Full Day Private Tour of Manhattan by Foot, Subway and Ferry

7–9 hours Free cancellation Private tour

Full Day Private Tour of Manhattan by Foot, Subway and Ferry, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This tour highlights the most iconic parts of the city in a day curated to pack the maximum amount of history and architecture. The tour begins with a detailed overview history and the city's move uptown thorugh the island. Then, each neighborhood we visit comes with its own detailed explanation for why its built environment is the way it is.

From Times Square we make our way through Midtown and Fifth Avenue to Central Park discussing everything from zoning and architecture to artwork and history.

From Central Park we head downtown utilizing public transit, while walking the most famous blocks and buildings of the city, including: Herald Square, Madison Square, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, City Hall, the Financial Distrcit, and the World Trade Center.

The 9/11 Memorial is our last downtown stop before catching a city commuter ferry up the Hudson River to Hudson Yards, and back to Times Square and Midtown.

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At a glance

Duration: 7–9 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Expert guide

Not included

Not included: Lunch: any food, snacks or beverages
Not included: subway and ferry charges: ~$15
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Times Square / Theater District

30 min

The theater district is a unique feature of New York's built enviornment, it is something of a miracle the Broadway theaters have survived as they did (thanks to the Shubert Trust). In addition to tons of other hiostry, we learn the evolution of the area from the horse and carraige trade to an evolving distrcit of entertainment from vaudeville to silent movies, and eventially radio and televison...nothing short of the history of American commercial culture. We walk only a few blocks to the Midtown Business distrcit of commercial business.
Midtown

30 min

We make our way stealthily through Midtown's underground passages and corportate lobbies of amazing art while passing some of the best examples of Modern and post-Modern architecture. Guests are free to stop for snacks, meals and/or breaks thorughout the tour.
Central Park

15 min

We can see the Park for 15 minutes or and hour, depending on the guest.
Herald Square

30 min

We take the subway to Herald Square, Macy's and the Empire State Building. We walk down Broadway towards Madison Square learning the hisotry of the old Tenderloin (the redlihgt distrcit), the former theater distrcit and Tin Pan Alley. As we near Madsion Square we approach New York's Gilded Age city center of Madison Square.
Madison Square Park

30 min

We learn the stunning history of the area and the emergence of the Gilded Age, the Industrial Era, electricity and the telephone. We learn the reason for the architecture and the social cultures they reflect.
Greenwich Village

20 min

We take the subway to the Village where we can spend between as much or little time to explore as desired.
Washington Square Park

Passing by

We walk through NYU territory and see New Yorkers as they in one of the most iconic parks in history.
SoHo

30 min

The cast iron buildings of SoHo are spectacular and unique as a business district for its size. Here you'll come to understand that there was a different sense to business, and what a commerical building should like. Broadway has its own history in this part of town.
Little Italy

Passing by

We pass thorugh Little Italy which is almost an enclave in Chinatown.
Chinatown

20 min

The tenements of Chinatown have a history that in many ways can desribe life in all of the Lower East Side, only the faces of the different immigrant groups who passed through changed. Chinatown is the longest surviving group in the area of New York's iconic immigrant waves.
One World Trade Center

20 min

We can spend as much time as desired athte 9/11 Memorial.
Hudson Yards

one hour

Hudson Yards and a subway ride is one way to return to Times Square, or we could take the free bus.
Brookfield Place

one hour

We take a bus, or maybe walk, to Brookfield Place, the World trade Center. We spend as much or as little time as desired. From here, we catch a commuter ferry back to Midtown.
Hudson Yards

Passing by

We take a ferry from Brookfield Place to Hudson Yards and one of city's newest developments. From there we make our way to Midtown and wrap up the day.