Harlem Tours and Tickets

How you spend a day depends on your interests, but many visitors relish this neighborhood for its jazz scene—which runs deep. Catch a show at the Apollo Theatre or somewhere quaint like Bill’s Place, and tour the National Jazz Museum. Afterward, nosh on Harlem-classic soul food at Sylvia’s, grab cookies at the famous Levain Bakery, and head to Central Park.

Yes, Harlem is absolutely worth seeing—it’s one of New York’s most historic neighborhoods. This is where Black culture rewrote the story of New York City in jazz, fashion, literature, and activism, and those creative roots still shine. Catch a show at the historic Apollo Theatre, catch art at El Museo del Barrio, and catch good eats at spots like Red Rooster.

It is perhaps best known for the Harlem Renaissance, the intellectual and cultural movement that birthed a new era for Black music, literature, fashion, art, theatre, dance, politics, and more. In the 1920s and ‘30s, the NYC neighborhood became a hotbed of creativity, and it still is to this day.

You’re probably thinking of 125th Street. Running from the Harlem River to Morningside Park, this avenue somehow manages to be historic across the eras—this is where you’ll find landmarks like the Apollo Theatre, plus ritzy Brownstones, tenement apartments, Art Deco and mid-century buildings, and more. It’s also somehow pedestrian-oriented and modern.

Many people will tell you that West Harlem is the most picturesque part of the area—if not all of New York City. It’s technically between 96th and 155th Streets; to the west is the Hudson River, and to the south is Columbia University. Expect tree-lined streets, spectacular turn-of-the-century homes, and spots like Riverbank State Park.

Yes, Harlem is just like any other busy neighborhood in any big city. Just be smart: Do your best not to walk alone at night, keep your vehicle locked, and don’t carry around or flaunt any valuables on your person. This logic goes for the entire city and beyond.