When it comes to really seeing New York City, nothing beats following a tour guide or native New Yorker to discover all of the treasures of the Big Apple. Tours are an everyday thing in the city. There are hundred's of tours that are offered throughout the course of any given day. Basically all of the tours are family oriented with a few exceptions. No matter what it is that you really want to see in the city, there's a tour for you.

" Bus, Train and Limo Tours
" Walking Tours
" Audio Tours
" Bike Tours
" Boat Tours
" Scavenger Hunts

**Remember, these are just a few of the many types of tours that are available to you. Be aware that these tours sell out quickly so reserve it as soon as you can. Most of these tours can actually be reserved through the concierge at your hotel. **

New York City Bus, Train and Limo Tours

If you are looking for more of a sit down, relaxed tour then I'd recommend that you take a bus or limo tour. There are several new tours that are being offered that show NYC in a different way. All of the tours, obviously, will include transportation, a tour guide, and a historical and cultural insight into NYC. The following are just a few tours that are offered throughout the city.

Gray Line New York Tours - 777 Eighth Avenue Between 47th and 48th street 212-445-0848
This famous tour company offers two main types of tours. Both are aboard the famous red double-decker bus. Take the classic tour with 40 hop on hop off stops throughout 5 loops (downtown, uptown, Brooklyn, night, holiday lights tours) and also includes other choices or the showbiz tour that takes you behind the scenes of NYC's Broadway shows like The Lion King. Tours are about $72 to $89 and are daily.

Hush Tours: Hip Hop Look at New York - 292 Fifth Avenue Between 30th and 31st street 212-714-3527
Ever wonder how hip hop truly began? Well find out from this tour of the home of The DJ, the MC, the B-Boy, and Graffiti Artists. Tour different sites of hip hop history like the Graffiti Hall of Fame in Harlem while you socialize with actual hip hop history makers like DJ Red Alert, Kool Herc, and Rahiem of The Furious Five. Tour includes transportation, celebrity socializing (they actually hop on and off of the bus), a dance performance, all-you-can-eat soul food lunch, and gifts. Tours are 4 hours and are offered on Saturdays at 11 am. Adults are $75 and students are $50.

Harlem Heritage Tours - 230 W 116th street Suite 5C 212-280-7888
Aboard the Harlem Heritage Bus, you can experience the Harlem Renaissance, Jazz and Art of Harlem, the different cultures of Harlem, or the Hip Hop and Salsa of Harlem. There are many tours to choose from and they also offer private tours.

On Location Tours, INC. - 347 Fifth Avenue 917-492-8180
Take a tour of locations throughout NYC that are more famous because they were used as the setting of TV shows and movies. The company offers the following tours:
Manhattan TV and Movie Tour- about 3 to 3 1/2 hours, cost is $30
Sex and the City Tour-about 3 hours. Cost is $35.
Sopranos Tour about 4 hours. Cost is $40
Central Park Movie Tour about 2 hours. Cost is $15

Transit Freedom Tours - 417 Riverside Drive 212-864-4572
This tour is considered a train tour. Either in private or with a small group, learn how to use the public transit system while touring famous and historical spots in NYC. You can tour either Uptown Manhattan or Downtown Manhattan.
Adult 1 tour $40 2 tours $70
Students/Seniors 1 tour $30 2 tours $50
Children ages 5- 12 are free.

The 3D Limo Tour - 303 Fifth Avenue Suite 1610 212-779-1122
This limo company offers numerous tours at a low price. Take the grand tour of NYC for $75, or a City Lights Tour during the holidays for $85 per hour. For those that want something a little different that they wouldn't get on the tour buses, take the Gay Tour of NYC or the Club Hopping Tour. All of this is aboard a fully-decked out limo.

New York City Walking Tours

A Phototrek Tour - 1619 Third Avenue Suite 11B 212-410-2514
Take a tour of NYC's famous landmarks and get pictures while you're at it. This is the tour for those that were afraid to let a stranger take a picture of you and your family at a landmark. You want to be in your pictures too, right? Well on this tour, the Guide takes numerous pictures of you and your group at any landmark that is on the tour route. Obviously you will not be able to see everything and get a picture of everything but you will see most of the city. Price vary. They offer 2 or 4 hours tours.

Big Onion Walking Tours - 473 13th Street Brooklyn 212-439-1090
Want to see all of the "layers" of NYC? This company offers tours of famous landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, but they also offer specialty tours like Gangs of New York. Tour the historic sites that were the setting of the movie of the same title. See where the draft riots occurred or where Murderer's Alley is. Adults pay $12 and students/seniors pay $10.

Elegant Tightwad Shopping Tour - 305 Madison Avenue #1166 800-808-4614
Join Pamela Parisi on a tour that will teach you to build a gorgeous wardrobe for pennies on the dollar. She will take you to places that only she can take you. Most ordinary shoppers are not allowed where she goes. A basic tour includes 4 hours of shopping, a private visit to showrooms, lunch, discounts, and a copy of her book ($90). Take other tours i.e. Sample Sale Tours, Uptown Treks, and Accessory Treks.

Enthusiastic Gourmet - 245 E 63rd street #21D 646-209-4724
Take a tour of famous eating spots in NYC. Visit Hell's Kitchen which is known for their baked good, among other things. Or visit Chinatown for a little Dim Sum. The tours last about 2 ½ hours. Some of the tours do not include a lunch; they just include samples of the food.

New York City Audio Tours

Talking Street 212-586-TOUR
Use your cell phone and take a recorded tour of Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center Site (Narrated by Sigourney Weaver) or New York's Lower East Side (narrated by Jerry Stiller). When the tour is purchased it can accessed 24 hours a day for 7 days. You decide when you want to take the tour. The tours are $5.95 and it can either be charged to your credit card or your cell phone bill.

Walkin' Broadway 212-997-5004 or 866-NYCBWAY
Take a self-guided audio tour of the history, sights, shows, and behind the scenes stories of Broadway. The company supplies you with a programmed MP3 player with the recorded tour which you listen to as you walk along 46th street to 52nd street. Departure point is Colony Records at 1619 Broadway on the corner of 49th street. The tour is 60 minutes and costs $10.

New York City Bike Tours

Remember these tours are only for those that know how to ride a bike. If you don't know how to ride a bike, then take another type of tour. These bike tours might sound like they're long and take a lot of work but they don't. Most of the spots on the tour are on a route that is flat land and there are several stops along the way (bathroom, pictures, etc.). Also, if you bring your own bike most of the companies will deduct a certain amount from the cost.

Bike The Big Apple - 962 Sheffield Road Teaneck NJ 201-837-1133
$10 discount if you bring your own bike
*Ethnic NYC Bike and Bite food tour
$59 includes Bike, helmet, guide (does not include the food)
*2 to 5 hour Bike Tour
$69 include Bike, helmet, guide

Central Park Bike Tours - 2 Columbus Circle corner of 59th street and Broadway 212-541-8759
Tour all of Central Park
3 2-hour tours are available 7 days a week
$35 per person includes bike and tour guide
$20 for ages 15 and under

Circle Line - Pier 83 W 42nd Street and 12th Avenue 212-563-3200
Take any one of the Circle Line's famous tours. See all of Manhattan Island or take the Liberty Cruise and salute the Statue of Liberty. Tours are scheduled daily with ongoing hours.

New York Water Taxi - 499 Van Brunt Street Section 8B 212-742-1969
This is considered a commuter service but you also get a tour of the city from the water. Rides are between $4 and $6 and are constantly running on 6 different routes. Just look for the yellow-checkered boat.

Bateaux New York - Chelsea Piers Pier 62 866-211-3806 or 212-727-7735
This famous European styled all-glass ship, the Celestial, offers numerous types of tours. Take a dinner or lunch cruise. They also offer holiday, wedding, and other special occasion cruises. The ship cruises the Hudson and East River past the NY Skyline.
Dinner Cruise $100 during the week $110 during the weekend
Lunch $46
Ship departs from Pier 62.

Come Sail New York - Liberty Landing Marina, Jersey City NJ 201-887-8700
These very intimate ships sail past Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty and the New York Skyline. The sail is limited to only 6 guests and lasts about 2 hours long. Prices vary depending on the day and time of the sail. Holidays are more expensive. Leaves from the marina at Liberty State Park.

New York City Scavenger Hunts

These tours are definitely for the type of crowd that is interested in having fun at the same time as seeing the sights and learning the history on New York City. This is the most interesting way to see NYC.

Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts - 212-726-1529
Explore a museum, park, historic neighborhood, or zoo as a game. Some hunts last all day while others last a few hours. The company creates a hunt suitable for you. They are constantly creating new hunts while keeping the old one. Use your deciphering skills and take a challenge. Hunts begin at about $20 but some are actually free.

City Hunt Urban Adventures - 212-696-6537
Through this company, teams compete to solve a riddle, complete tasks, and search for rewards all while using digital cameras (supplied by the company) to take pictures to prove that this was all completed. They offer several types of hunts, but my personal favorite is the pub-crawl. This hunt my fellow students completed during my last year in college. This is only for those 21 and over because it does involve alcohol. Basically, they give you hints about different bars/pubs and you have to guess the correct one. The team to get there first wins a free pitcher of beer. Have a designated driver! The company also offers children's hunts, birthday hunts, charity hunts, and hunts for school programs.