Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour

Overview

Enjoy a neighborhood tour of the cultural capital of Black America and experience the soulful sounds of gospel music. Explore the streets walked by greats such as Billie Holiday, Malcolm X, and Michael Jackson while viewing legendary sites like the Apollo Theater, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Strivers’ Row, Hotel Theresa and much more. After the neighborhood tour, you also have a chance to enjoy a gospel performance at a service in a local church.

City: New York City

Thu 26 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $45.00

Make a reservation

Thu 26 Dec

Starting at $45.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional guide

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Dress code is smart casual. Part of this tour will take place inside a church. Out of respect for the congregation hosting us, please dress appropriately and refrain from wearing flip-flops, tank tops and shorts
Visiting the church requires the proof of vaccination and wearing a mask.
Customers require staying for the entire church service (usually 1.15 - 1.3 hours)
Face masks required for travellers in public areas

What To Expect

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

(Exterior Visit) The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a research library of the New York Public Library and an archive repository for information on people of African descent worldwide.

Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

(Exterior Visit) Mother Zion has played a critical role in every aspect of African-American life during early New York City history.

Abyssinian Baptist Church

(Exterior Visit) Founded in 1808, Abyssinian Baptist Church is one of the oldest African-American Baptist churches in the United States.

Strivers' Row

View beautiful historic homes built by David H. King Jr., who also built the Washington Arch and the Empire State Building.

Apollo Theater

(Exterior Visit) Re-opened to both black and white audiences in 1934 as the Apollo Theater catering mostly to Harlem’s black community.

Harlem

Experience the service of a black congregation and enjoy and participate in the Gospel music with live musicians and choir sharing the joy of Gospel.

Show 3 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (64)

Bar B

Jul 2019

This tour was one of my finest experiences in NYC. It introduces the roots of Gospel with some important social and political milestones while taking a walk in the streets of Harlem. My tour guide, Damaras, was fun and full of knowledge. I highly recommend taking this wonderful tour with her. The ceremony in the church, in which gospel choir was singing, was also very nice to watch and participate -- I think everyone with a great love for music and cultures will enjoy it. However, the best parts of the tour for me were hearing the stories behind the places I stood in front of. The only con is a very technical and small one: my ticket (and also my friend's) were purchased via the Sightseeing Pass, which apparently doesn't work so well with the Inside Out Tours system and therefore our bookings were automatically canceled shortly before the day of the tour. The tour guides fixed it in a second when we met at the departure location, but there were some moments during which we didn't know if we'll be able to join the tour. However, it's not any specific person's fault, but if you plan to take the tour with your Sightseeing Pass just know that this could happen :)

Livne100

Jul 2019

An interesting tour with a great guide (at least ours was, she shortened it to D, it was similar to Daenerys) that tells you the story of the gospel, in a historic and political journey through slavery, discrimination and a civil movement. Including Politics, social changes, community, music, and culture. The gospel was boring but it is what it is. If you're more of a spiritual or religious person, or just enjoy seeing other cultures' customs (assuming you're not a black christian), you might enjoy that too. Anyway that part is at the end so you can skip it or leave before it ends.

601malinn

Jun 2019

Tauren, our guide, was really awesome! She shared a lot with us about history, songs, buildings and other things! We enjoyed it a lot and I can really recommend both her and this activity. You get a lot of knowledge about the Gospel and how it all started including Tauren that made us sing, laugh and end it all with som great Gospel!