C
A Must
A must to do on a Sunday. Special recognition to our guide Sergio, we were late on the tour and he was very considered sending the location
Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Price from
- $59 / person
- Location
- New York City
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 · 290 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 30
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Inside Out Tours LLC
- Meeting point
- Meet in front of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture located at 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037
Description
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Sun
- Start times
- 7:30 AM and 7:45 AM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 18
- Adult (ages 12+)
- $59
- Child (ages 5–11)
- $53
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
(Exterior Visit) Home of the first Works Project Administration commissioned work awarded to an African American artist
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.
What's included
Included
Professional guide
Not included
Gratuities
Transportation to/from attractions
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.4
290 reviews
How it compares in New York City
- Starting price $59 is 38% below the typical $95 for tours of similar length in New York City
Excurgo comparison of 2,446 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- 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)
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour take?
Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $59 per person for this New York City experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Sundays, starting at 7:30 AM and 7:45 AM.
How much does Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour cost for children?
Children aged 5–11 pay from $53, adults from $59.
Can I cancel Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Meet in front of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture located at 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(290)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I
Very good experience
Recommended. Our guide was Sergio and we really liked his explanations, the tour was enjoyable and the Gospel mass was fun.
Z
The previous tour did not convince me
The mass was fine, but I think we could have gone on our own. The previous tour in Spanish personally did not seem interesting to me; I do not know if it is due to the tour itself or the guide on the day we did it.
6
Great experience
we had a nice guide. Charles told us a lot about the history and origins of church history in Harlem
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review of your Harlem tour! We are thrilled to hear that Charles provided such an insightful look into the rich history and origins of Harlem's historic churches. Our guides love sharing these stories, and we hope to welcome you back for another history tour soon!
A
Discovering Harlem
Sergio was an educational, communicative, friendly, and approachable guide.
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted Sergio made your Spanish-language New York City tour educational, engaging, and welcoming. His clear communication, friendly personality, and approachable style helped create a memorable guided experience. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on another Inside Out Tours adventure! -- ¡Muchas gracias por su excelente reseña! Nos alegra saber que Sergio hizo que su recorrido en español por Nueva York fuera didáctico, ameno y acogedor. Su comunicación clara, cercanía y trato amable ayudaron a crear una experiencia memorable. Esperamos recibirle nuevamente en otro tour de Inside Out Tours.
C
SERVICE BUT NO GOSPEL EXPERIENCE
The tour wasn' t what we expeted , the guide was good but the servise was a bit boring and they sang just twice the same song (no Gospel) of congratulation for an anniversary..nothing more. It was supposed to be a Gospel experience.. I reported my comment to Inside Out Tour and they ansered me that "These are authentic worship services—not performances" ..It would be better change the title and descripion of the tour if they cannot be sure about Gospel..
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We truly appreciate you joining us for the experience and are glad to hear you enjoyed your guide. We’re sorry to hear that the church service did not meet your personal expectations for Gospel music. Our Harlem Gospel Experience is designed to provide guests with an authentic local worship service, and because these are real congregations and not staged performances, the style of music, number of songs, and format of the service can vary from week to week depending on the church and the occasion being celebrated that day. Thank you again for visiting with us.
F
A truly rewarding experience
The tour begins with an hour and a half tour of Harlem, with an excellent and very erudite Francophone guide who knows Harlem well and explains in detail its history and current situation, while strolling through the neighborhood. It all ends with an authentic religious service, with Gospel songs of high quality.
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you enjoyed our Harlem Gospel Tour, the knowledgeable French-speaking guide, and the neighborhood’s rich history and present-day culture. We’re also pleased the authentic gospel service and inspiring music created a memorable New York City cultural experience. -- Merci beaucoup pour votre magnifique avis ! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié notre visite Gospel de Harlem, les connaissances de votre guide francophone et la découverte de l’histoire du quartier. Nous sommes également heureux que l’authentique service religieux et les chants gospel aient rendu cette expérience new-yorkaise mémorable.
C
Thank you!
Great visit. Jess is a great guide who loves sharing his knowledge. I recommend ++
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted Jess made your New York City tour engaging and informative. His passion for sharing history and local knowledge helps create a memorable experience for every guest. We truly appreciate your enthusiastic recommendation and hope to welcome you on another Inside Out Tours adventure! -- Merci beaucoup pour votre excellent avis ! Nous sommes ravis que Jess ait rendu votre visite de New York intéressante et enrichissante. Sa passion pour l’histoire et le partage de ses connaissances crée une expérience mémorable. Merci pour votre chaleureuse recommandation, et au plaisir de vous accueillir lors d’une prochaine visite !
L
Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour
Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour The Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour was amazing! Our guide was super nice and really took the time to explain Harlem’s history and culture. Gospel Mass is an experience to live absolutely, full of energy and emotion. I highly recommend this activity to anyone visiting New York! LEMAIRE family
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review. We’re thrilled to hear you found the Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour incredible. Taking time to share the history and culture of Harlem, combined with the powerful energy of a gospel service, is what makes this experience so special. Thank you again, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in New York City. - Merci beaucoup pour ce superbe commentaire. Nous sommes ravis que la visite Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour vous ait autant plu. Partager l’histoire et la culture de Harlem, ainsi que l’émotion et l’énergie d’une messe gospel, est au cœur de cette expérience unique. Merci encore pour votre recommandation, et au plaisir de vous accueillir lors d’une prochaine visite à New York.
D
Harlem deep/dive
Extremely interesting tour with guide Kevin, history professor in New York. His narration was clear and engaging, an experience I would recommend to everyone!
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from$59
4.4(290) Free cancellation