The Weirdest & Coolest Tours of NYC
Do you just love learning about local history and secrets when you travel? Me too! Here, I’ll list some of the quirkiest, weirdest tours you can take, all in one handy dandy spot!
“The Garbage and Rats Tour” by Off the Beaten Subway Track Tours
Suzanne is a certified and very fun/educational NYC tour guide with a passion for all things sanitation! This quirky tour takes you all over the financial district where you will learn the fascinating history of shipping, rat species in the city, rat mitigation and public parks concerns. Super niche, very cool.
“Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue” by Bowery Boys Walks
Love the Bowery Boys podcast? You’ll be obsessed with these incredible mansions - so many beaux-arts beauties from 1880-1910 line Fifth Avenue, and this tour is SO well-crafted and entertaining. Tales of rivalry, riches and family intrigue galore!
“The Museum of Interesting Things” East Village Apartment Tour
You may not be ready for this. I was not ready, and I’m a certified weirdo. This tour is literally just inside of one man’s (Denny’s) apartment in the East Village (where punk still lives on), and it is up to him on any given day what sort of an experience he’s going to offer. His place is floor-to-ceiling antique STUFF, and he LOVES to talk about every one of his items, as well as his brief NYU career and his long-dead cat. He might take phone calls part way through the tour. It’s incredible, just an experience like no other. You must email to book, there is no booking platform online.
“Secrets of Grand Central” Walking Tour
Save this tour for a rainy day - Grand Central is an amazing indoor palace to explore, and it has a ton of hidden details, cool stories, and fun transit history. You’ll get to know all about the secrets of the astrological ceiling, experience the wonder of the Whisper Gallery, and more! It’s only 1.5 hours, and there are a lot of great food options both in the station and nearby.
