Meeting point, tipping, weather, confirmations — the questions guests ask most, answered by the guides themselves.
We meet at the corner of 6th Ave and 42nd street on the side of Bryant Park right across Whole Foods market. You will see us holding an orange and black umbrella with the Statue of Liberty on it.
Your guide will be at the orange & black umbrella with the Statue of Liberty — we are inside Bryant Park at the 42nd St corner of Bryant Park. Our guides arrive from 9:45 AM, giving you time to find the group before the English tour starts at 10 AM sharp. The Spanish tour departs at 10:30 AM and 3 PM. If you're unsure, look for a group gathering around the restrooms.
Bryant Park is one of the most accessible spots in Midtown. Take the B, D, F, or M train to 42nd Street–Bryant Park station. The 7 train to 5th Avenue–Bryant Park also drops you directly at the park entrance. From Times Square (A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, N, Q, R, W), it's just a 5-minute walk east along 42nd Street.
Yes — several parking garages are located within a 2-block radius of Bryant Park. Look for garages on 40th or 43rd Street between 5th and 7th Avenues. Street parking is very limited in Midtown, so a garage is your best bet. We recommend arriving by subway if possible — it's the fastest and easiest way to get there.
We do our best to wait a few minutes for latecomers, but tours start promptly as other guests are already gathered. The English tour departs at 10 AM and the Spanish tour at 10:30 AM and 3 PM. If you're running late, head straight to Bryant Park — you can catch up with the group at the first landmark stop (the New York Public Library, just a 2-minute walk away). If you miss the group, feel free to email us or check out our upcoming tour times.
These tours work on the pay-as-you-wish model. There is no ticket price, no reservation fee, and at the end you determine the price. If you want you can leave $0 and it will be for free. NYC Free Tour runs on passion, not a billing system. You simply show up at Bryant Park at 10 AM and the tour begins. After the tour is over you can leave to the guide as much as you feel this tour was worth it. Usually people leave between $20-25, but it's up to you and your budget to decide the price of this experience. Our guides are not paid by anyone else. They make their money by doing these tours. All the money goes directly to the tour guide and for keeping this initiative running every day. Thank you for supporting the locals living in NYC!
There are no hidden fees. All the places you will visit will be with free entrance and maybe the guide will use some of his local tricks to get you inside place you wont see on your own. But in regards to payment: you determine the price at the end of our tour.
We work on the pay as you wish model. As any other job that pays the bills this is the job that pays for ours. You are encouraged at the end to leave the guide whatever you think it's fair.
A traditional walking tour in New York City will cost you between $80 to $120 per person. You haven't been on the tour, you haven't even met the guide but you already paid the full price. On this tour you first go on the tour, experience it and at the end you can leave one third of that amount and everyone will be happy! This way you directly support locals in doing what the love the most!
The tour runs rain or shine — New York doesn't stop for a drizzle, and neither do we! Light rain won't cancel the tour, so come prepared with a raincoat or compact umbrella. The route includes covered areas where we can shelter briefly if needed. A little New York rain is part of the authentic experience.
In the rare case of severe weather — thunderstorms, extreme cold warnings, or other hazardous conditions — we may cancel for safety. If that happens, our team will post an update on our social media channels and send a notification if you've pre-registered. You can always come back the next day at no cost — because the tour is always free.
Absolutely — and it's completely hassle-free. Since the tour is 100% free, there are no cancellation fees, no deposits to lose, and no forms to fill out. If your plans change, simply don't show up, or send us a quick message at info@nycfreetour.com if you'd like to let us know. We welcome you back any day at 10 AM.
Yes, booking required! In the confirmation email you'll get the details for the meeting point — we are inside Bryant Park at the 42nd St corner of Bryant Park — at 10 AM. That said, you're welcome to register through our booking page. It takes 30 seconds and helps our guides plan for group size and give updates if necessary.
Dress for the season and always wear comfortable walking shoes — the route covers roughly 2 miles over 2 hours. In summer, bring sunscreen and water. In winter, layer up; New York winters can be brisk. Spring and fall are the most enjoyable seasons for the tour. We walk regardless of temperature, so preparation is key!
The tour departs promptly at 10 AM from Bryant Park. If you're running a few minutes late, try to reach the starting point as quickly as possible — our guides will typically wait a few minutes for latecomers when the group is small. For the best experience, aim to arrive 5–10 minutes early so you can meet the group and hear the full introduction.
Yes — as soon as you submit the booking form, an automated confirmation email is sent to the address you provided. It contains your reference number, tour date, start time, meeting point, participant count, and total price. Check your spam folder if you don't see it within a few minutes.
Your reference number (e.g. NYF-20250615-A3X9) is a unique identifier for your reservation. Keep it handy in case you need to contact us — it lets our team pull up your booking instantly. You don't need to present it to your guide on the day; just show up at Bryant Park at 10 AM.
First, check your spam or junk folder. Automated emails can occasionally be filtered. If it's not there, email us at info@nycfreetour.com or call +1 (415) 503-7199 with the name and email address you used when booking — we'll confirm your spot and resend the email manually.
Absolutely — since the tour is always free, changes are hassle-free. Simply reply to your confirmation email or contact us at info@nycfreetour.com with your reference number and the new details. We'll update your reservation and send a fresh confirmation. Alternatively, if plans change on the day, just walk up any morning — no re-booking required.
No ticket or printed confirmation is needed to join the tour. The email is purely for your records. To join the tour, just arrive at the meeting point — inside Bryant Park at the 42nd St corner of Bryant Park — at 10 AM. Look for your guide holding the orange NYC Free Tour flag.
Yes — your confirmation email includes a full pre-tour instructions section. It tells you exactly where to go (Bryant Park, at the 42nd St corner of Bryant Park), what to look for (the orange NYC Free Tour flag), what to bring (comfortable shoes, water, a rain layer), and confirms that no ticket or printed document is needed. Everything you need for a smooth morning is in the email.
Still have a question we didn't cover?
Email the TeamReserve in under a minute — a confirmation email with the meeting point and everything you need arrives instantly.