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Midtown Manhattan: Iconic Architecture Tour
5.0
20 Ratings
New York
Explore Midtown Manhattan’s iconic architecture, from historic landmarks to modern marvels, on this immersive New York City tour.
Explore Midtown Manhattan’s iconic architecture, from historic landmarks to modern marvels, on this immersive New York City tour.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Grand Central Terminal - Grand Central
- Seagram Building - Visit and discuss the Seagram Building.
- JP Morgan Chase - Visit the new office tower of JP Morgan Chase between Vanderbilt and Park Avenue.
- Harvard Club of New York City - Visit the Harvard Club of New York.
- Chrysler Building - See the Chrysler Building by William…
- Grand Central Terminal - Grand Central
- Seagram Building - Visit and discuss the Seagram Building.
- JP Morgan Chase - Visit the new office tower of JP Morgan Chase between Vanderbilt and Park Avenue.
- Harvard Club of New York City - Visit the Harvard Club of New York.
- Chrysler Building - See the Chrysler Building by William van Alen from 1930.
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral - Visit the New York Catholic Cathedral.
- Lever House - Visit the Lever House by SOM from 1953.
- MetLife Building - Visit the MetLife Building by the Architects Collaborative from 1962.
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - See and discuss the MoMA from the outside.
- Rockefeller Center - Visit the Rockefeller Center.
- Steinway Hall - Pass by the Steinway Hall and Tower by ShoP Architects from 2022.
- Central Park Tower - Visit the Central Park Tower by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture from 2023.
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Guide In-person: English, Spanish, Italian
- Professional Individual Headsets for Each Guest
- All Fees and Taxes
- Guide In-person: English, Spanish, Italian
- Professional Individual Headsets for Each Guest
What's Not Included
- Tips
- Tips
Additional Information
Located in the vibrant core of New York City, Midtown and its neighboring areas serve as the bustling hub of the city. The area’s lively spirit is vividly expressed through the brilliant lights of Times Square and the towering skyscrapers of the business district. On this Midtown Manhattan Architecture Tour, participants will explore the history of…
Located in the vibrant core of New York City, Midtown and its neighboring areas serve as the bustling hub of the city. The area’s lively spirit is vividly expressed through the brilliant lights of Times Square and the towering skyscrapers of the business district. On this Midtown Manhattan Architecture Tour, participants will explore the history of Midtown through its architectural landmarks, beginning with early twentieth-century examples and concluding with the newest additions to the urban landscape. The tour will include visits and discussions on buildings such as Grand Central, the Chrysler and Empire State buildings, the Sony Building, Austrian Culture Center, MoMA, Rockefeller Center, and many more.
- Travel time is included in the tour duration.
Location
Apple Fifth Avenue
5th Avenue
Meet your guide on the right side of entrance of the Apple store.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(20 Ratings)
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Nomad59972
May 12, 2025
An incredible architectural tour in the heart of New York - Last Sunday I did the architectural tour in Midtown North NewYork and I must say it was an amazing experience! Our guide, Ivan, is a true architecture expert and history buff and took us not only to see some of the most iconic places in the city, but allowed us to discover some details about the history and architecture of these buildings.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone who loves architecture.
Rating 5/5 and honours :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandermq9934md
May 8, 2025
Fascinating Architecture Tour with Great Insight - I’ve done two tours with Build Tours now, and both have been fantastic in their own way. Most recently, I took the Midtown North Art and Architecture Tour with Ivan, and it was a great experience. He shared fascinating stories behind iconic landmarks like Grand Central Terminal and 270 Park Avenue—explaining how air rights allowed Grand Central to enable modern developments nearby. The deep dive into the design and legal background of 270 Park was especially interesting.
Ivan also highlighted the Seagram Building and explained how its bold setback design led to a major shift in NYC zoning laws, encouraging the creation of public plazas citywide. It was a great example of how architecture shapes the city in more ways than we realize.
Both tours I’ve taken had their own unique charm, and Ivan’s passion and knowledge always shine through. Highly recommended for anyone curious about NYC’s architecture and hidden stories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nailed_dedleaf
May 8, 2025
AMAZING TOUR - This was our second tour with Ivan, and it was amazing, we got to see a lot of things and it felt like a real architectural class, while still being very accessible for us even though we had no experience in the field. During the entire tour you could feel Ivan's passion and knowledge. It was also incredibly organised and perfectly timed! Definitely will go see a different part of manhattan soon with him! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jehanea2024
May 7, 2025
Amazing tour of the architecture of midtown! A must-do! - This was hands down one of the most interesting tours I have ever been on! I learned so much about the fascinating history of NYC and midtown and how it was built as well as all the different architectural styles that make up this part of town. I loved learning about modernism and the Seagram building, the evolution of the MoMA and the art deco of the Rockefeller center. I highly recommend this tour. I’ve attended a few of Build Tours’ tours and I loved them all, but this one is definitely at the top of my list. I would be going on this tour again next time someone is in town!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y0uliana
May 6, 2025
Amazing tour - the side of New York City you may never see! - I'm so happy we discovered this tour. Having lived and worked in New York City for over 20 years I was curious to learn the behind the scene stories, urban planning history, and the blending of art and architectural styles that define this amazing city. The tour guides were great, extremely competent and very generous with their time. The group was small and allowed one on one conversations. The tour took 30 minutes longer than the expected 2 hours - worth every penny! I highly recommend these tours - the best experience for visiting families and friends!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Venture617944
Feb 18, 2025
A high-level tour for the true connoisseur. - We had an amazing time with our tour guide, whose knowledge of architecture, real estate, and urban planning in NYC was truly impressive. The tour was delivered with genuine passion, and we were fully engaged throughout, thanks to the many stories and anecdotes shared at each stop along the way. It was incredible to stand at each site and hear the rich histories and contexts behind them. We were completely enthralled and left feeling inspired and delighted by all things New York. Well worth the investment!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passiontoseetheworld
Jan 13, 2025
Very Enjoyable Tour - A very interesting and enjoyable small group tour with Ivan, founder of Build Tours. We saw a nice variety of iconic buildings and learned some interesting details that would've been hard to learn about elsewhere.
To be led on a walking tour in NYC by a professional architect, particularly one as knowledgeable and professional as Ivan, is quite a treat. And, to top it off, he's very nice and takes a real interest in his clients' enjoyment.
I would very much recommend Build Tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shawnhv605hb
Dec 29, 2024
For the Architecturally Curious - A fantastic tour for the architecturally curious. Our tour was fascinating and informative and had us appreciating the built environment we normally pass by without a thought. As New Yorkers, it takes a lot to impress us when we're being shown our own city, but Ivan did it. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anonymousbob22
Nov 24, 2024
Excellent tour from Ivan in Midtown North - We had a great experience with Ivan on the Midtown North tour! It was really interesting to hear his insights about the history, design process, and architectural details of many different towers in the area. This was one of the best tours we have taken, and would wholeheartedly recommend Build Tours to anyone interested in architecture, New York City, or just looking to learn something on a free afternoon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I943itmichaelk
Nov 24, 2024
Beyond any expectations going in - a superb tour! - I did not know what to expect going in but, objectively, I found this tour extraordinary and learned so much from Ivan who is able to distill down complicated architectural concepts into understandable explanations. I cannot say enough good things about this tour and insights learned!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
