New York · SELF-GUIDED TOURS
The 15 best self-guided tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.
Ride an open-top bus for about 90 minutes through New York after dark. You will see Times Square, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, both famous East River bridges, Wall Street, One World Trade Center, and more, with recorded narration in 11 languages.
“They don't leave on time, bad customer service, no heat on the bus. Took three hours to get back in to town.”
Start inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a two-hour highlights tour with guides such as Alex, Jesse, Manny, or Raimundo. Choose a small-group, private, or 30-minute orientation option, then explore independently. Your ticket also covers same-day entry to the Met Cloisters.
“Had a fantastic time. Our guide was very informational, and it was pleasant to also know that he spoke our Spanish language.”
Use Action’s self-guided app to walk Central Park from Grand Army Plaza to Columbus Circle. More than 40 audio stories cover landmarks such as the Mall, Bethesda Terrace, the Met, the reservoir, and Strawberry Fields. Download it on Wi-Fi, then explore offline, stopping whenever you like.
“Loved this app! Very easy to use and follow. Only issue was with construction in Central Park around stops 33-35 so we had to navigate around, which lead to several dead ends and added a good deal more walking. Other than that (to no one’s fault), it was perfect for what we were looking for!”
Use the Action Tour Guide app to explore Grand Central Terminal at your own pace. More than 25 audio stories cover the Vanderbilts, construction, the Whispering Gallery, ceiling art, and the terminal’s role in New York history. Bring headphones, download the tour on strong Wi-Fi, and keep lifetime access.
“This tour was a favorite of mine. I have used this company several times and am never disappointed. I will continue to use this service.”
Spend about one hour exploring the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. This self-guided visit has no live guide, but lets you study medieval-style stonework, stained glass, sculpture, woven works, and a Keith Haring altarpiece at your own pace.
“The scale is overwhelming - all the write ups describing were good- I think the contrast of the type was weak- I need a flashlight to read the text but the content was good”
Walk through the 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue at your own pace. Learn about Jewish immigrant life, Moorish Revival design, and the building’s restoration while viewing 60 historic stained glass windows and a modern work by Kiki Smith and Deborah Gans. Allow about one hour.
“Koniecznie zobaczyć w N.Y Synagoga przepiękna plus historia narodu.”
Follow a self-guided GPS audio tour from East 60th Street to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hear stories of JP Morgan, the Vanderbilts, Frick, Duke, and other Gilded Age figures while passing grand homes, private clubs, Central Park, and Madison Avenue.
“Better than with a live tour guide. The quality of the script is outstanding. The information is thorough, the presentation is brilliant, both enlightening and entertaining. The technical aspect is what really surprised: the GPS tracks your location and tells you to cross the street, to look to the left or to the right – it's very well done. There's no "dead time" as with a live guide when you walk from one location to the next; you are being talked to the entire time. You have the flexibility to rewind, pause and resume, answer a phone call, take a break. Game changer!”
Follow Hamilton’s Lower Manhattan story with guide Dana, an audio soundtrack, and a small group of up to 14 people. You’ll visit Bowling Green, Fraunces Tavern, Federal Hall, and Trinity Church, where Hamilton is buried. Expect about two hours of walking and lively links to the musical.
“My daughter and I came to NYC for the first time. We booked the Hamilton walking tour! My daughter is obsessed with the play. It was an easy process to book. Our tour guide Dana was fantastic. She was extremely knowledgeable about the places we visited and correlated the songs from the play to each stop. She gave us other facts about the city and area in general. The meeting point was easily accessible as we took the subway to get there. We ended the tour at Trinity Church their final resting places. Due to it being Christmas Eve the grounds were closed which was understandable due to the mass…”
Walk more than 2 miles through Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO with the Action Tour Guide app. You’ll hear 25-plus audio stories, follow an offline GPS route, pause for photos or food, and revisit the tour anytime with lifetime access.
“A++Great audio, easy to follow and good value for money. Very informative and easy to follow once started the trip.”
Use the VoiceMap app to walk New York’s Financial District at your own pace. The GPS audio tour covers the Charging Bull, Federal Reserve, Museum of American Finance, and Federal Hall in about 30 minutes, with offline maps and lifetime access.
“Simple to use, a nice use of technology, combining smart phone, gps tracker and tour guide to make it easy and informative.”
Use the Pintours app to guide your private group from Big Gay Ice Cream to Belvedere Castle, M&M’S New York, and Au Za’atar. Expect short stories, audio, music, photo stops, and the freedom to pause as you please. Dinner and snacks cost extra.
“We don’t hit the city very often so wanted to try something new. Definitely a great experience for our first time taking a tour!”
Follow a self-guided Greenwich Village game from the White Horse Tavern to The Bitter End. Solve location-based challenges tied to Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Allan Poe, folk music, cabaret, and old Village clubs. Play offline, stop for food, and continue whenever you like.
“I loved learning all these many details about some of my favourite musicians and, literally, following their steps in the city. It’s self-guided and you can stop anytime to grab a bite, which is quite convenient actually.”
Use the Questo app to follow clues through Williamsburg, solve puzzles, and find seven street art related stops between 175 Broadway and 162 N 9th Street. The private, self-guided game takes about 70 minutes, works offline, and lets you pause whenever you like.
“Instructions not always clear, not up to date as some locations have changed and art is not visible. Also not that much art, more general area tour. And the adventure narrative that accompanies the guide is strange and not relevant.”
Follow the High Line from Gansevoort Street to Hudson Yards with a VoiceMap audio tour covering Death Avenue, Chelsea Market, Pier 57, the Standard Hotel, and Vessel. Download the English narration, maps, and route before you go, then walk at your own pace with headphones.
“Very informative and entertaining commentary. Easy to download and start the App. Did have some issues with synchronizing walking speed with app commentary.”
You guide yourself through Lower Manhattan from Bowling Green to Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, City Hall, and nearby landmarks. A mobile website gives directions, history, movie-location clues, and more than 30 challenges. The private activity lasts about three hours and works best for groups with mobile data.
“Getting set up was a bit confusing but the hunt was a lot of fun!! We really enjoyed ourselves and learned some new things!”
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