Explore New York’s Layered History
Take a Big Onion Walking Tour and discover New York’s rich history through memorable stories and little-known facts.
Immigrant New York Walking Tour
Walk the streets of Chinatown, Little Italy, and the former Five Points.
The Original Big Onion Walking Tour!
The City of New York has welcomed immigrants from all over the world for centuries. Our walk, Immigrant New York, explores the experiences of the different immigrant and ethnic populations residing in the Lower East Side from the early 19th century through today.
We’ll walk through Chinatown, Little Italy, the Jewish East Side, and former Irish/Free Black Five Points. We will “peel away the layers of history” while discussing tenements, pushcarts, and sweatshops, as well as places of worship and street life, to see how everyone got along (or didn’t) at different times.
Some stops include the Tweed Courthouse, the African Burial Ground, the infamous Mulberry Bend, the Bowery, sites associated with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Jacob Riis, Abraham Cahan, “Master” Juba, Emma Goldman, and many others.
Tour Info
Cost: $30
$20 Seniors and Full-Time Students
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Give an experience they’ll remember! All tours are available as gift certificates.
Purchase This Tour as A Gift Certificate
Tour Schedule
July 2025
August 2025
Tour Reservations
Big Onion requires all walkers to reserve and pay in advance. Prepayment helps us determine group size and appropriate guide numbers.
NOTE: You will select your date in the next step.
For bigger groups, consider private walking.
Whether you are looking to integrate a tour into your academic curriculum or entertain out-of-towners, a Big Onion walking tour is a great way to experience the city.
For more information or to arrange, please call (718) 499-3001 or email info@bigonion.com.
Meeting Location
Location
The southeast corner of Broadway and Chambers Street, at City Hall Park.
Subway Trains
4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge, 1/2/3/A/C/E to Chambers Street, R to City Hall.
FAQS for Walking Tours
Guides
The finest group of tour guides anywhere. Most of us are full-time graduate students researching and writing doctoral dissertations in history, passionate about the history, architecture, and people of New York.
Finding Your Guides
All guides carry an 8×11 sign that says “Big Onion Walking Tours.”
Time and Distance
All tours last approximately two hours. We start on time and walk between one and two miles at a moderate walking pace, stopping at various sites along the tour.
Rain/Inclement Weather
Big Onion generally presents tours rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, please call our hotline [(888) 606-WALK (9255) ext. 1] to confirm our schedule.
Tips
Gratuities are always appreciated but never expected.
Reschedule Policy
With 24+ hours prior to a walking tour, Big Onion offers a full credit for the value of the booking. Credits will be given as Gift Cards in dollar amounts. Gift Cards are good for two years and can be used on any Big Onion outing. Cancellations less than 24 hours prior to the tour or no-shows cannot be credited.
Walks are held rain or shine but may be canceled for severe weather. In the event of a Big Onion cancellation full refunds or rescheduled tickets will be offered.
More Questions? Check out How it Works for more details.
Helpful Links
Local Weather Forecast
NYC Subway Map
Weekly Service Advisories
Subway Fares