Lower East Side Tours and Activities

Avoid the mobs of people sightseeing on land, and opt for this Manhattan architecture yacht cruise instead. From the teak deck of the boat, learn about New York City's architectural landmarks as you circumnavigate the island and listen to the 'Around Manhattan' narration provided by members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). One beer or glass of wine is provided, as well as soda.

From stroopwafel to mozzarella to knishes; there are many amazing eats on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. On this small-group walking tour, discover the neighborhood's diverse cultural heritage and learn how its immigration history has influenced its dynamic foodie scene. Along the way, visit markets, bakeries, and restaurants, and sample delicacies from all around the world.

Delve deeper into the food and multicultural history of Manhattan’s Lower East Side than you could alone on this small-group walking tour. Rather than guessing at eateries and foods to try, let a guide showcase local hotspots and specialties; and chart their European, Jewish, and other cultural roots. Taste snacks such as “knish” doughballs, “bialy” filled rolls, and more; and learn stories of 19th-century immigrant life that many travelers miss.

Foodies experience the diverse flavors of New York City’s Lower East Side on this culinary walking tour. Join your guide to begin your stroll, where you can uncover the immigrant history of the neighborhood, and learn how diverse cultures contributed to the rich culinary world of the Lower East Side today. Highlights include the tastings at six different shops, restaurants, and cafés, where you sample everything from traditional Jewish delicacies and bagels to old-fashioned candies, donuts, and more.

New York City is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world, but taking in the highlights can be daunting. With this hop-on-hop-off tour, admire the most famous sights in the city without getting footsore or having to navigate public transportation. Relax on an open-top sightseeing bus to admire Times Square, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty and enjoy a bird’s-eye view from the Empire State Building.

Spend the day exploring Lower Manhattan’s architecture, sites, landmarks, and coastal views with this convenient bike rental. Perfect for independent travelers, choosing a rental rather than a tour lets you go at your own pace and spend as long as you want at each stop. Plus, traveling by bike enables you to fit in more sights than you can on foot.

The Lower East Side can seem intimidating to explore on your own, but this Tastes of the Lower East Side food tour is a perfect introduction to the neighborhood, its history, and, of course, its food. Explore the LES on foot and learn about its rich immigrant past. Hear about the various groups who immigrated to New York City and sample some of the delicious foods that they brought with them.

Learn tales of Manhattan’s historical organized crime that most people never hear on this walking tour. Meet your guide—a retired New York City police officer or detective—and walk to once crime-ridden locations in Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and Wall Street. Visit crime sites, hear stories of gang warfare, crime rings, and the Mafia; and discover how, and to what extent, today’s city has cleaned up its act.

Cruise around New York City like a VIP in a private Jeep Wrangler with a personal chauffeur. Cover far more ground than you could on foot as you drive the streets of the Big Apple and explore all of the city's most famous neighborhoods including Greenwich Village, SoHo, TriBeCa, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side.

On this private tour, get up close and personal with the Lower East Side: one of Manhattan’s most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods. Pick a departure time that works for your schedule, and meet your guide. You’ll see the Eldridge Street Synagogue, popular eateries like Katz’s Deli and Russ & Daughters, the Manhattan Bridge, and more. As you go, learn about the immigrants who shaped the area, the history of tenement housing, the Lower East Side’s rich culinary culture, and more.

Experience what Manhattan’s Lower East Side was like in the roaring twenties on a three-hour prohibition pub crawl. Tour original speakeasies of the era and stop into hidden modern day examples that you need a secret password to enter. Learn about the notorious gangsters who ran the city decades ago and hear what Lower East Side parties were like during prohibition. Stop at various venues and enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne along the way.

New York City’s Lower East side is home to many cultures and plenty of good food. Focus primarily on this area’s Jewish culture during this food tour. Start your tour with NYC’s most iconic food—the bagel—and follow your guide to bakeries, delis, candy shops, and markets that celebrate Jewish heritage. Visit synagogues, museums and local landmarks to hear stories about daily life and traditions in this colorful NYC community.

Focus on New York City's vibrant street art scene on this walking tour with an art-expert guide. Strolling the streets yourself means you'll get a much closer look at the urban works of art, from graffiti to murals, than you would from behind the windows of a tour vehicle. Traveling with a small group of just 10 people or fewer means you'll enjoy some personalized attention and the chance to ask questions.

New York City has been a street art destination for close to 50 years. On a private walking tour through downtown neighborhoods, your guide points out hidden murals that visitors often miss. Along the way, learn about the evolution of Lower Manhattan, from the influx of immigrants to how it became the city’s first artist colony. Booking a private tour ensures a tailored experience and your guide’s full attention.

New York’s vibrant Lower East Side neighborhood has, in recent years, become a hub of some of the city’s most experimental and boundary-pushing street art. Go on a small-group, cultural walking tour of the neighborhood, and spot noteworthy works by internationally renowned artists. Meet your guide at the Houston Bowery Wall in Nolita—famed for its ever-changing murals—and then venture to the LES. You’ll admire pieces in the 100 Gates Project, will see work by Shephard Fairey and Space Invader, and learn more about the vibrant local street art community.