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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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Illacd2021
Sep 25, 2025
Memorable and fun tour of Midtown North where I got to see New York in a whole new amazing way. - I took the two-hour Midtown North walking tour and it was such an impressive and immersive experience with Dr. Ivan Shumkov. It began on 44th Street with a really exclusive start, at the Harvard Club in Midtown New York. Then we walked along at an easy pace, stopping to look at different buildings along 5th Avenue, Madison, and Park Avenues. We visited the Rockefeller Center, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, MoMA, Lever House, the Seagram Building, AT&T Tower, the Apple Store, and many more. What made this tour unique is our guide Ivan, who is a PhD in architecture and a Harvard grad. He is so knowledgeable, passionate and fun. Listening to him makes you fall in love with architecture and NYC. He shared insightful historical context as well as interpretations of buildings and architectural details. His very easy to understand explanations really made the buildings come to life and provided a fresh perspective on the city. All the guests had personal questions that Ivan easily answered including mine about why the Atlas statue at Rockefeller has such a stern attitude. Worth every moment and dollar.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
307minaw
Sep 22, 2025
Skip the Brochures—This Tour Actually Knows NYC - Skip the cookie-cutter tours and book a BUILD TOUR. Specifically, the Midtown North Walking Tour led by Ivan—architect, urban planner, Columbia professor, and all-around NYC expert (though you’d never hear him brag about it).
Ivan is the perfect combo of knowledgeable, funny, humble, and sharp. He doesn’t just rattle off names and dates—he tells the stories behind the buildings, the rules that shaped them, and why they matter. You’ll walk away seeing the city with new eyes.
We visited architectural icons like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Seagram Building, and Rockefeller Center, while learning about the people who created them, when and how they came to be, and the fascinating regulations and urban design decisions that made them possible. Ivan breaks down complex ideas in a way that’s easy to follow and genuinely interesting.
A few other things that made this tour stand out:
Ivan was super organized, sending both a text and a quick call beforehand to make sure we knew exactly where to meet.
We each wore a Bluetooth earpiece, so we could hear him clearly the entire time—no crowding around or missing info in the middle of Manhattan noise.
He encouraged questions and made everyone feel welcome, no matter their level of knowledge.
You can tell this tour is more than a gig—it’s a true passion project, led by someone who loves this city and knows it inside and out.
So seriously—don’t waste your time on tours run by people who skimmed a brochure the night before. BUILD TOURS is the real deal. If you want depth, insight, and a genuinely great time, this is the one to book.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G9131dlhollyr
Sep 1, 2025
Fun and Fascinating! - An extraordinary tour! Ivan was fascinating and the quintessential expert and I learned so much. I will never look at a building the same way again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Road203513
Aug 28, 2025
Very cool tour! - I am a Native New Yorker and wanted to know more about the buildings I walk by every day. I learned so much about the choices the architects made, why, and also how history affected those choices! It was so cool and interesting, I would recommend this tour to anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrissr6301zv
Aug 28, 2025
Great way to have fun and learn! - We learned so much on this tour and gained a new appreciation for the different styles of architecture used around the area. Ivan is so knowledgeable and his passion comes across when leading the tour. Looking forward to my next tour with Build!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Syamanthaks
Aug 27, 2025
Highly recommended - Very informative tour, learnt a lot about the history of NYC architecture and how the city developed over time. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
