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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Lawrence Henderson Greetings. I’m a licensed New York City tour guide with five years of experience. I lead two walking tours: an African American History Tour of Lower Manhattan and the Soul of Harlem Tour. To date, I’ve conducted over 1,000 tours. 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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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
GANYC Certified Guide Linda Fisher I was born in Staten Island, grew up in the Bronx, lived in Brooklyn in the '70s, Manhattan in the '80s and have resided in Queens for 30 years.  I've had my license since 1996, and specialize in neighborhood walking tours, focusing on local history and the "real people" of New York.   Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Jose Mauricio Montoya With a global perspective and a passion for storytelling, I bring New York City to life as a reflection of the world itself. More than a guide, I curate immersive experiences that connect travelers to the city’s people, hidden histories, and cultural layers—revealing an authentic New York shaped by migration, creativity, and reinvention, one that resonates long after the journey ends. Read More
Sam Silverman Founder of BagelFest, NYC Bagel Tours, and Brooklyn Bagel Blog Read More
Daryl Williams 3rd Generation New Yawker, Stuyvesant High School, Baruch College C.U.N.Y. Graduate. St. Albans Born, Ex East Villager, Ex-SOHOer and current Harlemite, who still has love for this City and ALL that it has to offer and willing to share it’s warts and gems…. Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Emma Guest-Consales, Ph.D. I am a full-time guide at One World Observatory and a private walking tour guide in New York City. I specialize in 19th c. New York, especially the Gilded Age. Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Rita DeCassia I was born in Rio de Janeiro, and moved to New York City as a young woman, but I can say that I truly grew up here. Because of my fluency in many languages, friends encouraged me to become a tourist guide. Which opened an ongoing life of discoveries. And I love to share the complexities of our… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Michael Dillinger I am a life long New Yorker and my family roots in this great city go back to the 1840's.  There is a lot of NYC in my DNA. As a guide I believe my job is to help visitor's fall in love with New York.  I have been a professional, full-time, guide for the past six years.  I love being… Read More
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
GANYC Certified Guide Ricky Russo Ricky Russo was born in Trieste (Italy) in 1973 and has lived in New York since 2013. He is a tour guide, DJ, music journalist and historian, creator of radio and TV programs and musical event organizer (from the Peggy Guggenheim Museum to concerts of Italian artists in New York.) He holds a degree… Read More
Phyllis Kaplan-Katz Love this fabulous city as much as I do. Join me as we walk and talk about the neighborhoods, the people, the food the changes, the buildings and the energy. I am a born and bred New Yorker who continues to get excited about the happenings  the energy and the life in New York. Learn what it is… Read More
Tony Di Sante Tony has been a licensed guide since 1998. In January 2002, he began working with New York City Vacation Packages to build the first ever tour of the World Trade Center site (Ground Zero). For this reason, it makes him the foremost tour guide on September 11 and what has, is and will be happening… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Kitt Garrett Kitt Garrett, Founder and CEO of Kitt Garrett & AssociatesLecturer and JournalistExperience New York in an Intriguing New Way Fascinating Talks and Walks For Locals and Visitors with Kitt Garrett. Experience New York in comfort and see more than you would walking around on your own. … Read More
Cynthia Leder I'm fluent in French (I lived in Belgium for 2 years and enjoy other cultures) and have spent all my adult life in New York City. I specialize in planning cultural programs in New York, especially theater (off Broadway, Broadway, and classics); dance, and music. 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
Emmanuel Hadar I was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel.
Came to New York City on 9/11/2001, and have been working in the field of tourism since 2010.
Have been doing tours all over the north east region - Niagara Falls, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C and New York City.
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Stan Kulp I've been pulling out all the stops--f-stops, that is--taking my photography obsession on the road as a New York City tour guide. After 15 years working in the financial industry, I'm doing what I really love, taking photos, and combining it with my second love, this huge marvelous place called New… Read More
Myra Alperson I sometimes describe myself as a "professional amateur." An amateur is someone who truly LOVES what she does. And that's the story of my life as a food tour guide in NYC. Since 1983 I've been leading unusual, cutting-edge food tours. I go to many neighborhoods that no other food tours go to. Since… Read More
Marc Catapano Unique and in-depth walking tours of New York City and beyond. Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Matthew Baker Matthew Baker has been a New Yorker since 1992 and a licensed tour guide since 2005. Having worked in such venerable institutions as the New York Public Library, Saks Fifth Avenue, and FAO Schwarz, he has seen, known, and loved an incredible cross section of New York City cultures. And now, he… Read More
Michael Agovino My name is Michael Agovino and I am a native Bronxite transplanted into the wonderful world of Queens. I am a NYC DOE teacher and in love with New York City's colorful history. I am an avid genealogist, learner, and micro-historian. I believe that learning about the "every-day" people of our city… Read More
Hiram L. Jacobs I am a licensed New York City Department of Consumer Affairs Tour Guide and a native New Yorker. Over the years, I acquired considerable experience organizing solo tours of the major European and East European capitals of the world, Toronto and Montreal, Canada, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. I… 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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Carey Golden I'm Carey, a teacher turned tour guide! As a military wife, for twenty years, I moved to many states in the US and South Korea!  I'm now combining my passion for teaching and touring into an adventure for you!   I enjoy meeting people and sharing my love for architecture, history, and… Read More
Jonathan Dauermann Hello! American-born, though with many international experiences, I've been a resident of NYC for a decade now, and I'm a veteran tour guide with four years of experience and counting! Now a licensed NYC guide, I can help you and your group design a customized itinerary that both creates the New… Read More
Sonja Bredel I was born and raised in Switzerland, studied in Vienna, and lived and worked in Beijing and New York. Discovering the history and secrets of the places where I live has always been a passion of mine. After eight years of living in New York and falling for NYC more and more, I decided to turn my… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Joseph Salvatore Knipper Look! It's a fashion-impaired hipster...No! It's a young Santa Claus! ...No! It's Joseph Salvatore Knipper! Read More
George Barabas  Do you want to discover what makes New York a city like no other- a vibrant, diverse metropolis with a fascinating history and a constantly evolving face? Let me, a  life-long  New York City educator and Licensed Sightseeing Tour Guide, be your guide to the many… Read More
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
Jason Thompson Hello viewer - My name is Jason Thompson and I'm a lifelong resident of this fair city. I've had the full New York experience from specialized high school attendence to being a victim of gentrification to ignoring showtime on the subway! I run my own Sightseeing Theater tour called "Tour Noir: A… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Susan Soler Susan is a native New Yorker.  She is passionate about this city.  She is ready to explore what this city has to offer, focusing on the joy and the senses that her tour can bring. Read More
Jose Raudales Jose has been sharing his love for New York City as a licensed guide since 2011. With a dual degree in Economics and History from Baruch College, he has a knack for uncovering the fascinating stories that make NYC the most vibrant and dynamic city in the world.On February 21, 2025, Jose gave his… Read More
GANYC Certified Guide Jonathan Turer Visitors say my tours are “witty” “fun” “informative” and “fascinating.” And this: “For 5 1/2 hours we did not want to miss a thing he said and more importantly, neither did our two teenagers. Now that is a feat!” and “My wife was born and raised in NYC and ... even she learned a whole bunch about… Read More
Libby Corydon-Apicella Introduction to New York City for families Walking the Brooklyn Bridge 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