Hoboken Private Walking Tour: Explore Local Life

Join me on a private walking tour of Hoboken, a charming waterfront city only half-a-mile from Manhattan. Explore local life, history, and enjoy stunning skyline views!

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Hoboken - The following attractions are only examples of where we can go and what Hoboken has to offer. We can certainly customize based on your preferences!
  • Hoboken Waterfront Walkway - Hoboken’s Waterfront offers expansive views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline, which many of our guests say are worth the trip alone. We’ll explore both the northern and southern waterfronts. Check out the photos above!
  • Pier A Park - Hoboken has transformed its former industrial piers into beautiful parks and promenades, with some bars and restaurants located immediately adjacent to the southern walkway.

The largest of these is Pier A Park, which extends almost 800 feet into the Hudson River and offers a unique combination of sunshine, serenity, open space, and Manhattan views.

The Urban Land Institute named Pier A Park one of the top 10 urban parks in the United States.

  • Garden Street - Hoboken’s residential streetscape is defined by picturesque, tree-lined blocks of three- and four-story Greek Revival and Italianate buildings, largely built in the late 1800s.

Together with its numerous sidewalk cafes (and a few cobblestone streets), we will enjoy a peaceful escape from New York City. You won’t believe you’re only a mile from Times Square!

  • Hoboken Historical Museum - Hoboken is the birthplace of baseball, Frank Sinatra, and the zipper; key player in American wars, immigration, and industrialization; and former home to some of the 20th century’s most advanced shipyards and factories, including Maxwell House, Lipton Tea and Tootsie Roll.

We’ll discuss this history during our time together, and for guests who want to learn even more, we can stop by Hoboken’s quaint historical museum.

(Please note that the museum is only open in the afternoon, and it is closed on Mondays. The $5 entry fee is not included in the tour.)

  • Hoboken / NJ Transit Terminal - Hoboken’s ferry-and-rail terminal embodies the city’s past, present, and future. The Beaux Arts station was built in 1907 and served as the starting point for the first multi-unit electric train in 1930, helmed by Thomas Edison.

Though often overshadowed by its New York City neighbors, it is the ninth-busiest railroad station in North America. (You’d never know it based on its quaintness.)

The interior waiting room remains beautiful and creates the sensation that you’ve traveled back in time.

  • Washington Street - Washington Street is Hoboken’s main commercial thoroughfare, running approximately one mile (1,6km) from the very top to the very bottom of Hoboken. It is home to restaurants, bars, bagel shops, bakeries, cafes, and shops – many of which are still locally owned and operated.

The American Planning Association once named it one of the “10 Great Streets in America.”

  • Fiore’s House of Quality - Located only two miles north of Ellis Island, Hoboken was a prominent destination for German and Irish immigrants in the 19th century and Italians and Puerto Ricans in the 20th century.

Their influences remain visible in contemporary Hoboken’s delis, cafes, bakeries, restaurants, churches, festivals, social clubs, and people.

Founded in 1913, Fiore’s House of Quality is among the most famous of these “original” local eateries, offering housemade mozzarella and locally famous daily sandwich specials.

Guests seeking a taste of Hoboken’s old Italian-American influence love to stop here. (Fiore’s is but one example. We can stop anywhere you’d like!)

  • Carlo’s Bakery - Like Fiore’s, Carlo’s Bakery is a Hoboken original. Founded in 1910, the shop has gained national and international acclaim since TLC created “Cake Boss” in 2009, covering the bakery’s owner (Buddy Valastro Jr.) and operations.

For out-of-towners seeking other well-known brands without Manhattan crowds, Hoboken also has a Shake Shack, Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, Nike Store, lululemon, and more – all within a 5-minute walk of Carlo’s Bakery!

(If you visit the same places in Manhattan, you will be dealing with massive tourist crowds and all the stress that comes with that. A short trip away in Hoboken, you can usually walk right in and enjoy yourself.)

  • Kikilu Gelato - Kikilu quickly shot to the top of Hoboken’s must-see (and must-taste!) attractions with our guests. The family-owned shop makes its gelato on-site and is considered the best you’ll find outside Italy.

(Again, this is just one example of where we can stop!)

  • JP’s Bagel Express - Along with (allegedly) having “the most bars per square mile” in the United States, Hoboken features countless bagel shops and pizzerias, creating ample opportunity for our guests to sample New York style bagels, pizza, and bacon-egg-and-cheeses (the classic American breakfast sandwich) – in this case from just across the river in New Jersey!
  • Stevens Institute of Technology - Stevens is a top-100 American university perched on a hill above the Hudson River. The campus includes Castle Point, which is the highest point in Hoboken.

The campus offers still more spectacular views of New York City – including the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan, One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) in Lower Manhattan, and the surrounding skyline.

(On clear days, you can see north to the George Washington Bridge and south to the Verrazzano Bridge and Statue of Liberty.)

  • Water’s Soul by Jaume Plensa - OPTIONAL: For guests who’d like to venture into Jersey City, we can head about half-a-mile (0,8km) south of the Hoboken Terminal to check out Newport Green Park, Newport Sand Beach, and Water’s Soul by Jaume Plensa (https://waterssouljc.com/), the latter of which is an 80-foot tall sculpture at the edge of a waterfront pier in Jersey City’s Newport neighborhood.

(Visiting these sites in Jersey City adds about one mile of walking and can take up to 60 minutes round-trip, depending on pace and how long we stop for photos, etc. As a result, guests would be choosing to do this “side trip” in place of other, more common stops in Hoboken itself.)

  • Newport Sand Beach - OPTIONAL: For guests who’d like to venture into Jersey City, we can head about half-a-mile (0,8km) south of the Hoboken Terminal to check out Newport Green Park, Newport Sand Beach, and Water’s Soul by Jaume Plensa (https://waterssouljc.com/), the latter of which is an 80-foot tall sculpture at the edge of a waterfront pier in Jersey City’s Newport neighborhood.

(Visiting these sites in Jersey City adds about one mile of walking and can take up to 60 minutes round-trip, depending on pace and how long we stop for photos, etc. As a result, guests would be choosing to do this “side trip” in place of other, more common stops in Hoboken itself.)

  • The Oculus - OPTIONAL: If you select MEET IN MANHATTAN (PATH TRAIN) at checkout, I will meet you near one of the PATH train stations in Manhattan. PATH stations are located at 33rd St, 23rd St, 14th St, 9th St, Christopher St and World Trade Center (Oculus).

The tour price for this option includes a one-way PATH train ticket for each member of your group. I will provide the tickets when we meet at a PATH station in Manhattan.

  • West Village - OPTIONAL: If you select MEET IN MANHATTAN (PATH TRAIN) at checkout, I will meet you near one of the PATH train stations in Manhattan. PATH stations are located at 33rd St, 23rd St, 14th St, 9th St, Christopher St and World Trade Center.

The tour price for this option includes a one-way PATH train ticket for each member of your group. I will provide the tickets when we meet at a PATH station in Manhattan.

  • Ferry NY Waterway - OPTIONAL: If you select MEET IN MANHATTAN (FERRY) at checkout, I will meet you at the NY Waterway Ferry in Midtown Manhattan (459 12th Ave) or Lower Manhattan (Brookfield Place Terminal).

The tour price for this option includes a one-way ferry ticket for each member of your group. I will provide the tickets when we meet at the ferry terminal in Manhattan.

  • Brookfield Place - OPTIONAL: If you select MEET IN MANHATTAN (FERRY) at checkout, I will meet you at the NY Waterway Ferry in Midtown Manhattan (459 12th Ave) or Lower Manhattan (Brookfield Place Terminal).

The tour price for this option includes a one-way ferry ticket for each member of your group. I will provide the tickets when we meet at the ferry terminal in Manhattan.

  • Greenwich Village - OPTIONAL: If you select MEET IN MANHATTAN (PATH TRAIN) at checkout, I will meet you near one of the PATH train stations in Manhattan. PATH stations are located at 33rd St, 23rd St, 14th St, 9th St, Christopher St and World Trade Center.

The tour price for this option includes a one-way PATH train ticket for each member of your group. I will provide the tickets when we meet at a PATH station in Manhattan.

What's Included
  • Discover Hoboken’s street life, brownstones, and local eateries
  • Admire the New York City skyline from Hoboken’s waterfront parks
  • Uncover Hoboken’s industrial heritage and cultural evolution
  • Escape Manhattan’s crowds for a quaint neighborhood experience
  • Important: Full itinerary may not display on some mobile apps; view on the web instead
  • MEET IN MANHATTAN option includes ferry or train ticket to Hoboken
  • Private, customizable 3-4 hour walking tour
  • Learn more about Hoboken through a recommended New York Times article
What's Not Included
  • Guests with children too young for a multi-hour walking tour should bring their own stroller(s)
  • Tickets to Hoboken Museum if you wish to stop there ($5). Only open in afternoon. Closed on Mondays.
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Join us for a private walk through Hoboken, a quaint water-side city situated just half-a-mile (0,8km) west of Manhattan, on the other side of the Hudson River. Check it out on Google Maps!

Hoboken is a city that is often overlooked, it continues to offer an exclusive glimpse into local life and history with its mesmerising skyline views, riverside parks, industrial history, immigrant effects, brownstones, coffee houses, stores and cuisine.

It’s an easy trip from Manhattan, either by ferry (5-10 mins), train (10-15 mins) or Uber/Lyft. Choose to meet either in Hoboken or Manhattan when making your booking. Get in touch with us to discuss the best alternative for your group.

Break away from the bustling New York City tourism — feel like you’re visiting a friend — gain a deeper insight into local life!

For full itinerary details, scroll down under ITINERARY or WHAT TO EXPECT. Certain mobile apps may not display these details, so viewing it on the web may be necessary.

Run by Viamo Tours, LLC

Presented by Greg Guglielmo

I’ve been a tour guide for years and started online in 2023.

I can speak a little Italian

  • At checkout, there are two options to MEET IN HOBOKEN (standard pricing) and two options to MEET IN MANHATTAN (costs extra). Please contact me if you need transit advice or help determining the best meeting option for your group.
  • The MEET IN MANHATTAN options include the price of the one-way ferry or train tickets for each member of your group. They also require extra time and that I pay for myself to travel to and from Manhattan. (Hence the extra costs.)
  • MEET IN HOBOKEN (SOUTH) — 1 HUDSON PLACE: Take the PATH train from Manhattan ($2.75, 10-15 mins), NY Waterway Ferry from Brookfield Place Terminal in Lower Manhattan ($7.50, 10 mins, beautiful views), or an Uber/Lyft.
  • MEET IN HOBOKEN (NORTH) — 1401 FRANK SINATRA DRIVE: Take the NY Waterway Ferry from 459 12th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan ($9.50, 5-10 mins, beautiful views) or an Uber/Lyft.
  • MEET IN MANHATTAN (FERRY): Meet at the NY Waterway Ferry Terminal in Midtown Manhattan (459 12th Avenue) or Lower Manhattan (Brookfield Place Terminal) and take the ferry to Hoboken together.
  • MEET IN MANHATTAN (PATH TRAIN): Meet near a PATH train station in Manhattan and travel to Hoboken together. PATH stations are located at 33rd St, 23rd St, 14th St, 9th St, Christopher St or World Trade Center.
  • Not recommended for travelers who are uncomfortable completing a multi-hour walking tour
Location
1 Hudson Pl
Hudson Place
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Mdpkrpro2016
Jul 8, 2024
Venture across the Hudson - We’ve been to New York City several times but never ventured to Hoboken until this trip. Greg met us at the ferry drop off and entertained us with an informative and fun walking tour of an interesting area. We also got beautiful views and pictures with Manhattan in the backdrop. And we ended at Carlos Bakery and loaded up on cannolis. Greg is knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating, and enjoyable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tom
Jun 9, 2024
Go with Greg. You won't regret it! - My wife and I absolutely loved this tour. After visiting so many busy tourist sites during our trip to New York, it was great to walk around and relax (Greg was very flexible according to our interests) in a true neighborhood (we did not see any other tourists in Hoboken) with its own history, culture, and food. Go with Greg, you won’t regret it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Josephmb4642yf
May 20, 2024
A perfect introduction to Hoboken. - Entertaining walk through Hoboken with lots of information about the past and present of the area. It was told in a fascinating way and any questions were answered competently. Also questions regarding staying in Hoboken and traveling to Manhattan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dream44268539732
May 4, 2024
Easy trip from Manhattan. Excellent experience. Greg went above and beyond! - I was visiting New York for a conference and had some free time, so I decided to take the Hoboken tour with Greg together with some friends. I highly recommend it! I was staying in Lower Manhattan, and it was only a 5-minute walk to the ferry. The ferry ride was 10 minutes. Greg made it easy by sending instructions beforehand. It was easier to travel to Hoboken than most places I visited within Manhattan itself. Hoboken was a charming city with great ambiance and views. Its streets, parks, buildings, cafes, restaurants, and university reminded me of a 20th century European city, only in this case "hidden" right next to Manhattan. Greg brought the city to life. We had interesting discussions about Hoboken’s history, urban planning, and local immigration and cuisine, before enjoying authentic Cuban food at La Isla, which was really unique for me coming from Europe. After the tour, Greg was equally gracious in guiding us back to the ferry and in making specific recommendations regarding how to spend the rest of our day in Manhattan, even suggesting the exact streets we should walk along. We ended up taking the ferry back to Midtown, walking to Hudson Yards, then down the full length of The High Line, before finishing in the Meatpacking District and walking across 14th Street. All thanks to Greg!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T2111vwkenk
Apr 25, 2024
Personal and Flexible - Greg provided us an excellent tour this past Tuesday afternoon. A four hour walking tour of Hoboken, we really enjoyed it! Greg was very personable and great talk to. He was able to alter the content on the fly based on our needs and desires, and he constantly checked in with us to see how we were doing, and giving us options to go to "A or B." I really enjoyed the flexibility he offered. Thank you Greg
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lightpacker687799
Apr 25, 2024
Best walking tour of Hoboken! - Best walking tour of Hoboken ever! My husband & I have been to Hoboken several times, but this time we decided on taking a 4 hour walking tour by a professional just to learn a little more about the city since we plan on coming back to visit. Greg, our guide, was able to personalize our tour to cater to our interests, and made it extra fun stopping at a couple popular eatery spots for a break. Our guide made the tour interesting for us with his knowledge on Hoboken’s historical facts and landmarks. And it was great having Greg around to take our photos and not have to try for a selfie! We were extremely satisfied with our tour and would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in exploring Hoboken.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jacqueb270
Apr 19, 2024
The Real Deal - Greg hosts a fantastic tour! From the moment he greeted our party, it felt like we were hanging out with an old friend who was knowledgeable in the history, architecture, and current day happenings of Hoboken. We covered a lot of ground, sampled local fare, and had a picture perfect ending at the waterfront with picturesque views of the Manhattan skyline at sunset. Stunning. Greg is now our go-to guide when we have out of town visitors! Cannot recommend highly enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jillpierson2
Apr 18, 2024
Memorable experience and so much good food! - While visiting NYC we decided to venture across the water and explore Hoboken, and we were not disappointed! Greg provided an exceptional experience! Prior to the tour he communicated expectations and provided very clear directions on how to take the PATH train and where to meet him. He even provided suggestions on some dinner spots for after the tour. His flexibility and interest in knowing what we wanted to see immediately made us excited to join him for the tour. The tour, itself, was a fun and informative walk through Hoboken, catered to the items we were interested in...one of those being food! Greg quickly picked up on the fact that we were foodies, and he helped us explore New Jersey bagels, sweets from Carlo's Bake Shop and the most amazing mozzarella from Fiore's. He provided so much history of the area and was a willing photographer, helping us gather some great pictures along the shoreline. I highly recommend this tour - but make sure you ask about the food!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahjy5467nw
Jan 20, 2024
Must do if you want to explore outside Manhattan for a day! - We are from North Carolina and hadn’t heard of Hoboken but are so happy we found this tour. Very much a peek into local / NYC life that you’d otherwise not get. Super easy to get there. Greg was the perfect guide. A must do if you want to explore outside Manhattan for a day. Among the highlights of our trip : )
Review provided by Tripadvisor
304imogens
Jan 9, 2024
Suburban Charm overlooking Manhattan - We had a really great time on our tour of Hoboken. It’s a whole different atmosphere from NYC while still keeping the charm of the city lifestyle. Greg showed us that the area is steeped in history while still being a popular, thriving neighbourhood today. Greg was very knowledgeable, kind and accommodating. I would thoroughly recommend the experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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