More about: 13 Best New York City Tours
New York is much more than Times Square, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. It's its squares, avenues and neighbourhoods. Learn about the history of the Big Apple and the New York lifestyle in the most authentic way with a selection of the best tours of New York in Spanish.
1. The ultimate favourite: the New York contrasts tour
With the New York Contrasts Tour, you can get a complete picture of New York City and discover the city's five boroughs (Manhattan, Harlem, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn) with a guide in Spanish.
As the name suggests, you will explore the diverse cultural identity of New York's neighbourhoods. You will discover the true essence of each district and gain a more complete view of the city thanks to the comments and anecdotes of the local guide.
In addition, it is suitable for anyone as part of the tour is done by transport. On this Contrasts Tour, you can choose where to end: in Chinatown or under the Brooklyn Bridge, in DUMBO, to continue with your next plan on your travel itinerary.
What you will see
- Harlem: The first stop is this Manhattan neighbourhood to learn a little about its history and take a break to photograph the brownstones. You will also see the Apollo Theatre and the Cotton Club, two institutions of New York jazz music in the 1920s, a time of great cultural effervescence in Harlem.
- The Bronx: At this stop, you'll take a tour of iconic Bronx landmarks such as Yankee Stadium, including film locations and New York's most famous street art. In fact, you'll visit an entire open-air art gallery known as the Graffiti Universe.
- Queens: New York's largest and most multicultural borough. In this part of the tour, the group will enter the luxurious neighbourhood of Malba and continue on to Flushing Meadows Park, where you can see the stadium of the Mets, the Yankees' rival team. You will also see the venue where the US Open is held and the globe from the film Men In Black. Among other points of interest, you will also explore the neighbourhood of Little India.
- Brooklyn: The district with the strongest identity in New York. You can explore the Jewish neighbourhood of Williamsburg, the industrial charm of DUMBO under the Brooklyn Bridge, and end in Manhattan, in Chinatown and Little Italy with their rich cuisine.
Why I like it
Taking this Contrasts Tour will only take you one morning to see very diverse places in New York that would take you a day or two to see on your own, so you'll save time.
2. New York from a bird's eye view: the helicopter tour
Taking a helicopter ride over New York is an experience you can't miss on your trip, especially on a sunny day. Seeing the city from a bird's eye view is very impressive and you'll have an unforgettable memory to share when you return home.
From above, you can enjoy the best views of Manhattan's most iconic landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the One World Observatory, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the George Washington Bridge and the vast natural expanse of Central Park, among others.
Get ready to admire the imposing skyscrapers from their very height and fly over the Big Apple on an exciting 15-minute helicopter tour. If you would like more information about this experience, here is an article on the best helicopter rides in New York.
What you will see
- Downtown Heliport
- Ellis Island
- Statue of Liberty
- Governors Island
- Ground Zero and One World Observatory
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Empire State Building
- Madison Square Garden
- Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Building
- Times Square and MetLife Building
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Central Park
- Washington Bridge
Why I like it
Whether it's your first time in the city or you're a regular visitor, this bird's-eye view tour will give you the best views of the city as well as a good dose of adrenaline. I promise you'll never forget it!
3. Tour the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn by bus
Like the previous tour, this Contrasts Tour of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn allows you to discover other districts and neighbourhoods beyond touristy Manhattan in the city centre, where many travellers are tempted to stay.
Once again, this tour will give you a deeper understanding of the city's multiculturalism and contrasts, the different architecture of its neighbourhoods, its people... In short, a comprehensive tour that, in my opinion, is perfect for kicking off our trip.
What I would highlight about this bus tour of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn is that it takes you away from the city centre to show you scenes of everyday life in other boroughs of New York such as Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx on a comfortable 4-hour sightseeing tour by bus. You will explore the areas less visited by tourists and get to know the more authentic side of New York.
What you'll see
- The Bronx: At this stop, you will take a tour of the Bronx to see the exterior of the world's most famous baseball stadium, Yankee Stadium. You will also pass through Little Italy, where you can soak up New York's Italian heritage and enjoy a coffee.
- Queens: New York's most multicultural and extensive district. In this part of the tour, the group heads to Flushing Meadows Park, home to the stadium of the Yankees' rival team, the New York Mets. It is also the venue for the US Open and home to the popular Unisphere from Men In Black.
- Brooklyn: The borough with the strongest identity in New York. You can explore the Jewish neighbourhood of Williamsburg and admire the panoramic view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge in the charming bohemian neighbourhood of DUMBO.
Why I like it
I think it's a great opportunity to get to know the city and the best neighbourhoods in New York if you want to enjoy it like a local, with the advantage of being accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you interesting facts about each neighbourhood in Spanish, which is great if you don't speak English very well. And with a bonus: they will show you parts of New York that many tourists never explore.
If this is your first time visiting the Big Apple, it's a great way to get acquainted with the city. While listening to the guide's explanations, you can admire the city through the coach window, get off at the stops and walk around each neighbourhood to discover some of the places that have shaped New York's history. All in a matter of hours.
4. Discover the soul of New York with a tour of Harlem and a gospel mass
The best way to experience New York's cultural diversity and discover the roots of the African-American community is to immerse yourself in the culture of Harlem with a complete tour of Harlem with gospel mass
What you will see
On one of the many tours of Harlem, you will discover iconic sites in the neighbourhood such as the Morris-Jumel Mansion (the oldest house in Manhattan, dating back to the 18th century), Sylvan Terrace (a unique cobblestone street lined with identical houses), the Cotton Club (a famous nightclub that opened during Prohibition), and the legendary Apollo Theatre (where music stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Diana Ross, and The Jackson 5 made their mark), among others.
If you also complete your visit with a Gospel mass in the churches of Harlem, you will stop being a tourist for a moment and become just another neighbour in the neighbourhood.
The tour of Harlem ends at the Malcolm X Mosque and with a view of the striking graffiti in the area that celebrates African-American culture. You won't stop taking photos! You will also discover the best places to listen to jazz in Harlem.
Why I like it
A neighbourhood with so much culture and contrast is worth discovering with a guide who will introduce you to the customs and way of life of its residents. They will take you to discover the most emblematic spots in the area and give you the best recommendations if you want to continue exploring on your own.
5. Say hello to the Statue of Liberty and visit Ellis Island
There are many ways to get to know New York: walking among its skyscrapers, flying over the city in a helicopter or aboard a ferry, contemplating the Manhattan skyline and heading for Liberty and Ellis Islands.
To visit the Statue of Liberty, you can buy tickets and take the ferry to the Statue on your own or take a tour that will take you to the Statue of Liberty. You will learn about the history behind the great icon of the United States, the Statue of Liberty, along with the Liberty Island Museum and a guided tour of Liberty Island.
What you will see
The tour is accompanied by a professional guide who will take you from Battery Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan, to avoid the crowds. Since the Statue of Liberty is one of New York's main tourist attractions, it is usually crowded with people, so my advice is that if you want to avoid the crowds, take the first ferry in the morning, as the waiting time for the following ferries is usually much longer and can be up to an hour.
During the trip, the guide tells the story of Lady Liberty and how she came to the United States from France to become the symbol of freedom she is today.
Some tours include a visit to Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum, where photographs, letters and personal items from the period are on display. Reading the real stories of those immigrants in search of a better life is overwhelming.
Why I like it
In addition to getting up close to the symbol of the city, take a good look because during the visit you will have incredible views from the Statue of Liberty:
- One World Observatory
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Manhattan Bridge
- The Empire State Building
- The skyscrapers of Hudson Yards
6. Discover film locations on a "cinematic" tour
If you're looking for a fun excursion during your stay in New York, take a tour of the best film and television locations. How many times have you seen the Big Apple as a huge set on TV? Now you can walk its streets and feel like you've stepped into a film during this almost 3-hour tour of locations that have appeared in shows such as 'Friends', 'Seinfeld', 'Girls' and 'Glee', among many others.
If you're a film buff, you'll really enjoy this because the guide knows a lot about the entertainment industry and tells great anecdotes about Ghostbusters, I Am Legend, How I Met Your Mother and Spiderman, to name but a few. You can take a guided tour or go out and find the locations yourself.
What you'll see
- Central Park
- Wollman Rink
- Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts
- Fifth Avenue
- Ghostbusters Fire Station
- Macy's Herald Square
- Friends Building
Why I like it
One of the main factors that makes New York New York is its appeal as the setting for thousands of films. By going out to explore the city in search of its most legendary locations, you'll be forced to wander the streets and discover New York's secret places.
7. Cycle through Central Park
If there is one park that is famous par excellence in New York, it is Central Park, the most visited urban park in the world and a real green lung for the city. It is considered one of the best parks in New York and is ideal to visit at any time of the year.
What you'll see
Given its size, exploring Central Park on foot will take several visits as there is so much to see and it is enormous. It was created in 1857 in the centre of Manhattan so that New York's elite could enjoy nature in a city that was constantly expanding.
By renting a bike or exploring the park on wheels on your own, you will discover the area in a fun way and see some of the locations where films have been shot here, as well as several of the homes of famous people.
Why I like it
During autumn in New York, cycling through Central Park is one of the best things to do when the sun is still warm in the morning. The landscape is tinged with shades **of ochre, red, brown, orange...**It's an explosion of colour worth admiring! Grab your camera and get ready to take the most beautiful photos of your trip.
8. Hudson River cruises: the best tour of New York by boat
Night falls and you feel like relaxing, but you don't want to miss anything in New York City. The solution? Continue enjoying the illuminated skyline while taking a relaxing boat trip on the Hudson around Manhattan Island. Can you imagine dining on board a luxury yacht? Or would you prefer to watch the last rays of the setting sun from a romantic sailboat?
What you'll see
New York offers several cruises on the Hudson River to suit all tastes and (most importantly) all budgets, so whatever time you have available or whatever budget you want to spend on this tour, it's worth taking a look at the options and choosing the one that's right for you.
If you want to cross the Brooklyn Bridge from the water while enjoying the illuminated Manhattan skyline, your best bet is to choose one of the best dinner cruises on the Hudson. Dust off your finest attire and set sail!
Why I like it
It's one of the most relaxing attractions in the city, and believe me, after a few days there, you'll need it. You'll enjoy magnificent views while treating yourself to dinner under the stars.
9. The most comfortable: the city tour by tourist bus
With the New York tourist bus, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Big Apple in complete comfort and freedom: you'll cross the city aboard a double-decker bus with a live guide who will tell you all its secrets and anecdotes. You can choose 1, 2 or 3-day tourist bus tickets.
The tour has more than 40 stops and allows you to explore the city at your own pace.
Downtown tour
The city centre tour lasts 3 hours and operates between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. every 15-20 minutes. This guided tour of downtown New York can start at any of the 18 stops on this route.
Some of the tourist attractions on the city centre tour are:
- Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- Rockefeller Centre
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Fifth Avenue
- Times Square
- Radio City Music Hall
- SoHo
- Chinatown
- Madison Square Garden
- Top of the Rock Observatory
- Lower Manhattan
- 9/11 Memorial
- One World Observatory
Uptown Tour
This tour of Uptown New York operates between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. every 20-30 minutes. It lasts 2 hours and the route can be started at any of its 20 stops. Some of the tourist attractions that are part of the Uptown tour are:
- Strawberry Fields, John Lennon Memorial
- American Museum of Natural History
- New-York Historical Society Museum & Library
- Museum of the City of New York
- The Jewish Museum
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Central Park
- Central Park Zoo
- Rockefeller Centre
- Radio City Music Hall
Night sightseeing bus
The New York night sightseeing bus also has its advantages. You'll tour the city while enjoying its incredible lights and relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. Some tours last around two hours and normally operate between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
These night tours are not hop-on hop-off, meaning you cannot get off and back on anywhere along the route. There are two stops, and you can only take this tour once. Best of all, you will see the city's essential sights:
- Times Square
- Empire State Building
- Greenwich Village
- SoHo
- TriBeCa
- Chinatown
- Manhattan Bridge
- Brooklyn Heights Promenade
- Lower East Side
The Ride experience
If you want to get away from the more traditional bus tours and see the city from a different perspective, I recommend getting tickets for The Ride experience, an interactive tour of Manhattan's best streets.
The guide will give you a new perspective on the city that you never knew existed, and you'll have a night like no other. In New York, anything is possible!
Why I like it
It's a great way to explore the city from top to bottom without having to worry about public transport: you'll move quickly and comfortably between the city's main tourist attractions while continuing to enjoy the views and take the best photos.
10. The most memorable part of your trip: Brooklyn Christmas tour
If you visit New York at Christmas, you've probably heard of Dyker Heights: it's the Brooklyn neighbourhood where residents compete every year to display the best Christmas decorations and lights. When you visit, you'll see the most incredible decorations and lights in New York, beyond anything you've ever seen before.
What you'll see
On the Brooklyn Christmas tours, you'll stroll through the neighbourhoods of Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge, seeing all kinds of Christmas decorations, Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas elves, Nutcracker soldiers, and other stars of the American Christmas imagination.
As you would expect, this is a night tour to enjoy the lights in all their splendour, and you will be accompanied by a local guide who will tell you the impressive stories behind the decorations on each house, some of which will truly melt your heart.
If you are travelling to New York with children, this is a tour they will undoubtedly remember forever, as it will be like being transported to a fairy-tale world. A very nice way to discover Brooklyn at this special time of year. If you want to continue discovering the best of the city at Christmas, don't miss the best Christmas trees and Rockefeller Centre at Christmas, a dream location.
Why I like it
Beating the cold in winter in New York is not always easy, but these Christmas tours will make you feel the warmth of the lights and the unique atmosphere that characterises New York at this magical time of year. It is truly a movie-like experience.
11. Gay Pride Tour
Have you heard of the Stonewall uprising? Do you know about cosmopolitan New York's relationship with the LGBT movement? On this tour, you'll discover why New York is one of the greatest cities in the world, and not just in terms of the size of its skyscrapers.
What you will see
Iconic places in the city, but from a different perspective: that of a guide who will tell you how the Stonewall riots that took place in New York laid the foundations for the entire LGBT movement. The tour includes the Stonewall Inn, the Axis Theatre Centre and the Gay Liberation Monument.
Why I like it
Because it's a tour that's still necessary today to remind us of the seeds that were sown for the rights we currently enjoy, and also to remind us how much work still needs to be done in places other than New York.
12. Historical tour on slavery
Taking this tour is a new way to see the city. Not all of New York's important places are featured in guidebooks, and this is an opportunity to discover a different side of the city of skyscrapers.
What you will see
Those places in New York that are historically linked to slavery, such as the African Cemetery and the Underground Railroad. Of course, you'll also discover how the liberation of slaves took place in 1800.
Why I like it
Because it deals with a part of New York's history that is often ignored when we climb the Empire State Building or walk through Central Park. Cities are also the people who have lived, suffered and fought in them, and that is why a visit to New York would not be complete without this tour.
13. New York pub crawl
Still feel like partying after a busy day of sightseeing? This is the tour you're looking for. Want to meet people? This is your chance! The classic pub crawl also has its New York version.
What you'll see
Four historic taverns located in downtown New York where you'll sample top-quality beers and ciders. What's more, it's not just a visit to several pubs, but an expert guide will also tell you the history of New York's legendary Stone Street and take you back to colonial times.
Why I like it
Because of all the tours, this is probably the one where you're most likely to meet other travellers with whom you can exchange experiences. What's more, it's not easy to get to know the nightlife in an unfamiliar city; if you're shown around, you'll get to know a part of New York that you wouldn't be able to discover on your own so easily.