Guided Hip Hop Tour of Harlem & The Bronx
Ride through Harlem and the Bronx with hip hop stories, dance, and landmark stops
Duration
3.5 hrs
Includes
Transportation, hip hop guide, entertainment
Highlights
Explore Harlem and the Bronx by bus with hip hop guides sharing stories, music, and cultural history. Step off at landmark stops, watch dance demonstrations, and join the interactive moments along the way.
- Ride through Harlem and the Bronx with real-time hip hop narratives
- Visit the Apollo Theater, Yankee Stadium, the Graffiti Wall of Fame, and legendary murals
- Watch a b-boy and b-girl dance session and join the Dance Cypher
- Capture selfies at street murals during time off the bus
- Hear exclusive freestyles and take part in the Show Your Skills segment
What's Included
- Transportation
- Hip hop guide
- Interactive entertainment
- Complimentary group photo
Important details
- Arrive 15 minutes before the tour start time and remain on the museum side of Fifth Avenue until check-in
- Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
- Bring water and a snack if needed, as no lunch stop is offered
- Video and audio recording are prohibited
Cancellation Policy
If the operator cancels due to low ticket sales or unforeseen circumstances, you will be offered rescheduling or a full refund.
FAQs
Do not plan on a lunch stop. Lunch is not included, and the tour does not stop for lunch. Bring a snack if you want one.
Bring infants and children ages 5 and under for free, but register them when you book. Infants must sit on a paying adult’s lap for the full tour because no separate seating is available.
Do not bring strollers, carriages, baby buggies, car seats, luggage, or other large items. The buses do not have storage space, and the tour may not be able to accommodate your group if you arrive with these items.
Meeting details
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029
More about the Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater rises from 125th Street in Harlem like a beacon of Black American music history, its iconic marquee glowing above one of the most storied sidewalks in New York City. On the Birthplace of Hip Hop Tour through Harlem and the Bronx, the Apollo Theater stands as a cornerstone stop, anchoring the journey in the deep musical lineage that paved the way for hip hop's explosive arrival in the 1970s. Long before DJ Kool Herc spun breaks at a Bronx block party, this stage launched Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder, and that legacy of discovery and Black artistic excellence threads directly into the rap, breakdance, and graffiti culture the tour celebrates.
Standing in front of the Apollo Theater with your guide, you will hear how Amateur Night made and broke careers, how the Tree of Hope brought luck to nervous performers, and how the theater became a proving ground that shaped the sound of a century. The energy of 125th Street swirls around you, street vendors, the rumble of the A train below, the smell of soul food drifting from nearby restaurants, while stories of Motown legends and Harlem Renaissance icons set the stage for the journey north into the Bronx. The Apollo Theater grounds the tour in context, showing how hip hop did not appear from nowhere but grew from generations of innovation nurtured on this very block.
This stop is perfect for music lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about how American culture was forged on Harlem's streets. Travelers who appreciate live performance, civil rights history, or the roots of modern pop music will find the Apollo Theater especially moving, while families and first-time visitors get an unforgettable photo and a real sense of place. Step beneath the marquee, listen to the stories, and feel the connection between the Apollo Theater's legendary stage and the South Bronx blocks where hip hop was born.
