Self-Guided Walking Tours of NYC

This post lists over 40 self-guided walking tours of NYC, including GPS-enabled audio tours, as well as neighborhood guides, all produced by our guides here at Free Tours by Foot.

Click here for our pay-what-you-wish guided walking tours of NYC.

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Just about everybody who visits NYC for the first time pays a visit to this legendary bridge. We have a guide to walking across the bridge, where you can find a self-guided tour and map.  

Virtual Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour

This self-guided tour begins at City Hall Park, on the Manhattan side of the bridge and ends on the Brooklyn side of the Bridge, and lasts about 90 minutes.

We also have an anytime GPS-led audio tour (in English, Spanish, and German) of the bridge, which starts from the Manhattan side and is more extensive. 

Here is an audio sample.

 

NOTE: We also run a daily guided tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.

THE HIGH LINE

We offer several self-guided options of the High Line, an elevated freight train line that is now one of the world’s most innovative public parks. 

Things to See on the High Line

We have a guide to the High Line where you can find a self-guided tour.

You can also print out a pdf version of the written tour here to save on your smartphone.

You can experience this tour as an anytime GPS-enabled audio tour, which is more extensive than the written version. Here’s a sample.

Lastly, we also run several daily, pay-what-you-like guided walks of the High Line. 

CENTRAL PARK

This park needs no introduction but you will find it helpful to at least take a self-guided tour to help you find your bearings and discover this great public space.

Map of Central Park

Be sure to read our guide to Central Park, which has a self-guided tour of the lower and middle 3rds of the park, both of which are available as audio tours.

The guide also has several tourist maps of the park, including a map (self-guided tour) of Central Park movie sites.

Lastly, we also run several daily, pay-what-you-like guided walks of Central Park. 

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

Midtown Manhattan, centered by Times Square, is one of Manhattan’s largest neighborhood.

Watch a 32-minute abridged version of our live guided tour.

Midtown Manhattan Video Tour

It also has the largest concentration of popular tourist attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, and Rockefeller Center, just to name a few.

Map of Midtown Manhattan Attractions

We have a guide to Midtown Manhattan, which contains maps and tips for your visit, including a self-guided tour of the neighborhood.

We also offer a more in-depth GPS-guided audio tour. Here’s a sample.

 

We also offer several Midtown Manhattan pay-what-you-wish guided tours.

STATUE OF LIBERTY + ELLIS ISLAND

Every ferry ticket to Liberty and Ellis Islands includes National Park Service audio tours. Read our guide to getting tickets and planning your trip here.

 

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However, you can only access the audio tour units once you get to the islands, and depending on the season, you could be waiting in long lines on both islands.

We’ve created a free GPS-led audio tour that you could download to your smartphone now. It’s for both islands, so no waiting in additional lines.

Plus, you can listen to some of the audio while waiting for security and riding the ferry. Here’s a sample.

 

OTHER SELF-GUIDED TOURS

 

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About the author

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers.

Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.