Having only a limited number of days in New York to check items off our bucket list, we needed an…read moreexcellent guide with a plethora of knowledge and enough spare energy to keep us going. I fortunately found New York Historical Tours under the ownership and direction of Kevin Draper, CEO (Chief Experience Officer). My wife and I had used a private tour guide while in Scotland, and had a wonderful one on one experience ~ away from groups and tailored to fit our style of tourism. Kevin was incredibly knowledgable, affable, professional and customized our bucket list to 1) see the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access and the new museum, 2) get a brief but comprehensive history of Ellis Island without disembarking, 3) work our way to Katz's Delicatessen (we are big "When Harry Met Sally" fans) all the while getting a feel and history of the local neighborhoods, as well as learning how to use the Metro system to develop a nice level of familiarity and comfort in the East Side of Manhattan where we were staying. A standout feature on a tour with Kevin is his attention to detail in planning our time together. I call him the Master of Timing and Positioning. For example he suggested catching the first ferry to the Statue of LIberty. When we met him, he had already purchased our tickets. While on the ferry, he kept us comfortably shaded, then took us to key positions to get the best views of Lady Liberty while giving us an incredibly interesting history of the Statue. By the time we left the island, it was getting swamped with tourists and school groups. Superb timing indeed. On the way to the Metro, he pointed out the very interesting history of Battery Park and surrounding buildings and branch of the Smithsonian museum. We wound our way through Little Italy, Chinatown, Nolita and Jewish neighborhoods on the way to Katz's. Amazingly the line was short, but a madhouse inside. Kevin knew how to maneuver to the right cutter, get a table and we had a delicious lunch. As we left, the line had grown to over a block long with over an hour wait. Again the Master's timing was impeccable. He gave us more fascinating history of different areas as we headed back to the Metropolitan Museum where we ended our incredible tour. Our 6 hour private tour went by so quickly, and we were comfortably exhausted. As a historian, Kevin is a walking talking wealth of knowledge about New York, and has tremendous pride in this amazing city. We can enthusiastically recommend him for those seeking the best in personal tours of the Big Apple. In fact, we look forward to using his services on a return trip to New York which can't come soon enough.

We went on their China Town & Little Italy tour of down town Manhattan. Dan was just terrific!…read more His enthusiasm was contagious that made our Birthday celebration weekend. We now want to go on all the tours that they offer.

Great tour of Chinatown and Little Italy. Ryen is super nice, and the food was fabulous too! I…read moreenjoyed exploring these two vibrant neighborhoods with a local and would definitely recommend NYC Tours to anyone trying to narrow down which food tour is right for them.

Thank you Tom! Your knowledge of the history of both Little Italy and Chinatown gave the tour a…read morepersonal touch. Sharing your own personal memories and showing pictures really gave us an idea of the people and businesses of both places, in the past and present. Overall, this is a great tour to do with family or friends.

TEP deserves more than 5 stars for the amazing start to finish service we experienced on our 7 day…read moreadventure to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From the time we signed up, to the time we boarded the plane to return home, TEP took care of every detail. We commented amongst ourselves that we felt like kids on vacation with our parents, as we didn't have to worry about any of the details - just show up and follow Neptali (our guide). From airport pickup in Cusco in luxury Mercedes vans where we were promptly served Coca tea to help with the altitude acclimation, to group dinners at amazing Peruvian restaurants, to historical tours and education on the history of the Inca - everything was covered and taken care of for us. And that was all before the amazing trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Of course the trek itself was the highlight of the trip, and although it was extremely challenging for us, TEP's unbelievable attention to detail did not fail us on the trail. With nearly a 2:1 porter to trekker ration, our every need was met on the trail. We dined like kings every meal, and were consistently amazed with the quality (and nutritional appropriateness) of the food our chef and sous chef were able to put out with minimal kitchen conveniences. The thing I felt was most special about TEP's approach to this trip was the focus on gaining a cultural and historical appreciation for what we were experiencing. Every step along the way, we learned about the native people of Peru, the Inca civilization, the many ruins we came across, the vegetation we saw and how it was and is used, and the history of modern Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime, and have the help of The Explorer's Passage made it so much more enjoyable, and so much more memorable. The value of what they provide is amazing for the cost....rather, for the investment. I highly recommend them!

What a fabulous tour! I did the "Washington in NYC" tour in June 2017 and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience! So much fascinating historical information that I can't wait to share with all my friends now; such a great group of fellow explorers; and all so perfectly run - well planned, perfectly on time, with a great variety of sights and insights for all types of travelers. I recommend this tour highly - and will be on the lookout for future adventures from The Explorer's Passage! :)

Overall rating: 4.8…read more Full warning: this is a history tour of deaths more than ghosts. It's a great tour but I think if they revised the name to "haunted" or "spooky", it would be closer to the actual tour. Which is a history of massive deaths in the Brooklyn area. The tour goes from Williamsburg, to the Navy Yard to back up. You actually learn a lot about the Cobble Hill area. Tyler and Danny were great and so knowledgeable!! Not sure if this is a repeatable tour, but it definitely is worth it! Also come on the earlier side bc seats fill up quickly! I think I was only 1 of 3 locals. Everyone else were tourists. But they were nice. Highly recommend!

This tour was such a letdown from start to finish. The guide actually allowed two people to join…read morewho had not paid or shown tickets, which meant several of us had to sit three to a row on a trolley that was already crowded. It was uncomfortable and poorly managed. The guide herself (Gaya) seemed nervous and not very comfortable with public speaking. Her energy was low and it made the tour feel flat. The whole thing really needed more confidence and enthusiasm to make the stories come alive. As for the tour content, it was extremely underwhelming. We did not go to any real haunted sites or cemeteries. At one point the driver simply pulled over on the side of the highway and pointed out a cemetery in the distance. I could not believe that counted as part of the experience. Overall this felt like a waste of money and time. It was crowded, disorganized, and the storytelling lacked excitement. I would not recommend this tour to anyone expecting an engaging or authentic haunted experience.

What a wonderful experience!! You buy your tickets online - choosing a specific tour from a number…read moreof options. We chose the Italian & Jewish families tour. It looks like 2 separate experiences on the main page, but when you click on either family (Rogarshevsky & Baldizzi), you'll see that it's a combined tour, and a really good one! We showed up at the main museum early, checked in, and after checking out the nice gift shop, we popped into the theater room to watch their wonderful documentary. Don't miss this one! You'll learn about the 2 women co-founders who - with zero museum experience - proceeded to set up these 2 incredible tenements as museums telling the story of NY thru, quite naturally, its immigrants (what an important thing now!!). We were called for our tour right on time. Our guide took us on a brief walk down the sidewalk to #97 - the tenement where the 2 families lived in the 1930s. It's like walking into a time capsule! The dark walls have some decorative coverings - small patches restored to give you an idea of what it looked like back then. The mahogany bannister is original - as you head up to the 1st floor. The creaking building was lovingly shored up over the years by a multi-million dollar renovation -- but they've never lost its authentic look. Inside the Italian fam's place, you're struck by how small the 3 rooms they lived in really were. There's even a tiny bed for their 2 kids right in the kitchen crammed alongside the oven! We were also so struck by the pride that clearly went into adorning their parlor room. The Jewish family - the Rogarshevskys - lived across the hall. You'll hear audio played from one of the other family's kids when she was an adult - giving museum creators an authentic oral history about her time there & about the fam across that hall. So much work has clearly gone into making the experience authentic. One guy on our tour had been on some of the other experiences and said this one and the one with bar (‍) were his faves so far. Will definitely be back.

My family's story in the United States has roots on the lower east side of Manhattan. Lost history…read moresince my grandfather refused to talk about his early life, emigrating from Russia. My grandmother was just a baby with few recollections. In 1988 two visionaries founded the Tenement Museum. Their intent was to spread tolerance and understanding of the immigrant experience. The museum purchased two tenement buildings on Orchard Street and rehabbed several apartments to simulate the way they were when occupied. Between 1863 and 1935 it's estimated thousands of people from 20 nations called these tenement buildings 'home.' I found the tour fascinating with our guide talking about two families -- one Italian, the other Jewish -- and the hardships they endured living in over-crowded quarters. There are several tours you can choose from focusing on different immigrant experiences, each $30, each ranging from 60 to 75 minutes. (The only way you can see the museum is by booking a tour.) Make reservations on line and check-in at the visitors' center upon arrival. Learn more about the museum by watching the 26 minute film that's run on a loop in the back room. A very worthwhile afternoon.

Six of us took this tour and it was one of the highlights of the trip for everyone. Our guide was…read morefunny, warm, and knew an enormous amount about the city. The mix of real history and his own stories kept all of us entertained the whole way through, and I say that as someone who has lived here a long time and has heard a lot of New York trivia. He was great with people. He asked us questions, remembered the answers, and made a point of talking with everyone as we moved between stops. The weather was a question mark that morning and he had already sorted out how to handle it, so it never became our problem. Everything leading up to the day was organized and clearly communicated too. Worth every penny. We'd do it again.

My wife and granddaughter recently visited New York and booked several sightseeing tours through…read moreReal New York Tours. We wanted a knowledgeable, top-notch guide to help us experience the city, and they exceeded our expectations. From the planning process to the tours themselves, everything was handled professionally and efficiently. Our guide was outstanding--knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about New York. They customized the experience, shared fascinating insights, and made every stop enjoyable. Our experience with Real New York Tours was exceptional. They delivered first-class service in every way, and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a memorable and well-organized New York City sightseeing experience.

We booked the Evacuation Day Walking Tour with Fred; it was today on a windy, rainy and pretty cool…read moreday and the tour was awesome. My Mom and Dad both worked in Lower Manhattan and we visited the areas when I was a kid and for the last 16 years we have had a condo there. Having said that I learned a lot. Fred did a great job explaining Evacuation Day, the process routes, pointed out buildings and where things happened. Great insight and information. The weather was not great however it did not phase Fred at all; well maybe but he is a pro and it did not show. After the tour we learned his spouse is a friend of one of my spouses best friends; it's a small world!

truly one of the most incredible tours I've ever done. Frederick is very knowledgeable and such a…read morewealth of information. highly recommend!

Had the pleasure of a FANTASTIC tour of lower Manhattan with Renee. She was extremely knowledgeable…read moreabout the Financial District and NYC and could not have been any more helpful. I recommend Free Tours by Foot and especially tours with Renee. Thank you so much Renee!

I am so glad I found this tour company! We did the Brooklyn bridge/DUMBO walking tour with Onel -…read morehe was phenomenal! This tour was one of the highlights of our trip to NYC. I can't wait for my next trip to take another walking tour with this tour company. Onel is knowledgeable, personable, engaging, humorous, thoughtful and kept us on time! He knew exactly where to stop for photo ops and gave us plenty of time for them - I appreciated the scheduled bathroom break at clean bathrooms and the stop for drinks/snacks at the most perfect grocery store that I wish was in my neighborhood. The tour ended at lunchtime in the perfect location with several food options as well as close to both the ferry and trains for the return commute to Manhattan. I highly recommend this walking tour with Onel as your guide - you won't regret it!

My friends and I had the chance to do both the Legacy Tour and the Food Tour, and I can't recommend…read morethem enough! The Legacy Tour was fascinating from start to finish. Mike brought Chinatown's history to life and taught my friends and me so much. Hearing the stories of Chinatown's past and learning about the history hidden within its streets made for a truly unique experience. It felt personal, authentic, and engaging rather than scripted. The Food Tour with Bernice was equally fantastic. She introduced us to a variety of restaurants and dishes I probably wouldn't have tried on my own, and every stop was as delicious as the last. Beyond the food, Bernice shared the history and culture behind each business, making it feel like much more than a simple food tour. I left with a greater appreciation for the neighborhood, its people, and its history. Both tours were informative, fun, and thoughtfully put together. Whether you're interested in history, true crime, culture, or incredible food, these tours are not to be missed. I'll definitely be recommending them to my friends and family!!

Take this tour if you want to know what Chinatown was really like, beyond the Chinese restaurants…read moreand TV/movie portrayals. Even as a former resident, I was shocked to hear all the nefarious ongoings on the local gangs that riddled our streets. Thank you to Bernice and Michael for sharing your experiences, bringing to light the danger and struggles of this neighborhood, and answering all our questions. Michael offered unique views from commanding local law enforcement. I'm sure he had much more to tell even after 90 minutes!

David Turk has it all- charm, knowledge, follow through, intelligence, gratiousness, and love of…read moreNYC. The restaurants he took us to were all unique and special and the restaurant staffs had an obvious affection for Dave. Take the food tour in Greenwich Village or any of the other tours Dave leads and you will not be disappointed.

Jake is top tier! I went on the Hell's Kitchen tour with my 11 year old niece and her final summary…read moreis, I won't eat again today so cancel dinner! Lol. I can't put words to this tour that would do it any justice. I knew nothing about Hell's Kitchen going in, when I looked online it said it was a great place for food so I said why not.. but omg it's so much more. Considering I'm here for Broadway week to catch some shows this artistic, creative, theatrical tour was the best way to kick it off!!! You can tell Jake is a theater kid through and through it shows in every part of his tour and it makes it so much better. Just do it! You won't be disappointed. This feels like a tour with a show