Engaging walking tours New York City allow you to experience the vibrant history of NYC from the comfort of an escorted tour guide. Whether it’s to hear about the past of Broadway theaters or to visit sites that were featured in movies like Sex and the City, these tours are sure to enthrall you.
Broadway’s Beginnings Tour
Explore the history of Broadway before you see a show on this engaging walking tour that lifts the curtain on a world of auditions and opening nights, massive disappointments and major successes. Your guide—a professional actor—will paint the picture for you as you walk through the theater district and learn captivating backstage stories about Broadway legends past and present.
Start your journey at the famously evocative Times Square—or “the Great White Way,” as it’s often called. Hear how a district known for trading horses in the 18th century became the center of world-class entertainment, then follow the evolution of theaters into the radio and television studios of today. You’ll also get a peek inside the prop shop for Disney Theatrical Productions—a unique experience that will blow your students’ minds!
Dolan is an expert in creating engaging tours that are perfect for groups of all ages and interests, including those who aren’t the most theatrically inclined. He takes the time to research each one and creates a script that includes plenty of questions, allowing his customers to be as involved as they like. He also tries to incorporate as many personal stage experiences and behind-the-scenes tidbits as possible.
Each new tour takes Dolan about six months to write and is subject to constant tweaking and testing. He asks his customers what they think about the new script, then uses it as a tool to hone and finalize the tour. He wants to tell a story that makes people’s jaws drop, whether they’re a student group or a family of seven and 97.
During this tour, you’ll visit 42nd Street and Hell’s Kitchen, as well as Shubert Alley, the Hotel Edison NYC, and Sardi’s. Learn the truth about the Ziegfeld Follies and discover how a theater is built from first rehearsal to opening night, plus hear some incredible backstage ghost stories!
The tour lasts about two hours and is the best way to get a feel for the magic of Broadway. While the tour does not enter any Equity theaters (due to union restrictions) it is a wonderful way to begin a day of theatre-related activities or before seeing a Broadway show.
The Slave Trade & Underground Railroad Tour
A new guided walking tour reveals a lesser-known aspect of the city’s history: its role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom. The tour—from Manumission Tour Company, which is dedicated to bringing to light the region’s African American history for travelers and locals alike—uses the writings of 19th-century abolitionist William Still as its jumping off point, especially his Underground Railroad records, which documented fugitive slaves’ escapes to the North. The tour visits former stations on the Underground Railroad, a network of clandestine routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people flee to free states or Canada.
On this two-hour tour, you’ll visit iconic sites related to the Underground Railroad, including the African Burial Ground National Monument and the former home of abolitionist David Ruggles, who served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. You’ll also hear the stories of enslaved people and the efforts of anti-slavery activists like Frederick Douglass who worked to free them from slavery.
Slavery was an integral part of New York’s early history as a Dutch colony, English colony and then state. While it had fewer enslaved people than many other northern cities, it relied heavily on the labor of enslaved people to build its economy. Learn about the enslaved people who worked on Wall Street and in other downtown businesses as well as the city’s abolitionists who risked their own lives to help them flee to freedom.
As you walk, you’ll see some of the sites where anti-slavery activists operated as stations on the Underground Railroad, a network that included homes, churches and other buildings where people would hide escaped enslaved people. You’ll also hear about the vigilante committees that protected fugitive enslaved people from bounty hunters in places like New York and Philadelphia.
The Brukle Estate, a home where anti-slavery activist Levi Coffin once lived, is also on the tour. The estate’s secret cellar and trapped doors provide a glimpse into the desperation of enslaved people on the run.
You’ll also stop at a house that was once used by a member of the Underground Railroad, as well as the church where abolitionist Frederick Douglass preached. A trained guide narrates this two-hour tour, which includes plenty of opportunity to ask questions.
The Upper East Side & Museum Mile Walk
One of the most popular walking tours New York City, the Upper East Side & Museum Mile Walk is perfect for history buffs and art lovers alike. This engaging tour allows you to explore NYC’s iconic Central Park while visiting some of the city’s best museums and cultural institutions. You’ll have the chance to see some of the most famous landmarks in Manhattan including Cleopatra’s Needle, the obelisk that came straight from Egypt, and Glade Arch. You’ll also be able to take a stroll through the Ramble and discover the Great Lawn, or even take a ride on the famous Central Park Carousel. In addition, you’ll be able to see some of the city’s finest architecture, including the Dakota Building and Bethesda Terrace.
The most important part of any trip to the UES is, of course, exploring NYC’s legendary Central Park. This stunning, 843-acre park is home to a number of fun things to do on the Upper East Side, including Belvedere Castle and The Obellisk, The Conservatory Garden, Wollman Rink (for ice skating in the winter), and the Shakespeare Garden which showcases plants that are mentioned in the works of the famed author.
Next on the list of must-see Upper East Side attractions is NYC’s Museum Mile, which features a number of the most popular and influential museums in the city. Some of the most famous include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or “The MET,” which is an incredible collection of over two million pieces that span more than 5,000 years.
You’ll also want to check out the New York Historical Society, which features a wealth of fascinating exhibits. Some of the most memorable include a suit that belonged to George Washington and a collection of glass negatives from the famed documentarian, Jacob Riis.
Finally, you’ll also want to make a stop at the Neue Gallery. This criminally underrated museum is located in a converted National Guard Armory and features a collection of modern and contemporary art that’s both beautiful and thought-provoking. Don’t miss Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, which is a true highlight for any art lover.
The Battery Park & Wall Street Walk
For a neighborhood that really showcases the city’s different periods and architectural styles, there is no better place to go than Lower Manhattan. It’s where the story of New York began with a wooden wall that marked the end of a small Dutch colony, and where today the city thrives as the world’s financial capital. It’s also a place that sees tragedy, from terrible fires to the devastating 9/11 attacks. But it’s also a place where old meets new, with Colonial churches and classical structures standing in the shadow of high rises.
To get a better sense of the area, take one of several engaging walking tours that explore Battery Park and Wall Street. Learn about the history of this iconic street on a tour that reveals its origins, from its humble beginnings as a wall to its present status as the heart of the Financial District. See the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall Memorial, plus many other notable buildings.
You can also visit the National September 11 Memorial, a beautiful plaza that pays tribute to the lives lost in the terrorist attacks. This open air monument sits in the footprint of the Twin Towers, and it’s a stunning and reflective place to spend some time.
There are plenty of other things to do in the area too, including a stroll around Battery Park itself. Here you can enjoy refreshing views of Staten Island, the Statue of Liberty and parts of New Jersey. The park also has more than 20 statues and monuments, plus newer attractions like the SeaGlass Carousel, a nautical-themed merry-go-round. Or you can visit Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington bid farewell to his troops, or Federal Hall, where he took the oath of office as the first President.
Another option is to follow in the footsteps of Alexander Hamilton on a walking tour that focuses on his life. From his favorite pub to the graveyard where he is buried, you’ll learn all about this fascinating figure who was so crucial to the formation of our country. You can also join a tour that includes a ride to the Statue of Liberty, or a walk to the Ellis Island Museum.
