Top 15 NYC Subway and Underground Tours

1.New York City Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 411 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $49Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Bowling Green and walk Manhattan’s African-American Freedom Trail through Battery Park, Wall Street, Foley Square, and African Burial Ground. Guides such as Ludie, Maia, and Sean use photos and personal context to connect overlooked places with slavery, abolition, and escape.

“The tour was interesting and I did learn a lot but it is a lot of standing for long periods while the tour guide talks. There is not a lot to really SEE. Unfortunately several of the parts of the tour were under construction or blocked off (the statues outside the Museum of the American Indian, the African Burial Ground) which was disappointing. I wish the tour company had let us know that in advance, although the tour did go into the African Burial Ground museum since the area itself was closed. Again, I learned a lot and found the information interesting, but be warned that it is a lot…”

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2.NYC Underground Subway Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 361 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $39Best value

Follow a native New Yorker through New York’s subway past, from City Hall Park and the Municipal Building to Union Square. You’ll ride the 6 train, view abandoned stations, spot subway art, and hear the guide through provided earpieces. Guides may include AJ, Pete, Cullen, Rayn, or Alexis.

“lots of history and data about railway and trains. Guide is a railway museum expert. Enthusiastic. Some business history, but, missing stories about the people in the subway, singers, beggers, criminals (?) or even about animals there (?). So, a bit boring in my eyes. Plus, after almost 2 hours in the subway we felt short in clear air.”

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3.History of Slavery & Underground Railroad Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 87 reviews · 2h 30m · from $49

Walk Lower Manhattan with an English-speaking guide and connect sites such as Fraunces Tavern, Trinity Church, Wall Street, and the African Burial Ground National Memorial to New York’s history of slavery and resistance. Expect about 150 minutes on foot, difficult stories, and plenty of time for questions.

“I grew up in NYC but learned so much about this important part of history. This is the stuff that they don’t teach you in school. Loved it and highly recommend!!!”

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4.Guided Private Underground New York Subway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Join guide Gary for a private 2.5-hour tour of New York’s subway history, art, engineering, and politics. Ride the original route, view the abandoned City Hall Station from the train, study Astor Place’s terra-cotta beavers, and finish at Grand Central Terminal.

“This tour was EXCELLENT!!!! And so reasonably priced. Gary is just a wealth of information on the New York City subway system and he loves to share it . He talked nonstop for three hours and gave us such a history of the subway system . He was personable , pleasant and answered all of our questions and listened to.our comments . I would highly recommend this tour to anyone . There were a group of six of us and the only issue we had is that at the beginning , because he had to give us so much history , we stood in one spot for about 40 minutes…”

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5.Underground Subway Guided Tour with Local New Yorker

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · 2 hours · from $39

Join an English-speaking New Yorker for a two-hour subway history tour at $39 per person. Ride the 6 train, glimpse City Hall Station and other closed stops, find Union Square’s hidden art, and finish by the Municipal Building. Headsets help, but expect stairs and city noise.

“Guide was extremely knowledgeable. Since most people on the tour were New Yorkers we were able to understand his enormous amount of information. We learned the fascinating history of the subway system. And learned about the subway symbols and pictures we just walk right by on a daily basis.”

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6.New York Tour by Subway and Bus with Private Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Start at your Manhattan hotel with a private guide such as Vince, Rob, Heidi, or Scott, then cross New York by subway and bus. Visit Central Park, Times Square, Chinatown, the 9/11 Memorial, and Brooklyn Bridge while learning how to use the city transit system.

“This was worthwhile, we saw things you just don't see without a guide. It's a lot of walking but flat and easy streets. Recommend this tour.”

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7.New York 8 Hour Main Attractions Tour with City Bus/Subway

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 36 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Start at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and cross New York by city bus, subway, and ferry with a local guide. You’ll visit Little Italy, the Statue of Liberty pedestal, the 9/11 Memorial, Grand Central, and Times Square. The group can include up to 25 people, and Ellis Island is not included.

“This was a great tour!!! Wish we could spare an hour for Ellis island (but other than that amazing!)”

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8.Discover Hidden Subway Secrets Below Manhattan – Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Join Rayn or another expert guide for a private, two-hour walk and subway ride through Lower Manhattan. See abandoned stations such as South Ferry and City Hall, hear Brooklyn Bridge and PATH stories, and finish at the World Trade Center or Fulton Center. Audio earpieces help you follow every detail.

“We've never ridden the subway in NYC and we were very nervous about trying it on our own. We had the best time on this tour! We learned so many fun facts and feel like we could confidently explore on our own now! Great tour for families!”

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9.Underground Brooklyn Walking Brewery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Spend about three and a half hours with City Brew Tours NYC visiting three Brooklyn breweries. Taste farmhouse ales, hazy IPAs, sours, pilsners, and more, with snacks and a MetroCard included. Groups are capped at 15, and guide Eddi Davila has earned praise for making the outing social and personal.

“This experience was canceled two days before. We were unable to rebook or find an alternative with such short notice. Shame because we were really looking forward to the tour.”

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10.Discover Hidden Subway Secrets Below Brooklyn – Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Join Ryan or Rayne for a private Brooklyn subway tour covering abandoned stations, commuter railroad tunnels, station artwork, and skyline views. The two-hour route begins at 50 Court St and ends at Atlantic Terminal, with train and station walking along the way.

“Ryan is knowledgeable and seamlessly walks you in and out of train stations and trains, pointing out unique things in plain sight with a dose of history. So much fun!”

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11.Discover NYC Subway Secrets Below Manhattan – Private

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 18 reviews

Join licensed guide and urban planner Rayn Riel for a private two-hour walk through Manhattan’s subway history. Ride with fare included, inspect public areas near City Hall and the World Trade Center, and learn how flooding, politics, engineering, and design shaped New York transit.

“A MUST-DO TOUR for New Yorkers and those visiting. Rayn opens your eyes to the everyday secrets we ride by on our daily commutes. My girlfriend lived in the city for 7+ years and I grew up with NYC on the horizon…we ABSOLUTELY loved this tour. A taste of what you’ll take away: 1) Did you know that three different companies built the subways? 2) Could you name a difference between the numbered and lettered lines? 3) What if “South Ferry” subway station (where our tour started) isn’t referring to the Staten Island ferry? I would recommend this two hour tour to anyone going on a date, visiting the city,…”

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12.Discover Hidden NYC Subway Secrets – Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 2 hours

Join licensed guide and urban planner Rayn Riel for a two-hour private tour through Brooklyn's subway past and present. Ride several train lines, spot abandoned platforms, study historic station design, see public art, and moonwalk where Michael Jackson filmed Bad.

“This was a fabulous tour. I took my subway obsessed tween and we learned so many secrets of the subway (even my son was surprised at how much he learned!). I highly recommend Rayn - he is very knowledgeable and took us to places that we had never even heard of. If you are looking for something interesting to do as either a tourist in your town, or if you are visiting NYC, this is a great way to learn about the city and see if from a different perspective. Enjoy!”

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13.NYC Underground Subway Private Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $156

Join a native New Yorker such as Justin or Richard for a two-hour private tour of New York’s subway past. You’ll see City Hall Park, the Municipal Building, Union Square, and historic station details, then ride the No. 6 while learning how the system grew.

“Very interesting and informative. The guide knows his stuff and shows you things you never knew existed even though you’ve passed by them for years.”

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14.Bronx Subway and Walking Tour with Bronx Little Italy

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · from $50

Join Bobby of Bobby’s City Tours for a three-hour Bronx outing by subway and on foot. You’ll see Yankee Stadium, the Joker stairs, Fordham Road, Arthur Avenue’s Little Italy, Woodlawn Cemetery, and Irish Katonah Avenue. Expect a small English-speaking group and plenty of walking.

“Bobby exceptional person, explained everything in detail with great professionalism. The Bronx very charming and interesting neighborhood! Recommended!”

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15.Times Square Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · from $69

Join Underground Donut Tour for a two-hour walk through Times Square and nearby streets, stopping at selected donut shops before finishing at Rockefeller Center. You’ll taste New York favorites, hear city stories, and get food and sightseeing tips from an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Anette has led some tours.

“Our guide was wonderful. Very friendly and welcoming. She had a lot of knowledge. The tour itself left a lot to be desired. We paid for a 2 hour tour. When we walked up, she told us it would be a 60 minute tour. There were only three stops w one being Krispy Kreme. A bit disappointing. They also changed our booked time without reaching out to us to ask if the new time would work. It wouldn't because of our flight home. It was a big fiasco for them trying to find us a guide for the time we originally booked. Probably wouldn't recommend it or book again.Read more”

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