Enjoy a privately guided tour of New York's famous Grand Central Terminal - not only a busy train terminal, but one of New York's top attractions that welcomes over 20 million visitors every year for its iconic architecture, history, vibrant food and shopping scene, and its many hidden gems - all of which you'll discover on this fascinating tour!
On your private Grand Central tour, you will:
-Enjoy wonderful views of the Chrysler Building and the MetLife Building - the original PanAm building, located competitively next to the train station, to symbolise the dominance of aviation over railway transport;
-Learn about the life of the 19th-century self-made millionaire, shipping magnate, and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt;
-Explore this vast and fascinating Beaux-Arts building, designated of important historic note;
-Discover the main concourse, and learn how Grand Central Terminal survived the proposed demolition;
-Learn all about the restoration, the Preservation Landmark Commission, and the role played by Jackie Kennedy Onassis in saving it;
-Admire the famous four-faced clock, a trusty meeting place for all true New Yorkers;
-See the largest Tiffany Glass clock in the world;
-Explore the events spaces like the Vanderbilt Hall with its twinkling chandeliers, as well as the myriad of secret passageways and winding staircases to lower levels;
-Pass by the Oyster Bar - the oldest restaurant in the GCT;
-Visit the amazing Whispering Gallery - designed by Rafael Guastavino - and experience the magic;
-Hear about Track 61 - the secret rail line used by President Franklin Roosevelt to get to the nearby Waldorf-Astoria hotel - and so many other hidden gems and stories;
-End at the entrance to SUMMIT ONE VANDERBILT where your guide will give you tickets to this unmissable, unique attraction - a multi-sensory experience and a mindblowing observation deck with unbeatable views over the Manhattan skyline.
Grand Central is an iconic New York landmark that was opened to the public in 1913. Situated in Midtown Manhattan, this transport hub is visited by over 20 million people per year - only Times Square beats this!
Grand Central has been made famous by movies and TV; it is best known for its Beaux-Arts architecture, and because of this it has been designated an important historic building.
On your private tour, you'll have plenty of time to admire the stunning ceiling murals and statues, absorb the thrumming atmosphere, pass by delightful boutiques and delicious restaurants, discover hidden passages and secret rooms, enjoy its general opulence and of course stand under the four-faced clock on the main concourse that is possibly the most famous meeting place in the whole of New York City (all New Yorkers know what you mean when you say 'meet me at the clock').
Your tour ends at the entrance to Summit One Vanderbilt, where your guide will hand over your tickets to this incredible observation deck that is also a multi-sensory museum on three different levels, and with truly breathtaking views of the iconic New York Skyline.
Visit the Big Apple's most famous sites! You'll see Times Square, Central Park, the Lincoln Centre, the Dakota Building, Rockefeller Centre, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, the Financial District, SoHo, Little Italy, and Battery Park at Ground Zero, where you'll get a beautiful close-up view of the Statue of Liberty.
You'll love this tour, as you'll get to see all of Manhattan's most famous neighbourhoodsand sights!
We will start our tour by heading to the west side of Central Park. Famous sights include Columbus Circle, Lincoln Centre, we will visit The Dakota, the building where John Lennon lived and where he was murdered, and the Strawberry Fields Memorial in Central Park, built in memory of the singer. We continue to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the largest cathedral in New York, and possibly the world, and pass Columbia University, made famous by alumni such as President Barack Obama. We will arrive in Harlem, the most iconic African American neighbourhood, full of culture and historic buildings.
Leaving Harlem behind, we will head to the east side of Central Park, down the famous Fifth Avenue that borders the park, passing historic buildings such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, as well as renowned condominiums. We will continue down Fifth Avenue, also known as "Millionaires Row", to see iconic sites such as the famous Apple shop, the majestic Plaza Hotel, Bergdorf Goodman, tycoon Donald Trump's skyscraper, Tiffany's jewellery store, and shops of prestigious fashion designers.
Our tour will continue to the Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick's Church, the Flatiron Building, Union Square and Greenwich Village, until we reach the famous Washington Square Park, home to the replica of the Arc de Triomphe and New York University. We will continue through the NoHo and SoHo neighbourhoods, full of fashion designer shops and 19th century Cast Iron Loft Buildings, once factories and now luxury flats.
The tour continues to Little Italy and Chinatown, the largest Chinese enclave in the Western Hemisphere. We will head to the financial district of Wall Street, where you will find the Stock Exchange, Federal Hall and Trinity Church, built between 1839 and 1846. Continuing to Ground Zero, where you will learn about the events of 9/11 and see the memorial built in memory of those who died on that tragic day.
We'll finish in Battery Park, the southern tip of Manhattan, for a view of the Statue of Liberty, and there you can catch the ferry to visit her if you wish.
Attractions:
* Central Park- Established in 1857, it is the most visited urban park in the United States, attracting 40 million visitors in 2013. It is also one of the most filmed places in the world.
* Harlem - Known as a major residential, cultural and business centre for the African-American community.
* Columbus Circle - Named after Christopher Columbus, it is a major traffic circle and busy intersection in Manhattan, New York. It serves as the point from which all official distances in New York City are measured.
* Lincoln Centre - A complex of buildings housing numerous nationally and internationally renowned performing arts organisations.
New York is a city of contrasts and called the "melting pot" of America. Experience the diversity on a tri-borough tour of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx where many languages, cultures and cuisines dominate, as well as famous sites from countless movies.
This tri-borough tour shows how diverse New Yorkreally is. There are communities of Greek, Italian, Hispanic, Indian and Slavic ancestry throughout the city where native language, culture and cuisine dominant.
Departing from Manhattan, pass through Harlem to the Bronx and stop at Yankee Stadium, home to America's famous baseball team. Continue to the precinct of Fort Apache, where local artists use graffiti to make political and lifestyle statements.
Across the Whitestone Bridge to Queens are the beautiful homes of Malba on the East River. Stop for photos in Flushing Meadow Park, site of the 1964 World Fair, the US Open and a famous scene from Men in Black. Continue to Astoria, where you'll stop for coffee and pastry at a local bakery.
Then it's onto Brooklyn, a borough with over 2.5 million residents! Williamsburg, one of New York's up and coming neighbourhoods with lots of trendy bars and restaurants and a symbol of the constantly changing area. This is also home to one New York's large Hasidic Jewish communitythat strives to maintain a traditional lifestyle in a constantly changing city.
This holiday tour takes you through the residential neighborhoods of Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, Italian-American sections of Brooklyn where you will find tree-lined streetsand beautiful private residences decorated for the Christmas holidays. It has been a tradition for many years to illuminate these homes with thousands of lights and dazzling Christmas scenes and has become a friendly competition between owners.
You won't just see the lights; you'll walk through the neighborhoods with a guide to hear the stories behind this fun holiday event that brings thousands of people here each year. You may even meet some homeowners who are a proud part of this festive holiday.
On your way back to Manhattan, you'll see the spectacularNew York skyline and some of the beautiful displays. You'll be dropped off in Midtown to conclude your tour.
Itinerary
You'll be picked up at the bus stop for a comfortable bus ride to Brooklyn for a holiday extravaganza.
The neighborhoods of Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn know how to celebrate the holidays.
Upon arrival, we'll walk through the neighborhoods gawking at the amazing lights and displays.
You may even meet the owners and creators of some of these displays.
On your way back to Manhattan, you'll see the spectacular New York skyline and some of the beautiful displays.
You'll be dropped off at the pickup spot to conclude your tour.
List of Attractions
The Neighborhood of Dyker Heights - is a residential neighborhood in the southwest corner of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City and its residents are predominately of Italian descent.
The Neighborhood of Bay Ridge - is a residential neighborhood in the southwest corner of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City and its residents are predominately of Italian, Irish, Greek and Arab descent.
Plenty of Christmas decorations, lights and displays
Iconic view of NYC Skyline -Only one in the world!
Enjoy a fascinating, fully guided bus day tour from New York to Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. This is the best way to explore the heart of American history and politics in just one day. Learn about the colonial era, the American Revolution, and the Civil War as you journey through time and place.
We'll depart from New York and head south on our fully guided tour, passing through the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before arriving in Washington, D.C. Our first major stop is Capitol Hill, home of the U.S. Congress, where you'll learn about the structure and function of the American government.
Next, we'll stop at the iconic White House, the official residence of the President of the United States, including the famous West Wing. This is a perfect photo opportunity and a chance to reflect on the power and history housed within its walls.
We'll then visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a powerful tribute to those who served and sacrificed. From there, we head to Arlington National Cemetery, where over 200,000 soldiers have been laid to rest since the Civil War. Here, you'll also visit the gravesite of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States.
Our tour continues with a stop at Union Station, a historic transportation hub and architectural gem that also features restaurants, shops, and other amenities. Before heading back, enjoy a panoramic city tour of Washington, D.C., taking in the grandeur of the National Mall and its many monuments.
At the end of the day, we'll return to New York City in the early evening. The drop-off will be at the original departure point. This is our most popular tour for many reasons -- the history, politics, the beauty of the city, and the amazing contrast to New York!
Tour Highlights:
Stop at the White House
Stop at the Capitol Building
Visit to Arlington National Cemetery & JFK's Gravesite
Tickets & Attraction Passes, Cruise & Water Tours+1 more
Service date
Attractions4us
1-3 hours
Flexible
Embark on a festive Holiday Cruise featuring Santa Claus himself. Sail around the Statue of Liberty and enjoy breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. Perfect entertainment for the entire family.
Select 60 or 90 minutes Holiday Cruise through New York City with Santa Claus as your special guest. Don't forget your camera as you sail within 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty, glide under the Brooklyn Bridge, and marvel at the world-famous skyline. It's the ultimate NYC holiday adventure.
Throughout this joyous cruise, Santa Claus will be available for complimentary photos. Create lasting holiday memories, and perhaps treat yourself to some hot chocolate and cookies. The full cash bar offers happy hour specials, beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks. You can also enjoy a variety of snacks and meals, including burgers, chicken fingers, nachos, hot dogs, and hot pretzels.
Narrated highlights will guide you as you cruise past Manhattan's iconic landmarks. Spot the Empire State Building, the Freedom Tower, the Manhattan Bridge, Ellis Island, Governor's Island, South Street Seaport, and more. Take advantage of the indoor and outdoor seating, along with large windows for optimal viewing.
The regular Cruise lasts 60 minutes, while the 90-minute evening cruiseextends further up the Hudson River, with lively music on the covered outdoor deck for dancing and mingling. Both cruises make a stop near the Statue of Liberty for perfect photo opportunities.
