Despite what you might have heard or read, The Bronx is a vibrant community with a personality like no other place in the world. It’s the home of hip-hop, salsa, doo-wop, the Grand Concourse, and Yankee Stadium. Billy Joel, Al Pacino, Jennifer Lopez, and a host of celebrities were born there, and like the rest of New York City, The Bronx is teeming with culture, history and creative souls.
A tourist snaps a photo of Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. (photo: Alex Maruri)
If you’re curious, try experiencing The Bronx through the eyes of a local. Helmed by grassroots tour guide and Bronx resident Alex Maruri, Bronx Historical Tours provides a glimpse at some of the most storied neighborhoods and the people who live there. Get to know NYC’s northernmost borough and support local businesses when you take one of these six guided Bronx tours.
Bronx Little Italy Experience
When you hear “the real Little Italy,” the phrase refers to a bustling Italian-American neighborhood that’s brimming with mom-and-pop businesses and some of the freshest Italian food in New York City. But, this may come as a surprise – it’s not in Manhattan. The real Little Italy, also known as Arthur Avenue or Belmont, is located in The Bronx. On this 3.5-hour walking tour, come to know the history and culture of this dynamic district, loaded with delis, bakeries, restaurants, and specialty shops – all in the heart of the Bronx. You’ll quickly understand why Arthur Avenue has been deemed one of the great streets of America. Afterwards, visit the New York Botanical Garden, one of The Bronx’s most popular attractions.
A street scene in Little Italy in The Bronx. (photo: Alex Maruri)
Introduction to The Bronx 101
Take this 1.5-mile walking tour along the Grand Concourse and witness the main thoroughfare’s revitalization. Modeled after Paris’s Champs-Elysees, the Grand Concourse was designed by Louis Alllys Risse and built during the “City Beautiful Movement,” opening in 1909. Although the street deteriorated in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, it began to recover in the early ‘90s. Today, this five-mile avenue features galleries, museums, and restaurants, and continues to reclaim its elegance. This three-hour tour transports guests through one of the most significant areas of The Bronx and ends at Yankee Stadium, where you can continue with a tour of the famed baseball field.
South Bronx Historic Tour
This legendary pocket of the borough is finally getting the love it deserves: the South Bronx was included in “52 Places to Go in 2017,” a list curated each year by The New York Times. A three-hour walking tour will allow you to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the up-and-coming Mott Haven and Port Morris neighborhoods. Reflect upon the past and present, and look toward the exciting future as the mostly industrial area continues to evolve, welcoming new businesses such as the lively Mott Haven Bar & Grill, Charlie’s Bar & Kitchen, and a branch of the hip coffeehouse, Filtered.
Mott Haven Bar & Grill is a neighborhood hangout in the South Bronx. (photo: Tracy Kaler)
Little Ireland Tour
Woodlawn, also known as Woodlawn Heights, is one of the most beloved communities in the borough, and where scores of Irish immigrants have settled over the years. Peruse this neighborhood that’s situated in the northeast corner of The Bronx, wedged alongside beautiful Van Cortlandt Park and just south of Yonkers. On this tour, soak up the history; kick back with a pint at one of Little Ireland’s Irish pubs; and tour Woodlawn Cemetery– a National Historic Landmark and where Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, R.H. Macy and other prominent New Yorkers are buried.
Bronx Street Art Tour
Bronx streets have become a gallery for bold, politically and socially motivated murals, as well as works that pay tribute to the borough’s history. This walking tour allows you to grab an up-close-and-personal look at some of The Bronx’s unique art projects as well as learn more about the artists who created them. Peer inside the local culture and community, which act as a backdrop and an inspiration for pieces by street artists from around the globe.
Tats Cru mural in The Bronx (photo: Tracy Kaler)
City Island Tour
Did you know that there’s a New England-style fishing village in The Bronx? If your crew has at least 13 people, let Bronx Historical Tours take you on a six-hour group excursion through this small seaside community bordered by the Long Island Sound and Eastchester Bay. Offering fresh-off-the-boat seafood, art galleries, antique shops, and splendid water views, City Island feels like a charming hamlet far removed from the hustle and bustle of New York, yet it’s less than ten miles from the Grand Concourse.
For more information on Bronx Historical Tours, visit the website.