New York · NYC MAFIA AND TRUE CRIME TOURS
Good nyc mafia and true crime tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 12 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Follow retired or active NYPD detectives through the East Village and Little Italy for true crime stories tied to real locations. You’ll eat at John’s of 12th Street and finish with a Sicilian cannoli. Expect about 3.5 hours of walking, history, and Italian food.
“Great experience!!! Frank did a great job combining the history of little Italy and the mob activities.”
Follow guides such as Dennis, Frank, Louie, and Jane from a historic East Village restaurant to Little Italy. Hear firsthand NYPD stories about Lucky Luciano, John Gotti, Carlo Gambino, and others, with pasta and a full-size Sicilian cannoli included.
“We started in and Italian restaurant and walked through the area ending the tour in a pastry/coffee shop. The walk was easy and enjoyable.”
Join retired NYPD officers such as Frank or Dennis for a three-hour walk through the East Village, Nolita, and Little Italy. Hear organized-crime stories, eat spaghetti at John’s of 12th Street, visit crime-linked sites, and finish with a Sicilian cannoli.
“Really interesting insight from someone who’d clearly lived it first hand. Well worth it and really worth doing if you can spare the time in an already experienced rich town.”
Join retired NYPD officers such as Dennis, Frank, or Dan for a three-hour walk through the East Village, Nolita, and Little Italy. Hear organized-crime stories tied to real streets and buildings, eat a full plate of spaghetti and meatballs or penne alla vodka, and finish with a large Sicilian cannoli.
“I really enjoyed the tour. The guide ( Dennis I believe he was called) had incredible knowledge of the area and the history. The food in the restaurant was really good too. It was a really good vibe in there and you can tell it has a lot of history. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend.”
Walk one mile through Little Italy with a small English-speaking group of up to 10. Hear how Black Hand gangs became organized crime, see the Ravenite Social Club and Umberto’s Clam House, and follow stories tied to Luciano, Gotti, Petrosino, and Serpico. Guides have included Tom and Thomas.
“Guide Tom was well prepared carrying a thick binder of photos to complement his oral presentation. He presented an excellent program.”
Explore New York’s mob past with a private English-speaking guide in Little Italy, Chinatown, and Five Points. Hear about John Gotti, Tong gangs, secret escape tunnels, the Ravenite Social Club, and St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. The two-hour walk costs $275 per group of up to 10.
“Ray did an exceptional tour and was full of information on the mob/mafia and history of them. He had a large binder full of pictures, newspaper clippings, and various other visuals to help us understand and truly understand the mob/mafia. The day we went was cool and rainy; he knew all the places to stop and keep us out of the rain while he talked about the various buildings in the area and how they played into the mob/mafia. We throughly enjoyed his tour and thought it was one of the most informative mob/mafia tours we went on. He was willing to take group pictures if we wanted and told…”
Spend six hours tracing New York’s mob stories by private luxury vehicle. Guide Joel brings the tales to life at Little Italy, Neir’s Tavern, Columbus Circle, Sparks Steak House, and John Gotti’s former Howard Beach home, with Manhattan pickup and room for questions.
“Joel, the guide,is a terrific story teller Being on the actual sites of the dramas he described was very enjoyable”
Join Alex or Sophia at 7:30 pm for a 90-minute walk from Washington Square Park to Doyers Street. You’ll hear ghost stories, mafia tales, and Chinatown gang-war history, with quizzes, small prizes, old photos, and a sweet treat along the way.
“Alex was excellent. The tour was really interesting, very efficient and had so much information we didn’t know about”
Spend about two hours walking Little Italy with a guide such as Tom, using old photos and newspaper clippings to connect mob figures, Prohibition battles, police corruption, and scenes from The Godfather to real New York locations.
“Very informative. We enjoyed the tour, the guide and other travelers. Our tour guide was knowledgeable”
Join Eddie, a New York lawyer, for a two-hour walking tour of four lesser-known murder cases from the city’s gritty 1960s to 1990s era. Hear researched stories, case-file details, eyewitness insights, and local context while visiting sites in the East and Greenwich Villages.
“Eddie is extremely knowledgeable and such a lovely, funny and quick witted guy. He gave us so many facts, used images to help you visualise the cases and made it all such a fun and interesting experience. I’d recommend doing the tour on a day where it isn’t cold as you need to concentrate to follow the story lines and there’s a lot of standing in one spot whilst you are outside the crime scene buildings! Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes true crime!!”
Follow an English-speaking guide from Washington Square Arch through Washington Square Park, the Bowery, Little Italy, and Chinatown. Hear ghost stories, mafia tales, and murder cases, study historical photos, play trivia for prizes, and enjoy a sweet treat before finishing on Doyers Street.
“The tour guides really knew there stuff and it was a very fascinating and enjoyable tour!”
Use the Questo app to follow a fictional mob mystery from Columbus Circle to Sparks Steak House. You will solve clues at 12 Midtown stops, including Radio City Music Hall, The Campbell, and Grand Central, at your own pace without a guide.
“Fun way to explore a bit of the city’s cultural history. The fictitious story line was weak and some directions were a bit dodgy, but overall a good time.”
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