Top 25 Best Tours in NYC
Content Provided by New York Magazine

A Taste of NY
See the city streets from a vantage point even higher than the top of the Empire State Building. These five-to-seven-minute helicopter tours fly over it all.
Meeting point:
Downtown Manhattan Heliport
12th Ave at W. 30th St.,
Phone: 212-967-6464, libertyhelicopters.com
See website for schedule

Adirondack Sunset Sail
Cruise on a schooner while taking in daytime, sunset, or evening views of the city. 
Meeing point:
West 23rd and the West Side Highway,
Phone: 800-701-SAIL, sail-nyc.com
Daily, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 6 pm and 8:30 pm.

Brooklyn Brewery
Head to one of New York's oldest and most popular breweries for a free Saturday tour, tasting and a ride. Stick around for their daily happy hour

Central Park Bicycle Tour
Cruise through Central Park on a guided bike tour covering Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, the Shakespeare Garden and much more. The $35 fee includes bike rental, helmet and tour guide. 
Meeting Point:
2 Columbus Circle, 58th St. and Broadway,
Phone: 212-541-8759, centralparkbiketour.com
Daily, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm.

Circle Line Cruise
Looking to cram in as many landmarks as possible? Grab a seat on the deck of the Circle Line, the renowned New York cruise that travels around the perimeter of Manhattan. Full island tours, trips to the Statue of Liberty and other itineraries are available. 
Meeting Point:
Pier 83, West 42nd St. at 12th Ave.,
Phone: 212-563-3200, circleline42.com
See website for schedule

The Classic New York Tour
Hop on and off this big red double-decker tour bus. To really see the city, you'll need to leave your seat. The complete guided tour of Manhattan (hundreds of thousands served) lasts three hours. 
Phone: 800-669-0051, newyorksightseeing.com.
See website for meeting points and schedule information

The Elegant Tightwad Tour
There's more to city shopping than ritzy boutiques and luxury department stores. This tour sets out to explore classy yet not-so-expensive shopping destinations.  See website or call for meeting points and schedule information, 800-808-4614, theeleganttightwad.com.

The Enthusiastic Gourmet
Eat Dim-Sum and visit a local herb shop in Chinatown or scarf a bagel and lox on the Lower East Side. Where there is good food, the Enthusiastic Gourmet goes.
Plan B: Learn the history of New York's neighborhood's while sampling the foods they have to offer. Noshwalks provides food tasting tours of cuisines from around the world from the restaurants, bakeries and food stores all around New York.
See website or call for meeting points and schedule information,
Phone: 646-409-4724, enthusiasticgourmet.com.
Plan B: See website for meeting point and schedule information.
Phone: 212-222-2243, noshwalks.com. 

The Federal Reserve Bank
The Fed's free tour takes you five stories underground into their gold vaults, demystifies how the Bank functions, and lets you test your new knowledge at Fedworks, an interactive, multimedia center. You'll even pocket some (shredded) money at the tour's end.
Meeting point:
33 Liberty St.
Phone: 212-720-6130, newyorkfed.org
Mon-Fri, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm
Call to make a reservation at least a week in advance

Grand Central Terminal Tour
Don't just gawk at Grand Central's celestial ceiling—learn about it. Take note of symbolic mythological figures, sculptures, and other architectural details lurking throughout the Beaux Arts landmark. The Municipal Art Society's long-running tour is light on gossip, heavy on design, urban planning, and historical preservation. 
Meeting point:
Grand Concourse Information Booth, Grand Central Station,
Phone: 212-935-3960, mas.org
Wednesday, 12:30 pm.

Harlem and The Heights Cultural Tour
See the architectural treasures and lesser-known wonders that Harlem has to offer. Each tour offers a historic and cultural overview of this vibrant neighborhood. 
Meeting point:
Lenox Lounge, 288 Lenox Ave.,
Phone: 212-369-4241, myharlem.org
Daily, 1pm

Hip-Hop Look at New York
Hip Hop has come a long way from its underground NYC roots. This tour explores three decades of musical history. 
Meeting Point:
Hush Tours Office 292 Fifth Ave.,
Phone: 212-714-3527, hushtours.com
Daily, 11:30 am.

Holiday Lights Tour
The city streets may be cold in winter, but the city lights sure heat things up. Check out some of the brightest displays: Macy's, Grand Central, Rockefeller Center and all along Fifth Avenue (during the holiday season).
Meeting Point:
Gray Line Visitors Center, 8th Ave. btwn 47th & 48th Sts.,
Phone: 800-669-0051, newyorksightseeing.com
Daily, December to January, 5:30 pm.

John J. Harvey Fireboat
This historic fireboat has been helping to put out flames since 1931. Keep an eye out for the boat's brass cannons that shoot out water at a rate of 18,000 gallons per minute.
Meeting Point:
Pier 63 Maritime at W. 23rd St.,
Phone: 212-267-9700, fireboat.org
See website for schedule.

New York TV and Movie Tour
New York is the stage for hundreds of blockbusters, indie films and TV shows, but where exactly are all of these locations? The New York TV and Movie Tour reveals many of the spots made famous on the big screen. See the restaurant that was used in Spiderman or where Holly Golightly always dreamed of having her morning meal in Breakfast At Tiffany's. 
Meeting point:
Ellen's Stardust, 1650 Broadway at 51st St.,
Phone: 212-209-3370, sceneontv.com
Daily, 11am

New York Celebrity Homes Tour
Celebrity homes tours aren't just for L.A. visitors any more. Sneak a peek at the homes of east coast celebs such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Katie Couric. Who knows, maybe you'll catch one of them heading out the door. 
Meeting Point:
Times Square Visitor's Center, 1560 Broadway at 46th St.,
affiliate.viator.com
Daily, 10 am.

New York Gallery Tours
Overwhelmed by the number of galleries in Chelsea? Let the New York Gallery tour point out some of the best galleries in the area. The selection of galleries frequently changes, so check the website for tour information. Private tours of other art-laden neighborhoods are also available. 
Meeting point: 526 W. 26th St.,
Phone: 212-946-1548, nygallerytours.com
One Saturday per month, 2pm.

Photo Trek Tours
Photo Trek tours take you to the city's most popular photo op spots and then take the picture-perfect shots for you. All Photo Trek tours are private and must be booked in advance. 
Call for more information and booking,
Phone: 212-410-2514, phototrektours.com .

Radical Walking Tours
Radical walking tours will take you where no other tourist will go. We promise...well not really, but you will go to spots that aren't your average tourist attractions but shouldn't be missed. 
See website or call for meeting points,
Phone: 718-492-0069, he.net. Sundays, 1pm.

Sex and the City Hotspots
Jimmy Choo, The Rabbit, cupcakes and a friar. What do these have in common? They're all stops on the Sex and the City Walking Tour. You've seen them on TV, now's your chance to see them in person. 
Meeting point:
The Pulitzer Foundation, Fifth Ave. at 58th St.,
Phone: 212-209-3370, sceneontv.com.
Mon-Fri, 11am & 3 pm; Saturday, 10 am, 11am & 3pm; Sunday, 10 am & 3 pm.

The Sopranos Tour
Tony Soprano may have to sneak in and out of his favorite haunts to hide from the FBI, but no such precautions are needed for law-abiding citizens who want to check out locations in New York and New Jersey that have been made famous by the hit mob show. 
Meeting point:
The Garment District "Button", Seventh Ave. at 36th Street. ,
Phone: 212-209-3370, sceneontv.com.
Sat-Sun, 2pm.

Sound Walk Tours
It's a solo tour with a soundtrack. Purchase a Soundwalk Tours CD and you'll have your very own guided tour to play, pause, fast- forward and rewind at your own pace. Order a CD. Phone: 212-674-7407, soundwalk.com.

 Times Square Tour
Times Square wasn't always the overwhelming, Disney-laden spectacle it is today. This free tour looks back at the neighborhood's colorful, gritty past. 
Meeting point:
Times Square Visitors Center, 1560 Broadway btwn. 46th and 47th Sts.,
Phone: 212-869-1890, timessquarenyc.org.
Fridays at noon.

Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts
See the city and figure out how to get around on these exciting scavenger hunts that take participants through New York. How quickly can you make it back with everything on the list? 
See website or call for meeting points and schedule information,
Phone: 212-726-1529, watsonadventures.com

NYC Discovery Tours
This sophisticated tour company offers numerous neighborhood tours along with thematic and seasonal ones such as Historic Taverns at Christmas, Civil War New York, and Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill History and Tasting Tour. 
Call for meeting points and schedule information,
Phone: 212-465-3331