Big Onion Walking Tours
Big Onion Walking Tours
5
Cultural Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours • Private Tours
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9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Big Onion offers both In Person and Virtual Tours! All programs outing are listed on our website and are open to the public. We have an advance schedule of outings and detailed descriptions. Since 1991, Big Onion has been leading informative, award-winning, and innovative walking tours in the historic districts and ethnic neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Manhattan and the City of Hudson (Upstate NY). All tours are lead by PhD candidates in American history or a related field. Big Onion has been called "The Best Walking Tour in New York" by New York Magazine; "Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests" by The Village Voice; and "One of the best urban walking tours in the world" by Forbes. Big Onion is an approved educational vendor for the NYC Department of Education and a Programming Partner with a number of different local institutions. Our In Person tours are presented with limited participants and we adhere to CDC & New York Covid health and safety protocols.
New York City, New York

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2022

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Travelers talk about
(91 reviews)
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

5.0
1,102 reviews
Excellent
962
Very good
95
Average
15
Poor
20
Terrible
10

Margaret G
1 contribution
Mar 2023
Every time I go on a big onion tour I learn something new. Often a lot new. They are all historians and so very knowledgeable. Plus I believe they are all headed to a university classroom so the presentation is high quality. It's like reliving a mobile class with your favorite professor!
Written March 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Caatherine S
Paris, France13 contributions
Feb 2023
Being a New Yorker I was thrilled to learn so many things I did not know.
Loved walking the 5points.
Watched the movie before and the tour brought it al together.
Justine was enthusiastic,fun,knowledgeable. We all enjoyed the tour !
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

MJ S
1 contribution
Jan 2023 • Couples
Tour guide was Adam, a true historian. He was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. The food choices were very good and each had significance to the history of the area. The service of Big Onion tours is beyond compare. I highly recommend this tour. I have been on others by Big Onion and I am never disappointed. Make time for this!
Written January 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Meredith S
1 contribution
Jan 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour through lower Manhattan and the Financial District.
The area is rich with history and our guide, Drew, was extremely knowledgeable, patient with our questions, friendly and personable. We were thrilled to discover so much information and history which was never taught in school. As native New Yorkers, we thought we had a pretty good understanding of NYC history but were happily surprised to find that there was so much more to learn.
Seth at Big Onion was very accommodating when I needed to reschedule due to illness. Am looking forward to booking another tour with them.
Written January 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Robin H
1 contribution
Dec 2022
Went on two NYC walking tours, during our stay - Historic Harlem and Lower Manhattan - they were both wonderful. The guides are all graduate students - very knowledgeable, terrific storytellers and teachers. We loved this!
Written January 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

hazi012
Southampton, UK21 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
Justine was such a great tour guide very knowledgeable, I would highly recommend this tour company to anyone visiting New York for a few days.
Written January 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

hannahbQ3482HG
Muttenz, Switzerland4 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
The Lower Manhattan Tour with Drew was fantastic! A lot of high quality content packed in 2 hours, I loved it. Thank you Drew and Big Onion!
Written November 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Elizabeth S
1 contribution
Oct 2022
We had an absolutely outstanding experience on the Immigrant, NY Big Onion Tour of lower Manhattan on Sunday, October 16. I believe our tour guide's name was Adam. a PHD candidate currently teaching in the CUNY system. We were delighted to learn from him that all of the Big Onion Tour guides are academics. The depth and breadth of Adam's knowledge was surpassed only by his clear interest and enthusiasm in his subject matter. Three of four of us had worked in lower Manhattan for many years and we learned much about our former workplace. Not only do we look forward to enjoying more tours but we are eager to share Big Onion with our family and friends as we are sure they will enjoy the experience as much as we did.
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

452eleanorh
San Bruno, CA3 contributions
Oct 2022
Our tour guide leader was very nice, well informed and gave us an organized story of the architecture on the upper east side. We learned all about the background of owners who built these fabulous houses and buildings. And the backstory of people who wheeled and dealed back then was fascinating.

Love these tours and shall come back again for another one soon!
Written October 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

sophie h
Paris, France33 contributions
Sep 2022
Very good visit of Harlem , with Stephanie , very interesting guide , eager to share her knowledge about history , the city , the neighborhood with anecdoctes making even more concrete the facts . I could not join the group right at the beginning because of traffic , but I joined the hotline who told me where to reach the group 15' later . I thought I would miss the tour , but no ; what a relief !
thanks for this efficient organisation !
Small group (8) and very good price value
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Big Onion Walking Tours (New York City) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go