8 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”

Check availability →Read our full review

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.NYC: Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour

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

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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 .”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.NYC: Radical and Weird History Bike Tour of Manhattan

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 4 hours · from $46

Ride for four hours through Tribeca, the Lower East Side, East Village, Greenwich Village, West Village, and Meatpacking District. Guides such as Robby, Holden, Robert, and Kevin focus on unusual stories, safe bike routes, and flexible conversation. Your $46 booking covers the bike rental; a $40 guide payment is recommended afterward.

“Der stod i beskrivelsen, at mad og drikke var inklusiv - men vi skulle selv betale for dette, hvilket ikke var i orden.”

Check availability →Read our full review