The 6 Best Upper West Side Tours

1.Private Food Tour in the Upper West Side | Tasty Tours NYC

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $200Our pick

Spend 2 to 3 hours eating through Manhattan’s Upper West Side with a private guide such as Ryan or Alex. You’ll try bagels, pizza, rugelach, a Gray’s Papaya hot dog, and Magnolia Bakery treats while seeing The Belnord, Banksy’s Hammer Boy, and The Ansonia.

“This food tour was amazing! Ryan was super friendly, engaging, informative and made awesome food choices! The time flew by and we enjoyed every bit of the conversation and the food! If you're on the fence about giving this a try..just do it! You will not leave hungry!”

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2.Oppenheimer in New York: Upper West Side Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $42Best value

Walk through Oppenheimer’s Upper West Side with historian K. Krombie, tracing his birth, childhood, education, friendships, and moral world. The 2.5-hour route links family homes, Riverside Drive landmarks, the Master Apartments, and the Shinran Statue in a small English-speaking group.

“I went on the Oppenheimer tour. It was excellent.”

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3.Upper West Side: Your Guide to Understanding NYC

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 3 to 6 hours (approx.)

Join Mike of New York City Explained for a private 3 to 6-hour walking tour from Times Square through the Upper West Side. Expect movie locations, prewar architecture, immigrant stories, Zabar’s, local food tips, and plenty of time for questions.

“At the end of March, Mike gave us a tour of the Upper West Side — and I have to say, it was absolutely amazing! His approach and dedication truly impressed us. He shared not only his knowledge but also personal stories, which gave us a much deeper understanding of the city and its people.”

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4.New York Upper West Side Art and Architecture Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $49

Walk from Columbus Circle to Hearst Tower with a guide such as Ivan, examining Lincoln Center, Columbia University, Central Park, Hearst Tower, and major art and architecture landmarks. The two-hour tour has a maximum of 15 people, personal headsets, and English, Spanish, French, or Italian guiding.

“On a beautiful Saturday and the first warmer day we’ve had in weeks I decided to go on a beautiful walking tour of the upper west side with Ivan’s company. We were a small mixed group and in 2 hours Ivan gave us a whirlwind tour of the eyRead more”

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5.Upper West Side Hands-On Bagel Baking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

At Fairway Market’s 74th Street Café, a bagel expert guides you through rope-and-loop rolling, boiling, seeding, and baking. Hear how bagels became a New York icon, enjoy cream cheese and smoked fish, take home your bagels, and leave with a local recipe.

“Fantastic experience. Learn to hand roll a bagel and history of bagels. How to store, freeze, and reheat bagels”

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6.Private Guided Tour Of The Upper West Side

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Walk through the Upper West Side with Gary, a local guide who grew up in the area and still lives there. This private 2.5-hour tour covers Saint John the Divine, Columbia University, Riverside Drive mansions, movie locations, famous former homes, and the birthplace of a film studio.

“Viator confirmed the tour multiple times. I sat out in the cold waiting and the guide never arrived. I requested a refund and also noted the money I spent to get there and go home, money I wouldn't have spent if the tour was canceled properly. The guide said, "That's out of the realm of my responsibility. " I knew chances were slim of being compensated for travel but the guide could have shown some remorse for wasting another person's time and money, which he didn't.”

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