10 Best Architecture Tours in NYC

Visiting New York City is always a good idea, with so many options to enjoy and a charm that never gets old, the Big Apple is one of my favorite places in the world. From its artistic side and incredible history, to its parks and bridges, its shows and museums, everything here is worth a visit. If you are wondering what to see and do in New York, the list is truly endless.

Undoubtedly one of its greatest attractions are its skyscrapers and atypical buildings. Architecture in New York does not seem to obey the same laws as in other cities. If you look at the imposing The Vessel or the new World Trade Center, you will understand why New York is visited by architecture lovers from all over the world. In this article I have gathered the best architecture tours of the Big Apple.

Enjoy one of the most incredible tours along the waters of the Hudson, the Harlem and the East River aboard a yacht that emulates those of the 1920's. This is a tour oriented to lovers of New York architecture, which includes a guide trained by the AIA (American Institute of Architects), who will tell you all about the various skyscrapers and architectural works that can be seen from the waters.

You will pass under the 18 bridges that connect the island with the mainland, and you can also enjoy a glass of wine, champagne or beer accompanied by an aperitif, while strolling through the heated deck. This is a luxury ride of almost 3 hours that you will not forget.

This cruise will take you to sites such as the Statue of Liberty, the Lower East Side, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Upper West Side, Roosevelt Island, and much more. Ideal to enjoy in warm temperatures and on a sunny day, that's why this is one of the best things to do in summer in New York.

Details of interest

• Price: from 106 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
• Means of transportation: comfortable semi-private yacht.
• Advantages of this option: you will have the chance to enjoy the architecture of Manhattan from the water. Also, the maximum number of people for this excursion is 6, so it is almost a private tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended if you suffer from seasickness or do not like boat trips.

Find all the charm of Art Deco on this tour of the Midtown area, one of the richest in buildings and skyscrapers of this architectural style. Your expert guide will show you some of the most striking and interesting buildings in the Big Apple.

You will visit Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station, emblematic places of New York's architecture. Also on this tour you will walk through the beautiful Bryant Park, next to which is the New York Public Library, a must-see for architecture fans.

Being on foot, this tour allows you to enjoy the New York atmosphere, where you feel like you've been there before, thanks to all the times you've seen it on the screen. If this is your first time in New York, this tour is ideal, as you will be able to walk and learn at the same time. And if you are one of those who can't miss a single series or movie that takes place in this city, you must visit the 10 best locations of series and movies in New York.

Interesting details

• Price: from 35 euros per person.
• Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately.
• Means of transport: this tour is on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can soak up the atmosphere of the city in one of the most interesting areas and with more art deco buildings in Manhattan.
• Disadvantages of this option: being on foot is not entirely advisable to do it with small children.

Enjoy a different kind of architecture tour. You will visit with your guide the most interesting points of the Tribeca neighborhood. Far from the landmarks of classic New York architecture, such as the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building, Tribeca has a unique charm and history, which even had much to do with the conception of Manhattan.

With over 300 years of history, this is one of the neighborhoods with the most personality in all of Manhattan. Located in the south, between Chinatown, Soho and Battery Park, facing the Hudson, Tribeca is a place with a different architecture, which is worth a visit.

From agricultural area to arts hotspot in one of the world's most important and thoughtful cities, Tribeca's history is truly amazing. On this walking tour of the neighborhood's treasures you will learn its best kept secrets.

Finally, the tour includes a visit to the firehouse used in the movie Ghostbusters, a place that is much more than just a movie set, you'll see.

Details of interest

• Price: from 45 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know other corners of Manhattan, with a beautiful type of architecture, different from the classic.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you want to visit the landmarks of the architecture of New York City you will have to look for an additional tour.

Symbol of one of the world's largest and dreamiest fortunes, Rockefeller Center is located in the heart of the Big Apple. In this 1 hour and 15 minutes guided tour you will discover its incredible art deco architecture, its bas-reliefs and moldings, the detailed work of its murals and much more.

Take your time to appreciate all the beauty of this Manhattan classic. The complex is made up of no less than 19 buildings, and was commissioned by the Rockefeller family in the Midtown area. Along with the richness of its architecture, you can enjoy its works of art under the open sky.

Depending on the time of year you visit New York, you may find yourself in for a unique spectacle. Visiting Rockefeller Center at Christmas time is a unique experience, with its decorations and ice skating rink, there is no place where the Christmas spirit can be felt more than here.

Details of interest

• Price: from 32 euros per person.
• Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes approximately.
• Means of transportation: the tour is on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can enjoy the art deco architecture in one of the most characteristic places in New York. In addition, as it is a short tour, you can take the opportunity to walk along 5th Avenue and go shopping.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour is limited to Rockefeller Center.

Get ready to learn all about Manhattan's major architectural landmarks. On this walking tour of Midtown you will visit places like the New York Public Library, the Flatiron Building, the Chrysler Building and the MetLife Building, as well as Tin Pan Alley, immortalized in so many songs, Madison Square Park, the imposing Grand Central Station and the Empire State Building, among others.

You will enjoy all the richness of the New York skyline in a tour of the best of its architecture. In 2 hours and 30 minutes you will cross with your guide a great part of the Midtown neighborhood, and you will also learn about the history of some of the most famous skyscrapers in the world.

Midtown is the ideal place to enjoy the architecture of the Big Apple, as it is the place where you will find some of its most iconic skyscrapers. This is a tour you won't forget.

Details of interest

• Price: from 84 euros per person.
• Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately.
• Means of transportation: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you will see a lot of famous skyscrapers in less than 3 hours, all concentrated in the Midtown area.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will have to visit all the buildings that are not located in this area.

Take a tour of the best places in New York with a smart audio guide. You can walk around at your own pace, because here there is no physical guide, but you download an app on your Smartphone, which will accompany you and will suggest the highlights of classic New York architecture, with its art deco skyscrapers, as well as the best of modern architecture.

The tour is designed to introduce you to lower Manhattan, from Battery Park and the Wall Street area , the new World Trade Center and the Ground Zero memorial, next to which you can tour the Oculus, with its design that makes you think of the huge rib cage of a prehistoric being.

From start to finish this tour will take you through the best of the architecture and art in the open air of the Downtown Manhattan area. While you can pause the audio guide for as long as you like, the tour is estimated to take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Details of interest

• Price: from 16 euros per person
• Duration: between 2 hours and 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can visit at your own pace, since it does not have a physical guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: since it does not have a physical guide you will not be able to ask about some of the things that are not included in the audio guide.

There's no place like Manhattan to enjoy great architecture. If you are a lover of photography, this tour has it all for you. Together with your guide, you will pass by some of the most emblematic places of the Big Apple, such as the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station or the Empire State Building.

You won't fail to take pictures of these gems of art deco architecture, nor will you be able to believe the beauty of places like Bryant Park, the New York Public Library or the ever-busy Times Square Greenmarket, with its hundreds of screens lit at all hours.

You will go on a photo safari, hunting for the most amazing spots in this concrete jungle. You will see that the city is full of art, from the roof of Grand Central Station to the murals at Rockefeller Center or the Red Cube. Everything in New York is intended as an artistic expression in perfect harmony with the heartbeat of the city (which never stops).

Details of interest

• Price: from 126 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will visit the landmarks of the architecture of the Big Apple, and you will be able to take the best pictures of the city and its people.
• Disadvantages of this option: the itinerary is closed.

Enjoy one of my favorite areas of Manhattan. Around this giant, slender and imposing building, you will find many options to hang out. On this tour you will not only see the Flatiron Building, but you can also visit the gourmet market Eataly, where the concept of flavor takes on a whole new meaning.

You will stroll through the Union Square and Flatiron areas, tasting the best of each place. Then, in Madison Square Park, you will learn about its history, as well as the importance it had in the origins of Manhattan.

Finally, you will have the chance to visit the Union Square Greenmarket, a natural products market where New Yorkers come to stock up on fruits, vegetables and all kinds of things. There you will also see street performers and a very heterogeneous mix of people.

Details of interest

• Price: from 235 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: includes lunch.
• Disadvantages of this option: can be a bit tiring on a hot day.

On this tour you will walk through the most striking architecture of the famous 42nd Street. With a mix of periods and styles, along 42nd Street you will find real architectural gems worth visiting.

Together with your expert guide, you will discover the beauty of places like the New York Public Library, the Chanin Building, One Vanderbilt or the Chrysler Building. But you will also get to know places like the Graybar Electric Building, and its curious decoration of... rats! Just as you hear it. You can't deny it a point for originality.

42nd Street, famous for its theaters, has endless attractions for architecture lovers. On this tour you'll learn its best kept secrets.

Details of interest

• Price: from 35 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know in detail one of the most important streets in Manhattan, with its art deco, modern and beaux-art buildings.
• Disadvantages of this option: the itinerary is limited to 42nd Street only.

With this guided tour you will visit the neighborhoods of Chelsea and Hudson Yards. Your guide will take you up to the popular High Line, an elevated space built over what used to be the railroad tracks. Ideal for walking and enjoying this walkway with exclusive views of the Hudson River and some of the most irreverent architectural works, such as The Vessel, with its endless stairs and its honeycomb shape or the unmissable Whitney Museum.

If you want to know what to see and do in Hudson Yards, this tour is perfect for you, as you will be able to enjoy this part of Manhattan to the fullest and see it all while contemplating the street art along the High Line.

Then, the tour continues to Chelsea, one of the neighborhoods with the most art galleries in New York. Depending on the time of your trip, the tour may include a visit to a gallery or art show.

And after the tour I recommend you to visit one of the most famous markets in the city, I am referring of course to the Chelsea Market, where you can find everything.

Interesting details

• Price: from 49 euros per person
• Duration: 2 hours approximately
• Means of transport: walking tour.
• Advantages of this option: you can enjoy the many examples of street art, while contemplating the most innovative architecture of the Big Apple.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are not interested in the art world this tour may not be the most suitable for you.