10 Must-Take NYC Tours

New York City offers an endless list of things to do and places to see, so it is best to plan accordingly. The Big Apple does not sleep; therefore, boredom does not exist in the city. In NYC, the problem for tourists is never where to go, but where to start. From buses to jet skis, helicopters to boats, New York City offers a variety of tours to explore the melting pot of cultures.

1. Jet Ski Tours New York

Bridge

With their Jet Ski Tours New York, Jetty Jumpers helps tourists plan adventures from Brooklyn to Manhattan on a jet ski. Jetty Jumpers offers tours to Coney Island, the Verrazano Bridge, or the Statue of Liberty. Why not explore some of NYC’s greatest landmarks jets skiing on the Hudson River? There are even tours available that catch the amazing view of the sunrise/sunset along NYC’s skyline — the epitome of picturesque. In addition, Jetty Jumpers provides a picture service so that you can have photo keepsakes without losing your cell phone in the ocean.

2. New York City’s Pizza Bus

Pizzeria, American, Italian

Sunday brunch is overrated — why not spend your Sundays exploring New York City’s pizza landscape. New York City’s Pizza Bus allows one to explore the city’s greatest pizza restaurants without the trouble of driving, sitting in traffic, or waiting for public transportation. To add to your own convenience, the buses are even heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. The bus tours through Lower Manhattan, then travels to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and even Staten Island. Some pizzerias have been seen on television, while others remain not yet discovered by serious pizza lovers or even the Food Network. To top it off, the tour is led by the founder himself, Scott Wiener.

3. LES Food Tour

Restaurant, American

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The Lower East Side is one of the foundations of Jewish culture in America. The LES Food Tour will highlight some of the best kosher delis and bakeries in the city. Your tour guide will also discuss how food is made in these trendy restaurants. The tour involves three hours of eating your way through the streets of New York. There are six food tastings, all of which are included in the price. From delis and bakeries to Doughnut Plant NYC, the tour explores the history, culture, and architecture of the Lower East Side — with no waiting in line involved!Sidewalks of NY Tours, 88 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, USA,

4. S-Cruise by Smartboat

Building

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If you’re looking for an ultimate experience on the Hudson, try booking an S-Cruise by Smartboat tour. S-Cruise offers private cruises on an eco-friendly Smartboat 23. The cruises allow you to book the tour for just your private party — maximum of four people. The tour is perfect for a romantic date, family day trip, or business meeting. For an even more unique and convenient experience, the tour gives the option of being picked up or dropped off in various locations — a very private, customizable experience.

5. New York by Night Photo Tour

Building, Memorial

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New York City is flooding with creativity — from actors to models, dancers, and so on. Are you a photographer looking for the perfect tour? Well, Citifari offers various photo tours, including their New York by Night Photo Tour. The tour guide safely directs tourists to stunning camera-ready locations and offers feedback in terms of compositions and camera settings. It starts on 43rd and 2nd and tours the UN Headquarters, 42nd Street, Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler building, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. All you need to bring is your best camera, most comfortable walking shoes, and a tripod. The tour lasts two and a half hours, and non-photographers are also welcome to come along.

6. 11 Walking Tour

Memorial, Museum, Store

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Our country will never forget the tragic events of 9/11 — a date that has affected the nation on many levels with sadness, patriotism and bravery. This is why the 9/11 Tribute Center partnered with the 9/11 Memorial to offer the 9/11 Walking Tour, provided by those personally affected by the event. This includes 9/11 survivors, family members of victims, recovery workers, and residents of the Lower Manhattan area. The tour lasts 45 minutes and also covers the symbolism behind the 9/11 Memorial’s design, the history of the World Trade Center, and details of the tragic event.

7. The Big Apple Helicopter Tour

Building

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Sometimes the best way to view NYC’s amazing architecture and cityscape is from the sky. Not many people get to ride in helicopters, so this tour creates unique and unforgettable memories. The Big Apple Helicopter Tour lifts off at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and overlooks Governor’s and Ellis Islands, Freedom Tower, The Empire State Building, Chrysler, USS Intrepid, and other iconic landmarks in NYC. The tour lasts approximately 12-15 minutes. Reservations are mandatory for all helicopter tours — one can make reservations via phone or email. Helicopter hours, tours, and prices are also subject to change.

8. Williamsburg Craft Beer Crawl

Bar, American

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The Williamsburg Craft Beer Crawl highlights unique beers of NYC and the history behind the city’s obsession with quality brew. By the end of the tour, you will have tried ten different beers while being educated in the craft beer industry in NYC. Snacks will also be offered while you enjoy your beverage. The tour lasts three hours and starts at 12pm. A beer-tasting guide sheet and tour map of the neighborhood will also be offered to guests during the crawl.

9. The Ride NYC

Theater

If you’re looking for a fun and entertaining tour, The Ride NYC is the tour for you! This tour combines theater and tourism, using the streets of New York City as its stage. The tour bus is designed with coliseum seating facing floor-to-ceiling glass windows. During this tour, guests can never tell who will pop up next and burst into soprano singing or choreographed dancing. The tour guide also catches random New Yorkers off guard by calling them out through their microphone. This tour is full of surprises and laughs.

10. Bike the Brooklyn Bridge

Bridge, Park, University

Bike the Bridges is a bike rental/touring company with 1,000 bikes and locations in Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Battery Park, Hudson River Park, and Liberty State Park. The Bike the Brooklyn Bridge tour is one of which many guests have given five-star ratings on Yelp, TripAdvisor and Facebook reviews. The three-hour tour highlights the Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts as well as both the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. During this tour, guests make frequent stops for photography, sightseeing, and tour guide insights.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.