Big Onion Walking Tours
Big Onion Walking Tours
5
Cultural ToursHistorical & Heritage ToursWalking ToursPrivate Tours
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
Full view
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
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,144 reviews
Excellent
1,001
Very good
97
Average
15
Poor
21
Terrible
10
Chris
1 contribution
Oct 2021
Anyone from NYC should visit Hudson, NY and hire Big Onion as their tour guide to show them around town with its history. They'll discuss the different time periods of Hudson and its people who make things happen. You will also get to know about the interesting architecture in the city.
I recommend that you use Big Onion as your tour guide if you'll be visiting this small and pretty city along the Hudson River. Warren St is of course a place to hang out with its cute shops and restaurants.
I recommend that you use Big Onion as your tour guide if you'll be visiting this small and pretty city along the Hudson River. Warren St is of course a place to hang out with its cute shops and restaurants.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gail R
1 contribution
May 2021
Over the year, while introducing fellow teachers to New York City's resources for classroom/field trip use, I have taken many of the Big Onion's Walking Tours. They are all excellent, really top of the line.
Now, with a pandemic going on, I checked to see if they were doing virtual tours. They are, live on Zoom, and I participated in the Chealsea Highline Park tour. It was just as well done as their actual walking tours. The Big Onio live, virtual tours are interesting, well planned, well executed, and guided by a very professional staff of people who either working on or have advanced degrees. The young person who served as guide for the tour I took is working on her PhD. in art history, but she covered not only the arts/artists of the area, but the history, and people who made it what it is.
I would highly recommend both the actual walking tours and the virtual tours. And, as a retired teacher and librarian - I particularly recommend
\these programs for libraries and for class virtual field trips. Can't wait to try the next one..
Now, with a pandemic going on, I checked to see if they were doing virtual tours. They are, live on Zoom, and I participated in the Chealsea Highline Park tour. It was just as well done as their actual walking tours. The Big Onio live, virtual tours are interesting, well planned, well executed, and guided by a very professional staff of people who either working on or have advanced degrees. The young person who served as guide for the tour I took is working on her PhD. in art history, but she covered not only the arts/artists of the area, but the history, and people who made it what it is.
I would highly recommend both the actual walking tours and the virtual tours. And, as a retired teacher and librarian - I particularly recommend
\these programs for libraries and for class virtual field trips. Can't wait to try the next one..
Written May 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie C
New York City, NY1 contribution
Sep 2020
Took the virtual tour of the Upper East Side with guide Caroline Gillaspie last weekend.Wonderful vintage pictures and lesser known stories about NYC's first apartment building on Madison & 65th Street, the Park Avenue Armory, the homes of Henry Clay Frick, now the Frick museum, and rivalry with his former boss Andrew Carnegie, as well as the stormy competition between Caroline Schermerhorn Astor and Gertrude Whitney. The tour also talks about nearby synagogues and cathedrals and Central Park and their meaning to the city . The tour guide is a native NYer from the Upper East Side and art history scholar, so the commentary on ayrtwork sets her tour apart from others. I have a new appreciation for the buildings I've admired on Fifth and Madison avenues. It's a beautiful part of the city!
Written September 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina D
2 contributions
Jun 2022
We booked Seth Kamil, owner of Big Onion Tours, to join our company on a private dinner cruise as a tour guide and historian. This was an extremely important event for our company as it was a dinner for our international Board of Directors.
To start the evening off our bus drive dropped us off at the wrong pier -- Seth ran out in the rain and escorted our party to the boat so we did not get lost.
He first got on the microphone to kick off our event and, at the insistence of our guests, he ended up staying on the microphone for the majority of the evening. He was able to answer everyone's questions, point out landmarks and provide us with background information, and keep the conversation naturally going.
Throughout the dinner and even to this day, we have received kudos for bringing Seth along. If we ever do an event of this nature again we will certainly reach back out. I'd highly reccommend Seth and Big Onion Tours for your upcoming trip or event!
To start the evening off our bus drive dropped us off at the wrong pier -- Seth ran out in the rain and escorted our party to the boat so we did not get lost.
He first got on the microphone to kick off our event and, at the insistence of our guests, he ended up staying on the microphone for the majority of the evening. He was able to answer everyone's questions, point out landmarks and provide us with background information, and keep the conversation naturally going.
Throughout the dinner and even to this day, we have received kudos for bringing Seth along. If we ever do an event of this nature again we will certainly reach back out. I'd highly reccommend Seth and Big Onion Tours for your upcoming trip or event!
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory S
1 contribution
Mar 2022
Big Onion tours are a NY institution! For the last 15 years I've been bringing my 11th grade U.S. History classes on the Lower East Side Walking and Eating tour. I never get tired of it! The guides are always top notch and the owner Seth is a great pleasure to work with. This is not just a "job" for the guides. They are passionate about NY History and are eager to answer questions, show you the hidden sights, and share all the many great stories the city has to offer. I frequently highly recommend this (and all Big Onion tours) to friends, and especially out of towners.
Written April 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Schade805
Seattle, WA7 contributions
Oct 2021
I took two Big Onion tours while in NYC, and enjoyed them both. It's a great, affordable way to see parts of the city and noticing things you wouldn't otherwise see. I also really enjoyed getting the historical contexts for the areas.
Written November 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HIllary L
San Diego, CA130 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
History Made Fun!Discover NYC and its past from enthusiastic history students who love sharing their knowledge and research while exploring crucial sites in the city that you’ve never before noticed. I’ve done three tours and greatly enjoyed each one. Most recently Melanie Rush took us to Immigrant NY-a walk through the East Village and two centuries of the past—the Irish, the Africans, the Italians, the Russian Jews, and the Chinese. Her excitement about the stories she told was contagious. I highly recommend Big Onion (and Melanie) to English speaking visitors, current residents, and even native New Yorkers.
Written July 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew B
3 contributions
Jun 2022
Stellar tour with Justine, who was a great guide. She took the time to get to know everyone and hear about each person's interests and background. She gave a great mix of memorable anecdotes/details and context. A good amount of walking, but enough time in the shade to not overheat. Excellent "Immigrant New York" tour of the Lower East Side.
Written June 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaki
3 contributions
Sep 2020
I am thrilled to be able to 'visit' New York again through the virtual tours offered by Big Onion. I participated in "Immigrant New York" this week, and the tour was informative, interesting, entertaining, and well worth the nominal cost. Until I can get back to the City, I will definitely be signing up for more virtual tours through Big Onion.
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason C
1 contribution
Jul 2021
Our guide, Erica, was great. She took the time to answer all of our questions and even listen to some guests life stories along the way!
She was an encyclopedia of knowledge and exceeded our expectations. The tour was fun, informative, and the 2 hours flew by.
I would highly recommend this tour to any history lovers, as well as any tourists that just want to learn more about the history of New York.
Thanks Erica!
She was an encyclopedia of knowledge and exceeded our expectations. The tour was fun, informative, and the 2 hours flew by.
I would highly recommend this tour to any history lovers, as well as any tourists that just want to learn more about the history of New York.
Thanks Erica!
Written July 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. Where does your Historic Harlem Tour end up? I'm trying to figure out what to do for two hours afterwards...
Written February 29, 2020
Sorry for the delay in responding! The Harlem tour usually ends either near the Apollo Theater on West 125th Street, or, we end back where we start - in front of the Schomburg Center at 135th Street. It really depends on what is happening in the neighborhood that day.
Please note: the tour does NOT start near City Hall Park!!
Seth Kamil, Big Onion Tours
Written March 4, 2020
I will be taking your tour this month. I know you walk at a moderate pace. Do you stop frequently for discussion? I have no problem walking but I have to stop often for mini rest periods.
Written September 14, 2018
Thanks for your note. We walk between stops but do stop when addressing tour participants. Can not guarantee places to sit however.
All walks run two hours and we cover roughly two miles in that time.
Also, as noted on our website, Central Park and The Brooklyn Bridge and Heights outings involve the longest distance.
Hope that helps
Seth @ Big Onion Walking Tours
Written September 14, 2018
Hi. I'm interested in taking part to one tour of yours in August, but we are Italian and I fear we will have difficult in understanding the explanation in English, maybe because you talk too quickly...
Written May 24, 2018
Thank you for your note. Our walks are lead in the English language. All our guides have extensive teaching backgrounds and generally do not speak very quickly and are happy to answer questions or offer further explanations. We often have many non-native English speakers on our walks. Hope you join us! Seth Kamil, President Big Onion Walking Tours
Written May 24, 2018
How do,you sign up for one of the big onion tours.
Thank you
Written October 16, 2015
Thank you for reaching out to us via TripAdvisor. We do recommend advance reservations, but the only tours that require them are the Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour and the America’s Museum Tour. Reservations can be made via the green “Book Now” button this is with each tour description page on our website. We have attempted to make our website (TripAdvisor won't allow me to say our site address) user-friendly with a series of tabs to access specific tour information. Big Onion does not offer every tour every day. For an accurate schedule of upcoming public tours please click the “Schedule” icon. This will give a day-by-day calendar of upcoming tours over the next few months. Please click the “Tours” icon for brief descriptions of tours along with meeting site, subway directions & a “map” option to graphically show the meeting site. Our tours are searchable based on geography and theme as well.
Our tours are given rain or shine. We do reserve the right to cancel tours for extreme or dangerous weather. Any & all schedule updates will appear on our hotline (888) 606-WALK by 9:00 a.m. the morning of any given date.
If you have specific questions that cannot be answered by our website please do not hesitate to email again.
Best, Seth Kamil, President
Written October 16, 2015
Greetings Big Onion from Paris....
I've been trying, without success, to open your website. Is your website open to foreign countries? My husband and I will be in New York from April 11 - 18 and would be greatly interested in taking a couple of your tours.
Thank you kindly for your response.
Diana and Pascal
Written April 1, 2015
Thank you for your note. Our website works world-wide. On occasion our server/host does overnight upgrades that may take our site offline for a short time. Please retry our site - perhaps going directly to our site at bigonion. Followed by "com", rather than through trip advisor? In April we offer public walking tours daily, with multiple tours a day Friday through Monday.
Best, Seth Kamil, President
Written April 1, 2015
663eric
Rugby, United Kingdom
We are visiting New York at the end of August ,looking for a walk over Brooklyn Bridge /Brooklyn .When will your schedule be available?
Written March 20, 2015
Thanks for your note. We generally set our public tour calendar about 4 months in advance. I anticipate August being added in mid to late April. You are welcome to email me through our website with your travel dates and, if possible, can try to schedule that walk during your visit. Cannot guarantee but certainly happy to try.
Seth Kamil, President
Written March 20, 2015
Visiting New York City in September 2015 - Staying Mid-Town. want to do some walking tours....... all over manhatten. Will check out the tours for September when the Dates are published...... Very interested in History of Manhatten.. Staying at the Hilton Mid-Town.
Rosemary Robertson. Facebook.
Written March 18, 2015
Thank you for your note. We will be offering public "show up" walking tours daily all year long. Our schedule is added to our website about four months in advance. Walks last about two hours and we take a moderate walking pace.
We look forward to having you join us on a tour!
Seth Kamil, President
Written March 18, 2015
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