Whether you’re a New Yorker looking for a new way to explore your city or a tourist looking for an authentic experience, Greenwich Village is the perfect place to start. This historic neighborhood has something for everyone, and our walking tour will show you just why that is.
Get ready to laugh, learn, and maybe even cry as we take you on a journey through one of the most special places in the world.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Start your Greenwich Village walking tour at Washington Square Park, where you’ll find plenty of people relaxing, reading, and playing music
Washington Square Park is ground zero for the Greenwich Village walking tour. Perched atop an old burial ground and overlooking historic NYU dormitories, the park offers a peculiarly upbeat atmosphere. You’ll find everyone from street performers to toddlers, chess masters to ventriloquists and bemused tourists to dogs in outfits.
Whether it’s your first time there or your fiftieth, it’s always hard not to soak up some of the calming energy as you wander around admiring the atmosphere that has made this place so iconic.
Make your way down to Bleecker Street. You’ll find some of the best shopping and dining in the area
It’s said that good things come in small packages, and nowhere is this truer than on Bleecker Street.
This curling lane boasts some of the best shopping and dining experiences in the area. There’s a little something to satisfy everyone. With unique boutiques and family-owned storefronts carrying items you won’t find anywhere else, you’ll definitely want to leave your credit card at home lest you become overwhelmed by temptation.
As for the restaurants, they offer a diverse selection of mouthwatering cuisine ranging from cozy cafes to extravagant haute cuisine. Just be sure to wear comfy shoes – you never know when exploring will take you further down the block.
Head over to Hudson Street for some stunning views of the Hudson River
If you’re stuck in the city but yearning for some stellar views of the Hudson, you could do far worse than head over to Hudson Street.
In fact, the closer you get to the River, the more spectacular it becomes. Whether you drop by with a picnic lunch or sit on a park bench and soak up some sun along the way, there’s something truly magical about sitting right on this glorious body of water.
Walk or ride a bike the length of Hudson River Park, watch passing boats drift by and look out across the tides to the Statue of Liberty, New Jersey and Staten Island – all these things are possible when you come to Hudson Street.
Walk through the West Village. Beautiful brownstones line the streets
Taking a walk through the West Village is like taking a trip back in time. Don’t use a map. Just ramble.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll find gorgeous 19th-century brownstones that look like they just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. Whether it’s a glimpse into the past or out-of-this-world décor, these homes never fail to impress.
While taking in the stunning architecture on one of your strolls, it may make you feel like you are living your own fairytale with all of these magnificent buildings around.
The best part is that while they may look like they’ve been frozen in time, inside each one of these homes lives an interesting New Yorker with their own modern story.
End your tour at Union Square, where you can grab a bite to eat or catch a performance at one of the many theaters in the area
Union Square, the final destination of your tour, is the perfect place to end your adventure.
Whether you’re in search of a delicious meal after exploring the city all day or would like to enjoy some culture with one of the many performances at a nearby theater, this bustling area has something for everyone.
Restaurants line the Square’s borders and long the nearby side streets. You can get street falafels or Big Macs and much in between. For an extra treat, exit Greenwich Village by walking north along the classic buildings on Broadway. In a few minutes, you find yourself at one of New York’s greatest intersections.
Where Broadway and Fifth Avenue switch sides, you find Madison Square Park, and you’re in a quiet zone with classic buildings rising on all sides.
And that’s it! You’ve now completed your Greenwich Village walking tour. I hope you had as much fun as I did. If you didn’t, well, at least you got some exercise in. Either way, there’s plenty more to see and do in this great city, so get out there and explore!
