Hire a Guide

NYC licensed guides are the best 'bang-for-your-tourism-buck.' Take the time to learn what our members have to offer. A GANYC member will help you make the most of your time. We also have a wide variety of multilingual guides to aid all international travelers on any service they need.

GANYC members are solely responsible for the content of their profiles on this site.

The designation Certified Guide means the marked individual guide has successfully completed and fulfilled all the requirements of GANYC's professional development program that focuses on how to research, plan, and conduct high-quality tours. These guides are authorized to use the designation, "GANYC certified guide."

Other US tour guide associations have Hire a Guide systems similar to GANYC's. You may contact the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild and the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC with the forms on their websites.

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Nya Bowman A native New Yorker hailing from the vibrant Lower East Side, with over two decades of experience as a licensed NYC Tour Guide a professional Dancer, Actor, and Educator. Read More
Leigh Hallingby Leigh is a licensed New York City tour guide who specializes in Harlem, Morningside Heights,  the Upper West Side and Washington Heights. She is passionate about exploring all five NYC boroughs and beyond on foot, mostly through organized walking tours. Leigh holds Masters degrees in both… Read More
Marta Cooper Read More
Steve Clopper I'm Talking Tours – NYC & DC with Heart and Flavor
Discover the stories, rhythms, and flavors that bring New York City and Washington, DC to life. Led by a passionate guide with deep roots in Hispanic culture and a love for Queens, I'm Talking Tours bridges communities through shared experiences of food, music, and human connection. Whether you're exploring the rich diversity of Queens or the powerful symbolism of DC, you'll get more than a tour — you'll feel truly welcomed. Each journey is crafted to spark understanding, delight the senses, and celebrate what brings us together.

found on Social Media as El Guero Frijolero. Karaoke star of the Tri State Mexican Karaoke Circuit. Orale! Read More
Brad Fraver Brad Fraver teaches English at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, in New York City. He has a PhD in English education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition to teaching full-time for almost two decades, Brad publishes in the field of English education and also enjoys long-distance running, listening to live jazz, singing tenor in a community choir, and leading historical walking tours. Read More
Myra Alperson I sometimes describe myself as a "professional amateur." An amateur is someone who truly LOVES what she does. And that's the story of my life as a food tour guide in NYC. Since 1983 I've been leading unusual, cutting-edge food tours. I go to many neighborhoods that no other food tours go to. Since… Read More
Gregory Marro Hi!  I'm Walking Greg Marro, a dynamic, entertaining Licensed NYC Tour Guide. GREG WALKS NYC offers the Italian of Greenwich Village, Music on MacDougal St., Meatball Crawl, Pierogi Walk, and Cake Walk walking tours!  Stroll along for lively tastings with music, photos and local history… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Jared Goldstein Enthusiasm, stories, wonder, and great memories.History! Architecture! Views! Energy!  How we live here.Experience it with Jared the NYC Tour Guide! 1-917-533-1057  Jared@JaredtheNYCTourGuide.com  http://JaredtheNYCTourGuide.com  I love sharing New York City, my home… Read More
Alessia Nencioni Hello everybody, my name is Alessia Nencioni I'm from Florence, Italy and I came here 15 years ago as tourist myself and then fell in love with this vibrant city (and not only the city ...)  and decided to stay. I fell in love also with the amazing architecture, I'm very passionate about Art… Read More
Arun Kristian Das Arun is a tour guide, multimedia journalist, and running coach. He has more than 25 years of professional experience telling stories about the city and its people. He is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and a two-time finisher of the New York City Marathon. Read More
Jonathan Dauermann Hello! American-born, though with many international experiences, I've been a resident of NYC for a decade now, and I'm a veteran tour guide with four years of experience and counting! Now a licensed NYC guide, I can help you and your group design a customized itinerary that both creates the New… Read More
Maddy Levi Maddy, a native New Yorker and experienced, licensed tour guide, delights in sharing her passion and knowledge of New York with visitors from around the globe. She specializes in walking tours of historic districts and neighborhoods in Manhattan, and tours of her current hometown of Long Beach, New… Read More
Jonathan H. Mishal Highly skilled tour guide with 25 years of experience.

Originally from Chicago, working and living in NYC.
Leading New York City art Walks and Urban Adventures since 2017.

Fluent in Hebrew and English Read More
Sara Lyons I love my city for a living, and there's always more to love! Read More
Chris Shelley A Red Sox fan who loves New York City? Now you've heard it all. I've lived in NYC since 1992. I've tried on identities as diverse as actor, Wall Street worker, entrepreneur, Massage Therapist and, since 2011, Professional Wedding Officiant. My career led me here, and my career has changed many times since being here. In that light, I can show you New York in the way my careers have introduced it to me. Read More
Tony Di Sante Tony has been a licensed guide since 1998. In January 2002, he began working with New York City Vacation Packages to build the first ever tour of the World Trade Center site (Ground Zero). For this reason, it makes him the foremost tour guide on September 11 and what has, is and will be happening… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Jose Mauricio Montoya With a global perspective and a passion for storytelling, I bring New York City to life as a reflection of the world itself. More than a guide, I curate immersive experiences that connect travelers to the city’s people, hidden histories, and cultural layers—revealing an authentic New York shaped by migration, creativity, and reinvention, one that resonates long after the journey ends. Read More
Brendan Rothman-Hicks I am a native New Yorker and have been working as a tour guide for 4 years now.   In my time as a tour guide I have lead food tours, historical walking tours, double decker bus tours and have also given tours to student groups visiting New York.   I am available to give tours on foot, via… Read More
Leila Luna Leila Luna I have lived in New York City since 1982 and have been a licensed Tour Guide, since 1987. I'm a former teacher with Law Degree and Master in Communication, and also Journalist writing about the City. I'm author and publisher for the first City Guide, Calendar and Map, in Portuguese: "… Read More
Frederic Gilbert Hi ! I was born in France and made New York my home a couple of years ago after backpacking over the world for a year. I felt in love with New York in 1995, and recently founded My Special New York, a tour company providing immersive and unique experiences in New York city, from tours for… Read More
James Maher My inspiration has always come from the people, history, and vibrant streets of New York City. Initially captivated by street photography—long before I even knew that’s what it was—I spent countless hours wandering Fifth Avenue, watching and documenting the city’s pulse. This passion led me deeper into New York’s unique neighborhoods, where I became fascinated by the city's incredible architecture and diverse communities. Along the way, I extensively studied New York's history and became a certified photography tour and workshop guide.

Since founding my photography business in 2006, my work has grown to include photography tours and street photography workshops that guide photographers from around the world. My goal is always to help people capture authentic images of New York’s distinctive energy and rich historical context. My tours combine practical photography instruction with immersive storytelling.

My commitment to documenting New York’s history is reflected in several extensive documentary projects. My recently completed 15-year series, Glass City and Hype, explore New York’s evolution in the post-9/11 era. East Village Stories, from 2012-2017, comprises nearly 150 portraits and detailed interviews with residents and business owners, creating a living archive of one of Manhattan’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Additionally, my 2017 project with the Manny Cantor Community Center, Storytelling in our Immigrant City, highlights the diverse immigrant experiences of the Lower East Side through portraits and powerful personal narratives.

I feel incredibly lucky to share my passion for photography, history, and New York City through tours, workshops, and documentary projects. If you'd like to work together or explore New York with me, please reach out directly at james@jamesmaherphotography.com. Read More
Manuela Biondi Buongiorno a tutti! Sono architetto, interior designer e guida autorizzata qui a New York City. Il mio amore per questa incredibile città si vede in ognuno dei miei tour. Non vedo l’ora di condividere la passione che ho per New York City con voi, accompagnandovi in giro alla scoperta di ogni angolo… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Kevin Wilkinson New York can be a hectic place! Imagine how much easier it can be with your own private tour guide.   I am friendly, reliable and KNOWLEDGEABLE. I know this city inside and out, and I love to tell stories.   I offer a variety of services. Walking Tours - I have several amazing routes… Read More
Carey Golden I'm Carey, a teacher turned tour guide! As a military wife, for twenty years, I moved to many states in the US and South Korea!  I'm now combining my passion for teaching and touring into an adventure for you!   I enjoy meeting people and sharing my love for architecture, history, and… Read More
Joan B Vaccari Native New Yorker - resident of Queens County.  Holds NYC & Co Enchanced Guide Certificate.  Specializes in school groups and senior citizens with a special focus on Queens and select Manhattan locations such as Central Park, the Cloisters, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Ladies Mile area. Read More
Ben Wagenberg Sesame, poppy, garlic, whole wheat, everything! New York’s bagel varieties are as distinct as its neighborhoods, which is why each Ben’s Bagel Walking Tour starts off with a fresh New York bagel! Led by Ben Wagenberg, dubbed “The Bagel Expert,” each tour offers Ben’s unique perspective into the nooks and crannies of NYC’s famed foods, landmarks and neighborhoods. Read More
Alex Tervooren I am the Founder and Creator of the popular food and history blog Food Strolls Guided Tours. My passion is NYC food and history, and our guided tours are one of a kind NYC experiences! All of my tours focus on NYC history, with an emphasis on ethnic foods, immigration, and demographics. Our… Read More
Dave Gardner I am a fully-licensed tour guide in New York City.  I'm a speaker on the double-decker tour buses, the boats, and on foot. I am fluent in any general New York tour.  I am also the publisher of our tour-guide newsletter, GuideLines.My personal niche is that I run a Titanic-themed Walking… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Kevin Draper I am a New York City Historian and experienced licensed guide on a mission to provide exceptional and unforgettable experiences with the highest level of service. I will give you a front row seat and exciting insight into the city’s dynamic history, diverse culture, iconic sites, and reveal… Read More
Pim Philip Pim moved to New York in 2010. Besides being a (Dutch) licensed tour guide for all the 5 boroughs of New York City, he founded Pim Philip Experiences which offers customized travel and event experiences in New York City, catering to both private and corporate visitors. Tailor-made expeditions,… Read More
Bruce Bernstein I am a licensed NYC tour guide and have led tours of NYC for individuals, groups, camps and universities as well as Open House New York. My tours are fast paced and usually cover at least two miles. I have been leading tours for more than 12 years.   My fast paced walking tours of New York… Read More
Adam Guy I Know A Guy NYC Tours, run by Adam Guy, offers full and half-day neighborhood walking tours for families and small groups, In addition, I provide trip planning assistance and serve as a go-to resource during their trip from A GUY who knows NYC inside and out.I aim to help visitors feel at ease… Read More
Erin Donnelly Explore history in a New York minute from the canyons of Lower Manhattan to the quaint enclave of Gramercy with Erin Donnelly, Co-Founder of Reel New York City. Erin’s walking tours feature famous landmarks and off-the-beaten-path spots, engaging storytelling from a passionate expert and opportunities for small groups to have a personalized experience.

Airbnb Experiences Host Read More
Fred Pflantzer NY See Tours is a NY City tour agency that has been joyfully conducting guided tours since 2010. NY See is a trusted and well-reviewed tour agency providing unforgettable NY experiences for groups, individuals, couples, families, and friends. Fred Pflantzer, the proprietor of NY See Tours, is a… Read More
Hiram L. Jacobs I am a licensed New York City Department of Consumer Affairs Tour Guide and a native New Yorker. Over the years, I acquired considerable experience organizing solo tours of the major European and East European capitals of the world, Toronto and Montreal, Canada, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. I… Read More
Liam Strain Liam Strain is a native New Yorker with over 30 years of experience interpreting the history of New York City for the public, first guiding visitors at and then managing historic sites. He is the owner & operator of The Streets Where It Happened Walking Tours, specializing solely on guided walking tours of New York City during the American Revolution era.
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Matthew Apter Since summer 2008 Matt has been giving guided tours of New York City to all kinds of audiences: school groups on private coaches, travelers from all over the world on Water Taxis and double-decker buses, and small groups and families by foot and subway. The one constant in all these tours: Matt’s… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Amy Cook Whether you are visiting, or reside here without yet fully *living* here, Amy can share what it’s like to be a real New Yorker. She has been in Brooklyn for over 25 years and loves to share stories of the ever changing city. A GANYC member since 2019, she is one of the instructors for its guide… Read More
Frederique Antoinette Barbier I am a licensed tour guide in NYC and Washington, D.C., and have over 15 years of experience in tourism.  I specialize in private, made to measure tours for individuals and small groups, opera/cultural tours, incentive & corporate travel, and medical conventions.  Born in Switzerland… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Mark Mandel Born in Manhattan, I have lived in the NY area for most of my life and commuted into the city for over 25 years to financial services jobs in midtown and downtown, including the original World Trade Center. I have strong interests in the economic development and growth of New York City and the infrastructure, including mass transit, that supports this. Read More