World City Guide

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
New York’s streets were made for walking. In fact walking is the best way for visitors to really explore the city. There are numerous guided tour operators, including Big Onion Walking Tours (tel: (212) 439 1090; fax: (718) 499 0023; e-mail: info@bigonion.com; website: www.bigonion.com), who, for over a decade, have offered entertaining, informative and contemporary tours of New York’s historic districts and ethnic neighbourhoods. Tours last approximately two hours and prices start at US$12 (concessions are available). Departure points vary depending on the tour – these are clearly listed on the website. The self-guided, audio tour, Walkin’ Broadway (tel: (866) NYC BWAY (692 2929) or (212) 997 5004; email: info@walkinbroadway.com; website: www.walkinbroadway.com, let you explore the stories and secrets of Broadway while hearing snippets of great musicals. Before long, participants find themselves singing and dancing from one theatre to the next. Purchase tickets (price US$14) and start at Colony Music, 1619 Broadway at 49th Street.

Bus Tours
Gray Line New York Tours (tel: (212) 445 0848 or (800) 669 0051; e-mail: graylinenewyork@coachusa.com; website: www.graylinenewyork.com or www.newyorksightseeing.com) offers closed- and open-top double-decker bus tours, calling at numerous stops around the city in a two- to three-hour loop. The Essential New York Tour offers a 40-stop hop-off hop-on tour of Manhattan for US$72 (concessions are available). Tickets are valid for 48 hours. Gray Line also offers tours of Harlem and Brooklyn. Buses depart from Grey Line Visitors Center at 777 8th Avenue (between 47th and 48th Streets).

Boat Tours
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (tel: (212) 563 3200; e-mail: infocl@circleline.com; website: www.circleline42.com) is the only cruise line that circles Manhattan Island, with a three-hour narrated Full Island Cruise, departing from Pier 83 on 42nd Street on the Hudson River and costing US$26. Other options include the two-hour Semi-Circle Cruise, costing US$22 , the evening two-hour Harbor Lights Cruise, costing US$22 (Mar-Nov), or the Liberty Cruise Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty for US$18 (May-Oct). At both Pier 83 and Pier 16, South Street Seaport, adventurers can take a spin on the ‘Beast’ speed boat for a 30-minute thrill ride, costing US$16.

Other Tours
Big Apple Greeters (tel: (212) 669 8159/2896; fax: (212) 669 3685; e-mail: information@bigapplegreeter.org; website: www.bigapplegreeter.org), is a free service sponsored by NYC & Company. A knowledgeable, native New Yorker will escort two to six people who are travelling together to special places such as neighbourhoods, sites or ‘off the beaten path’ destinations. Free public transportation is provided. Reservations and schedule must be confirmed in advance.

Gray Line New York Tours (tel: (212) 397 2600 or (800) 669 0051; website: www.graylinenewyork.com) conducts over two dozen different sightseeing trips by different modes of transport. The 10-minute helicopter tour, A Bird’s Eye View, costs US$138 and allows visitors to see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler and Central Park from above. Helicopter flights depart from the West 30th Street heliport.

Scene on TV Tours (tel: (212) 209 3370; website: www.sceneontv.com) operates bus tours of the sites of America’s top TV shows, including Sex and the City and Sopranos. Other tours include Central Park Movie Tour and Manhattan TV and Movie Tour. Prices range from US$15-35 and tours last from two to three and a half hours. Booking is essential for all tours and meeting points vary depending on the tour taken; hotel pick up and drop off is not available.