Flexible Half-Day Discovery • 4 hours 5.0 (22)

Half day in New York with a local

Times Square, neighbourhood diners and thrift store sifting.

Avoid annoying a New Yorker by walking too slow or stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to take a picture!

What makes this experience special

Key highlights

  • Spend half a day with a host who will create an experience that's fully customized to your interests and what you'd most like to see
  • Fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of New York, getting the best of what the city has to offer in a limited space of time
  • See some of the city’s iconic attractions, as well as some secret spots you wouldn’t find in a guidebook
  • Get a taste of what makes NYC so iconic, with a twist – your stories will be authentic and all your own!
  • Get the scoop from your host on other areas to explore and exciting things to do while visiting The Big Apple

What to know before you go

Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.

4 hours
Fully tailored to your preferences
English Other languages may be requested

What’s included

4-hour experience
Private and personalized
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central locations).

What’s not included

Food and drinks
Transportation costs
Tickets to any attractions
Gratuities (optional)

Meeting point

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring

  • We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
  • Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.

How your day could unfold

A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you most

What you’ll do

You’ll spend a few hours with your newfound friend (aka one of our local New York hosts) as they take you around iconic NYC sights and reveal hidden gems that only a New Yorker would be able to show you.

Times Square is pretty hard to miss, but there’s more to life than landmarks. We want you to experience the soul of the city too, so by all means, please let us know which iconic spots you’d be interested to stop by, but your host can’t wait to show you a few secret spots along the way too.

Wander the different avenues, spot the skyscrapers you might’ve seen in a movie or two, and venture into the array of eclectic neighborhoods.

Stop by a diner for a real-life movie experience, or let your host recommend an Italian deli where you can pick up coffee and cannolis, or maybe an artisanal doughnut shop.

Just let us know your vibe and if there’s anything, in particular, you’d like to see, and we’ll take care of the rest.

1. Select a date
2. Select start time
3. Tailor your experience
Answer a few quick questions to help your host craft the perfect day tailored to you.
1. What’s your preferred hosting style?
2. How would you like the pace of your day?
3. What’s your walking comfort level?
4. Are you celebrating something special?

Real Stories, Real Connections

See our hosts and guests creating memories
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17,500+ 5-Star Reviews and Counting

Trusted and recommended by travelers worldwide, including 99% on Google and TripAdvisor.

recommended by 99% of travelers on google
recommended by 99% of travelers on tripadvisor
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What travelers think of this experience

Misty, Jan 2025

We had a custom tour of NYC and Denise was so wonderful. She showed us around, was so flexible ( as we had all different interests and ages of kids), and made the afternoon fantastic. Thank you Denise for a great great day around the city!

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Nicole, Nov 2024

Our guide, Olga, was fantastic! We started at Washington Square Park and Grenich Village where Olga showed us a quieter side of NYC. She connected old New York and new, and pointed out nature and architectural marvels. We then went downtown for some sites and shopping for the more typical NYC sites. We went to Bryant Park, the public library and famous lions, and Grand Central Station. She was friendly while being knowledgeable. Her passion for NYC was wonderful. Olga showed a lot of consideration for our group which had seniors and a kid too. We walked a lot, but it was a great way to get acquainted with NYC. Our group took a picture with Olga at the end. Even when our tour was over, she shared tons of links with us. The perfect NYC host!

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Terree, Dec 2024

Olga even taught me how to use the subway! Thanks Olga!

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Robert, Oct 2024

My wife and I took our NY tour with Olga. She was exceptional in every respect, prompt, well prepared, and she was very in tune with what we wanted to see so we felt the experience was very tailored to us. She was working the entire time, sending me links that she thought we could use for the rest of your trip and she even was thoughtful enough to give us a little gift at the end of the tour. I would highly recommend Olga for anyone wanting an extraordinary experience

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Kathy, Oct 2024

Mei was such a great guide with so much info on the local culture. She made our journey a great one!

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Jenni, Sep 2024

Great tips and advice. Felt safe. Helpful to see a lot of NYC in a short time! Well worth it! We saw local spots and well known locations. It was tailored to my wishes and I loved the experience!

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