NYC activity guide
The Best Things to Do in NYC, According to Local Guides
By Like A Local Tours, a locally owned NYC tour company operating since 2014 · Updated October 2026
Start with a neighborhood food tour led by our own guides. Then round out your trip with harbor cruises, landmarks, museums and holiday traditions from independent local businesses that complement our tours.
★ Our Chelsea Market & High Line tour is ranked #11 Food & Drink Experience in the U.S. in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best.
How we make money: We run the food tours at the top of this page. The other experiences are run by independent local businesses. If you book one through our link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by each operator. Full disclosure
Quick picks
Local guides' quick picks
Not sure where to start? Match your trip to one of these.
First time in NYC
Start with a classic food day
Our Chelsea Market, High Line & Hudson Yards Food Tour covers three West Side landmarks in one 3-hour walk, with 6 tastings. Save another morning for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Short on time
Big payoff in 2 hours or less
The Secrets of Grand Central Tour takes 90 minutes. Our Lower East Side Pizza Tour takes 2 hours and covers 3 classic slices.
Families
Easy wins for all ages
Our 2-hour Pizza Tour keeps stops short and the food familiar. In Central Park, rent bikes by the hour, with helmets and a map included.
Couples
A day that ends on a rooftop
Pair our Chelsea Market tour with an evening in Hell’s Kitchen for the Bar, Lounge & Rooftop Night Tour (21+). Prefer the water? Try an architecture boat tour.
Rainy days
Mostly indoors
The Grand Central tour stays inside the terminal, and the Museum at Eldridge Street is a restored 1887 synagogue. Chelsea Market is an indoor food hall, though our tour also walks the High Line outdoors.
Something different
Off the usual list
See how New York seltzer is still made at the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum (private groups), or explore Williamsburg, Brooklyn with our local guide.
Start here · Run by Like A Local Tours
Eat your way through NYC with a local guide
Our three public food tours are led by our own guides. Book direct with us for our lowest price, or book any neighborhood privately.
Most booked · Tripadvisor Best of the Best 2026
Chelsea Market, High Line & Hudson Yards Food & History Tour
Meets at Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave · 3 hours · 6 tastings
6 tastings in and around Chelsea Market, then a walk along the High Line to Hudson Yards with stories of the old Meatpacking District.
Best for: First-time visitors who want the classic NYC food day.
Local tip: Chelsea Market fills the former Nabisco factory complex where the Oreo was created in 1912.
History lovers
Immigrant New York: Lower East Side, Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour
Meets at Essex Market, Lower East Side · 3 hours · 7 tastings
7 tastings across three neighborhoods, with the immigrant stories behind each dish.
Best for: Curious eaters and history buffs.
New
NYC's Ultimate Lower East Side Pizza Tour
Meets at Essex Market, Lower East Side · 2 hours · 3 slices
3 iconic slices on the Lower East Side and in Nolita, plus the history of how New York made pizza its own.
Best for: Families, pizza fans and shorter schedules.
Traveling with a group or celebrating something? Book any of our neighborhoods as a private tour on your schedule.
Sample itinerary
One great day in NYC
An easy, walkable day on Manhattan’s West Side, built around one of our food tours. Everything is within about 15 minutes on foot. Our tour runs at different times through the year, so book that first and fit the rest around it.
1 · Before your tour · Free
Stroll the Hudson River waterfront
Start at Little Island, the free park on Pier 55 at West 13th Street, then walk the waterfront path. Chelsea Market is about a 10-minute walk away.
2 · The centerpiece · 3 hours
Our Chelsea Market, High Line & Hudson Yards Food Tour
Six tastings and the stories behind Chelsea, the High Line and Hudson Yards. It meets at Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue. See tour details.
3 · Optional add-on
Architecture Boat Tour from Pier 62
See the skyline from the water on a 2 to 2¾-hour cruise. Pier 62 at Chelsea Piers is about a 15-minute walk from Chelsea Market. See details.
4 · After your tour · Free
Explore at your own pace
Walk the High Line at your own pace, browse the shops inside Chelsea Market, or head south into the West Village for dinner.
Local partners
On the water
See the Manhattan skyline from New York Harbor.
Architecture Boat Tour Around Manhattan
Where: Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) · 2 to 2¾ hours
Cruise past Manhattan landmarks on a 1920s-style yacht with live architecture commentary.
Best for: Design lovers and anyone who wants the skyline from the water.
Local tip: Pier 62 is about a 15-minute walk from Chelsea Market, so it pairs easily with our Chelsea Market tour.
Clipper City Tall Ship Sail
Where: Pier 17, South Street Seaport · 1½ hours
Sail New York Harbor on a classic topsail schooner, with views of the Statue of Liberty. Seasonal sailings.
Best for: Couples and families looking for a relaxed afternoon on the water.
Local tip: Sailings are seasonal, with few or no dates in late fall and winter.
Local partners
Iconic sights & views
Landmark experiences that pair well with a food tour day. Getting around? Our NYC subway guide covers the basics.
Secrets of Grand Central Tour
Where: Midtown East · 90 minutes
A 90-minute guided walk through Grand Central Terminal, from the celestial ceiling to the whispering gallery and a hidden tennis court.
Best for: Rainy days and history buffs in Midtown.
Local tip: Look up in the Main Concourse: the constellations on the ceiling are painted in reverse.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Priority Boarding
Where: Battery Park, Lower Manhattan · About 4 hours
A guided orientation walk through Battery Park, then priority boarding for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Best for: First-time visitors who want help navigating the ferry.
Local tip: Ferries to the islands use airport-style security screening, so travel light.
Helicopter Tour of New York Harbor
Where: Downtown Manhattan Heliport · 25 to 30 minutes in the air
See the harbor, the bridges and the Manhattan skyline from the air.
Best for: Milestone celebrations and once-in-a-lifetime trips.
Local tip: The operator adds a per-person heliport fee, so check the total before you book.
Local partners
Museums & history
Smaller museums with big New York stories. The Eldridge Street tour pairs naturally with our Immigrant New York food tour, which meets nearby.
Museum at Eldridge Street: Docent-Led Tour
Where: Lower East Side · Guided visit
Tour a restored 1887 synagogue, a National Historic Landmark, and learn about immigrant life on the Lower East Side.
Best for: Pairing with our Immigrant New York food tour.
Local tip: It is about a 10-minute walk from Essex Market, where our Immigrant New York and Pizza tours meet.
Brooklyn Seltzer Museum & Factory Tour
Where: Brooklyn · 80 minutes
Visit a fourth-generation, family-run seltzer works and see how New York seltzer is still made. Offered as a private group tour.
Best for: Private groups, team outings and quirky-history fans.
Local tip: Booked as a private tour, so it works well for groups and team outings.
Local partners
Nights out
Keep the evening going after dinner.
Bar, Lounge & Rooftop Night Tour
Where: Hell’s Kitchen · 3 hours
A hosted night out in Hell's Kitchen covering a pub, a cocktail bar, a speakeasy and a rooftop lounge.
Best for: Solo travelers and groups who want a planned night out.
Local tip: Guests must be 21+ and bring valid photo ID.
Local partners
Outdoors
Fresh air in the middle of Manhattan.
Central Park Bike Rental
Where: Central Park area · 1 hour to all day
Rent a bike, with a helmet and map included, and ride Central Park at your own pace.
Best for: Active travelers and families with older kids.
Local tip: Bikes must be returned by 7:45 pm.
Seasonal · Nov–Dec 2026
Holiday season in NYC
Holiday lights, windows and markets for November and December 2026, with dates confirmed by each operator. Popular dates sell out, so book early. For more ideas, see our NYC holiday bucket list and holiday markets guide.
Holiday Lights Horse Carriage Ride
Where: Central Park South · 45 to 50 minutes
A carriage ride past Fifth Avenue holiday windows, the Saks light show and the Rockefeller Center tree.
Best for: Couples and cozy family traditions.
Holiday Spirit in Manhattan with Rooftop Bar
Where: Departs Times Square · 4 hours
A bus tour of Manhattan holiday lights and markets, ending at a rooftop bar with Empire State Building views.
Best for: Seeing many light displays in one evening, especially in cold weather.
Local tip: It also covers Downtown, including the Wall Street tree and the Oculus.
Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Bus Tour
Where: Departs Midtown for Brooklyn · 3 hours
A bus tour to Brooklyn's Dyker Heights, famous for its over-the-top holiday light displays.
Best for: Families and Christmas-light fans.
Holiday Wine, Cheese & Small Bites Cruise
Where: Chelsea Piers (Pier 62) · 1½ hours
A 90-minute harbor sail past the Statue of Liberty with a guided wine and cheese pairing.
Best for: Date nights and holiday celebrations.
Holiday Lights Walking Tour & Market Shopping
Where: Midtown · 3½ to 4 hours
A walking tour of Midtown holiday sights, including Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's, with time to shop a holiday market.
Best for: Shoppers who want a structured route.
Midtown Holiday Donut Tour
Where: Midtown · 2 hours
A walking tour of Midtown holiday decorations with artisanal donut tastings and hot chocolate.
Best for: Families with a sweet tooth.
Planning where to stay?
Our founder, Lauren, is a Fora Travel advisor who specializes in NYC hotels. Booking through her can include perks such as room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out and hotel credits, at competitive rates.
Affiliate disclosure. Like A Local Tours runs the food tours listed under Our Food Tours. The other experiences on this page are run by independent local businesses. Some links are referral links through the FareHarbor Distribution Network. If you book through them, Like A Local Tours may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by each operator. Last reviewed October 2026.