About this experience
Step into New York’s gritty past on this self-guided walking tour through infamous neighborhoods like Five Points and Chinatown. Starting at Collect Pond Park, you’ll follow the footsteps of Gilded Age millionaires who “went slumming” in these squalid areas. Discover how Jacob Riis exposed the horrors of the slums, explore gangland history, and learn about the rise of tattooing, tap dancing, and blackface minstrel acts. Visit historic sites like the African Burial Ground, Chinatown’s famous restaurants, and the Bowery’s notorious saloons. With actors, sound effects, and music, this two-hour tour vividly brings New York’s untold stories to life, offering an unforgettable journey through the city’s darker side.
At a glance
- Duration: 2 hr 15 min
- Private experience
What is included
- Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
- The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- Personal expenses for attractions not included during the tour
Itinerary and highlights
Pass by this historic site, once a freshwater source that became a dumping ground, marking the early transformation of the area into one of New York’s most infamous slums.
See this powerful memorial honoring the African Americans buried here in the 18th century, with an option to explore its poignant symbolic designs.
Walk through this notorious intersection, once home to New York's most dangerous slum, known for its rampant crime, poverty, and social upheaval.
Stroll past this public park, historically known as Mulberry Bend, a hub of crime and poverty, now a bustling community space in Chinatown.
Admire this monument dedicated to the founder of modern China, located in a vibrant part of Chinatown steeped in history and culture.
Pause outside this legendary dessert shop, famous for its unique flavors, where you can choose to grab a treat on your own time.
Pass by this beloved restaurant in Chinatown, a favorite of Anthony Bourdain, known for its traditional Cantonese cuisine.
View this James Beard-recognized eatery from the outside, renowned for serving authentic Chinese food since 1938.
Marvel at the exterior of New York’s largest Buddhist temple, home to a golden Buddha, with an option to step inside and explore.
Walk down this famous street, once the site of bloody Tong gang wars, now a vibrant part of Chinatown's history.
Meeting and pickup information
- The tour begins in Collect Pond Park at the intersection of Centre Street and Leonard Street. By subway: take the 6, J or Z to Canal Street Station.
Languages and tickets
- English — Audio
- English — Written
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews and photos
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