My wife and I have done a lot of guided tours, in a lot of different places round the world. I don’t think we have ever had a better one – and we’ve had some pretty good ones!
Brooklyn Half Day Walking Tour
Explore Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and the Brooklyn Bridge
Take in NYC's most epic panoramic views
Witness Brooklyn's phenomenal advancements
You’ll travel through many eras and chapters of Brooklyn’s most famous historic districts and landmarks– each with their own unique character and impact on New York City. Follow trails highlighting Brooklyn Heights’ multi-faceted profile as the hotbed of revolutionary fervor, the nation’s first commuter suburb and the city’s first historic district. Trace the events transforming DUMBO’s former industrial wasteland to upscale tech neighborhood boasting properties with skyrocketing values, and marvel at an immigrant family’s engineering visions birthing the Brooklyn Bridge’s rise toward powering a growing city. All these experiences await — while you also savor food and incomparable views along the way.
Highlights
All tours are guaranteed 8 guests or less
Learn how Brooklyn has evolved over the last few centuries -- from battlefield that played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, to haven for NYC's priciest neighborhoods of thriving art, technology and small business communities
Enjoy a stroll alongside waterfronts areas overlooking repurposed docks and piers – providing unforgettable cityscape views, while offering an overview of the terrain against which waves of immigrants would settle and shape Brooklyn's historical, architectural, industrial and engineering milestones
Savor a coffee and lunch break at well-loved artisanal, locally-owned and operated cafes and restaurants -- tasting some of the best that Brooklyn has to offer
Find out why a former resident might have summed it best when she said, "That's my favorite place in the world, so far, that I've seen. I haven't traveled much but I don't think I'll find anything to replace Brooklyn." That resident was Marilyn Monroe
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Trip Details
Price
$149
Tours require a minimum of 2 guests to open, and then single travelers can join. If you are a single traveler, and are having trouble booking, please email or call.
Departure time
10 AM. Please give yourself ample time to arrive if staying in Manhattan. The subway ride from Times Square is 40 minutes.
Meeting point
10 Grand Army Plaza. We’ll meet outside the Main Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Upon your reservation, you will receive a confirmation with exact details, maps and best mode of transportation to get to your meeting point. Also, Uber, Lyft, and Yellow Cabs are options as well.
Availability
Seven days a week, rain or shine
Duration
Approximately 4.5 hours
Group size
All tours are semi-private with 8 people or less
Participation requirements
This tour covers about 4.5 miles total on foot. Not extremely strenuous, but some mild ascents on the Brooklyn Bridge. There will be some breaks for coffee and lunch. We recommend sneakers or hiking shoes, and waterproof boots on rainy days. Make sure to dress appropriately and bring anything you will need…..gloves in the winter and sunscreen in the summer.
Distance
Approximately 4.5 miles of total walking
What You’ll Do and See
Brooklyn has become a worldwide brand unto itself, but it is still authentic, fiercely loved and defended by the people who call it home. To this day, Brooklynites will argue that you haven’t really seen New York City until you’ve seen Brooklyn. As Marilyn Monroe further confirms, “I just like walking around. I think the view is better from Brooklyn — you can look back over and see Manhattan. That’s the best view. But it isn’t the only view. It’s the people, and the streets … and the atmosphere. I just like it.”
This tour will give you the opportunity to form your own impressions of a special borough, with its stunning postcard views, storied streets, and a distinct laid-back neighborhood vibe pulsing with creativity. Discover Prospect Park, where the architects of Central Park fixed their “mistakes”. Relish Brooklyn Heights” influence in NYC’s social and cultural histories. Uncover secrets behind DUMBO’s name, along with its transformation from a desolate area of abandoned factories and warehouses into high-end residential and commercial units. And finish with a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan, wondering how it was all built, with Brooklyn undergoing more change in the last few decades than any other place in New York City.
Frequently asked questions
The fastest and easiest way is via Subway. Take the R, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to the Brooklyn Borough Hall/Court Street stop. From Times Square, the train ride takes about 40 minutes.
This is a moderate walk of awe-inspiring and panoramic views! This give us ample time for photo opportunities and rest stops — along with coffee and lunch — while absorbing a rich array of architectural, historical and engineering milestones.
This is a great guided walk for a family that encourages engaged conversations, awe-struck curiosities and memorable observations! You will be made to feel like you are walking through a living postcard, with countless instragrammable pictures worth every step of the way!
Check Out What Our Guests Are Saying
We had limited time in New York so booked 3 tours in one day, a package which works very well.
I can’t recommend Manhattan Walking Tours more highly to get to see and know New York as a local.
In between all stops Alex taught us loads about the culture and history of the local area, making the trip really interesting – he knew the city like the back of his hand! I would definitely recommend taking a tour with these guys, you won’t regret it.
