8 Best Bronx Tours in NY

The Bronx is one of New York's most popular neighbourhoods. From lights at the zoo to walking tours, you'll always find interesting things to see in this area.
8 Best Bronx Tours in NY

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The Bronx is much more than just danger and crime; the truth is that this neighbourhood, which is considered one of the most popular and well-known in North America, has so much more to offer tourists.

This is a place you simply must include on your list of things to see and do in New York, as it gives you a clearer picture of the city’s different facets – in fact, one of the most authentic sides of New York. Read on to discover the best tours of the Bronx.

1. Bus tour of New York’s neighbourhoods: Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens

New York Sightseeing Bus| ©CarDun78
New York Sightseeing Bus| ©CarDun78

On this comprehensive tour of New York City, you’ll discover the city’s most popular neighbourhoods, such as Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. It’s an experience of contrasts, as you’ll also have the chance to see Harlem and Little Italy, and find great places to eat in Chinatown at your own expense.

Not only will you have the chance to take plenty of photos at each of the places where you stop, but you’ll also learn the history behind each of these locations. Your Spanish-speaking guide will show you the city’s contrasts and demonstrate that New York is much more than just 20 things to see and do in Manhattan.

It’s a great tour for people visiting New York for the first time who want to explore beyond the usual tourist attractions. But it’s also an excellent tour for people who have been to New York before and have the impression that the Bronx is all about criminal gangs and danger.

Points of interest

  • Price: From €40 per person.
  • Duration: The tour lasts approximately 5 hours.
  • Transport: This tour is conducted by coach with all modern amenities.

Book your bus tour of Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens

2. Graffiti tour of the South Bronx on foot

Walking through New York| ©Hellotickets
Walking through New York| ©Hellotickets

This tour is specially designed for young people who appreciate urban art and want to discover the places in New York where you can see plenty of it. Almost the entire walk takes place in the South Bronx, where you can take as many photos of street art as you like.

You’ll also hear commentary from the tour guides, who’ll tell you everything you need to know about urban art and how it has taken over the whole city. It’s a tour you can enjoy with your friends and family, but bear in mind, this is an experience you’ll only truly enjoy if you appreciate art in all its forms. If you’d like to continue with the graffiti tour, you can take a graffiti workshop in Brooklyn, very close to the Bronx.

Points of interest

  • Price: This tour starts from €51 per person.
  • Duration: The tour lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Transport: The entire tour is on foot, and if you’d like to be picked up from your hotel, you’ll travel in a comfortable vehicle.

Book a graffiti tour in New York

3. Hip Hop Culture Tour in the Bronx

Inside the Hip Hop Museum| ©Randy Patrigon
Inside the Hip Hop Museum| ©Randy Patrigon

During this tour of the Bronx, your guide will focus on showing you all the places that pioneered the birth of the hip-hop genre in the United States. Along the way, you’ll visit everything from the Hip Hop Museum to the most popular and iconic spots where the movement began.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this tour is the stories told by the people who helped shape the legacy of hip-hop. So the tour is more than just places; it also includes stories and personalities who recount their own journey within this urban and popular music genre.

This tour is highly recommended for fans of the genre, and the best part is that you can form your own group and set off on this adventure with your friends and family, without having to share the experience with strangers.

Points of interest

  • Price: From 500 euros per group.
  • Duration: This is a full-day tour that can last up to 8 hours.
  • Transport: The tour takes place on board a private coach with all the comforts.

4. Private tour of the Bronx and other NYC neighbourhoods

Entrance to the Apollo Theatre in Harlem| ©Ken Yuel
Entrance to the Apollo Theatre in Harlem| ©Ken Yuel

On this private tour of New York’s neighbourhoods, you’ll gain a deep insight into the urban culture of these popular areas. You’ll discover the lifestyle of families on this side of the city and, above all, gain access to the most interesting tourist spots in the Bronx or Queens, including those you’d see on some of the best tours in Harlem or Brooklyn.

In a single day, you’ll be able to see four of the five boroughs that make up New York City , and the tour guide will tell you everything you need to know about each one. You’ll also have the chance to stop at a restaurant to sample some New York cuisine.

You’ll visit the Coney Island boardwalk whilst taking plenty of photos of the beautiful views this part of the Big Apple has to offer. It’s a bus tour you can enjoy with your family or friends, offering a much richer experience than a trip to Upper and Lower Manhattan.

Points of interest

  • Price: From €66 per person, subject to change depending on group size.
  • Duration: This full-day tour lasts approximately 6 to 7 hours.
  • Transport: The tour takes place entirely on board a fully equipped coach.

Book a private tour of the Bronx and other neighbourhoods

5. Bronx bike tour for small groups

Bike tour| ©Gwenael Piaser
Bike tour| ©Gwenael Piaser

On this bike tour through the Bronx, you’ll discover some of the neighbourhood’s most iconic spots, such as the stairs where the famous Joker scene was filmed, and experience what it’s like to visit Yankee Stadium and other tourist attractions.

This tour, which is one of the best bike tours in New York, is led by a tour guide who will be on hand to answer all your questions and address any concerns. What’s more, you’ll be cycling along the safest cycle paths you’ll find in the Bronx.

Points of interest

  • Price: From €114 per person.
  • Duration: This tour lasts approximately seven hours.
  • Mode of transport: The entire tour is by bike.

6. Walking tour of the Bronx’s most interesting sights

Bronx Criminal Court| ©Gendery G
Bronx Criminal Court| ©Gendery G

You’ll love this walking tour because not only will you discover interesting places, but you’ll also experience the Bronx as if you were a local, walking through its streets and getting to know its culture. You’ll be accompanied by a tour guide and your safety is guaranteed throughout the tour.

But on this tour, you won’t just visit the most iconic sites, but also those with a darker history, such as the criminal court, where cases involving crimes committed in the Bronx district are heard. During this tour, you’ll also have the chance to grab a bite to eat and a drink at your own expense before continuing with the walk.

Points of interest

  • Price: From €28 per person.
  • Duration: The tour lasts between 3 and 4 hours.
  • Transport: This tour is entirely on foot. You must make your own way to the meeting point where the tour begins.

7. Pizza tour through Manhattan

Pizza, fast food in New York| ©Jeremy Keith
Pizza, fast food in New York| ©Jeremy Keith

This is one of my favourite tours because it’s all about food. It’s really a tour worth doing because, although it starts in Manhattan, you’re sure to end up in other New York boroughs such as the Bronx.

During the tour, you’ll discover the city’s best pizza spots, which are undoubtedly among the best places to eat in New York, and of course you’ll have the chance to sample the pizza prepared at each one.

After exploring the area and taking a food tour of Manhattan, you’ll most likely end up somewhere in Little Italy in the Bronx, sampling the best American pizza.

Points of interest

  • Price: From €59 per person.
  • Duration: Around 2½ hours.
  • Transport: The tour is on foot, but you’ll need to make your own way to the meeting point.

Book your Manhattan food tour

8. Bronx Zoo Tour

Zoo entrance| ©Shinya Suzuki
Zoo entrance| ©Shinya Suzuki

One of the most interesting and fun places for the whole family is undoubtedly the Bronx Zoo. During this tour , you’ll discover the animals at the Bronx Zoo and also get to see how they behave in an environment that mimics their natural habitat.

Although it isn’t a city tour covering the whole of the Bronx neighbourhood, it is a great place to visit within North America’s most popular neighbourhood. On this type of tour, you’ll not only pay for admission but also for a guide who will tell you everything you need to know about the place and the species found there.

You can also take this tour on your own, simply by buying a ticket to the zoo. This way, you can explore the place at your own pace and discover all the points of interest within the grounds.

Points of interest

  • Price: Zoo tickets are available from €41 upwards.
  • Duration: These zoo tours can last between 3 and 4 hours.
  • Transport: This tour takes place on foot within the zoo, but you must make your own way to the zoo gates.

Book your tickets for the Bronx Zoo

Duration of tours of the Bronx

Bronx Botanical Garden| ©Melody Ann Crespo
Bronx Botanical Garden| ©Melody Ann Crespo

These tours are usually short, lasting around two to three hours, although in most cases this depends largely on what you want to see as a visitor. It also depends a great deal on the arrangements you make with the tour operator.

Another factor determining the duration of these tours is how you plan to get around the Bronx. Whether you go by car, on foot or by bike, it will take a little longer or a little less time.

Depending on where you start the tour, the duration may be longer or shorter. But if it’s a tour that starts and ends in the Bronx, then as a general rule this type of tour should last between two and three hours, as I mentioned earlier.

What will I see on this type of tour?

Aerial view of Yankee Stadium in New York| ©Nick Fewings
Aerial view of Yankee Stadium in New York| ©Nick Fewings

Essentially, on this type of tour, you’ll see everything the Bronx has to offer, from shops to cultural attractions located in this popular New York neighbourhood.

Among the most interesting attractions you’ll find in the Bronx are Yankee Stadium and others such as museums dedicated to street art and hip-hop, one of the most iconic genres in this part of the city.

You can also visit the Bronx Zoo, where you’ll find animal species from all over the world gathered in one place. This is one of the best experiences you can have in the Bronx, especially if you’re visiting with children.

Tips for taking a guided tour of the Bronx

New York| ©Jeffrey Czum
New York| ©Jeffrey Czum
  • Always go with someone who knows the whole Bronx area, its busiest streets and the safest places to walk.
  • Don’t carry too many valuables, and if you do, make sure you’re careful; it’s not a dangerous area across the board, but there are certain neighbourhoods that are.
  • Do not walk down streets that are too deserted, nor through the communal areas of apartment blocks.

Reviews from other travellers

4.7
· 12962 Reviews
  • D
    D. V.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The experience of exploring the neighbourhoods was unique and enriching, but I think they could include more photo stops at iconic locations.
  • Z
    Z. C.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    Exploring the city's most iconic neighbourhoods with an expert guide was an unforgettable experience, highly recommended!
  • G
    G. M.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved seeing the city's most iconic neighbourhoods in one day. I always wanted to see the cultural differences in New York and this tour allowed me to do just that.
  • A
    A. R.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    This tour is the best, you see everything that's cool about New York. Highly recommended, don't miss it.
  • N
    N. A.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    I went with my sister on the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens contrasts tour and we loved it - a unique way to see the real New York!