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)

Rae_Mc

Jun 2019

Arrived on time, ready to go and our guide introduced herself as "Ibeth", a licensed NYC tour guide who didn't have an accent because she was Puerto Rican. I'm glad she's licensed, don't know what might have happened if she wasn't. We walked around and she pointed out a few sites but gave a history of racism in the United States whether it had anything to do with Harlem or not. Lynchings in Mississippi and Alabama in the 40s were a tragedy, but had little to do with the history of Harlem and Gospel music. On top of that she was historically inaccurate in many cases including her discussion of the Underground Railroad, the 13th Amendment, and while standing in front of the Thurgood Marshall Academy she never mentioned that he was a Supreme Court Justice, or that he argued Brown vs Board of Education. She also had his personal and educational history wrong. Unbelievably, she said the Underground Railroad worked north of the Mississippi River. Read that again to make sure you get it. North of the Mississippi River? Bottom line is she was awful, ill-informed, let her personal agenda overcome the advertised purpose of the tour, and lost track of time, forcing the group to rush past the Apollo Theater and a very interesting wall of murals. She tried to get the group to sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" but she didn't even know the lyrics. The Church service at Bethel Gospel Assembly was great but more showy than we anticipated and not really Gospel "roots". They also seemed "very prepared" for the arrivals of all the tours and I suspect this Church is where 9 out of 10 tours wind up. It's over a mile from the start point. This tour was one of the things our whole family was looking forward to on our visit to New York and we were disappointed. The other guides may have been better, but I could have done this tour with a street map marked with points of interest and Wikipedia for better result.

Response from Host

Jun 2019

Thank you so much for your review of the tour. At Inside Out we strive for educational, as well as cultural excellence. From your review, it sounds like you did not receive our company standard. We take the history of the Gospel and Civil Rights very seriously, as our tours are meant to educate. As we are in the process of training new guides, it appears you received a new guide that needs to be re-trained and spoken to about historical accuracy. We advertise a real Harlem Experience in which you attend an authentic African American church. Bethel Assembly is one of the most highly rated churches in all of Harlem. They have prepared for guests from all around the world in an effort to share their faith. Gospel music, has evolved over hundreds of years, and Bethel Assembly is run by African Americans who know the Gospel. We can assure that you heard authentic music with the original "roots" of the genre. All six elements of Gospel music are used in every service. Please feel to contact us with further questions or comments. Thank you!

brijan19

May 2019

I thoroughly enjoyed this tour, it was a brilliant experience. Our guide Stefan was brilliant and very knowledgeable, he even got us all singing! I can highly recommend anyone in NY on a Sunday to give this tour a go!

Alexandra H

Apr 2019

It was a nice trip unluckily ruined by bad weather, windy and rainy. However we could follow the guide and his explanations. A piece of advice with so bad weather don’t stop for the explanations on the corner of the streets exposed to wind and rain. The gospel was amazing.