Walking is often the best way to really see a big city, and New York is no exception. If you’re visiting the Big Apple and interested in walking tours, NYC offers dozens, varying from those taking in the main sights to more specialized tours. Many tours can be booked online, most last two or three hours, take place in all sorts of weather and cost anywhere from $20 to $100. However, a lot of walks are also free, and are led by volunteers.

If you’re a first time visitor and want to take in some of the main sights, many walking tours NYC take in a particular area, and focus on the sights there. Some of the most popular include tours of Central Park, the Theater District, Midtown Manhattan, Harlem, Greenwich Village, and Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. A much visited landmark is the Empire State Building, and a tour here gives you an insider’s view. Especially popular are walking tours of the 9/11 memorial and Ground Zero, with many of the tour guides having a personal connection to the terrible events of that day.

New York is such a diverse city, and many walking tours take in the city’s diversity. Tours on foot of the the city’s thriving Chinatown are popular, as are tours of Little Italy, many focusing on the cuisine of these neighborhoods and including a sample meal. Brooklyn is one of the country’s most ethnically diverse areas, and many tour take in the different ethnic groups, again with a focus on places to eat. And if tours of the city’s architecture, exploring gay New York, ghost walks and a visit to the city’s catacombs all sound intriguing, they’re all offered by different tour companies. New York has featured in dozens of films and TV shows, and location tours are also popular.

If you’re looking for culture on your walking tours NYC is home to some of the world’s best museums, and most can be explored by walking with an expert guide. You can see the treasures of the Museum of Modern Art with the help of a knowledgeable guide, as well as the Museum of Natural History, and tours are also offered at many lesser known museums. And of course, NYC is often known as the city that never sleeps, and for a different perspective, take one of the many night time walking tours that are offered.