Looking for a private walking tour of New York City for your family, school, company, or group? Explore New York with a local guide and an itinerary designed around your group's interests, schedule, and priorities.
Choose from one of our popular New York City walking tours, combine different neighborhoods and sights, or ask us about creating a customized private tour.
Request a Private NYC Tour
Tell us a little about your group and what you're looking for. The more information you provide, the better we can help you choose the right tour and create an itinerary that works for your group.
Before submitting your request, please scroll down to review our frequently asked questions about private tours, including pricing, payment, cancellations, weather, group sizes, food tours, and more.
To reach us, please fill in the contact form below.
Choose a New York City Neighborhood or Tour
Not sure where to start? Browse some of our most popular New York City walking tours below. You can choose one area, combine several tours, or ask us about creating a customized itinerary.
Manhattan
- Harlem
- Midtown Manhattan
- Central Park – Lower Section
- Central Park – Middle Section
- Lower Manhattan and the Financial District
- The High Line
- Greenwich Village
- SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown
- Downtown NYC in One Day
- World Trade Center
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Brooklyn
Specialty and Themed Tours
- New York Food Tours
- NYC Ghost Tours
- Manhattan Street Art Tours
- Brooklyn Street Art Tours
- NYC Subway Art Tour
- NYC Subway Tour
The tour pages above include descriptions of what you can see and do in each area. Many also include neighborhood guides with additional ideas for your private itinerary.
Create a Customized Private NYC Tour
Don't see exactly what you're looking for? We can create customized itineraries for private groups.
You might want to combine several neighborhoods, focus on a particular period of New York history, explore the city through its architecture or food, or spend more time at the places that interest your group most.
Families, schools, corporate groups, and other organizations may all have different goals for their time in New York. A private tour gives you the flexibility to create an experience around those priorities.
Tell us what you'd like to see, how much time you have, and what is most important to your group. We'll let you know what we can arrange.
Please note: The price of a customized itinerary depends on the type and amount of customization.
Private NYC Tours for Families, Schools and Groups
Private walking tours are a great way to explore New York when you want the experience to be centered around your own group rather than a public tour.
Families and Friends
Traveling with children, grandparents, or a group of friends? A private tour allows you to choose an itinerary and pace that works for your group. Let us know the ages of your guests and what interests them, and we'll help you plan your time in New York.
School and Student Groups
A private walking tour can be built around your group's educational interests and schedule. Tell us what your students are studying or which aspects of New York you'd like to explore.
Corporate and Business Groups
Private tours are a great way to bring your team together, build connections, and experience New York outside the office. Whether you're planning a team-building activity, entertaining clients, or looking for something memorable to do with colleagues, we can help you choose a neighborhood or theme that works for your group and schedule.
Larger Groups and Organizations
We also work with organizations, clubs, and other groups visiting New York. Tell us your approximate group size and what you'd like to experience, and we'll help determine the best option.
How to Book a Private NYC Tour
Booking a private New York City walking tour is simple.
1. Tell Us About Your Group
Complete the inquiry form with your group size, preferred date and time, interests, and anything else that will help us understand what you're looking for.
2. Choose Your Tour
Select one of our existing tours or tell us what you'd like to combine or customize. If you're not sure which tour is right for your group, we'll help you decide.
3. Confirm the Details
We'll review your request and follow up with you about the itinerary, date, time, and pricing. Once the details are confirmed, we'll check guide availability and send an invoice for payment.
Please note: Guide availability cannot be confirmed until the tour, date, and time have been determined.
What Can Be Included on a Private NYC Tour?
Depending on your interests and the time available, your private walking tour can focus on New York history, architecture, neighborhoods, food, famous landmarks, or the stories behind the city.
Popular private tour topics include:
- New York History and Historic Landmarks
- Wall Street and Lower Manhattan
- The 9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center
- American Revolution & Revolutionary New York
- Alexander Hamilton & the Founding of the United States
- Wall Street & the History of American Finance
- Architecture & Historic Buildings
- Harlem and African American history
- Harlem Gospel History & Experience
- Broadway & New York's Theater History
- Artists, Musicians & Famous New Yorkers
- Street Art and Graffiti
- New York Food and Neighborhoods
- Immigration & the History of New York's Neighborhoods
- New York City Subway & Transit History
- Ghosts, Legends & Haunted New York
- New York Christmas & Holiday Traditions
- Customized New York City itineraries
Not sure what would work best? Just tell us what interests your group. We can help you narrow down the options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Private NYC Tours
Can I customize a private New York City tour?
Yes. We can create customized itineraries depending on your group's interests, schedule, and the areas you would like to explore. The price depends on the type and amount of customization.
How many people can join a private NYC tour?
We offer private tours for a variety of group sizes, from families and small groups to schools, companies, and larger organizations. Tell us your approximate group size when you submit an inquiry.
Can I choose the date and time of my private tour?
Yes. You can request your preferred date and start time. We will confirm guide availability once the tour details have been determined.
How long are private NYC walking tours?
Private tours can be arranged for different lengths of time depending on your itinerary and interests. Tell us how much time you have when you submit your request.
Can we combine different neighborhoods?
Depending on the amount of time available and the locations you want to visit, we may be able to combine different neighborhoods or tour themes into one private itinerary.
Do you offer private tours for families with children?
Yes. Private tours can be a good option for families because the itinerary and pace can be planned around your group. When submitting an inquiry, let us know the ages of any children in your group.
Will my children enjoy a private NYC tour?
That depends on your children and what they're interested in, but our tours are designed for guests of all ages. One of the advantages of booking a private tour is that we can take your family's interests into account when planning the tour and match you with a guide who is a good fit for your group when possible.
If you'd like the tour to be specifically geared toward your children, please let us know their ages, interests, and that you'd like the tour tailored to them when you submit your inquiry.
Do you offer private tours for school groups?
Yes. We work with school and student groups and can discuss itineraries based on your group's interests, educational goals, and schedule.
Do you offer private corporate tours?
Yes. Private tours are a great way to bring your team together, build connections, and experience New York outside the office. Whether you're planning a team-building activity, entertaining clients, or looking for something memorable to do with colleagues, we can help you choose a neighborhood or theme that works for your group and schedule.
Do you offer pay-what-you-wish private tours?
No. Pay-what-you-wish pricing is available only on select public tours and does not apply to private tours. Private tours require a set price because a guide is reserved specifically for your group. Large groups also cannot use pay-what-you-wish pricing on public tours.
If you're looking for a donation-based option, you may want to contact Big Apple Greeters.
Can you accommodate guests with mobility considerations?
Let us know about any mobility or accessibility considerations when you submit your inquiry. This allows us to recommend an itinerary that is appropriate for your group.
Do we get a refund or reschedule if it's raining?
Our tours go out rain or shine. Your private tour is booked for a specific date and time, and we must respect the guide's time and other commitments. We will make reasonable adjustments to the itinerary when possible to limit exposure to the weather.
Please dress appropriately for the forecast and be prepared to walk in the rain if necessary. Refunds or cancellations due to weather are reserved for extreme conditions, such as heavy, sustained rain, blizzards, or other weather that makes the tour unsafe.
If extreme weather is expected, a decision to cancel would generally be made at least 2 days before the scheduled tour, so please keep an eye on the forecast.
How far in advance should we book a private NYC tour?
We recommend booking as early as possible, particularly for larger groups, popular dates, and holiday periods. Private tours are subject to guide availability, and your guide is not secured until payment is received.
What happens after I submit the inquiry form?
We'll review the information you provide and follow up about your requested tour, date, time, group size, and itinerary. Once the details are confirmed, we'll check guide availability and provide the information you need to finalize your booking.
Do you offer step-on guide services?
We can provide information about step-on guide services for groups that already have their own transportation. If you're looking for a walking tour instead, tell us what you'd like to see and we'll help you choose the best option.
Is gratuity included in the private tour price?
Gratuity is not included in private tour quotes. It is optional but always appreciated. You can add a tip to your invoice when making your payment, and the gratuity will be passed along to your tour guide.
Can we pay on the day of the tour?
Unfortunately, no. Private tours must be paid in advance to secure a guide. For tours booked more than 3 weeks in advance, payment is required at least 3 weeks before the tour date.
Our guides are independent contractors, and we financially commit to a guide when we book them for your group. Until your invoice is paid, we cannot guarantee that the guide will remain available for your tour.
If your tour is booked within 3 weeks of the tour date, it remains subject to guide availability until payment is received.
Can we pay by credit card over the phone?
We cannot accept payments over the phone. Once your private tour details are confirmed, we'll email you an invoice with instructions for payment through PayPal's secure payment system.
You do not need a PayPal account to pay. You can use any major credit or debit card.
What is your cancellation policy?
Tours canceled 14 days or more before the scheduled start time are fully refundable.
Tours canceled less than 14 days but at least 48 hours before the tour are subject to a 50% cancellation fee.
Tours canceled within 48 hours of the scheduled start time are nonrefundable.
Our guides are independent contractors and reserve their time specifically for your group. Because they may turn down other work to be available for your tour, we make a financial commitment to them when we book their time. For this reason, we cannot offer refunds for cancellations within 48 hours.
Can we start the tour at our hotel?
We can usually start private tours at hotels in Midtown and Lower Manhattan. For hotels in other areas, it depends on how long it would take your guide to reach you.
Please keep in mind that your booked tour time begins when your guide arrives at the hotel. For example, if you've booked a 2-hour tour, the 2 hours begin when the guide meets you at the hotel—not when you leave the hotel.
Depending on your hotel's location, it may make more sense to meet your guide in the neighborhood you'd like to explore so that you can spend the full tour time sightseeing.
For private food tours, is food included in the price?
No. Food costs are not included in the tour price. Recommended food items are generally less than $4 each, and we suggest bringing about $8–$16 per person for food, depending on your appetite.
We structure our food tours this way so you have control over what you eat and how much you spend. You can choose which foods you'd like to try rather than paying for a set menu or for food you may not want.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available at several stops. If anyone in your group has dietary restrictions or food allergies, please let us know when you submit your inquiry so we can take that into consideration when planning your tour.
Can we pay for and order our food ahead of time?
Yes, we can arrange this if necessary, but we don't recommend it because it limits your group's choices. Our food tour stops offer a variety of items, and paying as you go allows each guest to choose what they want to eat and how much they want to spend.
It also gives you the flexibility to skip something if you're not hungry or stop at a nearby shop to try something that catches your eye—or satisfies a craving—along the way.
If your group needs to have food paid for in advance, please let us know when you submit your inquiry and we can discuss the options.
Can we sit down at restaurants to eat on a private food tour?
That depends on the size of your group and the establishments included in your itinerary. We have great relationships with our food vendors, many of which are small, locally owned businesses with strong ties to their communities.
Some stops have seating and welcome guests to eat inside, while others are primarily takeout establishments. Even when a shop welcomes our tours, it may not have enough seating to accommodate a large private group.
If sitting down to eat is important to your group, please let us know when you submit your inquiry so we can take that into consideration when planning your tour.
Can we add more people to our group after payment?
Possibly, but it depends on the tour and the size of your group. Some of our private tours have strict limits, while others can accommodate additional guests. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to add people to your reservation.
For the comfort of your group and your guide, we generally limit private tours to 25 participants. Some tours, including food tours, High Line tours, and subway art tours, are limited to 20 participants.
Keeping groups smaller gives everyone more opportunity to ask questions and engage with the guide, while also allowing the group to move comfortably through the neighborhoods and be respectful of the people who live and work there.
Additional guests are not confirmed until we have approved the change and provided any updated payment information.
Ready to Explore New York City?
Tell us about your group, what you'd like to see, and when you're visiting. We'll help you find the right private NYC tour for your group.
Request a Private Tour
