It’s no secret that New York City is a LOT in every way. The first time I visited, I was completely overwhelmed just by driving through the city – much more when I arrived at my hotel and thought, “Now what?”.

I ended up deciding on a NYC tour in the morning right after my arrival, and it was the only thing that gave me my footing and a lay of the land when I needed it the most!

However, there are virtually endless options when it comes to touring the Big Apple, which is why I’ve carefully curated a guide to the 5 top guided tours of NYC available. Each one is well worth your time and money, so let’s dive in and determine which is best for you!

Be sure to see our reviews of NYC Dinner Cruises, NYC Helicopter Tours and NYC Horse Carriage Rides.

Best Guided Tours of NYC

	New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour	NYC: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens Guided Bus Tour	Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island
Location:	770 7th Ave, New York City	At the corner of 8th Avenue and 51st Street	109 E 42nd St, New York City
Start:	9:00 AM, 10:00 AM	9:00 AM	8:30 AM
Duration:	6 hours	6 hours	7 hours
Includes:	Expert local tour guide narration, bottled water on buses, Staten Island ferry trip	Explore four of NYC’s iconic boroughs by bus, photo ops, narration by guide	Guide exclusively in English or Spanish, Transportation from meeting point with Shared Tour, Visit to the beach
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated NYC Guided Tours For 2025

1. New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour
2. NYC: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens Guided Bus Tour
3. Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island
4. NYC: Half-Day Bus Tour of Top Highlights
5. 3 New York Neighborhoods Semi-Private Tour: SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy

Tours of NYC Reviews

1. New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

If you only have one day to explore New York City, the New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour is one of the best choices you can make. The 6-hour adventure isn’t about checking off boxes, but rather dives deep into the heart and soul of the Big Apple, showing off iconic landmarks with some local gems.

By the end of your journey, you’ll have seen and learned about almost every one of the city’s top spots in the most convenient, seamless way. Your tour starts off in the morning in the convenient Midtown, and there are always a few different start times available to make it easier to work into your schedule.

We met up with our guides and headed onto our smooth, spacious, air-conditioned coach for the day, with large windows for prime viewing when we weren’t actually on the street.

The guide has a microphone and the bus comes with a great audio system so we listened to his fun commentary and great storytelling about the different neighborhoods and landmarks as we rolled by.

Throughout, you’ll take tons of stops to walk around, and at times enter buildings or continue a couple of blocks to sightsee and meet up with your bus driver later.

We got the time to stroll around Central Park, see the crazy energy of neon Times Square, head up to Rockefeller Center, and even see the strikingly somber beauty of the 9/11 Memorial. I experienced just about every emotion on this tour, and if it’s your first time seeing it, it really is something magical.

There are plenty of opportunities to explore, take photos, and even grab a bite to eat at local spots (we got some delicious pizza by the Rockefeller Center!).

Designed for comfort and convenience, I can’t think of a better way to see the city’s highlights in a day for those who want to really learn and enjoy recommendations to use during the rest of a trip!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other NYC Activities You May Enjoy

2. NYC: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens Guided Bus Tour

This next tour is ideal for seeing more than the iconic skyline or all the top tourist spots (though these are of course worth seeing). If you’ve already seen those famous landmarks, however, know that there’s a TON more to explore – and you’ll get to see it all on the NYC: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens Guided Bus Tour.

If you want to get a feel for the true soul on New York, this is one of the best experiences out there! We had a bit of flexibility with start time options, and when we met up with our guide we got a briefing on what to expect before boarding our bus.

The bus was super spacious and comfortable, with charging ports onboard for our phones, which is an absolute essential if you’re going to be taking photos and videos as you go! It also had big windows and a great audio system for listening to our guide’s fantastic storytelling as we cruised along between stops.

My first time in NYC, I had to of course see all the biggest sights and didn’t see a ton outside of that, but this time I got such a better feel of what really makes it so special. You’ll explore Harlem and its African-American history, Williamsburg and its Hasidic Jewish community, Chinatown, Little Italy, and more.

Our guide did a wonderful job of explaining history and timelines to us that made so much sense and further enriched our sightseeing. We took a break for lunch surrounded by incredible street art, and another highlight for me was fueling up on savory empanadas before continuing on to the Brooklyn Bridge for some photos and crazy views!

While we obviously didn’t have time to stop and explore literally everything, we did get to see a lot and get a lay of the land, along with some great recommendations to take advantage of during the rest of our New York trips!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island

While New York is undoubtedly most recognizable through its towering Manhattan skyscrapers, it’s a melting pot of cultures, histories, and communities, spread across various boroughs.

The Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island tour highlight this, taking you right into each one while veering off the typical tourist route for an authentic look at each one’s soul.

This 7-hour experience is one of the longer tours, though it’s also one of the most comprehensive – by the end, you’ll have so many ideas and options to take on throughout the rest of your trip!

If you’re on a tight budget but still want to see NYC the way it deserves, you really can’t get better than this day trip. Perfect for first-time visitors, you’ll be introduced to the vibrancy of Harlem, the arts of the Bronx, the multicultural atmosphere of Queens, the nostalgia of Coney Island (if option selected), and the legendary history of Brooklyn.

This expertly crafted itinerary is complete with a knowledgeable local guide there to regale you with interesting anecdotes and cultural background to highlight the unique character of each neighborhood.

Yes, you’ll see the Statue of Liberty, the Apollo Theater, Yankee Stadium, and other iconic locations; however, it’s the unexpected spots and the historical commentary that really makes it special. I personally recommend choosing the Coney Island option, as it’s a throwback to a bygone era, and a vibe unlike anything else in the world.

With a convenient bus, you don’t have to worry about figuring out the subway or dealing with the blisters that would undoubtedly be involved with walking around all these boroughs.

The shared tour was pretty smooth, and even though it wasn’t a small-group tour, everyone had a great time learning and laughing together. With amusing and interesting personal stories, local tips, and hidden gems, it’s so much more than just sightseeing.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. NYC: Half-Day Bus Tour of Top Highlights

If you’re short on time but want to make the most of your day diving into the heart of New York City, the NYC: Half-Day Bus Tour of Top Highlights is just what you’re looking for. This efficient, comfy experience lets you see the city’s top landmarks – all the places you’ve seen in movies and TV shows are here for your appreciation.

The 4-hour guided tour takes you through all the must-sees, with plenty of photo stops, stories, and laughs to be had! There are a few different tour start times available, making this 4-hour tour easy to fit into a busy schedule!

If you are purely interested in seeing NYC’s top sights, this is the tour for you – no need to walk around or venture through the subway in order to do so. Rather, you will be riding around on a comfortable, smooth, climate-controlled coach (ideal for hot NYC summers!) with large windows and cushy seats.

The tour kicks off at the iconic Button and Needle statue at W39th and 7th Ave, right next to Times Square – quite convenient to access for most visitors.

Your guide will point out spots you probably recognize from pop culture, like Radio City Music Hall, and soon after, Central Park, the Plaza Hotel, Rockefeller Center, and much more. Along the way, you’ll make stops to take photos, walk around, and occasionally go inside the sights!

We took some incredible snaps of the Brooklyn Bridge before taking time at the incredibly powerful 9/11 Memorial, which really had quite the effect on me.

After, we followed it up appropriately with a breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty, which is always a welcome sight to see. By the end of it, you’re going to be a bit tired, but you’ll have had an incredibly exciting, amazing day!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. 3 New York Neighborhoods Semi-Private Tour: SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy

Last but certainly not least is the 3 New York Neighborhoods Semi-Private Tour: SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy. If you’re on a tight budget or very tight schedule that doesn’t allow for the other ones to be possible, this is the solution.

Starting out at 12:30 pm, it’s perfect if you already have morning or afternoon/evening plans or simply want to do something aside from getting lunch at midday. If you want to avoid bus tours and would like to intimately get to know NYC at street-level, this should be at the top of your list.

The entirety of the tour involves walking, though seeing as it’s just 2 hours, it’s still quite leisurely and useful for getting a feel of the authentic Big Apple. Our guide was a local who knew SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy like the back of her hand, and was a great introduction to the area.

Thanks to the small group sizes, it never felt too “touristy” or crowded, which made it easier to navigate alleyways, small locales, and just walking the streets. We really got to see the sights up close, which isn’t really the case with bus tours, unless you’re doing a stop there.

Seeing as the tour was just 2 hours, we learned and saw way more than we would being on a bus, albeit it did get a bit hot at one point.

If you’re specifically interested in these 3 neighborhoods, it’s one of the best bang for your buck experiences – you’ll learn and see a ton up close and learn little facts and stories you can’t get from a history book. With great storytelling and personality from our guide, the couple of hours just flew by!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience