New York City Audio Tour: Gilded Grandeur & Hidden Gems of Manhattan

Above photo: Gryffindor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

High above Manhattan’s rush, grand mansions watch from behind carved stone and gilded ironwork, holding secrets deeper than their marble facades reveal.

This self-guided audio tour leads you along twisting streets and silent corridors where power was bartered, legends were born, and rivalries festered. Trace the city’s hidden stories in places most visitors walk right past.

Did a single scandal at the Carlyle Hotel reshape the fate of the city’s elite overnight? What secret roles did the Payne Whitney and Benjamin N. Duke Houses play beneath their glittering social surfaces? Who slipped through a side door in 1921 and vanished without a trace?

Let each step pull you further into whispers of midnight deals, lost fortunes, grand designs, and shadowy intrigue. See iconic landmarks in new light as the true heartbeat of Manhattan pulses beneath your feet.

Unlock the doors of old New York. The city’s secrets are waiting. Start now.

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• Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes
  
• Distance: Around 3.0 km (1.8 miles)
  
• Audio Content: up to 1h 11min
  
• Meeting Point: Start at Payne Whitney House, only a 13 minute walk from 81 St-Museum of Natural History Subway Station
  
• Stops: 15 captivating landmarks including Payne Whitney House, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York Society Library
  

Experience the charm of Manhattan like never before. Dive deep into tales of yesteryears, marvel at architectural wonders, and feel the pulse of the city as you navigate through its vibrant streets.

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• Professionally narrated audio stories bringing Manhattan's history to life
  
• Interactive map to guide your journey seamlessly
  
• Opportunities to explore and capture the city's most picturesque spots
  
• Flexibility to start, pause, and resume the tour at your convenience
  

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• This is a self-guided audio tour on your phone so no in-person guide.
  
• You'll need a smartphone with Android 7.0+ or iOS 16+ (iPhone 8 or later).
  
• You can start the tour at any time (the event time does not matter).
  
• The tour will be available to you forever so you can explore on any day.
  
• Bring headphones and make sure your phone is charged!
  

Once you book the tour, you'll receive an email within 10 minutes containing your unique redemption code and simple instructions to download our app. Enter the code, and you're all set to explore New York City on your terms.
It doesn't matter which date or time you select, when you redeem the code, the audio tour will be available to you permanently so you can explore on any day.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple seeking a romantic escapade, a family on an educational outing, or a group of friends eager for adventure, this tour caters to all. It's perfect for those who value flexibility, rich storytelling, and the freedom to explore without constraints.

AllTours is your ultimate travel companion for immersive audio tours. Discover cities like never before as our app reveals the stories behind the sights. Just plug in your headphones and explore!

With AllTours, you'll experience:

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• Immersive Experiences: Our digital guides bring landmarks to life with captivating stories and historical insights
  
• Offline Access: Download tours and maps for offline use – perfect for travelers concerned about data usage
  
• Interactive Maps: Navigate effortlessly with our user-friendly interface showing the optimal route
  
• Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume tours whenever you want – explore at your own pace
  
• Multilingual Support: Enjoy tours in your preferred language with our extensive language options
  

AllTours transforms ordinary sightseeing into extraordinary adventures. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, we help you explore like a local while learning fascinating stories along the way.

You will visit the following locations:

• 🏠  Payne Whitney House (3min)
• 🏠  James B. Duke House (2min)
• 🏨  The Mark Hotel (2min)
• 🏨  Carlyle Hotel (4min)
• 📍  Met Breuer (2min)
• 🛕  Temple Israel of the City of New York (4min)
• 🏔️  Lenox Hill Hospital (4min)
• ⛪  St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church (4min)
• ⛪  Unitarian Church of All Souls (3min)
• 🏠  East 80th Street Houses (2min)
• 📚  New York Society Library (2min)
• ⛪  Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (New York City) (4min)
• 📍  Galerie Buchholz (3min)
• 🏠  Benjamin N. Duke House (2min)
• 🛣️  998 Fifth Avenue (3min)

Each stop features engaging audio stories that bring the location's history and significance to life.

Learn even more about Manhattan with these bonus audio stories available in the app:

• 🏛️    Lenape Settlement (2min)
• 🏛️    Colonial Era (2min)
• 🏛️    American Revolution (2min)
• 🏛️    19th Century (3min)
• 🏛️    20th Century (4min)
• 🏛️    21st Century (2min)
• 🌍    Manhattan Island (2min)
• 🌍    Marble Hill (2min)
• 🌍    Smaller Islands (2min)
• 🌟    Manhattan Population Growth Trends (2min)
• 🌟    Religion (2min)
• 🌟    Languages (1min)
• 🎭    Politics (2min)
• 🎭    Federal Offices (2min)
• 🎭    Crime And Public Safety (3min)

These additional topics provide deeper insights into the city's culture, history, and local life.

Above photo: Gryffindor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: A. Balet, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Jim.henderson, Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Jim.henderson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Gryffindor, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Our tours are available in 30+ languages to ensure you have the best experience:

🇬🇧 English  • 
🇫🇷 French  • 
🇪🇸 Spanish  • 
🇩🇪 German  • 
🇮🇹 Italian  • 
🇵🇹 Portuguese  • 
🇷🇺 Russian  • 
🇯🇵 Japanese  • 
🇨🇳 Chinese  • 
🇳🇱 Dutch  • 
🇧🇷 Portuguese (Brazil)  • 
🇸🇦 Arabic  • 
🇰🇷 Korean  • 
🇸🇪 Swedish  • 
🇩🇰 Danish  • 
🇫🇮 Finnish  • 
🇵🇱 Polish  • 
🇨🇿 Czech  • 
🇭🇺 Hungarian  • 
🇬🇷 Greek  • 
🇹🇷 Turkish  • 
🇮🇳 Hindi  • 
🇦🇱 Albanian  • 
🇪🇹 Amharic  • 
🇦🇲 Armenian  • 
🇧🇩 Bengali  • 
🇧🇦 Bosnian  • 
🇧🇬 Bulgarian  • 
🇲🇲 Burmese  • 
🇪🇸 Catalan  • 
🇭🇷 Croatian  • 
🇪🇪 Estonian  • 
🇬🇪 Georgian  • 
🇮🇳 Gujarati  • 
🇮🇸 Icelandic  • 
🇮🇩 Indonesian  • 
🇮🇳 Kannada  • 
🇰🇿 Kazakh  • 
🇱🇻 Latvian  • 
🇱🇹 Lithuanian  • 
🇲🇰 Macedonian  • 
🇲🇾 Malay  • 
🇮🇳 Malayalam  • 
🇮🇳 Marathi  • 
🇲🇳 Mongolian  • 
🇳🇴 Norwegian  • 
🇮🇷 Persian  • 
🇮🇳 Punjabi  • 
🇷🇴 Romanian  • 
🇷🇸 Serbian  • 
🇸🇰 Slovak  • 
🇸🇮 Slovenian  • 
🇸🇴 Somali  • 
🇰🇪 Swahili  • 
🇵🇭 Tagalog  • 
🇮🇳 Tamil  • 
🇮🇳 Telugu  • 
🇹🇭 Thai  • 
🇺🇦 Ukrainian  • 
🇵🇰 Urdu  • 
🇻🇳 Vietnamese

🎉 Congratulations on reading this far! You've earned yourself a little treat. Use code ILOVEAUDIOTOURS at checkout for 10% off your tour. Because who doesn't love a good discount for being thorough? 😉

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, United States

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