New York in a Half-Day, with the Empire State Building

Your comprehensive guide to New York City

$527 and up

Private

N/A

Small group

Tour Details

About the Tour

Duration: 4 hours
Location: New York

Photos & Highlights

Dive into New York’s main sites, history, and neighborhoods
Led by a historian or PhD-level scholar
Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, The Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, and Central Park

Tour Description

On this half-day tour with a local scholar, we’ll explore the most exemplary streets and landmarks in New York City. From the grassy lawns of Central Park to modern skyscrapers of Midtown, this comprehensive orientation will consider the profound transformation of America’s largest city.

Sites Visited

Central Park
Rockefeller Center
Radio City Music Hall
Time Square
Empire State Building

Included

4 hours with a Ph.D. or MA-level guide
Optional Empire State Building tickets
Optional Car Service and hotel pick-up

Itinerary Detail

Our tour begins on the grassy knolls of Central Park. Beloved by New Yorker and visitors alike, we’ll stroll through the urban oasis as we discuss the life and times of the city’s favorite park. We'll emerge from the park in the heart of Midtown. We’ll stand at the base of the world’s tallest residential buildings, and pass such establishments as The Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue, and The St. Regis.

While tracing the history of residents in Midtown, our guide will show us the last remaining 5th avenue mansions from the Gilded era. Located squarely between these mansions, the area’s best known residents, John D. Rockefeller Jr., built his sprawling deco monument: Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Center continues to thrive nearly 100 years later - institutions such as NBC Studios and Radio City Music Hall have the pleasure of calling this plaza home.

Continuing south we may pass through Time Square or Bryant Park before making out way to Grand Central Station. Gazing up at the beautifully decorated concourse, we’ll discuss the evolution of transportation in New York before hopping onto a train ourselves. Climbing aboard the New York City Subway, we’ll shuttle down to our final stop - The Empire State Building.

A cultural icon, The Empire State Building is among one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. A testament of novel engineering, the building is still among the top 10 tallest buildings in New York to this day. We’ll conclude our tour at the entrance, where you’ll have the option of entering the buildings newly redesigned observation deck and get a bird's eye view of the vast history we discussed.

Optional: Empire State Building Tickets

We can purchase tickets for the Empire State Building for an independent visit at the end of the tour. If you wish to purchase these tickets, please add them to your order at check-out. Your guide will have the tickets and will give them to you at the end of the tour. The guide will not enter the Empire State Building themselves, unless you choose to customize this tour. The tickets include access to the 82nd floor, the museum, and the new 102nd floor panoramic viewing deck.

Customize this Tour

Whether you already have something in mind or would like to craft something entirely new, our dedicated planning specialists are on hand to help you develop a tour that will be just right for you. Context planners, all travelers in their own right and experts in their dedicated territory, will partner with you to create an itinerary suited exactly to your needs and schedule.

Fill out our CUSTOM NEW YORK FORM or email us at custom@contexttravel.com to get started.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does it end?

We will meet near Central Park South and end near the Empire State Building. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map, and 24-hour phone number for any last-minute issues.

Do we go inside the venues or just see them from the outside?

You will go inside the lobbies of several of the buildings we discuss on the walk. You also have the option of entering into the Empire State Building's newly re-designed observation deck. Our tickets include access to the 82nd floor, the museum, and the new 102nd floor panoramic viewing deck.

What if it’s raining?

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to be prepared; we encourage keeping an eye on the weather and bringing along an umbrella, sunscreen, water, or a hat as needed.

Can we customize this itinerary?

If booked privately, we can customize the tour to focus on a particular theme. Please contact n-america@contexttravel.com to inquire about customization options.

Is this suitable for children and / or travelers with mobility challenges?

Yes. We can adapt the route of our private tours based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party. Please share any specifics about your group’s needs in the notes section of your order and we’ll adjust the itinerary accordingly.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Irina

A specialist in Renaissance and Baroque art, Irina Oryshkevich teaches art and architectural history at Columbia University where she also earned her PhD in 2003. She has published numerous articles in her field, worked for several New York Old Master galleries, and received fellowships for her academic work from the National Gallery in Washington, the Fulbright Foundation, the Getty, the Society of Fellows and the Italian Academy (both at Columbia) and the American Philosophical Society. In addition to teaching in her area of specialization, Irina, a native New Yorker with a deep interest in local history, has been offering a class on the architecture of New York City at Columbia for the past four years.

Benjamin

Ben Rubin holds a bachelor's degree from Hanover College, a Master's from Western Carolina University, and is completing his Ph.D. at Drew University. He is also a graduate of the Cornell School of Criticism and Theory at Cornell University. His work has been published in the Journal of Backcountry Studies and in Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution. In addition to academic experience, Ben worked as a docent at the Biltmore House in Asheville, and as a whitewater raft guide on the Nantahala River.

Ryan

As an undergraduate student at St. Joesph's College, Ryan was able to obtain his bachelors degree in education, while minoring in history. It was during this time that his passion for history, specifically New York City history began to fully develop. Upon graduating, Ryan began working as a New York City public school teacher and completing his masters degree in history at Queens College. As a graduate student, Ryan was able to merge his passion for music with New York City history with the completion of his masters thesis, which analyzed Punk Rock and the social factors that led to its creation and development in New York City. Ryan continues to work as a social studies teacher in New York City and enjoys experiencing all things the world has to offer through travel, culture, and shared experiences with new people.