Full day · 6–7 hrs
Statue of Liberty & Lower Manhattan
Ferry to Liberty & Ellis Island, Charging Bull, Wall Street, Trinity Church, the 9/11 Memorial and Oculus.
Ask about this tour →Namaste · नमस्ते · નમસ્તે
See New York in your own language
Private and group tours of New York City in English, Hindi and Gujarati with a licensed NYC guide. Made for families, visiting parents, seniors and temple groups.
✓ Licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide✓ GANYC Member✓ Senior & wheelchair friendly
Real guests · August 2026 tour
Statue of LibertyTimes SquareCentral ParkBrooklyn Bridge9/11 MemorialAkshardham NJ
About your guide
Namaste! I'm Shailendra.
I'm a licensed New York City sightseeing guide and a member of GANYC, the Guides Association of New York City. I live in New Jersey and love showing New York to visitors from India and across the US, in the language they're most comfortable in.
Whether it's your parents' first trip to America, a family reunion, or a temple group arriving by coach, I plan the day around your pace, with plenty of stories, photo stops, comfortable walking and good vegetarian food along the way.
One perfect day
Sunrise to skyline lights
9:00Statue of LibertyFerry from Battery Park, Liberty & Ellis Island
12:30Wall StreetCharging Bull, Trinity Church, veg lunch
3:009/11 MemorialReflecting pools and the Oculus
6:30Sky highObservatory views as the city lights up
9:00Times SquareLights, dinner and the walk back
Tours
Iconic New York, at your pace
Every tour can be private or for a group, and customized. Ask for rates.
Half or full day
Midtown Icons
Grand Central, an observation deck, the Public Library, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and Times Square lights.
Ask about this tour →
2–3 hrs
Central Park Stroll
Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge and Strawberry Fields on a relaxed walk with plenty of benches.
Ask about this tour →
2–3 hrs
Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO
Walk the bridge and catch the best skyline photos in the city from DUMBO.
Ask about this tour →
3–4 hrs
India in New York
The Gandhi statue at Union Square and a pure-veg food walk through Jackson Heights.
Ask about this tour →
Full day
New Jersey Temple Day
Darshan and architecture at Akshardham, then Edison for shopping and a thali.
Ask about this tour →2–5 days
Multi-day NY/NJ Group Tours
Itinerary, coach points, ticket timing and vegetarian meals arranged for groups from other states or India.
Ask about this tour →Explore before you book
Map of attractions
Tap a place to see what it is, how long it takes and how much walking is involved. Then tell me which ones interest you and I'll build the day around them.
1
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Ferry + easy walking3–4 hrsTicket needed
France's 1886 gift and America's symbol of welcome, plus the museum where 12 million immigrants first arrived. Ferry from Battery Park with airport-style security.
Tip: Peak season ferry tickets sell out: book 2–4 weeks ahead. Pedestal and crown need separate tickets.
2
Battery Park & Castle Clinton
Easy walking0.5 hrsFree
Harbor gardens with views of the statue, benches, clean restrooms and the ferry dock.
Tip: A good first stop to use restrooms and regroup.
3
Charging Bull
Easy walking0.5 hrsFree
Wall Street's famous bronze bull, a must-have photo.
Tip: Crowded by 10 am; I'll get you there early.
4
Wall Street, Federal Hall & Trinity Church
Easy walking0.5 hrsFree
Where George Washington took the oath as first president (1789), the Stock Exchange facade, and Alexander Hamilton's grave.
Tip: Trinity Church has quiet seating inside.
5
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Easy walking1–2 hrsFree outside · ticket inside
Twin reflecting pools on the footprints of the original towers, with every name inscribed.
Tip: The plaza is free; the museum is ticketed and takes 1.5–2 hrs.
6
Oculus & One World Observatory
Easy walking1–1.5 hrsTicket needed
Calatrava's white-winged station, and the observatory atop the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
Tip: Fast elevators, step-free and air-conditioned.
7
Brooklyn Bridge
Moderate walking1 hrsFree
The 1883 suspension bridge with the classic skyline view.
Tip: To the midpoint is about 20 minutes at an easy pace; we stop for the view and photos, then head back or I arrange a car on the Brooklyn side.
8
DUMBO
Easy walking1 hrsFree
Cobblestone streets and the famous Manhattan Bridge photo on Washington Street, plus a waterfront park.
Tip: Pairs well with the bridge; I can arrange a car back.
9
Grand Central & Summit One Vanderbilt
Easy walking1–1.5 hrsFree outside · ticket inside
The Beaux-Arts station with its starry ceiling and whispering gallery; next door, mirrored sky rooms high above Midtown.
Tip: Grand Central has restrooms and a food hall downstairs.
10
Public Library & Bryant Park
Easy walking0.75 hrsFree
Marble lions, the grand reading room, and a park with chairs, shade and famously clean restrooms.
Tip: Our usual mid-day rest stop.
11
Rockefeller Center & St. Patrick's
Easy walking1–1.5 hrsFree outside · ticket inside
The skating rink (Christmas tree in winter), Top of the Rock and the Fifth Avenue cathedral.
Tip: Top of the Rock has the best view of the Empire State Building.
12
Times Square
Easy walking0.5–1 hrsFree
The lights of Broadway, best after dark.
Tip: Very crowded; I keep groups together with a meeting point.
13
Empire State Building
Easy walking1–1.5 hrsTicket needed
The 1931 Art Deco icon with an open-air 86th-floor deck.
Tip: Sunset slots are popular; book ahead.
14
Broadway Theater District
Easy walking2.5–3 hrsTicket needed
41 theaters around Times Square; the TKTS discount booth sits under the red steps at Broadway & 47th Street.
Tip: See the Broadway section below for tickets and timing.
15
Fifth Avenue
Easy walking1 hrsFree
Flagship stores from about 49th to 60th Street, past Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's.
Tip: Wide sidewalks; easy to do in short stretches.
16
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Easy walking1.5–2 hrsTicket needed
Van Gogh's Starry Night, Monet's Water Lilies and much more, with elevators throughout.
Tip: Ask at the coat check about borrowing a wheelchair.
17
Radio City Music Hall
Easy walking1 hrsTicket needed
The 1932 Art Deco hall, home of the Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular.
Tip: Christmas show tickets go fast; book early.
18
Chrysler Building
Easy walking0.25 hrsFree
The 1930 Art Deco skyscraper with its gleaming steel crown.
Tip: Best seen from Lexington Ave & 42nd St, a short walk from Grand Central.
19
United Nations Headquarters
Easy walking1–1.5 hrsTicket needed
The General Assembly hall and gardens on the East River, where world leaders meet.
Tip: Guided tours must be booked ahead; bring photo ID.
20
Hudson Yards, Vessel & Edge
Easy walking1–1.5 hrsFree outside · ticket inside
A new neighborhood with the honeycomb Vessel and Edge, an outdoor sky deck with a glass floor.
Tip: Edge has elevators; the Vessel is mostly stairs.
21
The High Line
Moderate walking1 hrsFree
A park on an old elevated railway, from Hudson Yards south toward Chelsea.
Tip: Some entrances have elevators; I pick those for seniors.
22
Macy's Herald Square
Easy walking1 hrsFree
The famous department store, with some of its original wooden escalators.
Tip: Handy for shopping and restrooms on a Midtown day.
23
Flatiron Building & Madison Square Park
Easy walking0.5 hrsFree
The 1902 wedge-shaped landmark facing a leafy park.
Tip: A quick photo stop on the way downtown.
24
Central Park
Moderate walking1.5–2 hrsFree
Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge and the lake, with hundreds of benches.
Tip: Pedicabs can carry anyone who tires.
25
Gandhi statue, Union Square
Easy walking0.25 hrsFree
A bronze Mahatma Gandhi in a quiet garden corner of Union Square.
Tip: Farmers' market on Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat.
26
Jackson Heights
Easy walking2 hrsFree
74th Street's 'Little India': sweets, chaat, sarees and jewelry.
Tip: Best with an empty stomach.
27
BAPS Akshardham, Robbinsville NJ
Easy walking2–3 hrsFree
A hand-carved stone mandir and one of the largest Hindu temples outside India.
Tip: The campus is large but flat; wheelchairs are welcome.
28
Edison & Oak Tree Road, NJ
Easy walking2 hrsFree
New Jersey's busiest Indian shopping and food street.
Tip: Good for an evening thali after Akshardham.
Broadway
Seeing a Broadway show: a guide's tips
Broadway's 41 theaters sit within a few blocks of Times Square, roughly between 41st and 54th Streets and 6th and 8th Avenues. Here's what I tell my guests.
WhereThe Theater District around Times Square. Most theaters are a 5–10 minute walk from the Times Sq–42 St subway station. I suggest meeting 45 minutes before curtain.
Buying ticketsBuy from the show's official seller (linked from the show's own website) or at the theater box office. Avoid street sellers and resale sites that add big markups.
Discount ticketsThe TKTS booth under the red steps at Broadway & W 47th St sells same-day tickets and next-day matinees at up to 50% off. Many shows also run digital lotteries and rush tickets on their websites.
Show timesEvening shows usually start between 7 and 8 pm; matinees are around 2 pm on some weekdays and weekends. Many shows are dark one day a week, often Monday. Most run about 2.5 hours with an intermission.
Seniors & accessibilityOrchestra seats usually avoid stairs; mezzanine and balcony can mean many steps in older theaters. Book wheelchair and accessible seats through the official seller. Assistive listening devices are free, and some shows offer captions through an app. Use the restroom before the show: intermission lines are long.
If English is limitedBig musicals full of music, dance and spectacle are easiest to enjoy. Long-running favorites include The Lion King, Aladdin and Wicked. Shows change, so check current listings.
How I help: I suggest shows that suit your group, help you buy from official sellers, plan an early vegetarian dinner nearby and walk everyone to the theater.
Why a personal guide
Why not just take the hop-on hop-off bus?
The bus is a fine way to see the city from a seat. Here's how a day with me is different.
| Namaste NYC Tours | Hop-on hop-off bus | Big group walking tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | English, Hindi or Gujarati, live | Recorded or English commentary | Usually English only |
| Pace | Set by your group | Fixed route; wait for the next bus | Guide's pace for 20–30 strangers |
| Seniors | Regular seated breaks, restrooms planned, wheelchair-aware | Steep stairs to the top deck; you manage stops | Hard to keep up |
| Questions | Ask anything, any time | Not possible | Limited |
| Food | Pure-veg and Jain meals arranged | On your own | On your own |
| Tickets & timing | Timed entries sequenced for you | You plan it | Usually not included |
| Photos | Best spots, and I take your group photos | On your own | On your own |
Honest note: the bus costs less per person. For a family or group, a private guide split across everyone is often close, and you get a far better day.
Comfort & accessibility
Designed for parents and grandparents
Breaks at your paceRegular seated breaks with water, timed to how your group is doing, never a forced march.
Restrooms plannedClean, reliable stops roughly every 1–1.5 hours, so nobody has to ask.
Wheelchairs welcomeBring your own or rent one delivered to your hotel; a companion pushes it and I plan step-free routes, elevators and accessible restrooms.
Similar-pace groupsI suggest grouping people with similar needs so nobody feels rushed or held back.
Short rides, not long walksBetween far-apart sights I arrange a car or van instead of a long walk.
Heat, cold and rainEarly starts and shade in summer; indoor alternatives like Grand Central and museums when the weather turns.
For groups
A sample 3-day NY/NJ group plan
I coordinate coach drop-off and pickup points, ticket times and restaurant orders, so the group leader can relax.
Day 1 · Lower Manhattan
Battery Park → Statue of Liberty ferry → packed veg lunch → Charging Bull, Trinity Church, Wall Street → 9/11 Memorial & Oculus → Indian dinner in Tribeca
Day 2 · Midtown
Grand Central → Summit One Vanderbilt → Public Library & Bryant Park → Rockefeller Center → bus to Brooklyn Bridge → Times Square at dusk
Day 3 · New Jersey temples
BAPS Akshardham Robbinsville and thali lunch → hotel break → evening darshan in Edison → Kathiyawadi dinner
How it works
1Message meWhatsApp or email your dates, group size, ages and anything special like a wheelchair or diet.
2Get a planI send a day-by-day plan with meeting points, rest stops, tickets to buy and my rate.
3Enjoy New YorkI meet you and guide the day; you just enjoy.
Real guests, real moments
From our August 2026 group tour
Questions, answered properly
How much walking is involved?
For seniors I plan fewer sights with regular seated breaks, at the group's own pace. For example, walking the Brooklyn Bridge to the midpoint takes about 20 minutes at an easy pace; we stop for the view and photos, then head back, or I arrange a car on the far side. I suggest gathering a group with similar needs so that no one feels restricted.
Can someone in a wheelchair come?
Yes. Bring your own wheelchair or rent one (rental companies deliver to hotels). A family member or companion manages it, and I plan step-free routes, elevators and accessible restrooms. The Statue of Liberty ferries, the 9/11 Memorial plaza, Grand Central and the major observation decks are all wheelchair accessible. Tell me when booking so I pick the right route.
Where do we use the restroom?
I plan stops roughly every 1–1.5 hours at clean, reliable places, for example Battery Park, Brookfield Place, Grand Central and Bryant Park, so no one has to ask.
What about food?
Pure-vegetarian by default, Jain on request. Options range from a packed lunch picnic in Battery Park to a sit-down thali. For groups I order in advance so food is ready when we arrive.
Do we need tickets, and when should we book?
The Statue of Liberty ferry sells out in peak season, so book 2–4 weeks ahead; pedestal and crown access need separate tickets, often months ahead. Observation decks use timed entry. The 9/11 Memorial plaza is free; the museum is ticketed. I tell you exactly which tickets to buy and for what time.
Why not just take the hop-on hop-off bus?
See the comparison above. In short: your language, your pace, rests and restrooms planned, food arranged, and someone to answer every question.
What if it rains or it's very hot?
Summer days start early with shade and water breaks. When it rains or gets cold we shift indoors: Grand Central, the Public Library, the Oculus, museums and observation decks.
Where do you meet us?
At your hotel, a New Jersey Transit or PATH station, or I join your coach for group tours.
How do I book?
WhatsApp or email me with your dates, group size and ages. I'll reply with a plan and rate in writing.
Plan your New York day
Tell me your dates, group size, ages and preferred language. I usually reply the same day.
Chat on WhatsApp
Call/Text: (732) 660-8648
Email: [email protected]
Instagram · Facebook · YouTube: @namastenyctours