Pedicab Tour and Natural History Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 52 reviews · 1 hour · from $50

You’ll ride with a local guide from Central Park South past Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Cherry Hill, Strawberry Fields, Wollman Rink, and more. Expect history, film trivia, and photo stops in a one-hour private tour. Upgrade for museum entry and direct drop-off at the American Museum of Natural History.

“Yassin est un super guide au top du top A l’écoute et plein d anecdotes sur la ville Je recommande fortement”

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13.Flatiron Food, History, and Architecture Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 43 reviews · from $88

Walk through Flatiron and Union Square with an English-speaking local guide, tasting Roman-style pizza at Eataly, a Reuben-style bagel at Zucker’s, coffee, and Bread’s Bakery pastries. Expect less than a mile of walking, a small group of up to 10, and lively stories about New York buildings, food, and neighborhood change.

“Our guide, Justin, was extremely knowledgeable and included a slide presentation on an iPad for the historical part of the tour. All of the food samples were delicious!”

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14.New York: Rock and Roll History and Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 3 hours · from $45

Follow a small group of up to six through the East Village, Greenwich Village, and West Village on a three-hour, three-mile rock history walk. Your English-speaking guide connects Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, CBGB, the Velvet Underground, Sid Vicious, John and Yoko, and famous album-cover locations. Wear good shoes and arrive early.

“passeggiata attraverso diversi quartieri di Manhattan in compagnia di una preparatissimo guida che oltre a mostrare posti iconici della storia Rock ha raccontato una serie di aneddoti e risposto a tutte le nostre domande.”

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15.NYC: New York City History of Stand-Up Comedy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 21 reviews · 1h 15m · from $30Best value

Walk Greenwich Village with a licensed English-speaking guide, visiting The Duplex, Cafe Wha, The Bitter End, the Comedy Cellar, and more. Learn how New York comedy grew from vaudeville and radio into modern stand-up. Your guide also provides free show options for later in your trip. The tour is wheelchair accessible and lasts 75 minutes.

“Fantastic! I learned a lot. I enjoyed the stops and neighborhood walk. Joe’s great.”

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