Add dates

Washington Square Park, Lower Manhattan

Washington Square Park, Lower Manhattan: Our most recommended tours and activities

New York City: Gangsters and Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour

1. New York City: Gangsters and Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour

Take a two-hour guided walking tour through some of NYC's most famous neighborhoods and discover their stories of gangsters and ghosts from the city’s past. The Five Points, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greenwich Village were known as the vice districts during the 1920s and 30s. See the places where gangsters such as John Gotti and Lucky Luciano used to party, make deals, and carry out threats. Visit haunted locations and old crime scenes on a tour led by historians. Spooky tales of the ghosts and gangsters of NYC's streets will be shared along the way. Stop at The Five Points, known for hosting New York's most infamous gangs, Chinatown's "Blood Alley," haunted houses of the West Village, and the many restaurants where mafia murders occurred in Little Italy. Go inside the Godfather-featured Basilica of St Patrick. The tour is family friendly with frequent stops.

New York City: Greenwich Village 2-Hour Tour

2. New York City: Greenwich Village 2-Hour Tour

Explore New York’s most bohemian neighborhood on a 2-hour tour of Greenwich Village, and discover its reputation as a magnet for intellectuals, artists, and beat poets. Meet your guide on the corner of Waverly Place and 6th Avenue and set off in the footsteps of Henry James and Edgar Allan Poe. Learn about artists, such as Jackson Pollack, who gave the neighborhood its freewheeling identity. Hear stories of radical thinkers like Upton Sinclair and John Reed, who debated in smoky cafés. Feel the energy of “the Village” as you stroll from Washington Square Park to the haunts and hideaways of Dylan Thomas, Jimi Hendrix and Lenny Bruce. Savor stories of how the Beat Generation flourished here, and uncover some of New York's rarest sights - including the smallest piece of private property in the city! Along the way, you will go to Jones Street, where Bob Dylan's album cover “The Freewheeling Bob Dylan” was shot, see the 1st integrated NYC club at the Cafe Society, learn about the birth of gay rights at the Stonewall Inn, and see the apartment building used in “Friends.” Admire the oldest wood frame house in the village, and finish your tour at 77 Bedford Street, former home of Issac Hendricks, and the Cherry Lane Theater, the oldest continuously running off Broadway theater in New York. End your tour at 7th Avenue South and Christopher Street, right in front of the 1 train.

Greenwich Village Ghost Tour

3. Greenwich Village Ghost Tour

Explore the darker side of Greenwich Village on a ghost tour after dark. Learn about the infamous Hanging Tree as you walk into the heart of Washington Square Park and see the arch while listening to spine-chilling stories from your local guide. Next, make your way over to the Brown Building, site of the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, where the victims still linger to this day. Walk up 5th Avenue and stop past the Church of the Ascension, haunted by the artist John Lafarge. See the most haunted house in Manhattan at 14 West 10th Street, home to 22 spirits and the site of several murders. Head into the heart of the West Village, pass the home of Emma Lazarus and one of the most beautiful libraries in New York City.  Hear about the ghost of a former mayor at 12 Gay Street, and pass the famous Stonewall Inn where the riots that led to the birth of gay rights began. Cross Christopher Street to visit the infamous speakeasy of Chumley's.

New York City: A Day in Manhattan Cycling Tour

4. New York City: A Day in Manhattan Cycling Tour

Pedal off from beneath the Manhattan Bridge and follow the East River Esplanade towards Southport Seaport. Learn the history of the shipping industry before going to Battery Park to get stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Cycle the Hudson River Greenway to arrive at Riverside Park. Next, explore the Upper West Side and grab a bite to eat in the Time Warner Building or from one of the many street vendors during a 30-minute food stop. Cycle the 6-mile loop of Central Park to experience the attraction the best way possible, and take a quick ride through Midtown Manhattan towards Times Square and the Empire State Building. Stop at Rockefeller Plaza and St. Patrick's Cathedral along the way. Head into the West Village to visit Washington Square Park. Ride through the East Village and into SoHo before going through Little Italy and China Town. Reach the East Side of Manhattan and get beautiful views of Long Island before the tour ends!

Greenwich Village Tour

5. Greenwich Village Tour

Begin your 2-hour tour at the corner of 6th Avenue and Waverly Place, and learn about the history of Greenwich Village. Head to the Edgar Allan Poe house and the Washington Square Hotel. Explore Washington Square Park, a former potter's field, and learn how this area became the destination for musicians and protesters. Visit the Brown Building, site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911, an event that led to the American labor movement. Head up McDougal Street, and see Cafe Wha, Cafe Reggio, and the Comedy Cellar. Learn where the best pizza in NYC is sold. Stroll down Christopher Street and visit the Stonewall Inn, where a riot in 1969 began America's Gay Rights Movement.

NYC: Private Personalized Tour with Driver and Guide

6. NYC: Private Personalized Tour with Driver and Guide

Your driver and top-rated NYC guide will pick you up in a luxury mini-van with a panoramic roof. They will provide you with their expert planning expertise, so that you can create your own personalized tour and visit the city sites that you want to see most. Maybe they include Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building or any of hundreds of equally fascinating attractions. Whatever is on your bucket list, you'll leave with unforgettable memories of the Big Apple.  Essential New York sites to consider: - Times Square - Strawberry Fields - Soho - Brooklyn Bridge - Saint Paul's Chapel - Central Park - Greenwich Village - Little Italy - Wall Street - The Dakota - Washington Square Park - Chinatown - Ground Zero - Empire State Building - Rockefeller Center - Fifth avenue - Flatiron building - Chelsea and Highline Park

New York Ghosts: Hauntings & Ghouls of Greenwich Village

7. New York Ghosts: Hauntings & Ghouls of Greenwich Village

New York City is known for its hustle and bustle, and has been the living space for many of America’s most historically significant people. With every step you take in this concrete jungle, there’s a good chance you’re coming across something that has a story to it that you’ve never heard before. Throughout this dense city filled with generations of historic events, there’s one area with a real reputation for paranormal activity: Greenwich Village. Come explore the dark side of Greenwich Village on this thrilling ghost tour by US Ghost Adventures. The town has been inundated with a history that is fascinating, tragic, and strange. Embark on a life-changing experience and explore a side of New York that few are brave enough to see. Throughout the tour you will visit 9 haunted locations in and around Greenwich Village whilst seeing historical places that are home to some of the strangest tales you’ve ever heard. You'll encounter the Jefferson Market Library, where architectural curiosity catches the eye due to its unique tower. If you look closer however you’ll see a dark past, as this building once served as a prison for Manhattan’s female criminals, and was also the first night court. Following that you will visit the site of the Triangle Factory Fire, a tragic event which led to the death of nearly 150 people. You'll conclude by visiting the Mark Twain House and a haunted restaurant, where ghosts from 200 years ago have been seen consistently since 1910. Whilst at the Mark Twain House you can see if you can catch a glimpse of the famous author walking about in a white suit, which many witnesses claim to have seen.

NYC: Food Tasting and Washington Square Park Walking Tour

8. NYC: Food Tasting and Washington Square Park Walking Tour

From the crazy colors of the mini cupcakes to the cheesy slice of pizza or hot falafel ball, there are many iconic foods to sample on this fully guided walking tour of Greenwich Village and New York City’s fun foods. Learn about the history and the landmarks of the Village and make sure you bring an appetite.  Afterwards, visit the famous Washington Square Park, a 9.75-acre (39,500 m2) public park in Lower Manhattan, New York City. One of New York City's most well known public parks, it's an icon as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. It's operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The park is an open space, dominated by the Washington Square Arch at the northern gateway. Spend some time enjoying the music and entertainment around the Washington Square fountain area that has become one of the most popular spots for New Yorkers and tourists. NYU owns most of the buildings around the park including one of the United States' most acclaimed law schools. You'll also visit the famous McDougall and Bleecker Streets where you can always find a pub open at any hour.

NYC: Cupcake Bakery Crawl in Greenwich Village

9. NYC: Cupcake Bakery Crawl in Greenwich Village

Learn about the history of cupcakes as you visit some of the best small bakeshops in New York City. Your host will take you to secret bakeries, starting in the West Village and continuing to the East Village as you search for the best the city has to offer. From the mini classic buttercream cupcake to the red velvet cream-cheese cupcake, you will discover a range of eclectic flavors baked daily. This bakery crawl will take about 1.5 hours throughout which you will walk for 1.5 miles. Visit the local bakeries and taste some of the most desired cupcakes the locals rave about, whilst also discovering local art and music as you crawl from the famous Washington Square Park to the streets of the East Village. You will depart from this experience with a newly discovered love for New York's Bakeries and the East Village. You will also of course have the opportunity to shop at the bakeries to take some delicious goodies home to share.

New York Famous Artists: Manhattan Outdoor Escape Game

10. New York Famous Artists: Manhattan Outdoor Escape Game

Start your quest at The White Horse Tavern. It will take you between 1.5 to 2 hours to complete and you can also explore at your own pace. Pause the game and resume anytime from the location where you paused it. You will finish at The Bitter End. As you solve challenges, the story unfolds and exact directions on your phone will guide you to the next location. Up for a fun challenge? After your booking, you will receive an email on how to download the game to your phone. You can play on your own, in a large group, or in several smaller groups that compete against each other and meet at the final stop of the game. For larger groups, one person can purchase access for the entire group by selecting the number of people in the group. All group members will be able to download and play the city game on their phones. Alternatively, each person can make their own purchase.

11 activities found
Sort by:

Other Sightseeing Options in Washington Square Park, Lower Manhattan

Want to discover all there is to do in Washington Square Park, Lower Manhattan? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Washington Square Park, Lower Manhattan

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 347 reviews

The tour gave an insight into the New York of the past compared to today. The guide Steve lived in the neighborhood and knew it inside out. It knows the local flavor and gives a personal picture of how the neighborhood was and has become. Fascinating!

great tour, very fun and informative, the guide knew a lot about the history of the city and especially about the gangsters ;)

This was the perfect tour to check out a city and get to know a lot of things before you visit each one.

Great experience, Pierre was lovely and full of information!

Gordon is a great guide! Fun, lively and well-informed.