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The 10 Best Walking Tours in Brooklyn, New York (NY)
It seems like most folks have a grandmother, great-uncle or some other distant relative that used to live in Brooklyn, or perhaps a friend that lives there now. In the early 1900s, it was a mecca for immigrants arriving via Ellis Island. A hundred years later, young professionals and artists left pricey Manhattan digs for Brooklyn's cheaper and more expansive space. Neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope, which had fallen into disrepair over the years, were restored and reborn as funky enclaves. Walk or bike over the historic Brooklyn Bridge (or ride the subway) to Brooklyn Heights for a stroll along the Promenade and breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. Meander through Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens for a taste of nature in the urban wilds. Catch a performance at the world-famous Brooklyn Academy of Music. From the delicious Italian restaurants of Bensonhurst to the Irish bars that line the avenues of Bay Ridge, from the hotdogs and rollercoasters of Coney Island to the bagels and handball courts of Greenpoint, Brooklyn is a state of mind as well as a dynamic community. Discover why, no matter where people move on to, they remain Brooklynites at heart.
Restaurants in Brooklyn
1. Brooklyn Graffiti tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Not only will we show you the world's famous Art work from the Bushwick Collective but also impressive art work off the beaten path.
Inclusions: Licensed Tour Guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Amergner821
I bought tickets for the speakeasy tour for my husband's birthday. Unfortunately, I was exposed to a covid positive colleague and had to quarantine for 2 weeks, ruining my husband's birthday and our Thanksgiving. I reached out to Alex's Tours PRIOR to our scheduled date to explain my situation and to ask for a refund or credit and received no response. I wanted to do the right thing by staying home. I reached out again shortly after our scheduled date and again, no response. Was recommended this tour by my father yet this was very unprofessional, disappointing and will not recommend moving forward.
2. Prospect Park Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Explore Prospect Park on this 2-hour guided walking tour and learn about historic restoration and environmental preservation work in the Park, including cultural and recreation projects currently underway. This interactive experience explores how Prospect Park has changed over time, from the original vision of designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to the ways in which the Park is used today. Tours begin at Grand Army Plaza and take visitors through many of the key natural and historic landmarks of the park, including the breathtaking Long Meadow, the innovatively-designed LeFrak Center at Lakeside, and the Ravine, the largest natural forest in Brooklyn. This tour also features a special behind-the-scenes visit to historic sites and features within the park. These tours are offered by Turnstile Tours on behalf of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains, restores, and advances the Park in partnership with New York City.
Inclusions: Knowledgeable and engaging tour guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By joannedH4058NE
My friends and I took the DUMBO tour with Cindy. It was excellent. She was an amazing tour guide - balancing the historical information with anecdotal experiences that formed a fully enjoyable story about the area from the pre 1800 - now. Cindy engaged with the group in ways that got everyone involved in the storyline. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I can't wait to register for another tour!
3. 30-Minute Private Vacation Photography Session with Local Photographer in NYC
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Flytographer 30-Minute Vacation Photo Shoot Connect with a local hand-picked professional photographer in New York City and capture your most memorable moments during this private photo shoot. Get insider tips on the best things to do in New York City, including where to eat & what to see from your vacation photographer. Return from your trip with beautiful, high-quality vacation photos — the best souvenir ever. We specialize in: - honeymoons - family trips - engagements - anniversaries - romantic getaways - multi-generational trips - babymoons - solo travellers - and just because! With over 10,000 5-star reviews, Flytographer is the global leader in vacation photography and has captured over 3 million memories for travellers across six continents. We’ve been featured across A-list media, including Conde Nast Traveler, Oprah, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, New York Times, BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Magazine, Elle, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Huffington Post, & many more.
Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, 15 high-resolution digital photographs, Private photo shoot with a professional photographer for individuals, couples and groups, Online image gallery delivered within 5 days of your shoot
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Transportation to and from photo shoot, Proposal photography not included with this package, Entrance fees to shooting locations
Reviewed By gratefulfortravel
We use flytographer all over the world when we travel, but it was fun to do a shoot here in Victoria during COVID. I would highly suggest if you're looking for good photos of your family.
4. Jewish Tour | NYC in Chassidic Hassidic Community in Brooklyn NY
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Walk into Jewish life with a local guide. This exclusive tour will take you into places unavailable to the public. Giving you an inside view of the community. While answering all your questions and providing detailed history about the culture and traditions. The tour will give you in-depth knowledge into the history, philosophy, and culture of the Jewish people and their practice. We will discover what makes someone Jewish and the Jewish view on non-Jews. Through this tour expect myths to be broken, your questions answered, and fascinating insights into what it means to be a Jew.
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By pmandjlf
We had a small group, so our tour guide took time to explain Hasidic philosophy/theology to us at the beginning. We then toured seven different sites around the neighborhood. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and open. I was most impressed by how he explained the connections between Hasidic thought and how they lead their lives.
5. Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Walk your way over the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge and into the fastest growing part of the city on a unique tour filled with sightseeing and information from the city's best tour guides. Your guide will be able to give you great recommendations for cuisine, lodging, and other activities while you're here in New York! Join us and we'll show you why Brooklyn is becoming the place to be! Tours can be given in any language upon customer request with advance notice. Contact us for more information!
Inclusions: Live guide, Map
Exclusions:
Reviewed By richh568
We hired two bikes from this store after being sold them on the edge of the park. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that the bikes were very poorly maintained. The chain on one of our bikes fell off 4 or 5 times for no reason. The only upside of the poorly maintained bikes was that I could put the chain back on without getting any oil on my fingers at all. Eventually, after stopping every couple of minutes we just gave up and pushed the bike back to the store. When we got back, we suggested it only seems fair that we were refunded for one of the bikes, as it did not meet the standard we were sold. The member of staff in the store refused but understood our point so put us on the phone to a manager from a different store. The manager, after putting us on hold, hanging up, and then finally speaking to us after we phoned back, very rudely tried to blame us for the situation. We were told the bikes were well maintained, which I explained how this could not be the case. Then they used the defence that we could have called the helpline in small print on our receipt. At no point when we were hiring the bikes was this number pointed out to us should we need it. Being two UK travellers we didn't have phone that would have worked for this anyway, so I explained this wasn't a viable option either. I do understand that these bikes are used a lot and things will go wrong but I just wish people could be honest and own up when they have not met the standard which has been sold. Unfortunately that is not the case here. If we'd have paid $5 then I'd have said fair enough but at $20 per bike I'd expect much better! Avoid at all costs.
6. Hasidic Williamsburg Walking Tour in New York City
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 193 reviews
This tour is a little-known gem in Hasidic Williamsburg, led by Frieda Vizel, who was raised in the Satmar Hasidic Jewish sect. The tour aims to bring you to a deeper, humanizing understanding of Haisidic life. Groups are small so visitors can get to know each other, and the tour price includes food stops and audio equipment!
Inclusions: Informative, friendly, professional guide, Sampling of kosher food
Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Gratuities
Reviewed By Luis V
She took us through Williamsburgh Brooklyn into the hasidic area and we sampled food. She told us about the history as well as an insiders view of what it was like for her growing up in the community.
7. A Virtual Street Art Experience in Brooklyn
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 52 reviews
Take a virtual tour in Brooklyn, the mecca of street art! Our experience will be broken up into five parts: 1: Transport to a coffee shop in Brooklyn filled with stunning artwork. There, we’ll chat about what street art means to each of us. We’ll also begin a fun ‘Lego art’ scavenger hunt featuring pieces from local sticker artist, RAD. 2: Take a guided tour through East Williamsburg and view dozens of commissioned murals, some over 40 feet in size! I’ll share amazing stories from a mix of local and international artists. 3: Travel back in time to the 1970’s to learn about NYC’s early graffiti and hip-hop scene. We’ll explore the origins of this art form– from tags and ‘Wildstyle’ pieces, to different crews and techniques. 4: Visit the Bushwick Collective, the largest outdoor street art gallery in the U.S.A. See a wide range of iconic pieces from some of our legendary artists. 5. Hop on a virtual subway ride to the Wall of Justice– a new space devoted to a powerful art movement.
Inclusions: Registration via Zoom-- details to be provided following booking confirmation
Exclusions:
Reviewed By GAToronto
Ariel led us on a fantastic virtual tour of graffiti in Brooklin. His photos and narrative were especially good. I look forward to taking a real live tour with him when we can travel again. I will refer his tour to my friends who may visit NY in the future. Thank you for an informative and professionally delivered tour.
8. Central Park Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 54 reviews
Central Park is the most famous urban park in the world, and this tour will help you discover why. From the sweeping Central Park Mall to the Bow Bridge to Strawberry Fields to the gorgeous Bethesda Terrace, and much more, your guide will make sure you get to see all of the highlights of this expansive park. Along the way, you'll learn the fascinating history of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's urban masterpiece. Central Park has been called “one of the greatest works of art in America”. Come see why! Your walking tour will start at Manhattan's Grand Army Plaza and continue on through the park. Your guide will show you all the highlights of the park at a leisurely pace, while providing historic photos for reference. This tour takes place year round, as each season is a different experience. The best thing about this park is that every month brings changes and new discoveries. A small-group tour also provides a more personal experience.
Inclusions: Professional guide
Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Reviewed By rosemarier853
What an enriching experience to have a tour guide! Great historic photos and information. The guide was wonderful. He pointed out views that we had missed in the past. We now have a full appreciation of the Highline and surrounding area.
9. New York: The High Line & Chelsea Market with Food Tastings
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 39 reviews
This fun walking tour will take you over the High Line and through the Meatpacking and Chelsea neighborhoods to explore history, art, food... and, of course, beautiful views. You’ll leave with an understanding of how the past has shaped the present, and how modern New York has re-purposed this history to create something unique that has transformed the city both for the better and for the worse.
Inclusions: Local Spanish-speaking guide, 1-2 small food tastings in Chelsea Market
Exclusions: Tips/gratuities for your guide
Reviewed By LassMinTraveler
Brian was a great tour guide as well as accommodating everyone's individual needs as well as diets if you didn't eat it or like it Brian went out of his way to make it happen. I truly enjoyed the tour as well as the other places he recommended after the tour I definitely recommend this tour ....Great job Brian we're still talking about it who knows you may see us soon something is in the works ????????????
10. Lonely Planet Experiences: Brooklyn Food, History & Culture Small Group Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 112 reviews
Experience the best travel stories for yourself! Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this Lonely Planet Experience powered by Urban Adventures. You may not immediately compare Brooklyn to a small town, but the hippest borough is made up of distinct community oriented neighborhoods that thrive and blossom because of the local mom and pop businesses, many that have been here for generations. Throughout this neighborhood food tour, we celebrate the businesses by telling the stories of the people involved, by sampling some of the delicious food being sold, and by contributing a donation to an organization designed to maintain the success of this community of small businesses.
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, Food and drink tastings
Exclusions: Tips / gratuities for your guide, Additional food and drinks, Souvenirs and edible merchandise
Reviewed By 178allisonh
We had a nice time exploring areas of NY that we would have never discovered on our own! Learned a good deal about the various cultures that helped build NY. Also felt very safe with our guide respecting COVID protocols
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