Come with me...and I will show you the heart & soul, glorious history, hidden delights and inspiring creativity of the real New York. My New York.







Joseph Cohen: your savvy, stylish, witty, welcoming and occasionally modest guide. The preferred choice of New York's premier hotels.


I’m passionate about New York. And fortunate to share this amazing city with travelers from around the world. My tours are highly personalized, built around the interests and ages of every visitor. That’s why I make every effort to speak to guests before they arrive. Each itinerary is a range of experiences – a mix of iconic landmarks, off-the-radar attractions and shops, fascinating stories enriched with historic photos – and, of course, stops along the way for the city’s best nibbles.


Years of tour guide experience — enriched with a career as an award-winning copywriter and author of five bestselling books – ensures that every Extraordinary New York adventure is filled with discovery, imagination and a generous splash of humor. I can't wait to meet you!


Officially Licensed New York City Tour Guide.




Customized walking tours.
Luxury Car & Driver Tours.
The choice is yours!


One size fits all? Never! Every Extraordinary New York Tour is unique. The following itineraries are perfect ways to immerse yourself in the history and happening energy of New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Tours can be designed to match your enthusiasm for art, architecture, fashion, food, theatre – name it!


Walking tours are conducted at a leisurely pace. Car & Driver Tours let you experience even more of New York – and they’re ideal when there are children and when comfort and convenience are a priority.


Rates for all tours are $225/hour for up to 4 people – with a minimum of 3 hours. A modest surcharge for additional guests. The cost of food items, any admission fees and transportation is additional.



Greenwich Village Is All-Ways a Charmer

There's no place like the Village. That's why you'll love it.


Welcome to "the Village." For so many visitors, it's simply the best of New York. We're going to cover a lot of ground, from Stanford White's majestic Washington Square Arch to the elevated park called the High Line. Think of these stops as sightseeing "bookends" that couldn't be more unique, holding up the Village's fascinating narrative of cobblestone streets, (read more)

Greenwich Village Is All-Ways a Charmer

There's no place like the Village. That's why you'll love it.


Welcome to "the Village." For so many visitors, it's simply the best of New York. We're going to cover a lot of ground, from Stanford White's majestic Washington Square Arch to the elevated park called the High Line. Think of these stops as sightseeing "bookends" that couldn't be more unique, holding up the Village's fascinating narrative of cobblestone streets, speakeasy saloons, fabulous hidden courtyards, theatre history, gay rights, timeless coffee houses and the chicest new shops and restaurants. We'll explore them all!


With so many streets lined with magnificent 19th century homes, there's a wonderful human scale to Greenwich Village. Enjoy its comforting timelessness and luxurious quiet. As we get closer to the Hudson River, the first glimpse of the dazzling Whitney Museum of American Art comes into view, as well as the start of The High Line just next door. Let's climb the High Line stairs and see what the accolades are all about. If you're up for it, we'll follow its scenic landscaped route all the way to Manhattan's newest attraction: Hudson Yards. (show less)


Lower East Side – the Ultimate Melting Pot

A fascinating panorama of immigrant life, flavored with old-world tastes and treats.


Home to millions of German, Irish, Jewish, Italian and Asian immigrants throughout the 19th and early part of the 20th century, the Lower East Side is one of New York's most historic and vibrantly alive neighborhoods – and Extraordinary New York's most immersive tour experience. (read more)

Lower East Side – the Ultimate Melting Pot

A fascinating panorama of immigrant life, flavored with old-world tastes and treats.


Home to millions of German, Irish, Jewish, Italian and Asian immigrants throughout the 19th and early part of the 20th century, the Lower East Side is one of New York's most historic and vibrantly alive neighborhoods – and Extraordinary New York's most immersive tour experience. There's so much to see – row after row of tenements, inspiring synagogues, bustling street markets, Buddhist temples, all sharing the stage with the buzz of one-of-a kind boutiques and fabulous graffiti'd walls. There's so much to learn – dreams of a better life, impossible-to-imagine overcrowding, religious freedom, turf rivalry, cherished traditions adapting to a new world. And, rest assured, there's so much to savor—pastrami and cannolis and dim sum and fire-baked pizzas...and, if you're up for it, the city's trendiest cocktails.


My Lower East Side tour covers an unforgettable sweep of diverse neighborhoods, rich with history and very unique personalities. There are many ways to customize your Lower East Side experience, including guided visits to the Eldridge Street Synagogue and the Museum of Chinese in America — and a choice of authentic noshes & nibbles that might not score a Michelin star, but definitely a lot more fun! (show less)


Feeling Wonderful in Central Park

Experience the greenest paradise of this amazing city.


Every season is the perfect time to discover Central Park, one of the great masterpieces of American art. Visionary designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux transformed 843 acres of dusty shantytowns and small farms into a landscape of meadows and ponds, meandering paths and formal promenades that opened to the public in 1876. (read more)

Feeling Wonderful in Central Park

Experience the greenest paradise of this amazing city.


Every season is the perfect time to discover Central Park, one of the great masterpieces of American art. Visionary designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux transformed 843 acres of dusty shantytowns and small farms into a landscape of meadows and ponds, meandering paths and formal promenades that opened to the public in 1876. For New Yorkers of every economic strata, Central Park was a haven of calm and fresh air in a teeming city. Happy to report: nothing has changed!


Highlights of your Central Park visit:

  • Strawberry Fields, a living memorial to John Lennon
  • Bethesda Fountain and the Angels of the Waters statue
  • A stroll along the elegant Mall, shaded by the last remaining avenue of American Elms in North America
  • Panoramic Central Park views from newly restored Belvedere Castle
  • The Rambles – a rustic woodland of trails, flowers, a gentle stream and 230 species of birds
  • The Model Boat Pond – the perfect place to relax and have a snack
  • Fascinating historical footnotes all along the way
  • Celebrity spotting – see where the City's most famous residents live

Perhaps the most satisfying site of all is a Central Park bench waiting just for you. Check out the cyclists, skaters, parents and kids, sketch artists, rowers, drummers...and some of the cleverest squirrels anywhere. They're all sharing one amazing history-filled park that's never looked better. (show less)


It’s Time to Discover Harlem!

Every block reveals a vibrant history, stately homes, neighborhood pride…and the promise of fabulous food.


The story of Harlem is as lyrical as Ella singing “A-Tisket, a-tasket” at the Apollo, as powerful as a sermon at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, as unexpectedly serene as the porch-front homes on Astor Row, as delectable as the finger-licking ribs at Sylvia’s. You’ll see Harlem. Most important, you’ll feel Harlem. (read more)

It’s Time to Discover Harlem!

Every block reveals a vibrant history, stately homes, neighborhood pride…and the promise of fabulous food.


The story of Harlem is as lyrical as Ella singing “A-Tisket, a-tasket” at the Apollo, as powerful as a sermon at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, as unexpectedly serene as the porch-front homes on Astor Row, as delectable as the finger-licking ribs at Sylvia’s. You’ll see Harlem. Most important, you’ll feel Harlem.


Harlem (named after the Dutch village of Haarlem) is a world of discovery and surprises. We think of Harlem as a black community, but Harlem by 1910 was mostly white and Jewish – with the third largest Jewish population in the world next to the Lower East Side and Warsaw, Poland. Most of the synagogues have vanished. Many became beautiful churches, which you’ll see. My Harlem Experience Tour leads you along beautiful brownstone-lined streets from the late 19th century – and to Striver’s Row, with its Renaissance Revival townhouses designed by Stanford White. We’ll admire the magnificent Abyssinian Baptist Church. And we’ll stop by the home of poet Langston Hughes, one of the most influential figures of the Harlem Renaissance – a flourishing of African American art, music and theatre between the 1910 and 1930s.


Present-day Harlem is abuzz with creativity. Hungry for culture? Let’s visit el Museo del Barrio and the famed Schoenberg Center Library. Hungry for amazing dining? From jazz brunch at Red Rooster to fried chicken & waffles at Amy Ruth’s to scrumptious rugelach at Lee Lee’s, your Harlem tour is a personalized feast for all the senses. (show less)


The Metropolitan Museum's Absolute Best

Room after room of wonders—without getting lost!


The Met never stops amazing. But it can be amazingly overwhelming for the first-time visitor. With so many treasures spanning five thousand years, where do you start? The answer is simple: with me! The Met Museum is my home away from home. So let's explore it together...from the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Vermeer and Botticelli (read more)

The Metropolitan Museum's Absolute Best

Room after room of wonders—without getting lost!


The Met never stops amazing. But it can be amazingly overwhelming for the first-time visitor. With so many treasures spanning five thousand years, where do you start? The answer is simple: with me! The Met Museum is my home away from home. So let's explore it together...from the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Vermeer and Botticelli to a dazzling feast of ancient Peruvian gold...from Louis Comfort Tiffany's stained glass windows to the awesome Temple of Dendur...from heroic Greek sculptures to the famous jewel-bedecked "eggs" of Fabergé. You'll see the best of the best. And so will kids. Youngsters love the Met, and the all-time "Wow!" for kids of all ages is the Met's Armor and Arms collection. Even the horses are covered in glorious (and very heavy) hand-tooled armor.


The Met's special exhibits are as exciting and theatrical as a Broadway show, and they'll be highlights of our tour. One more must-see stop (weather permitting, in-season): the Met's rooftop with its breathtaking views of Manhattan and Central Park. It's the ideal place to relax and enjoy a cocktail.


The perfect amount of culture. Plenty of fun. Memorable moments for everyone. (show less)


A Stroll Through Broadway Musical History

If you love the theatre -and I know you do - this tour is for you.


The saga of the Great White Way is even more colorful than the spectacular signs in Times Square. We'll visit the theatres where legendary musicals were born: Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Into the Woods, Mama Mia – and that's just for openers. Of course, there's a fascinating story behind every show. (read more)

A Stroll Through Broadway Musical History

If you love the theatre - and I know you do - this tour is for you.


The saga of the Great White Way is even more colorful than the spectacular signs in Times Square. We'll visit the theatres where legendary musicals were born: Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Into the Woods, Mama Mia – and that's just for openers. Of course, there's a fascinating story behind every show. (Guess what? Many of these theatres were designed by a chap named Herbert Krapp!) Feel like singing? Go for it! We might just scare away the ghosts that haunt the Belasco and New Amsterdam theatres – as well as the pigeons crowning the statue of George M. Cohan.


Broadway and Times Square have a history with more ups and downs than the Coney Island coaster. We'll talk about the earliest days of 42nd street entertainment and gala opening nights and the how the New Year's Eve ball got its humble start. And we'll discuss the Disney-fication of Broadway. It may have homogenized our musical lineup, but it sure swept away the X-rated movie houses that took over the area.


The overture is about to begin. Curtain's up on My Broadway Musical Theatre tour! (show less)


Brooklyn Bridge's Early Morning* Magic

Is there a bridge that's more beloved? I don't think so!


You'll be glad you got up early! We'll start our Brooklyn Bridge crossing before the crowds get in the way of its majestic beauty. Brooklyn Bridge was the world's longest suspension bridge — an engineering marvel — when it opened in 1883, uniting Brooklyn and Manhattan into one great metropolis. (read more)

Brooklyn Bridge's Early Morning* Magic

Is there a bridge that's more beloved? I don't think so!


You'll be glad you got up early! We'll start our Brooklyn Bridge crossing before the crowds get in the way of its majestic beauty. Brooklyn Bridge was the world's longest suspension bridge — an engineering marvel — when it opened in 1883, uniting Brooklyn and Manhattan into one great metropolis. Today, its criss-crossing cables frame the Statue of Liberty and a spectacular skyline that climbs higher every day.


Pausing along the way, you'll learn about the Brooklyn Bridge's tragic and triumphant history.And you'll get a real sense of a timeless icon that continues to inspire poets and artists and movie makers.


As we reach the tree-shaded streets and stately mid-19th century townhouses of Brooklyn Heights, a calmer mood takes over. Every street offers a historic tale that only adds to the allure of Brooklyn's most regal neighborhood. A relaxing stop at the Promenade concludes a memorable morning. Sit back, and enjoy the world before you, from the families and pets passing by to a panoramic vista that could only be New York.


*Not an early bird? No problem. A memorable Brooklyn Bridge & Brooklyn Heights tour can be arranged throughout the day. (show less)


Lower Manhattan's History, Heartache and Brilliant Renewal

Come away with a real sense of how the City began and where it's headed.


Whether you're visiting for a weekend or you've lived here for years, you'll appreciate this amazing island all the more when you know something about its fascinating, rich history. (No quiz, I promise!) Look forward to a vibrant, century-spanning walk that takes us from the original settlement of the Dutch West India Company in 1642 to the site of George Washington's (read more)

Lower Manhattan's History, Heartache and Brilliant Renewal

Come away with a real sense of how the City began and where it's headed.


Whether you're visiting for a weekend or you've lived here for years, you'll appreciate this amazing island all the more when you know something about its fascinating, rich history. (No quiz, I promise!) Look forward to a vibrant, century-spanning walk that takes us from the original settlement of the Dutch West India Company in 1642 to the site of George Washington's inauguration in 1789, from the Art Deco towers that formed our first mighty skyline to the National September 11 Memorial, with its submerged waterfalls and the names of victims who will never be forgotten.


You'll also enjoy several river-front stops. Tall sail ships from the 1800s are reminders of what once was the busiest port in North America. Mega-million yachts tell a whole other story, quite a contrast to the harbor they share with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. (show less)


Gilded-Age Mansions and High-Class Gossip

Your Fifth Avenue excursion celebrates the fascinating story of endless wealth.


Put on your fanciest walking shoes! By the late 1800's, industrial tycoons and family dynasties with names like Astor, Vanderbilt, Frick and Carnegie were in fierce competition to build the most opulent mansions on upper Fifth Avenue. Many of these architectural gems are still standing, and you'll hear all about the extravagant and gossip-filled lifestyles of their legendary (read more)

Gilded-Age Mansions and High-Class Gossip

Your Fifth Avenue excursion celebrates the fascinating story of endless wealth.


Put on your fanciest walking shoes! By the late 1800's, industrial tycoons and family dynasties with names like Astor, Vanderbilt, Frick and Carnegie were in fierce competition to build the most opulent mansions on upper Fifth Avenue. Many of these architectural gems are still standing, and you'll hear all about the extravagant and gossip-filled lifestyles of their legendary owners as we make our way up one of the City's most illustrious Avenues.


Prestige art collection such as the Frick Museum, Jewish Museum, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and the Neue Galerie now occupy a number of these regal residences. The Met Museum – just across the street and taking over 14 acres of Central Park – could fill your entire visit, so I'll be sharing its must-see highlights. And you'll hear all about the uproar that ensued as the audacious spiral of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum began its rise in 1957. (We'll poke inside, for sure.)


There'll be several options for stylish snacks and drinks. And just enough time to take exciting detours, past celebrity homes and Madison Avenue's designer boutiques. As you'll discover, remnants of the Gilded Age are alive and well. (show less)






 
Read What Visitors Are Saying About
Extraordinary New York Tours






"Joseph planned a memorable car & driver adventure for our youngsters 2,4 and 7. No easy task! From dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum to an ice cream party in SoHo to the Sea Glass Carousel downtown, Joseph mapped out every detail perfectly. He's a kid at heart. Our kids loved him. Highly recommended."

The Wicke Family
Chesterfield, England



"My godson is still talking about your Broadway musical tour. Thank you for creating a memorable day! You showed us where all the legendary musicals got their start. We loved hearing about haunted theatres and Broadway superstitions, and your historical photos of the Great White Way and Times Square added so much. You even worked in a memorable tour of Rockefeller Center. We learned a lot and you made it so easy and fun. PS: A big thank you for treating us to cheesecake at Juniors!"

Cheryl & Jake
Oak Park, Illinois



"Really glad our hotel concierge recommended Joseph. My husband and I hadn't been to NYC for 32 years. For over 8 hours, we felt like we had a real city insider – and great new friend! – by our side. Joseph made the 9/11 Memorial feel especially poignant and personal. He knew we would love Katz's delicatessen and we sure did! (Of course, we relived the famous scene from When Harry Met Sally.) Totally stuffed, we made our way down Orchard street, where Joseph shared many stories of the immigrant experience. He then escorted us on a personal tour of the magnificent Eldridge Street Synagogue. Joseph is smart and funny and kind. He gave us a beautiful day.

Myrna & Ethan
Beverly Hills, CA



"Wonderful guided stroll through Central Park and tour of the Metropolitan Museum. It was a drizzly morning and it didn't matter. Joseph made the history of Central Park come alive as we made our way up to the Met. Prior to our visit, Joseph inquired about our art interests and what we really hoped to see. We love American decorative art, and Joseph showed us treasures we would NEVER find on our own. We made the most of every minute instead of getting lost in a map. The perfect day was topped off with a relaxing stop at the Member's Lounge where we had coffee and dessert. We appreciate the effort and care that made our tour very special."

Martin and Erica Simon
Chevy Chase, Maryland



"Five Stars for the Greenwich Village tour – all the way to Hudson Yards. Looking forward to telling our Toronto friends about Extraordinary New York Tours. Joseph is very knowledgeable and charming. Every block of the Village prompted a fascinating story about architecture, celebrities, gay rights, theatre, hidden courtyards – even pizza! After walking the HighLine and learning its history, we arrived at Hudson Yards and the incredible Vessel climbing sculpture. Did we hike to the top? No way! Over wine, Joseph gave us all sorts of dining and sightseeing suggestions for the rest of our stay. Hope to see you again on our next visit.

Rachel, Christine & Toby
Toronto, Canada