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Beyond New York City

Artistic, Alternative Greenwich Village Private Walking Tour

Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
New York City, USA
Great choice
5+ bookings last month.
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • Group discounts
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Sarah_G ·
Jun 2026
Angela was our tour guide, and she was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the history of Greenwich Village. She lives in the area, and her positive attitude and love of the village is contagious. We learned a lot, laughed and had a fantastic experience with her on this tour. Highly recommend.
· Maureen_R ·
May 2026
Amazing — start to finish! Angela was a stellar guide! Learned so very much and visited so many fascinating sites!!

Overview

Experience Greenwich Village's rich artistic and musical legacy—and discover sights and stories you'd otherwise miss—on this guided walking tour. Learn about the artists and musicians that have long called the New York City neighborhood home, and listen to your guide’s stories about Edgar Allan Poe, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and countless others. This tour is a great pick for both new and seasoned visitors to the city.
  • Hear about how elements of the gay rights movements were born here
  • See famous TV locations, including the apartment from "Friends"
  • No need to worry about getting lost with a local guide in the lead
  • Ideal for travelers who want to explore beyond the big-name attractions

What's Included

  • Professional, entertaining, local guide

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • 375A 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014, USA

      Please meet your guide on the SW corner of 6th Avenue & Waverly Place. The guide will be there 15 minutes before the tour starts and they will be wearing an orange hat.

    End point

    • Village Cigars
      110 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014, USA

      Tour ends near the intersection of Christopher Street & 7th Avenue.

    Itinerary

    Make your way to 6th Avenue and Waverly Place to start this guided walking tour of Greenwich Village that covers more than 200 years of history. Check out the beautiful, historic brownstone buildings and the area’s bars and restaurants.

    Edgar Allan Poe lived and wrote in this historic and beautiful neighborhood. Dylan Thomas drank himself to death here. Radical thinkers John Reed and Upton Sinclair started counterculture movements, and the Village has been a haven for bohemians and a birthplace of the Beat movement. Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix played the small clubs and created some of their best music here. Your guide will also share the history of the gay rights movement as you pass landmarks.

    Experience the present, learn a lot about the past and maybe even get a glimpse into the future of this iconic space in New York City. Finish the tour in iconic Washington Square before your tour ends at Village Cigar, a West Village relic.
    Viator Long Description
    1

    Greenwich Village

    2 hours Admission Ticket Free

    2

    Washington Square Park

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Most travelers can participate
    • A moderate amount of walking is involved. Please wear comfortable shoes
    • Operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriatel
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    Frequently Asked Questions (3)

    Q:Is the Artistic, Alternative Greenwich Village Walking Tour wheelchair accessible?

    A:Yes, this tour is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

    Feb 2021

    The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 995 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
    Sort by: Most insightful

    Great Tour!

    Sarah_G, Jun 2026
    Angela was our tour guide, and she was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the history of Greenwich Village. She lives in the area, and her positive attitude and love of the village is contagious. We learned a lot, laughed and had a fantastic experience with her on this tour. Highly recommend.

    Response from Host, Jun 2026

    Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Angela and that her enthusiasm and local knowledge made the experience so memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation!

    100% Fabulous tour and guide!!

    Maureen_R, May 2026
    Amazing — start to finish! Angela was a stellar guide! Learned so very much and visited so many fascinating sites!!

    History in every step.

    Cronain_C, May 2026
    The alternative Greenwich Village walking tour was a fun and an informative introduction to a culturally rich and dynamic part of New York. Our guide Bob was highly engaging and was able to link the many fascinating moments into the over all history of the area, from the democratic tradition of protest in Washington Square Gardens to the revolt at Stonewall.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the Alternative Greenwich Village walking tour and that Bob helped bring the neighborhood’s rich history and culture to life. His engaging storytelling and ability to connect key moments really make the experience special. We appreciate you sharing your feedback!

    Our tour guide Steve-Ace!

    Donald_G, May 2026
    Our tour guide was witty, insightful and passionate. A fantastic tour guide making the tour truly riveting.

    Great tour

    Beth_W, Apr 2026
    Rob was awesome. The tour was interesting, lots of good info about the musicians. Loved seeing the Taylor Swift things

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    He really puts a lot of effort into bringing the music stories to life, so it’s great to know the mix of info and personality landed well. And yes, the Taylor Swift stop is always a crowd favorite!

    Asking for a refund.

    Olga_P, Mar 2026
    Got to the meeting point at 1 PM. Waited till 1:37 and gave up. Took a photo of the meeting point. Please issue a refund.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Hi Olga, We deeply apologize that the guide did not show up for your tour. We pride ourselves in giving our guests the best possible experience. We have issued you a refund for the tour which should process in 5-10 business days. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@exp1.com Thank you.

    Guide doesn't show up on time and Viator doesn't care

    Ryan_A, Dec 2025
    We were asked to be at the meeting place 15 minutes early. After waiting for for 20 minutes which was 5 minutes past the tour start time, we received a message saying that the guide would be another 10 minutes late. Our schedule was tight and we couldn't wait any longer in the freezing cold, so we call Viator who accepted our request to cancel. Then Viator messaged us the next day saying they reviewed our situation and would refuse any refund. Wow! They break the contract and refuse to take care of a loyal customer.

    Response from Host, Jan 2026

    Hi Ryan, Thanks for reaching out. We apologize that our guide was running late for the tour. Our guides always strive to arrive on time for the tours but sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise. We sent out a message at 1:15pm that the guide would be arriving 10 minutes late for 1:30pm tour. Thank you.

    Fantastic Tour!

    Gabriella_A, Oct 2025
    Very entertaining and engaging. We learned so much history while laughing and having a blast with Angela. Angela was also attentive to our group's needs and helped us with resources and breaks when needed. As a native New Yorker who brought their family on this tour, I highly recommend it!

    This tour focused on...

    Carolyn_B, Oct 2025
    This tour focused on changes which have taken place in this area of NYC. Having lived in the Village area all his life Steve was very knowledgeable. His easy approach made this tour all the more enjoyable. Lots of helpful information as well.

    Go on this walking tour!!

    Adicia_B, Oct 2025
    An exceptional walking tour!! We loved it! Learned so much about Greenwich Village history, pop culture, architecture, food and more! Our tour guide was truly phenomenal.

    Tour guide Angela Sharp...

    John_L, Oct 2025
    Tour guide Angela Sharp was terrific. She was loaded with enthusiasm and energy that brought out the same in all of us, making the tour both fun and informative. Her intimate knowledge and familiarity with Greenwich Village, including people, places and history brought the past to life and gave the present new perspective. Also important was that she queried our interests at the start and was sure to point out places and history, especially concerning the people who lived there, that satisfied everyone's curiosity whether tour members were visiting for the first time or on a nostalgic quest to find traces of past memories. She also showed us the many good eating places in the area to take advantage of on future visits or after the tour.

    Fun & Informative

    Kim_W, Oct 2025
    Angela was the best guide! She made the tour fun and dropped in so many nuggets of information. The time flew by as we weren’t ready for the tour to end. I can’t wait to check out all of the places she recommended (a huge bonus that was emailed to us afterwards)!

    Angela was amazing!...

    Agnes_L, Sep 2025
    Angela was amazing! Interesting history and culture. And a lot of great tips on bars, restaurants, events and stores in the area! Would recommend!

    Outstanding!

    Ellen_S, Sep 2025
    Tour guide, angela, provided background and history that I would have never known/discovered on my own. She was knowledgeable and passionate, really brought the history to life. She evne followed up with written recommendations and detail on what we saw during the tour itself. Wonderful tour, fantastic guide.

    Steve was a great tour...

    Nikki_W, Sep 2025
    Steve was a great tour guide! He’s a long time local to the area, and his perspective of change over time was a very interesting touch to the stories he told.

    Very informative and lots...

    Susan_H, Sep 2025
    Very informative and lots of fun with our tour guide, Steve, who has lived in Greenwich Village for 50 years- I highly recommend this great tour of the alternative side of Greenwich Village- I am from Pa. and I never knew most of what I learned during the tour

    Great summer day in NY

    judith_V, Sep 2025
    Our tour guy was knowledgable and entertaining .. The stories were fun and brought “the village” to life. Highly recommend this tour and our guide

    Amazing tour, rich with history.

    Deborah_O, Aug 2025
    Amazing guide that showed us all in well known and not so well known sight of Greenwich Village and East Village. Angela was a wealth of knowledge and very passionate about the area. This tour is well worth the time and you will end up staying in the neighborhood and exploring more. A smalll bookstore nearby was also worth the find.

    Great Tour! Informative and Fun

    Debra_T, Aug 2025
    Steve, our tour guide, did an outstanding job of explaining the history of Greenwich Village and its culture throughout the years. Steve is a native New Yorker, and we appreciated his personal take which made this tour very interesting and educational. He also has a great sense of humor which made it all the more fun. I am a native NY'er myself, and somewhat familiar with the area, but I learned so much. My friends are from out of state and found this tour fascinating. I was so relieved because I had suggested this tour as I wanted them to have a great experience. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour if you are visiting NY, and would like to learn about what I believe is one of the most interesting areas of New York. Steve offers other tours including the Meatpacking tour which will be my next choice when I am visiting again.

    Dave gave us a great tour of The Village

    Julie_S, Aug 2025
    Dave did a great job of taking us around and showing us relevant places along with sharing stories. He even has a binder with photos! He clearly enjoys doing these tours and was also very considerate of people’s needs and desires while he took us around.

    Highly Recommend

    Kathleen_g, Jul 2025
    My husband and I really enjoyed our visit to Greenwich Village today. Our tour guide, Steve, did an excellent job sharing his knowledge and personal experiences over the course of the tour. Highly recommend.

    Fantastic tour of Greenwich Village

    Helen_A, Jul 2025
    Entertaining and informative tour by our guide of a really interesting part of the city. Great tour for learning more about the colourful local culture.

    Great facts of Greenwich Village

    Debora_B, Jul 2025
    Fun, interesting and informative. Angela made the tour a wondeful experience i. Spite of the high temperature. She is amazing!

    Loved Rob’s tour!

    shelly_e, Jul 2025
    Rob is a great guide - knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and a good story teller! I highly recommend!

    Informative and Emotional

    Vanessa_A, Jul 2025
    A fantastic tour we can only recommend! We've really enjoyed visiting the historically important sites and learn about these powerful heros - especially in times like these! Thank you, it meant a lot!! Our guide did a fantastic job yelling the stories with heart.

    Local New Yorkers Staycation

    Anthony_C, Jul 2025
    As native New Yorkers, we decided to take a staycation and use a tour guide to learn more about the city. Steve was an incredible tour guide! As a local, he was very insightful and we learned a lot of interesting history. Would highly recommend to locals and visitors to the city! We are planning on doing these tours of other neighborhoods now too based on this experience. Thanks for an incredible day!

    Angela was very...

    Sophia_M, Jun 2025
    Angela was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject matter. Loved that she felt a strong connection to the history of this area and shared personal anecdotes as well. The walk itself is pleasant and you really can't go wrong with a stroll through Greenwich Village, especially during pride month. The pace was easy enough for older adults and there was plenty of shade. Thanks again Angela!

    Greenwich village tour

    Melissa_F, Jun 2025
    Learned so much NY and artist history from Rob. Thanks you for a fun and educational time. You made the neighborhood come alive.

    Great history of lesser known places in this amazing area

    Greg_S, Jun 2025
    This was a great tour which featured places and history that I didn’t know. I come to NYC fairly often but was new to most of what was shared. Steve was a great guide who showed us the local flavor of this historical area, both the good and negative aspects. A great tour to take if you want to go deeper and really know the area better

    Definitely recommend!

    Lyn_M, Jun 2025
    Rob was a wonderful guide. Learned so much about the culture and history of The Village. He took the time to let us enjoy the sites.

    From $386.67

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    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 14 days in advance.

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