Hire a Guide

NYC licensed guides are the best 'bang-for-your-tourism-buck.' Take the time to learn what our members have to offer. A GANYC member will help you make the most of your time. We also have a wide variety of multilingual guides to aid all international travelers on any service they need.

GANYC members are solely responsible for the content of their profiles on this site.

The designation Certified Guide means the marked individual guide has successfully completed and fulfilled all the requirements of GANYC's professional development program that focuses on how to research, plan, and conduct high-quality tours. These guides are authorized to use the designation, "GANYC certified guide."

Other US tour guide associations have Hire a Guide systems similar to GANYC's. You may contact the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild and the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC with the forms on their websites.

Certified Guide
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GANYC Certified Guide John Semlak My name is John Semlak.  I'm a tour guide, historian, and photographer.   I give tours in a wide range of areas.  I have experiecne in bus tours all over the city, escorted tours, and tours of popular attractions like the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial, the High Line,… Read More
Brad Fraver Brad Fraver teaches English at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, in New York City. He has a PhD in English education from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition to teaching full-time for almost two decades, Brad publishes in the field of English education and also enjoys long-distance running, listening to live jazz, singing tenor in a community choir, and leading historical walking tours. Read More
Jeff Liss I am a history buff and have spent most of my life in and around New York City. My tours go past the usual landmarks to explore the little known facts around the city, particularly in Manhattan's Midtown East. Read More
Steve Kornblit Steve Kornblit loves people, food, tourists and NYC, not necessarily in that order! Steve has developed a walking tour business that focuses on the backgrounds of his tour guests to make the experience unique.  Most of us came from somewhere else so why not delve into your past as we explore… Read More
Jonathan Goldstein I have deep generational roots in New York City, mirroring the classic immigrant experience from Ellis Island to the Jewish Lower East Side. This has inspired an ongoing quest for the best of the city past and present, from the suspension cables of the Brooklyn Bridge to the hot pastrami at Katz's deli. Read More
Michael Gray I am a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A. Philosophy) and Columbia University (M.A. Elementary Education).  I lived and worked in China (Hongkong, Taipei and China) for ten years, including four years of Chinese language study at the Beijing Language Institute and at the Mandarin… Read More
Suzanne Reisman Suzanne Reisman specializes in unique, unusual tours of New York City. If you want to delve into the New York City that's off the beaten (subway) track, she literally wrote a book about it. Join Suzanne to learn about disease, saints, garbage, rats, weird history, murders, corruption, anarchy, and NYC at sunrise. She can customize tours to meet accessibility needs, and is happy to wear a mask outdoors if requested.

*Off the Beaten (Subway) Track
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GANYC Certified Guide Michael Morgenthal A lifelong New Yorker born and raised in Greenwich Village, Mike is a seasoned tour guide who has designed and led great tours of New York for hundreds of clients from around the world. He loves to show visitors the real New York, off the beaten track places known and loved by locals! In particular… Read More
Eliot Niles Native New Yorker: played stoopball & stickball with a spaldeen in the streets, and skiball on old Coney Island boardwalk. Brooklynite who has also lived & worked in other cities/countries, always seem to boomerang back home. Experienced licensed tour guide, local, regional, and international clientele. Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Deborah Blau The beauty and excitement of New York City speaks for itself. LOUDLY. It can be overwhelming, especially if you are a first time visitor, here to visit our famous attractions. Wouldn't it be great to have a friendly, funny licensed New York guide to decode the local lingo? And if you are already… Read More
Alfonso Pellegrino Alfonso Pellegrino, Ph.D., is a licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide with over six years of international tour experience in Thailand, Italy, and Southeast Asia. As the founder of The Unusual Trip, he crafted unique and authentic itineraries. Fluent in English, Italian, and Thai, Alfonso offers personalized tours showcasing NYC’s rich history, hidden gems, and dynamic culture. Read More
Ivan Shumkov BUILD TOURS offers public tours and custom private tours for groups, companies and individuals to create memorable experiences of New York. Each tour highlights the distinct character of a specific area - weaving history, architecture, art, and design into engaging stories that help our guests experience, understand and connect with New York. We help our guests see, learn and enjoy the New York's architecture in new ways and on a deeper level. Read More
Janice Hoffmann Hello and welcome to the city that never sleeps!

I’ve been living in this amazing city since the mid 80s, so I have a lot of stories and insights to share with you. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, art, or entertainment, New York has something for everyone.
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Erin Donnelly Explore history in a New York minute from the canyons of Lower Manhattan to the quaint enclave of Gramercy with Erin Donnelly, Co-Founder of Reel New York City. Erin’s walking tours feature famous landmarks and off-the-beaten-path spots, engaging storytelling from a passionate expert and opportunities for small groups to have a personalized experience.

Airbnb Experiences Host
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Laura Campisi Sicilian by birth, New Yorker by choice! Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Trisha Lynn Sullivan I'm a native New Yorker and have loved the city my whole life, but because my family moved when I was young I have also visited the city as a tourist. I have a background in both Fine Art and Elementary Education and am an avid traveler.. I studied Tour Guiding and Tour Management at ITMI (… Read More
Andrew Kirschner I provide historical walking tours in Greenwich Village and Flatiron in NYC.


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Kristin Singleton-Ferrari Kristin! Tour Director and Guide in English and Italian... All NYC, Brooklyn Expert, Educational Tours from NY to DC Philadelphia Gettysburg and much more. Tours to Niagara Falls and Eastern Canada. Many other cities but NYC is HOME! Read More
Mike Gantcher Mike is a true New Yorker, deeply rooted in the city's vibrant culture and history. With over 30 years of experience, he offers unmatched insights into NYC's iconic landmarks and hidden gems. His background in Urban Studies and diverse career in finance, real estate, and technology give him a unique perspective on the city's evolving landscape. Discover NYC through the eyes of a seasoned local with Mike as your guide. Read More
Norman Oder Veteran tour guide Norman Oder("fast-walking, fast-talking") specializes in Brooklyn neighborhoods and also has branched out to a few neighborhoods in Queens and Manhattan. Read More
Susanne Wieneke I moved to New York City 27 years ago, without plans to stay, but was so intrigued by the City, that I was unable to leave. As I felt compelled to share my enthusiasm about this fascinating city with others, I passed the NYC sightseeing guide exam in 2001. Upon starting to give tours years ago, I… Read More
Jonathan H. Mishal Highly skilled tour guide with 25 years of experience.

Originally from Chicago, working and living in NYC.
Leading New York City art Walks and Urban Adventures since 2017.

Fluent in Hebrew and English
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Dave King I arrived in NYC in 2002 with no job, no apartment, and no network. A time before Facebook, before smartphones—when the only way to truly connect was through real conversation. So I put myself out there, joining an open mic at an East Village dive and becoming a volunteer guide. Through these encounters, I began to see NYC not just as a city but as a story, unfolding on every corner. Read More
Andy McNeil My name is Andy McNeil and I've lived in NYC for the past 13 years. I've always been fascinated with the history of the city and showing friends and family around so I figured not why make it official and become a licensed NYC tour guide. I'm looking forward to learning more about the city I love and sharing my experiences with new friends. Read More
DEREK CHAN DEREK CHAN is an experienced, professional New York City-based, licensed tour guide who has provided hundreds of tours throughout NYC. An avid urban explorer, Derek appreciates the storied architecture, varied neighborhoods, historic brownstones and mixture of styles, in addition to the iconic,… Read More
Sara Lyons I love my city for a living, and there's always more to love! Read More
Tim Ries Founder of Tourist New York with 20+ years in NYC tourism. Former High Line Director, NYC-licensed guide, and proud member of the Guides Association of New York City. Passionate about sharing the best of NYC’s landmarks and hidden gems. Read More
Joseph Pizzingrillo Lifelong native New Yorker. Solid experience and knowledge of Manhattan as well as all NYC boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) Read More
Cherie Davis I love NYC and want you to see the amazing sites we have here. I specialize in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. I have lived in NYC since 1996 and have been a guide since 2017. There is so much to see and do here. From the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge to tiny little stores that have been around for decades. Read More
David Turk Hello! I'm David, a lifetime New Yorker, and I'd love to be your guide and show you around. I have a passion for traveling around the world and for sharing with visitors from all over the world what makes New York City such a special place—its history, culture, food. Read More
Kyle Hand Kyle Hand holds a Master's degree in Screen Studies from Brooklyn College's Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. For his thesis, he both analyzed and created virtual reality videos on New York City history (link above). Following his academic journey, he learned that history is best communicated in… Read More
Tony Chen Tony Chen has been working in the travel industry for over 16 years sharing his passion for history and helping others discover what is special about the place they are visiting. Currently an undergraduate student at Columbia University, General Studies under the major of American History, Tony is… Read More
Dena Brody As a contractor and licensed guide for 3 years now, I lead Chinatown/Little Italy and Greenwich Village food tours as well as Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island walking tours. With expertise in numerous neighborhoods and a love for food, I have started my own tour company: Feast by the Foot and I am currently workshopping a SoHo food tour! Please reach out if you’d love to learn more about any of the above. Read More
Gordon Polatnick This is going to be fun. I can't wait to speak to you about what you'd like to get out of your New York tour. After more than 30 years of guiding, I'm more enthused than ever to create the perfect experience for each guest. The joy for me comes from listening to your needs and designing itineraries… Read More
Sy Lukin Native New Yorker who likes to share his love of the city. NYC walking tours for history, food and architecture. Big Apple Greeter. Read More
Evanna Wilbraham Let me help you discover New York in a new way! Read More
Susan Zuckerman I am a retired history teacher and currently an adjunct professor teaching history at a local college, but now devote most of my time to being a licensed New York City guide. Additionally, along with my husband, who is also a licensed tour guide, I have co-authored a book on New York City, have a… Read More
Patrick van Rosendaal Patrick van Rosendaal author of the besteller BE NY  an alumnus of the prestigious Vlerick business school and had seen quite a few corners of the world before he decided to move to New York. As a former Parisian and Londoner, big city life no longer held any secrets. Then his life… Read More
Tony Tooslick Founder of SI Hospitality and Tooslick Communication.
Specialized in luxury experiences, tourism and corporate travel between New York and Italy.
Creating unique travel, events and lifestyle experiences for international clients.
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