Searching for a few memorable architecture tours in NYC? You reached the right place. There are hundreds of thought-out walking, boat, museum, restaurant, graffiti, and other tours throughout New York City’s most peculiar neighborhoods.
Tourists and as well as locals are always looking for new routes to explore the city’s rich history astonishing either at night time or during the day. An architecture tour in NYC is an opportunity to spend an unforgettable day and see new buildings and other achievements of urban planning, and city development.
So, if you are interested in learning more about NYC here are offMetro’s 5 amazing architecture tours for you with a special focus on modern building design.
5 Architecture Tours in NYC You Should Take in 2021:
1. Manhattan at Night by Boat
This tour is dedicated to Manhattan, looking splendidly even from dusk till dawn when you depart from Chelsea Pier. After the opening of Brooklyn Bridge with fireworks, architects and lighting designers present their work in a special way.
Find Hotels in and around NYC:
Today the lights of the “The City of Neon And Chrome” are especially impressive, because modern designers use a complex set of light sources, numerous shades, and even sophisticated software to work with these lighting systems. It may be hard to believe but the Statue of Liberty is even awe-inspiring at night lit by lights.
Time: approx. 2-3 hours in general
2. Around the Island of Manhattan on a Yacht
2. Around the Island of Manhattan on a YachtTraveling along the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers on board the yacht you are enjoying “swing bridges,” often considered minor-league in comparison to Brooklyn Bridge but still breath-taking. What to prefer: the view from the rear deck in a room with a controlled climate, or breathing in the fresh air on the outside deck – the choice is yours.
The yacht passes under all 18 bridges of NYC, providing excellent views of architecture, parks, and infrastructure: Chrysler and Woolworth buildings, Ellis Island, and Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Park.
Time: approx. 3 hours in general
3. TriBeCa Architecture by Walk
If you’re curious about TriBeCa, one of the oldest and richest neighborhoods in The Empire City, you will admire the historic buildings and almost 400 years of the island’s history during this tour. Residents of the city will get a new look at this area, and tourists will learn how it has transformed from agricultural land into a district of celebrities. The tour includes the Ghostbusters’ fire station and over 15 more locations.
Time: approx. 2-3 hours in general
4. Flatiron and Union Square Tour
4. Flatiron and Union Square TourA walk through two of New York’s most scenic districts, Flatiron and Union Square, lets you enjoy food and architecture at the same time. Caffe Lavazza, a famous handicraft shop of Italian cuisine, is a special place made for foodies who will appreciate the classic New York pastrami sandwich.
Another small place was opened back in 1929 and still has hundreds of happy visitors every day. This is Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop that you simply can not miss. The tour is centered around the Flatiron Building because of the unique architecture of this place.
At the green market, you can see street vendors, protesters, break-dancers, chanting devotees of Krishna, and city dwellers having lunch or taking a walk in the park. The small cafes all have a very peculiar interior, that often inspires property owners. If this happens to you too, some examples of such furniture you can find at NY Furniture Outlets.
Time: approx. 3 hours in general
5. NYC Photography Tour by Walk
5. NYC Photography Tour by WalkIf you dream of taking cool pictures of the exemplary landmarks of Gotham City, then you should go on such a tour and not waste time trying to accomplish this task on your own. The tour is sure to include such places as the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Central Park, and other places looking amazing in photos.
You will admire the neo-Gothic facade of one of New York’s most famous churches, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and stroll down fashionable Saks Fifth Avenue. Just do not get into the department store, or you will lose track of time! From there, it is easy to go to the ornate fountain in Great Army Square – Pulitzer Fountain, then to Trump Tower, a 56-story glass tower.
The tour then proceeds to the Gapstow Bridge and to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), one of the finest museums in New York City. If this route attracts your attention, then you may also consider A Self-Guided Brooklyn Graffiti Tour.
Time: approx. 3.5 hours in general
Due to public health concerns in response to COVID-19, please consider that the tours are usually organized with precautions in place, as recommended by CDC-provided safety measures.
Karen works for a big hedge fund, she’s awesome with numbers and loves what she does, but above all – she loves traveling. Whenever she’s on the road, she tries to get into the gritty tiny details of every location she explores.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram