Free Harlem Historical Walking Tour

Tour Type: Public Group Walking Tour

Themes: NYC History, Architecture, Black History, Demographics of Harlem

Starts: 334 Convent Ave, New York, NY 10031

Ends: 253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027

Duration: 2.5 hours

Cost: Signing up is free. Gratuity is appreciated.

Good For: Individuals, Couples, Families, Anyone!

• Tour description

  Join Alex on a Harlem history tour and follow the neighborhood from the American Revolution to the Harlem Renaissance, and beyond.  We’ll learn how the area transitioned from German, Jewish, and Italian, to America’s most influential Black community.
  
  We’ll visit famous churches, theaters, mansions, and some of NYC’s finest residential architecture.  We’ll also discuss events and places considered central to Black identity in the United States, like the Harlem Cultural Festival and the iconic Apollo Theater.
  
  Eventually, we’ll arrive in “Little Senegal”, NYC’s largest West African community. We’ll talk about contemporary West African migration to the United States, visit several local markets, and meet some business owners in the neighborhood.

  Along the way you'll have plenty of time to ask questions and engage with Alex on any number of topics. Tours are casual, flexible, and fun, so bring your curiosity and a comfortable pair of walking shoes!

  This tour is perfect for individuals, couples, families, or anyone looking to experience New York City’s food, culture, and history in a new way!

• How it works

  Submit an inquiry form and we will get right back to you with dates the tour is available.

  On the day of, Alex will meet you at a predetermined location, and the tour will begin. Tours are flexible, and we arrange everything, so you can simply focus on the experience!

• About

  Food Strolls Guided Tours was created in 2020 as a means for sharing our passion for New York’s food, history, and culture with others. What began as a hobby has developed into a full service tour agency, and over the past three years we’ve given over 1,000 tours to clients including Stanford University, Columbia University, Princeton University, NYU, Google, Meta, BMW, Ernst and Young, and the NYC Department of Education.

  We are fully licensed and insured tour guides, professional bloggers, and active members of the Guides Association of New York City. Local food and history is our passion, and our tours are experiences you simply will not find anywhere else in NYC.

• What they're saying

  “Alex, thank you so much for an amazing tour of Harlem! Your knowledge of the city, fun stops, great energy, and delicious cuisine made our food stroll an awesome experience! Hoping to catch another one of your tours in another part of town.” - Vanessa Hawkins, Director of Community Life at Redeemer Lincoln Square Church, New York, NY

  “We signed up for the Harlem Food and History Tour. Most of the other tours we found were just walking tours, and none of them mentioned anything about "Little Senegal", which interested us. The tour was awesome! It was a perfect combination of Harlem history and food. There was a lot of walking, but it was broken up nicely, and Alex pointed out really interesting things all along the way. Thank you Alex!” - Julian de Morais, Personal Chef in New York, NY

  “I took my 12th Grade African Literature class on the Little Senegal walking tour. As a native New Yorker myself, I found this tour to be engaging and informative. My students loved the African restaurant. Alex pointed out the history and stories behind buildings I had passed by many times. He brought history to life with his large photographs and amusing anecdotes. My students enjoyed this unusual and informative field trip!” - James Carmody, teacher at Information Technology High School in Queens