NYC Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour: 2-Hour Walk

Walk the streets where mobsters made deals and ghosts still linger

A two-hour guided walking tour through New York City's Five Points, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greenwich Village reveals the neighborhoods' violent past as vice districts during the 1920s and 30s. A historian leads you to the exact spots where gangsters like John Gotti and Lucky Luciano operated, past haunted houses and old crime scenes, with frequent stops throughout. The tour is family-friendly and covers the most dangerous slum in 19th-century America, Tong violence in Chinatown, and the mobster hangouts where murders took place.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Chinatown30m
2. Roosevelt Island15m
3. Washington Square Park15m

Gangsters and ghosts walking tour

• Explore 1800s Five Points slum
• Visit Chinatown's violent history
• See Roosevelt Island haunted home
• Discover mobsters' old turf
• Experience haunted Washington Square Park

The experience

Two hours is enough to move through four neighborhoods without rushing. The tour starts in the Five Points, where your guide describes the 1800s slum that was once America's most dangerous district, then moves into Chinatown's "Blood Alley": historically the site of Tong violence and gang rivalries in the late 1800s and early 1900s. From there you walk through Little Italy, past the old tenements and restaurants where some of America's most feared mobsters made their home and carried out their business, including the spots where mafia murders occurred.

The route also takes you to Roosevelt Island to see one of New York's best-preserved 19th-century family homes, famous for both its history and ghost stories. You finish at Washington Square Park, which beneath its music and chess games holds one of the darkest and most haunted grounds in the city. A professional historian guides the entire walk and shares the spooky tales and crime stories tied to each location. The frequent stops mean families with children and people of varying fitness levels can keep pace without strain.

What’s included

• Professional historian guide in English.
• two-hour walking tour through the Five Points, Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, Roosevelt Island, and Washington Square Park.

Options for this experience

3 options

A Walking Tour of NYC Gangsters and GhostsGuide in English · 11:00, 15:00 and 20:00

Halloween Late Night SpecialGuide in English · 22:00Dare to book? Take part in an exclusive late-night Halloween walk that explores the neighborhood's spooky past after dark, finishing exactly at midnight.

Switch to a private tour for an upgrade!Guide in English · 11:00, 15:00 and 20:00Private Group: Move up to a private tour, giving your group a one-of-a-kind experience with a dedicated guide.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00, 15:00, 20:00 and 22:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (7 to 8 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Empire Tours - NYC

Is this one for you?Two hours leaves room for another neighborhood or a meal afterward, but not for a major museum or a second full activity. Book this if you want the crime and ghost stories without spending your whole afternoon on a single tour.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

206 verified traveler reviews

5 ★198

4 ★5

3 ★2

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 8 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What neighborhoods does the gangsters and ghosts tour cover in New York City?

The tour covers the Five Points, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greenwich Village. You'll also visit Roosevelt Island and Washington Square Park, moving through the exact streets and buildings tied to the city's gangster and ghost history from the 1800s through the 1930s.

Who leads the NYC Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tour?

A professional historian leads the tour in English and shares the crime stories, gang histories, and ghost tales tied to each stop along the way.

What is "Blood Alley" in Chinatown?

Blood Alley is the Chinatown location historically known for Tong violence, gang rivalries, and brutal clashes in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Your guide explains the violence and gang history tied to this area during the tour.

Does the tour include transportation between neighborhoods?

The tour is a walking tour through the neighborhoods themselves. Public transportation options are available nearby if needed, and the route is wheelchair accessible.