Location: Brooklyn
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What to do and see in Brooklyn, New York (NY): The Best Tours
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. 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.
3. Williamsburg Brooklyn Food Tasting and Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 73 reviews
New York City is known for being pricey, but if you know where to look, it doesn’t have to be. Many of the foods that make NYC famous – like pizza, bagels and classic deli fare – are also some of the spots we visit on our Williamsburg tour. Come get a slice from Rosa Pizza, and find out what all the buzz is about. We also make a stop at the famous Pie & Thighs, where you can enjoy the classic Chicken & Waffles entree made fresh daily. Our tours are fun, safe, and memorable. These are only a couple of the stops we take, buy your ticket today and find out where we'll be chowing down next!!! (6) different tastings are included on this journey. BONUS For a limited time we are giving away a FREE BAG with every ticket purchase.
Inclusions: (6) Different sample tastings, Bottled water
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By _ansies2
The guides we had were great! They knew their history! The lady guide was the best! She sang, she shared and made the night tour the most memorable evening possible!
4. Private Custom New York City Tour by SUV
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 216 reviews
Explore New York City in a luxury SUV on a private, customized tour. This 4-, 5-, or 6-hour tour of the Big Apple is geared to match individual or group interests and preferences. Whether an architecture buff, celebrity hound, or sightseeing aficionado, the tour will be unique. Travel in a luxury SUV with a native New Yorker and licensed tour guide. Endless possibilities include: Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or lesser known areas of NYC like Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx.
Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Separate licensed NYC Tour Guide, Separate professional driver, Luxury SUV or Mercedes Sprinter, Customized itinerary to your interests
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By 448cheric
This is truly the best way to see the most of New York City in a day or weekend trip. We literally saw and learned so much I can't even add one picture of each things we saw because I can only post 10. Sheldon was an amazing guide and has an abundance of New York knowledge and historical facts. He has a great personality and made it fun and interesting for my whole family (including my mother, teenage son, and 6 year old daughter). He also made it a point to always make sure we knew where we were so when we went back into the city by our selves we knew how to get where we needed to. Sheldon honestly loves New York and after he shows you around you will too.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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
8. A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 217 reviews
Embark on this 4.5-hour bus tour with a local guide and discover Brooklyn from one end to the other while eating pizza. You will be visiting two pizzerias as well as some popular landmarks of Brooklyn. Hotel pickup and drop-off is not included. You will meet your guide at The Union Square area of Manhattan.
Inclusions: Meals as per itinerary, Live commentary on board, Local guide, Guaranteed to skip the lines, Air-conditioned vehicle, Lunch
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase at one of the pizzerias), Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Reviewed By lucyd136
I had the Dyker Heights tour booked for December however due to the current climate we are unable to visit NYC as we are from the U.K. I emailed A Slice of Brooklyn at 10am requesting a refund and by 4pm they had issued this. I am gutted we can’t travel but when we can eventually go to NYC I will be booking all of my tours through them! Even though we haven’t done the tour, I just wanted to leave a review on how great the customer service is! Thank you
9. A Day in Brooklyn Bike Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 29 reviews
A tour for cyclists & cyclists who tour! Spend the day with a local tour guide. An epic tour of Brooklyn with stops for lunch & tastings at distilleries, brewers, chocolate factories & pie bakers, covering over 25 Brooklyn Neighborhoods. There is no other experience like this - period!
Inclusions: Bike, Helmet, Tour Guide
Exclusions: Gratuities, Drinks, Food and drinks
Reviewed By diltj
I was with my teenage son for one week in New York and I thought it was nice to start to go around by bike in Manhattan instead of for instance a bustour. Biking around is a active way to visit interesting places and gives the opportunity to spend some more time in the places you really like or in which you are really interested. Even my son, who is usually quite lazy, liked it! the pizza break he liked the most.
10. Best of Brooklyn Half-Day Food and Culture, Bus and Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 635 reviews
The new culinary center of the Big Apple, where food and dining trends are dispersed to the rest of the country, is Brooklyn. And with this half-day tour, you can take a big bite out of it. From old ethnic enclaves to the latest hipster 'hoods, Brooklyn's dining scene is both diverse and cutting edge. Munch pierogies in Polish-dominated Greenpoint and hip farm-to-table fare in Williamsburg. This guided eating tour of New York's coolest and tastiest borough is ideal for foodies and the people who love them.
Inclusions: Transport by climate-controlled bus, Licensed NYC sightseeing guide, Luggage storage available upon request; your luggage is stowed at the rear of the bus , Food tasting, Bottle of water, Vegetarian options & other dietary restrictions can be accomodated with advance notice when booking
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages (available for purchase), Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Reviewed By Corti_3
He was very knowledgeable, entertaining and fun! Had a teen and a kid on board and he took us to a candy store, surely got their attention! stopped at a great pizza place and many other great stops! Thanks James!! MAde oye tour very fun!
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