Real New York Tours

168 reviews

40 Monroe St, New York, NY 10002

www.realnewyorktours.com

+19175727017

About

Real New York Tours is a Tour agency located at 40 Monroe St, New York, NY 10002. It has received 168 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 stars.

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Hours

Monday8AM-8PM
Tuesday8AM-8PM
Wednesday8AM-8PM
Thursday8AM-8PM
Friday8AM-8PM
Saturday8AM-8PM
Sunday8AM-8PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Real New York Tours: 40 Monroe St, New York, NY 10002

  • Real New York Tours has 5.0 stars from 168 reviews

  • Tour agency

  • "In February, my husband and I took our 12 and 10 year old granddaughters to New York"

    "A family of 3 from the UK; Mum, Dad and teenage daughter visiting the US for the first time and looking for a NYC in a Day Private Tour, bespoke to fit in with the rest of a planned 7 day itinerary"

    "We took “NYC in a Day” for a second time and, coincidentally, both times with Nathan"

    "We did search on the net for walking tours in NY, the wife did a tour 9yrs before but couldn't remember who with and didn't know after COVID if the company was still going"

    "Our tour with Luke was such a great experience for two West Coast people"

Reviews

  • Cindy Masin

In February, my husband and I took our 12 and 10 year old granddaughters to New York. There is always so much to see and do in New York and with only four days to do everything we planned, we were very clear that one of our priorities was to experience a Real New York Tour. We had taken a RNYT with our grandson almost 5 years ago and of all the things we did with him in New York then, that tour still is one of his favorite memories. This time around, Lucas Miller was our guide and he was fantastic. In advance of our arrival in New York, we chatted over the phone and talked about a few things our granddaughters might be interested in seeing. Luke picked us up at our hotel and we headed to Central Park by subway and on foot. There is so much to discover, not only about Central Park, but also the myriad of little known facts Luke shared at the other sights along the way of our tour. I feel that is one of the greatest qualities about a Real New York Tour…stories about New York from a local who cares about, respects and loves his city. Luke’s knowledge of NY culture and history is unparalleled. One of our stops was at Grove Court in the West Village which was the setting for the O’Henry novel, “The Last Leaf,” a book our 12 year old granddaughter had read recently. She was delighted to be given that frame of reference. We hadn’t even asked to go there, but Luke seemed completely attuned to what sights the girls would appreciate. By the way, Luke was very solicitous of my husband and me too. We covered a lot of territory on our tour and Luke was prepared for everything including the fact that our 10 year old granddaughter was shivering and so he loaned her his warm, black scarf. I asked that granddaughter what she valued most about the tour and this was her reply. “He was always thinking about what we would like to see." "He made sure it was OK with you." " I really liked all the history he shared with us." Our last stop was the 911 Memorial. "Luke told us every time he goes to the 911 Memorial, he chooses a different name from the metal wall {the bronze parapets with inscribed names of all those who died in the 911 attacks and 1993 bombing} around the top of the reflecting pools and tries to find out as much as he can about one of those people." We walked thousands of steps, navigated the New York subways, ate some "dirty water dogs" and excellent slices at Joe’s, were treated to hot chocolate at a little neighborhood diner, and soooo much more that day on our Real New York Tour. But truly the best part was seeing New York through our granddaughters' eyes and the knowledge we all gained at the hands of a born and raised New Yorker and Real New York Tour owner and guide, Luke Miller!

  • Samantha Awbery-Maskell

A family of 3 from the UK; Mum, Dad and teenage daughter visiting the US for the first time and looking for a NYC in a Day Private Tour, bespoke to fit in with the rest of a planned 7 day itinerary. Our initial email enquiry was answered the same day and a call with Luke was arranged to talk through our priorities. Luke was easy to talk to, listened and offered helpful advice. We agreed a jam-packed itinerary which is just what we wanted. On the day Luke came and met us at our hotel and we spent a great 6+ hours together. It was the perfect experience for the first full day of our trip; getting our bearings and learning how to use the subway / bus system, setting us up to navigate around for the rest of our stay. We covered a lot, walked nearly 16k hearing interesting tales and facts and learning so much about the city. Luke was fun to be with, friendly, knowledgeable and put in a great deal of effort to make our day special. We enjoyed every minute. Even our teenage daughter was fully engaged during the whole of the tour and said that Luke was the best tour guide ever and that it was her favourite day of the whole trip! This is praise indeed from a teenager who has been on many tours. A truly memorable day that we will all look back on forever. Going the extra mile, Luke took some amazing pics of us all and didn’t wait to be asked, he pointed out the best photo opportunities. Reassuringly, he offered to provide any help or advice for the duration of our stay which we took him up on. Luke recommended three restaurants, all of which were excellent and added further enjoyment to our trip; we felt we had a friend while in NYC. Highly recommend this tour company. They could not have been more accommodating or responsive. A real highlight of our trip. Thank you Luke and Real New York Tours! Hope to come back one day and do Brooklyn and Queens.

  • Gonzalo Vazquez

We took “NYC in a Day” for a second time and, coincidentally, both times with Nathan. To hear Nathan again was akin to re-watching an excellent, unforgettable, and beautiful movie or Broadway play for a second time. Three years ago, listening to Nathan for the first time was an inspiring experience. And this time, to listen to him for a second time was pure pleasure, to say the least. Exactly like re-watching your favourite movie, you keep on finding your favourite moments and re-experiencing the joy of hearing such an articulate, witty, and professional presentation. Ben was our guide for the “Best of Brooklyn” tour. He was absolutely spectacular. For the first half hour of his presentation, I was positive that he was either a historian or a sociologist. I was close, as he is a professor at NYU. The way he weaves centuries of American history mixed with social, political and even pop culture and contemporary art delivers a narrative unique and absolutely splendorous. You truly don’t want the tour to end! We definitely need to take a second tour with him. Ben opened for us chapters of history in the making, explained reasons, causes and origins of what took New Yorkers to be where they are. And he even made us feel, for some hours, like we were real New Yorkers. We ran to take the ferry, we got wet, we savoured one of the most delicious coffees of our lives, we sat to talk, we asked about everything and all, and I mean all, our questions were answered, coming from the perspective of someone who knows all the Burroughs and knows how they interplay in the lives of New Yorkers. He told us about New York as an insider expressing a deep love for his city and people. I can go on, and on, about all the reasons why he made us enjoy so much our visit to Brooklyn.

  • Andrew Kelly

We did search on the net for walking tours in NY, the wife did a tour 9yrs before but couldn't remember who with and didn't know after COVID if the company was still going. We contacted this tour group and found they offered group tours (anyone) and private walk, which we went for, it is 6hrs and PLEASE use your most comfortable footwear. We were contacted and ask about us as a family our interests which helped what sort of places and sights for the guide to take us . We were met by Luke at our hotel lobby and that's when it started, with the history and information about NY. The tour was great it wasn't an information overload being bombarded with facts, so when you get back to your hotel, you don't think what just happened. This was an easy day it didn't feel 6hrs. Luke spoke to our children to find out what they enjoy and also spoke about his life and family. It made it more like you were just walk with a friend. We did choose the private tour for all our benefits, also we have a son autism which we were open about and Luke made the time to listen and explain everything, but wasn't obvious about it, which was great for my son who really engaged, many thanks Luke. Sorry, we did take photo, but the tour is for you memories and you can chose yours. Oh we also found out that this was the tour company the wife walked with. Highly recommended

  • Thomas Mason

Our tour with Luke was such a great experience for two West Coast people. Traveling in recent years, we have learned that tours are the way to experience and learn about any new town. Luke, a New York City Manhattan-born and NYC-raised native, was the perfect guide, hub of information, and personable "friend" for the day. We took the 6-hour tour, and right away, we knew it would be a great adventure. From first getting on the subway and getting a crash course of subway fare, how to use the Metro card, and listening for the "click," we were off to Central Park. We jumped from one subway car to another. Our venture through Central Park was filled with lots of information on how the concept was to create it to what is there now. We saw the Dakota Hotel, Strawberry fields, and parts of Central Park recognizable from TV or movies. We were then off to Greenwich Village and truly one of the best pizzas (the whole pie) we have ever eaten. From there through Washington Park, SOHO, Little Italy, Chinatown, and the South Street area (we crossed off the 9-1-1 Memorial as we were going in two days). Wear comfortable shoes as recommended; it is several miles that you will walk. Don't balk at the cost as it is well worth it and indeed the best way to see New York. We are planning another trip next year and will be Real New York Tours again.

  • Sonya Simons

This tour was a great decision. My husband, sons and I only two days to see New York and we wanted to make the most of it. While researching sight-seeing in New York I came across Real New York Tours. The reviews were excellent, and it seemed like exactly what I was looking for. A chance to see the city from a New Yorker's perspective without the stress of organizing it myself. We booked a private tour and loved it. We toured the city with very interesting history provided by Luke. He was awesome, we felt comfortable with him right of way, and he taught us what we needed to know about the subway. We also had the amazing opportunity to have Francesca, a photographer come along with us and capture our experience. I am rarely in the family photos. Which is often the case for at least one family member in the group as someone has to be the photographer. This was a rare and memorable experience for me to have the chance to be in the photos too! I really enjoyed the mix of candid and posed family photos. I was just wowed with how she put it all together. Francesca and Luke were wonderful and made a good team. If we have the chance, we would definitely do another tour with this company.

  • manny lopez

We are so lucky to have found Real New York Tours! We are a family of 4 with two daughters aged 4 and 5. Amber made all the complexities of travelling with kids stress free. Beginning with travel recommendations from the airport to NYC (she recommended Dial 7 as the best bet for driving with kids and she was spot on!!!). Additionally, Amber customized a plan for my family taking into consideration our "must see" locations and also the fact that we did not want the tour to be an arduous journey for the kids. David, our guide, was phenomenal. I'm not sure how he packs all of those facts about NYC in his brain but its amazing to hear him speak on absolutely every historical facet of the city. The tender, love, and care that I received from beginning to end is something that I can't talk about enough. Amber's follow up is thorough. Even when I was just inquiring about the tour she went above and beyond to answer all of my questions and was not pushy/"salesy" at all. Moreover, she communicates with you often from purchase to the days leading up to the tour, so I always felt like my family was in good hands. Thank you Thank you thank you Real New York Tours.

  • Kristy Killingbeck

My husband and two children (10 and 11) booked the full day private tour with Real New York Tours over Labor Day weekend. This was my THIRD time booking a walking tour with them, however my first with the owner Luke. I was a bit concerned as previously I had gone with just my husband and then just my mother and this time I was bringing my young children. Let me tell you, Luke was able to adjust the tour to engage my children and keep them engaged. 6 hours and 20k steps later it was a sad farewell when he left us with our Gelato in Little Italy. We all had fun, ate well, and learned a ton about NYC and ultimately history. My children were moved by Luke’s first hand accounts and pictures from September 11 I can not possibly recommend Real New York Tours more. Why take a large group bus tour when you can actually dig into the different neighborhoods with a small group. He is able to quickly learn about what your groups interests and what you want to see and set the day and pace to your group. I have already booked three tours and will be booking again when we go back yo NYC!!!

  • Allison Shafer

Our family booked two separate tours, one of lower Manhattan and one of Midtown. Both tours exceeded our expectations and were money well spent. David met us on our first day in NYC and we started in Chinatown sampling exotic fruits and venturing into places we would have never done on our own. The amount of historical and cultural knowledge David shared with us was truly impressive. He was able to answer every question we had. It was truly amazing! On our third day there, we met Luke and he took us all the way from Central Park through midtown and down to catch the ferry to the SoL at Battery Park. We stopped and saw so many amazing things and we truly enjoyed hearing his stories and information about many of the places we saw. My entire family agrees that our two Real New York tours were the most memorable parts of our vacation to NYC. We were able to take in things we would have never seen or done on our own. If you’re considering a tour, trust me and do it! We will hopefully be back one day and will definitely be doing another Real New York tour!

  • Michelle S.

BOOK A TOUR WITH THEM, YOU WON'T REGRET IT! I was looking for a NYC tour guide to give a virtual tour of NYC as a field trip for my son's elementary school, and was so lucky to find Luke and Real New York Tours! I wanted to find a tour guide experienced at giving tours specifically geared towards kids, who would really know how to hold the kids' attention, and Luke really delivered. He is a real New Yorker, born and bred in the city, and he was an excellent tour guide. We had around 220 participants, with Luke transmitting to us live, on the ground, taking us from Times Square to Bryant Park to Grand Central Station. He shared loads of interesting information and there wasn't one question that he wasn't able to answer. He seems to knows anything and everything about NYC, and he did a great job of keeping the kids engaged the whole time. Leading up to the tour, he and Amber were super-responsive via email, answering my many questions, and coordinating all the logistics with them was a breeze. Highly recommend.

  • Julie Kline

This is the best tour ever!! My husband & I did the New York in a Day tour 9 years ago & loved it so much then, this time we brought the kids (ages 16,18 and 21) to experience it! Once again, it did not disappoint! Luke took us on the New York in a Day tour and it was so much fun! A day full of exploring, laughing and learning/seeing so many new things. I would recommend doing the tour early in your trip if possible as it helps you learn the subway and so much about the city, where you might want to go later, etc. We ended up booking a second tour with Fabrice later in the week to explore parts of a Brooklyn & Queens which was also amazing. Fabrice showed us around areas we would ever have seen otherwise and shared so much of the history with us!! Being on foot, traveling the subway and getting to see & experience NYC with someone who knows all the ins/outs is priceless. I highly recommend booking a tour with Real New York City Tours!! Outstanding tour!! And don’t forget to wear your comfy shoes!

  • Sarah Parsons Wolter

We had a fantastic experience with Real New York Tours (we did this as a company team building event). From the ease of setting up / booking, to the actual tour, I have only the most positive things to say. Luke was our guide, and true to his word, gave us a super interesting "off the beaten path" tour of downtown Manhattan. He was incredibly knowledgable, had awesome stories, and most importantly, was so fun to be around (he could also read the room and knew exactly what to show, how long to spend in certain places, and when we needed a break). Our group was comprised of people who grew up in NYC and abroad, and everyone had fun and learned a lot regardless of their background or where they were from. I highly recommend Luke and the team at Real New York Tours - whether you are a first time visitor or lifetime New Yorker.

  • Edith Bautista

This family run tour company is TOP notch. For any family or group interested in a private and customized tour of NYC, I would highly recommend this tour company. I received prompt responses to my initial inquiry and to all of my subsequent questions. We only had a day to pack in as much as we could, because we were primarily there for a wedding. Everything was tailored to our interests after a telephone conversation with Luke. He made recommendations based on our interests and his experiences as a native of New York. My adult children and I had a fantastic day with Luke as our guide. He knew all of the best views of landmarks, and he was very flexible in accommodating a few last minute changes. We left knowing we would return for a longer visit soon and that we would definitely use Real New York Tours again.

  • Dumonceaux Family

Travelled to New York City with my sisters for the first time this week and we are so glad we chose Real New York tours! Our tour guide Luke was friendly and welcoming from the very beginning. We loved hearing about his experience growing up in the city and his love for NYC and its people was so evident. Luke not only showed us all the amazing sights you would expect from a typical city tour but he was full of historical knowlege about places you wouldn’t even know exsisted. We walked away from the tour feeling comfortable using the Subway and getting around the city. Luke, like most people offered his assistance if we needed anything while we were in New York. Everyone says that but he’s the type of person that really means it. If you have a chance to tour with Luke or any of his amazing people, Do it!

  • Allison Courtney

Our family of 6 booked a private tour of NYC and it was amazing! This was our third time booking with Real New York Tours and it would be first on my list of things to schedule again the next time we are in NYC. Luke was our tour guide this time and he is amazing! He is so friendly and welcoming. There is nothing like learning about the city through the eyes of someone who has gown up in the city. We were able to go over many different parts of the city and learn things that we would not have been able to do on our own. I agree with other reviewers...schedule this tour at the beginning of your trip so you can get recommendations of things to do and places to eat. I can't recommend Real New York Tours enough...I've always been impressed with their tours and tour guides. You won't be disappointed!

  • Monica Angulo

Real New York Tours did not disappoint! Our tour guide Luke was knowledgeable, fun and friendly. My husband and I were able to visit all of the NYC sites we wanted to, within one day! Luke did an outstanding job at making sure we felt comfortable with all the walking and site seeing we were doing (considering that I was 5 months pregnant). At the end of our tour we were confident in riding the subway on our own and revisited several of the sites we experienced during our tour. My husband kept in touch with Luke during the rest of our stay and he continued to give us excellent restaurant recommendations and touring advice even though our NYC tour was over! We will definitely refer Real NYC Tours to our friends and family! Thank you for the unforgettable NYC experience!

  • Michael Resendes

Let me start off by saying that this is the only way to explore New York… The tour guide Fabrice was informative, helpful courteous… Truly, an amazing person to hang out with… We were able to book a last minute tour with truly no problem… Luke, the owner was accommodating informative as well… I will never go to New York with family and friends that visit me and my family without having one of them hanging out with us… Truly, that’s what it was about somebody that knows the ins and outs of New York a.k.a. the navigation part of it was seamless, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with the history of New York City… If you are reading, this, do not hesitate call Luke up and he will work with you! Thank you, Luke and Fabrice for an outstanding three hours!

  • Ashley Powada

I have taken other tours of the park that have been meh - especially those gimmicky, touristy ones. So when I started planning this trip with our young daughter in mind, I initially just Googled "new york city walking tour for kids" (no scooters, bicycles, carriages, etc.). I of course scrolled down past all of those "sponsored" pages, and then landed on Real New York Tours. I am so glad I did! Luke was the best! He was enthusiastic and informative, and really made us feel like the tour was tailored just for us. Our third grader was engaged the entire time and had a blast interacting with him (this made it such a special memory for her). Absolutely the only way to tour Central Park - and the only one I would take again!

  • Lezlie Wiederhold

We have used RNYT when visited Manhattan a view years ago. Our tour guide was Nathan, so funny and so much NYC knowledge! We had a blast! My daughter applied to Columbia University and we needed to do a tour of the area. Of course with COVID, a trip to NYC was not possible. I contacted Luke & Amber and asked about the possibility of having a private ZOOM tour. They were awesome!! Arranged for tour with Lawrence and he took us all through the Morningside Heights area and walked around the CU campus. It was perfect! Saw everything we needed to see via Zoom while we were in Dallas! We got to ask questions and see the real view of that university campus. So grateful for RNYT! We are forever customers!

  • Scott Rigell

I can’t say enough good things about Real New York Tours! After our trip was over my family and I agreed that our RNYT tour was the highlight of our visit to the Big Apple. Luke and Amber, the owners, took such a personal interest in our group, listening to us, and then shaping the tour so that it reflected what we wanted to see and what was most important to us. It’s a true small family business, Luke is the guide, and Amber helped us with all the arrangements. Luke is a native New Yorker and he’s passionate about the city’s history. Throughout the tour he shared fascinating stories and insights that kept us interested and entertained. So it’s my pleasure to give RNYT my enthusiastic endorsement.

  • Asheley Cockren

Jimmy was so knowledgeable.... borderline too knowledgeable haha. if you know zero of the history beforehand, may be over your head a little (like my husband.) But I assume you will have some foundation if you are looking to book this tour. I found every minute to be fascinating. He is obviously passionate about what he does and wants to share it, but man does he have a lot of information crammed in there!! Take the tour from the guy that Lin-Manuel Miranda got his history lessons from: Jimmy. Even in freezing cold winter winds, he kept my attention the entire time as we walked around. I have already recommended to friends and I think I would book this again to see what else I can learn from him.

  • Hajo Sandschneider

We had a fantastic birthday event with Luke from Real New York tours. The birthday boy - a man in his mid forties - is a travel buff and brought together a group of other travel Enthusiasts from Germany for a virtual birthday party. When Luke joined the call in his ever so entertaining way he really made a difference. In these special times, this was absolutely a special birthday event. It felt as we were actually in the Big Apple and boy did we learn new, entertaining and informative things about NYC. Our guests where amazed by the possibility and thrilled by the professional realization and really grateful for the brief excursion to another continent even. Thanks so much Luke!

  • Amanda Johnson

Luke was our tour guide for downtown in early July. Despite the sweltering heat, we toured through Greenwich Village, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown and trinity church. Luke was so knowledgeable on all of our stops and obviously tailored his fun facts to what interested us. I went with my daughter who had just turned 18 and is really into music, history and art. Luke was great on hitting on all these facts as we toured the city. He recommended places for us to eat and told us how to use the public transportation system. Amber was super responsive as we were booking our tour and I would highly recommend this to anyone’s first trip or 100th trip to New York City. Great value for your money!

  • Kathleen Knievel

Great tour with great stories in a great city We are a German company located in Paderborn and booked the New York Christmas Tour as part of our digital Christmas Party (around 50 people). And what shall I say? It was a real highlight. Luke made us feel like we were really in New York and not only watching from a screen thousands of miles away. The stories he tells are interesting and funny and are visualized by additional photos he shares over the screen. Moreover, he wanted us to ask questions via chat and immediately responds to them. We got only positive feedback from our colleagues. Also, the communication before and after the event war really nice and fast. Keep it up!

  • Lauren Jacobs

I can't recommend Real New York Tours enough!! Luke is the most incredible person and tour guide! He led virtual tours for a program I run for people with disabilities on Zoom. His energy, knowledge and stories were all 100000%!!!! Our group could've talked to him ALL. DAY. LONG. As a group of New Yorkers, we were shocked to learn so many things we didn't know about our own city! We will definitely be booking another virtual and in-person, when it's safe to do so! *Edit* I've now booked 4 tours this year with Luke - Iconic NYC, Greenwich Village and Central Park! All of them were amazing! Looking forward to hopefully an in-person tour in the future! Thank you, Luke!!

  • Linda

I took my second Real New York Walking Tour on a recent trip to New York because I had thoroughly enjoyed the one I took last year. Both tours were 6+ hours and went by in what felt like a fun flash because the guides (Trey and the incredible Patrice so far) were so exceptional. They clearly love their city, its history and its present time, and they pass these things on with fascinating anecdotal stories, humor and openness to any and all questions. This begins with Amber and Luke, the owners, who can recommend just the right tour for you, whether you are a solo traveler or part of a group. Real New York Tours is well beyond just sightseeing, and highly recommended.

  • Axel Schneider

We invited friends over for my 50th birthday and got a wonderful online tour of New York from Luke. Everyone was excited beforehand and Luke sent us messages about how he made his way through the snow and cold to the starting point. When we started on time, the cold, wind and snow were no match for Luke. The course of the tour, his narrations, his friendly address of the participants made the walk an exciting and fun experience. We talked enthusiastically about the experience for a long time that evening and agreed that we absolutely must visit New York in real life and then definitely book a long walking tour with Luke. Keep up the good work!!!

  • Ch B

This was one of the best things we did during our trip. We cannot say enough good things about our experience with Real New York Tours. We had an awesome tour guide Nathan who was so knowledgeable and gave us a ton of interesting facts of what we were seeing but also made us so comfortable, we felt like we were seeing New York with an old friend. Riding the subway was super easy and walking around the city was great. I cannot wait to come back to NYC and we are definitely going to do another tour hopefully with Nathan again. I ♥️ NY. Thank you Nathan and thank you Real New York Tours for making our trip to NYC one of our best memories!

  • Simon Dunn

It was our first time in New York and had been recommended using this company by relatives, as it was such an informal and informative way to get to know more about the places to go. We were so impressed with the tour, and Gardiner was a tremendous guide full of knowledge and humour. It's fair to say the sights are great, but add in the knowledge that the guide brings to the day and it was our best day of the trip. We liked the way they tailored the day to what you'd like to see. Glad we wore some good walking shoes as definitely needed. Thanks to Luke, Amber and Gardiner. We'll be back. Simon & Karen.

  • Thu Tran

I tell everyone going to NYC about this tour. What a great way to see the whole city in 6 hours! Even though it was drizzly the day of our tour, it did not deter us. We gained valuable insights and history of the city as well as learned how to navigate the subway system with confidence. My 10 and 11 year olds kept up well. While there was a lot of walking, there were also opportunities to take breaks and snack if we found good food or was looking for something in particular. We had a fantastic guide who was courteous, prompt, and very knowledgeable about the city. This is a great tour to book!

  • Chris Beckwith

This is the perfect “day one” experience when coming to NY. We did and saw SO MUCH in one 6.5 hour small group tour, I’m very thankful our friends suggested it and we were smart enough to do it. We had 11 in our group and Trey was our tour guide. If you can request him, do it! He’s engaging, funny, knowledgeable, patient - the ultimate guide - like a friend who takes you around personally. Price is great, reservations and payment were super easy, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Wear comfortable shoes. Rest easy and be confident... this is the company you want. Thanks Trey and Real NY Tours!!

  • Ashley Gondi

Best day ever!!! We come to NYC every year with our two children (now 5&9) for the Thanksgiving Parade. I randomly searched for something different to fill a day for the kids and found this tour…what a treat! It is NOT commercialized like most city tours, it’s 100% personalized! Luke is a NY native and knows everything about this city! He took us everywhere in a little over 4 hours! It was over the top! He kept reminding us to let him take pictures with our camera/phone, we have so many wonderful memories! Can’t wait to do this again with them in Brooklyn or another burrow! The kids loved it!

  • Mark Johnson

We took a tour of lower Manhattan with Luke as our guide. It was a real highlight of our first trip to the worlds greatest city. We had to reschedule last minute and Amber was great about accommodating our needs even though the change was our fault. Luke made the city come to life for us with his great stories about the history of the city. It was so much more than the history, Luke’s love of New York really came out and it made us love this place even more. We are already planning our next trip and Real New York tours will definitely be part of it. Highly recommend!

  • Judy Weiner

We did a private walking tour with our family of 6 that was customized around what we hadn't seen before in NY and places our guide thought would be of interest to our group. Luke did an amazing job! He was personable, great fun to be with, full of energy, and had so many interesting tales to tell and places to show us. Even our son, who is a NYC resident, loved the tour and learned so much. Highly recommend this tour company. They could not have been more accommodating or responsive. Highlight of our NY getaway. Don't miss Real New York Tours!

  • Jessica Krogh

David, our tour guide, was awesome, he was very knowledgeable and was able to answer any random question we threw at him. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we got to see and learned so many new things about the city. We didn't feel like we missed out on anything or rushed from place to place. He showed us and told us so much more about Chinatown than we would have ever gotten by just walking through on our own. In addition, my son picked Thai food as the lunch choice and David's pick of the restaurant did not disappoint anyone in the group!

  • Angela Naegele

We had the best time with Jimmy. We did a 3 hour walking tour through Harlem and Jimmy really showed us "his" Harlem and that was just fabulous. We learned so much and always in a fun, super entertaining way. Even our teenager liked it. His explanations, stories are so vivid - especially when he explained the story around Hamiltons death - we felt like we were there! Also his knowledge about New York's history in general is absolutely stunning. We would always book Jimmy again and can't recommend him enough.

  • Mark Bradley

Our family of four (two teenagers) came from western Canada to experience NYC over an extended long weekend. Luckily, my wife did her homework and, based on excellent reviews, chose Real New York Tours for a half day private outing. We were not disappointed! Luke provided an excellent, interesting, and fun tour and did it as the website states - they left us feeling as if we spent a half day with a friend! The tour was a highlight of our trip and we will recommend this to anybody - take your tour from RNYT!

  • James Hake

My wife and I recently spent a week in NYC with our good friends. We did all the normal tourist things including 4 fabulous Broadway plays. On the flight home I realized the highlights of my trip were the 2 private tours we did with Real New York Tours. We spent an incredible day in Brooklyn with David only to be matched by the day with Lawrence in Harlem. Amber was excellent in arranging our tours to fit our schedule. Do yourself a big favor and choose Real New York Tours, you won’t regret it!

  • Adina Golob

Every experience I have had with Real New York Tours has been absolutely amazing. I first had a tour with Luke in a group I run for individuals with disabilities. Luke was top notch in answering questions and rolling with the punches of the group in the virtual times. I then had a private tour with Luke. He is not just knowledgeable about NY but about theater and other fun facts. Real New York tours was professional, timely and an overall amazing experience. I can not wait until my next tour.

  • Mallory Dixon

Real New York Tours is amazing! 15 years ago we did a tour with Luke and have not forgotten how awesome he was then. While planning our most recent trip we knew we had to tour with him again. You can tell how much he loves the city and shares that with everyone through his enthusiasm and upbeat personality. We had a 4 year old on this tour and he made it fun for him while also making it fun for the adults. Highly recommended and we will definitely tour with them again next time.

  • D G

My wife and I went for a private tour with Luke last Saturday, and even through the rainy weather Luke knocked it out of the park with a very friendly engaging and fun tour around the downtown area of Manhattan. Luke is super authentic and knows all the lesser known details of the history of Manhattan that you'd only get from someone who was born and raised there! If you're considering visiting NYC you have to book with Real New York Tours for a super memorable experience!

  • Mike Angulo

Real New York Tours did not disappoint! My wife and I were able to visit all of the NYC sites we wanted to, within one day. This was the best part of our trip, thanks to our tour guide Luke. He was fun, friendly and bent over backwards to accommodate my 5 month pregnant wife. During the rest of our stay he continued to provide excellent restaurant recommendations and touring advice. You won’t regret booking with Real NYC Tours. Thank you for such a memorable experience.

  • Bill White

Took this tour years ago....and repeated recently. Absolutely a must do on your list of activities when visiting NYC! We took part in small group walk / subway 6 hour tour which truly offers a unique behind the scenes perspective of the city. Tour guide Nathan was exceptional in his knowledge and guidance! Would definitely recommend this tour even if you’ve visited the city previously...historical information and practical navigation around the city invaluable!!!

  • Sue Hunnings

For my daughter and I, this was absolutely the best way to start, and highlight of, our nyc vacation. We learned to use the subway, saw a good bit of the city and learned many interesting things about nyc from a local tour guide, Mindy. She was amazing and we are grateful for the time she spent with us. We would love to go back again and take one of their other tours (there are many to choose from). Thanks Mindy and Real New York Tours!

  • Anoek

Hi Luc & Amber and not to forget, Tray! The tour was awesome! It was really nice. 24 years ago I did the hop on tour (another life ) and this is so much better. I sure will recommend you! In the Netherlands we have on Facebook a group: New York tips voor jullie door jullie. And on this page I spread the news! Thank you, and Tray, for a wonderful day! ❤️ Best wishes, Anoek & Jur (even my 15 years old son had a great day )

  • Erin Garcia

Trey was a great guide and took us all around the city! We saw so much and enjoyed the historical information and sites that we got to see. He was happy to answer our questions and give recommendations for food and sites to see. We had only a small group for the tour that day and I was impressed that they did not cancel our tour due to the low number. It was great to get a personal tour around New York! Great purchase for the money!

  • F Navar

We have traveled to 10s of countries and toured with hundreds of guides. In early 2016, we took a group Manhattan tour with this company and it is one of the best day tours we experienced. In September, we booked an all day private Brooklyn & Queens tour. Fabrice was our guide and he was energetic, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Even if you are native New Yorker, I believe it is highly likely you will enjoy a Real New York Tour.

  • Laura Fowler

We had an awesome experience with our tour guide, Trey, through Real New York Tours. He did a great job of giving us interesting information and taking us through the city, and seeing things through the perspective of a local NY'er. I would highly recommend anyone taking a trip to NYC set aside a day for one of their tours. Even if you've been there many times, I guarantee they'll give you a fresh experience of the city.

  • M Wilcher

Great zoom tour. At first we thought it might be a bit strange to do a tour on the internet but actually it was super enjoyable. During this strange year of coronavirus, it was lovely to see New York and relive some of the passion of travelling (although only psychologically). Luke was a fantastic guide, really knowledgeable and full of energy. Hopefully we will get over to New York to do a tour with him in person ASAP!

  • Angel Trail

This tour got my 2 sons, 11 and 15 years old, engaged and excited. Our tour guide was able to connect with my kids and show them the things that interested them. We were able to see many of the sights in New York in a short time which would have been much harder or impossible on our own. We had the tour our first day in New York which helped to get us oriented for the rest of our stay. I highly recommend this tour.

  • jeremy barta

I cannot speak enough to this company, and our amazing tour guide! Trey gave us our best day in NYC! He was funny, laid back, informative, and made the day feel like we were going around the city with one of our friends as opposed to a tour guide we didn't know that well. I recommend everyone use this service, without it, we would have missed so many interesting details about the city. I recommend asking for Trey!

  • Josh King

We took our second tour with Luke and team over Labor Day. After doing the virtual tour in March 2021 with a group of students, it was great to do the in-person tour with another group. Luke is so accommodating and helped us when we only had two hours to build a custom tour. He truly gives the "inside scoop" that only a life-long NY native would know. Our students loved him and can't wait for our next tour!

  • Simon Masterson

We did the 6 hour private tour today with Nathan. It was fantastic, Nathan was great and super knowledgeable. It was just like being shown round the city by a friend. My family and I loved every second of the tour. It's the best way to see the sights of NYC and to go off the beaten track. We went to places that we wouldn't have, had we not done the tour. We cannot recommend Real New York tours enough.

  • Alex O'Halloran

Laura was our tour guide and my goodness did she deliver! We were a family with 3 prams and 8 adults arriving from Australia the day prior. Laura was calm, friendly & tailored the tour to suit our needs. We walked the beautiful Christmas streets of New York whilst stopping for a Laura to share some history of the city and places we visited. We cannot thank her enough for the wonderful experience.

  • Carla Rushing

Gardiner was an amazing tour guide. His efforts to make the tour fun and enjoyable were appreciated. He made sure we were comfortable, and we could tell he was passionate about his job and had attention to detail. He took the time to adjust the tour so we could visit some extra places we wanted to see and stayed a little longer than 4 p.m to get us where we needed to go. Absolutely exceptional!

  • Esther Marijuan

Being able to visit a bit of New York while sitting in Spain during the Christmas was a great experience! The whole family had a great time without having to suffer the cold temperatures and felt like we were there. Luke was great and made it so easy for us to have a conversation and follow him around the 5th Avenue...of course we wish we were there, but hopefully soon. Definitely recommend it!

  • Mary McMillen

Our New York in a Day tour was the highlight or our trip and I cannot recommend it enough. We saw the best parts of NYC with Luke and used the subway system to cover the most area. The tour strategically got us to the best food spots in the city for pizza, Italian treats, coffee, and dumplings. Our family of 5 (ages 22-60) had the best time and are still talking about the tour and Luke.

  • Kim Everson

Thank goodness we booked a Real New York Tour our first day in the city! We learned SO much about NYC in addition to how to get around. The cultural, political, musical and historical information our guide Greg shared was amazing. We met amazing people everywhere we went. We felt so welcome and at home, inspired and connected. What an amazing experience and great service!

  • Lindsey Moss

My friends and I had a fantastic time with Ben, from Real New York Tours. He customized our tour based on our interests and questions, spent more time than we'd planned and had a ton of information to share. I cannot recommend Real New York Tours enough...completely worth the time and money for a personal guide to the city. It's like having a friend show you around.

  • Jenny Law

My husband and I had a private tour of Downtown with Lawrence. When inquiring, Luke and Amber were super helpful and responsive in helping us pick the right tour for us and our schedule. Lawrence was a fantastic guide. He was energetic, enthusiastic, attentive, knowledgable, and witty. We will definitley recommend RealNewYourTours to all our friends and family.

  • Ann Hermens

Our family spent an Amazing two days with Luke! Even though we've been to New York a hundred times , doing this tour is unbelievable! Luke completely tailored it to our interests. Hearing incredible stories while having a fun experience. It's difficult to navigate a large city on your own. We highly recommend real New York tours and Luke was phenomenal!!!!!!

  • Christian Loftus

We had a great time with Shawn. We were able to share some of the things that our diverse group wanted to see in Brooklyn. He kept our teenagers engaged while sharing thought provoking information and having interesting stops along the way. We had a wonderful time and will definitely use real new york tours next time we are in town. I highly recommend them!

  • Melissa Fogarty

Call Luke at Real New York Tours!!! You will not be disappointed! I called with a last minute request. He pulled through with an amazing tour guide that led an awesome adventure through the neighborhoods of NYC! My son is a foodie, so we even stopped at cool local neighborhood shops for snacks along the way! Hands down our favorite part of our NYC trip!

  • Roman Calderon

Our guide "Cool Hand" Luke was the best!!!!! A real New Yorker that knows the rich history of New York and knowledge of every divot in the city down to the last stake left in Central Park. Highly recommend Real New York Tours to get the true New York experience! Thank you Luke for the jokes, the Jennifer Aniston story and for all the insights of NYC!!

  • Russell Heron

I booked a 3 hour tour for my family, there were six of us, ranging from 7 to 77. Our guide was great, friendly and knowledgeable. I had previous lived in the city but we went to places I had never been before and the kids were engaged and entertained throughout. The booking process was super easy, helpful and flexible. I would highly recommend.

  • Kathy B NS

Real New York Tours provided an excellent guided tour of New York City! Luke is a native New Yorker who has a tremendous knowledge of the history of the city and he is an entertaining and articulate speaker! He made our group’s tour so interesting and so much fun! I highly recommend booking a tour with Real New York Tours! Five Stars!!

  • JME7426

I did the NYC in a day tour in June of 2019 and it was a great experience. In only 6.5 hours you get to experience the heart and soul of the city. Our guide Trey was a great guy with knowledge of the city and it’s history and was very funny. Overall an amazing experience that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting New York City!

  • Kimberly Rock

Took the group tour of Colonial New England. It was fantastic! First, our guide Luke is incredibly engaging, fun, and a great storyteller. I learned so many interesting historic details, but also felt like I got to know the people and personalities too. Enjoyed the pics inserted into the tour. Luke should have his own show! …

  • Karen Ford

My son and I went to NYC for the first time ever in April. The tour with Luke was by far our favorite activity/experience! We loved every minute of the tour and loved the fact that Luke was willing and able to switch things up based on what we wanted to see. I definitely recommend Real New York Tours! It's money well spent.

  • Laura Spading

Mindy was our guide. She was so knowledgeable and funny! We learned so much about the neighborhoods, the architecture, the history of NYC. Saw so many sites seen in MANY famous movies, too. Riding the subways was both interesting and fun, too. I would recommend this tour to ANYONE who wants to see the "real" sites of NYC.

  • CV Eaton

We just completed our third tour with Real New York Tours. Nathan was our guide and he gave an informative personal tour that our whole party enjoyed. We will keep coming back to New York and will keep coming back to this group, hands down the BEST use of our money for any tour in NY. Book now, you wont be disappointed!

  • Erin King

Luke and Amber are amazing!! This is our second time taking a tour with them and we would recommend their tours to EVERYONE! They will fully customize your tour to be whatever you want it to be, are so much fun and by the time you’re tour is over, you are a member of the family. Do yourself a favor and book now!!

  • Lesley Meredith

We had a great day! Would highly recommend. Our tour guide was a local New Yorker and knew so much about the city, its history, the people and stories. You could see some of the sights by yourself but you will miss learning so much about the place. We did this tour in winter and it was totally worth it!

  • Alexis

I did a Midtown tour with Trey and a downtown tour with Luke and both were fantastic tour guides. It felt like a friend was walking me around. I had never been to New York before and they made me feel very comfortable with this massive city! I learned so much and can't wait to come back for more tours.

  • David Blair

My wife and I are thrilled about the tour than Nathan provided for us. We visited places we never would have considered visiting, and it gave us the motivation to continue exploring the city long after the tour was finished. We will most definitely be coming back to New York in the future!

  • Darel Middaugh

Luke and the whole team at Real New York Tours were extremely competent, knowledgeable, friendly and flexible. They tailored the entire tour to meet our needs, a high school choir group from Michigan - my students loved it. Plus the price easily fit our budget. Highly recommended!

  • Antonia Lausch

I‘ve had the best time of my life with this amazing tour with Luke!!! It was absolutely fantastic and i would recommend this experience to EVERYONE!!! Love the city and i am just a bigger fun of Real New York Tours now! Looking forward to my next tour already …

  • Monica Wasson

Our tour guide, Trey was great!!! He had a great deal of knowledge about MANY areas of NY!! The entire process from purchasing the tour to touring NY was an easy/excellent process. If I return to NY I will plan another tour with Real New York Tours. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! …

  • Diane Shirley Almas

we had family visiting from australia. they wanted to ride the BUS and sit on the top to see NYC downtown and midtown. We got on and off and different locations. It was alot more fun than I thought. I would recommend if you have friends/family visiting NYC for the first time

  • Jason Williams

We purchased a private tour with Real New York Tours in November 2019. It was one of our best experiences during our time in NYC. The guide was outstanding! She was very personable, friendly, and made sure that the tour was based on our interests. Highly recommended!

  • Sophie Hebert

Luke gave my group of 55 people (bus tour) a tour of New York, and they all loved him! He is very knowledgeable and friendly with everyone! I highly recommend Real New York Tours whether you are a group of 4 or up to 55 or more! :) You are sure to have a great time.

  • Justin Oswald

I can’t imagine a better tour of many of the different areas and history of New York. Nathan was extremely insightful and answered everyone’s questions with great detail. He also has very helpful and kind. I would strongly suggest this tour for everyone!

  • rachel patillo

Had a fantastic time with Luke in NYC! We hired a SUV to take us around and Luke knew all the great spots and had a ton of knowledge. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to explore NYC with someone who knows! We will be back and can’t wait!

  • Lisa Wesner

We had a wonderful tour with Trey (3-hour walking/subway tour of Chinatown, Little Italy, Financial District). I would absolutely recommend using this tour company. Great value and we learned so much about NYC. It was the best part of our trip!

  • Tracy Wagner

We had a great time on our tour with Ian! He met us at our hotel and we spent the next 6 1/2 hours exploring the many places we wanted to visit and having a great time learning about this wonderful city! Ian felt like a friend we had known

  • Nancy Earney

We recently took a 6 hour tour with Nathan. There was not a better way for us to start off our NYC visit than to spend this time getting our bearings, learning how to take the subway and seeing places that we would have never found on our

  • Tom Kasanders

We enjoyed taking the Brooklyn tour with Fabrice. My wife was born in Brooklyn and had always wanted to go back. This tour was a great way to do that. Fabrice gave us a sense of the history of Brooklyn and we had a chance to visit various

  • Michael Roberts

Our guide Nathan said he was going to change my mind by the end of the day...he did! Thank you Nathan for the incredible insight in determining where to go and what to see, it was like you had the trip planned specifically for us. At the

  • Jenny Neiser

Hands down AMAZING!! We were visiting NJ, from KY, for a wedding and took a day trip to NYC. Our plans changed last minute and the owner was able to accommodate us and it was fantastic. David was able to take us to all of our "must see"

  • Guus Eikens

Me and my son had an great tour with Luke. He's a born and raised New Yorker, an amazing storyteller and will point you to details about this city's history that are really unique and original. Thank you "Real New York Tours"!

  • Loren McGhee

The best tour! Even our two 10 year olds were engaged the entire 6 hrs. There were lots breaks to sit and enjoy the sights, eat some food, and generally have a good time. Will sign up for another tour on my next NYC trip.

  • Elaine Kosta

Trey was great and we all had a terrific time. It was the perfect first day in NYC. We got to see a ton and felt much more comfortable using the subways which is exactly what we wanted. We would definitely recommend.

  • SAndy Sawyer

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Luke was super nice and helpful and he did a great job of showing us a lot in a short amount of time. I highly recommend and if we go back we will definitely contact this group again!

  • Mitch Jablow

had a private 3 hour tour of downtown with Luke. He was engaging and knowledgable and my wife, grandson and I had a wonderful 5 star experience. His stories alone are worth the price. this is a must do. Mitch

  • Andrea Wilkins

My family loved our virtual Real New York tour with Luke! It was one of the highlights of our never ending lockdown here in Melbourne, Australia! Can’t wait to join them in person one day soon.

  • Brittany Barnes

I have used Real New York Tours many times on my trips to NYC, it's the best way to see the city! Trey has been our tour guide twice now, about 6 years apart and he did not disappoint!

  • Anita Bublik-Anderson

We had the best, personalized tour with Luke. Will definitely book again!! Had The Best Slice, learned a lot of history and had fun making memories with my girls! The best time!

  • Viviane Baerenklau

Luke was an amazing tour guide! He's so fun and knowledgeable! Next time we're in NYC--we'll definitely be scheduling another tour from a different part of the city!

  • Ken M

Awesome tour with Luke. He really loves his city and it shows. This was my second tour with Real NY Tours over the years. I highly recommend.

  • MaddDawn

Luke is the best tour guide. Knows everything to know about NYC! …

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