Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour
4.3

Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour

By Inside Out Tours
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Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
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Ages 5-99, max of 30 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights

  • Professional guide
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Transportation to/from attractions
  • Entry/Admission - Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
  • Entry/Admission - Bronx
  • Entry/Admission - Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
  • Entry/Admission - Abyssinian Baptist Church
  • Entry/Admission - Apollo Theater


Start:
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - New York Public Library, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037, USA
    Meet in front of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture located at 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037
End:
  • Harlem, New York, NY, USA
    We end at one of our partnered churches.

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Pushchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5637P6

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Dress code is smart casual. Part of this tour will take place inside a church. Out of respect for the congregation hosting us, please dress appropriately and refrain from wearing flip-flops, tank tops and shorts
  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Visiting the church requires the proof of vaccination and wearing a mask.
  • Customers require staying for the entire church service (usually 1.15 - 1.3 hours)
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5637P6

From
AU$95.18
per adult
Select date and travellers
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037, USA
    Meet in front of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture located at 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037
  • 1
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  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
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  • 7
  • Harlem, New York, NY, USA
    We end at one of our partnered churches.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Inside Out Tours
    4.7 of 5 bubbles4,699
    United States
  • Chocolatebars
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent tour
    Our tour guide Jess was really knowledgeable and made the story of how money was made very enjoyable and interesting. He kept the full group entertained and we went past some key buildings which linked to the story. Would highly recommend, it was good fun and something different to do in NYC.
    Written 26 March 2025
  • jyelh
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Staff
    The staff was great and very knowledgeable. I could tell they were all very passionate about what they were doing, and it made the experience great!
    Written 25 March 2025
  • megancL2817VI
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Title of tour is misleading
    I think the title of this tour is somewhat misleading. It is called “Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island,” but most of the information is available by reading the information available to all visitors on displays and plaques. I was hoping the tour would go deeper than easily available information, but it did not. Our tour guide was Charles. He knew all of the information he shared forward and backward. He was kind, professional, and spoke loudly so that I could even hear him easily over the rain. He did a great job, I was just hoping for more content.
    Written 24 March 2025
  • pablolI6378PR
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour!!!
    The guide (Kyle) is a true lover of NY, Brooklyn and Hudson bridge! Highly recommended!!! Great experience! Be ready to lean a lot about the stories around the bridge and te builders! Thanks Kyle!
    Written 23 March 2025
  • mattmd247
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Life changing
    Excellent, learnt so much. It pains me that people are not taught more about the history of the US and the heartbreak and inhumanity of the transatlantic chattel slave trade and how its ramifications impact us ALL to this very day. Ludie our guide brought this history to life, through her knowledge and passion. A thoroughly engaging 2.5 hours and well worth the fee.
    Written 22 March 2025
  • BackPacker785672
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO
    Very good experience, Amélie was dynamic, friendly, full of energy and very much clear in her explanations, adding a touch of magic and rich in details unknown to most ! Thank you for this interesting visit, we enjoyed it.
    Written 22 March 2025
  • GlenT870
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brooklyn with Tom
    Great tour with Tom, very informative and a great way to see the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO. Definitely recommend this tour.
    Written 16 March 2025
  • ccottone1
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Discovering Brooklyn bridge with Liam
    Absolutely a must-see tour: beautiful view on financial district and midtown. You can touch and experience the bridge. The tour guide Liam was Amazing and well prepared!
    Written 14 March 2025
  • 207kadent
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic tour
    Jess Velona was very great he was very entertaining and educated. He had very good stories and was very interactive with the group by making them feel welcome.
    Written 12 March 2025
  • davidsR1196LJ
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wall Street tour
    Jess is a perfect tour guide and explains the history of the economy and stock exchange perfect and detailed and you can ask him any questions
    Written 12 March 2025
  • alexandramV2432NB
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting tour
    Exciting tour through the financial district with a lot historical information. Tour guide Jess gives deep dive insight.
    Written 12 March 2025
  • 764robynk
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Up Close and Personal
    Our tour was on one of our coldest days in NY. The blue skies belied the wind chill factor on the islands, which certainly adding to the tour's "atmosphere". Ben is an enthusiastic guide. His stories were interesting and interactive and there was plenty of time for photos. Recommended.
    Written 12 March 2025
  • rebeccamM8895CQ
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hidden stories behind the iconic bridge
    I can't rate this tour highly enough: it was up there, literally, with some of our favourite moments here in the big apple. Kyle told the stories behind the iconic bridge with passion and insight; we loved learning about Bad Boss Tweed and the inspiring true life story of how the engineer's wife, Emily Robelyn, brought the bridge to fruition after disaster struck. Unlike many tours with their information dump, I know these stories will stay with me. Great stuff from a friendly guy who's commited to making sure you have a wonderful time. Great job Kyle, thank you🤗
    Written 9 March 2025
  • DanielAlvadia
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Brooklyn DUMBO tour!!!
    The tour was amazing. Rich in details and full of energy. We really enjoyed every moment. And the guide, Kyle, was really nice and friendly. He helped us to feel into the history of Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO.
    Written 8 March 2025
  • Flyer543312
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dumbo !!
    Great tour and so helpful as we got lost trying to get to the meeting point Kyle guided us in to catch up with the group highly recommend
    Written 8 March 2025
See all 4,699 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.3
4.3 of 5 bubbles230 reviews
Excellent
148
Very good
40
Average
16
Poor
12
Terrible
14

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Nicole C
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
Our tour took place on Sunday morning with our guide Ludy. The group consisted of about 30 participants. Ludy could still respond individually to questions and problems. It was also very clear that the stories she told meant a lot to her! She even sang with us in part. The tour was very informative. We were brought the history of the gospel, the neighborhood and much more interesting. This made us optimally prepared for the right service. This went about 1.5 hours and was definitely a real service with very good Gopsel singing. Definitely an experience to have.
Automatically translated
Written 29 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great feedback! We are pleased that Ludy was able to make the tour so enriching with her passion and knowledge. It's great that the service and gospel singing left a lasting impression. We hope to see you again soon on another tour! -- Vielen Dank für Ihr tolles Feedback! Wir freuen uns, dass Ludy mit ihrer Leidenschaft und ihrem Wissen die Tour so bereichernd gestalten konnte. Es ist großartig, dass der Gottesdienst und der Gospelgesang einen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen haben. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder auf einem anderen Tour begrüßen zu dürfen!
Written 3 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Eduardo V
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
We did this tour with a small group in Spanish and we really liked it. SERGIO, our guide is great, very friendly and friendly. It also allowed and promoted continuous interaction. The church chosen is beautiful and an experience. Mass lasted about an hour and became very enjoyable with gospel music. The tour of the neighborhood is not very extensive but allows you to know the fundamentals around the neighborhood and the surroundings of the Church. In addition, SERGIO gives you all the advice you need if you continue exploring on your own after Mass.
Automatically translated
Written 13 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience! We are glad to know that you enjoyed the tour in Spanish with Sergio. His friendliness, kindness and ability to encourage interaction make the experience unforgettable. It's great that you also enjoyed the gospel mass and the tour of the neighborhood. We are glad that Sergio's advice has been useful to continue exploring on your own. We hope to see you soon on another tour! -- ¡Muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia! Nos alegra saber que disfrutó del recorrido en español con Sergio. Su simpatía, amabilidad y capacidad para fomentar la interacción hacen que la experiencia sea inolvidable. Que bueno que también hayas disfrutado de la misa gospel y del recorrido por el barrio. Nos alegra que los consejos de Sergio te hayan sido útiles para seguir explorando por tu cuenta. ¡Esperamos verte pronto en otra gira!
Written 16 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jose Manuel S
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2025 • Friends
Excellent tour of Harlem with Sergio

We enjoyed the Harlem tour with Sergio. He explained everything clearly, bringing history, culture and curiosities that made the experience very enriching. His knowledge and passion for the neighborhood are noticeable in every explanation. We recommend this tour to anyone who wants to discover Harlem authentically and well guided. Thank you, Sergio!
Automatically translated
Written 2 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ger
Leopardstown, Ireland1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Couples
The guide (can't recall his name) was really good and was very engaging. He brought us to various locations and shared interesting info on each location.

The choir at the end of the tour was disappointing though. The choir consisted of about 10 or 12 teenage girls. Now, don't get me wrong, they were very good, but we were expecting an adult choir; all of the images on the tour literature show adults, so maybe that's why we were expecting adults to be singing?

One other thing; it's an early start. Ours started at 7:45, so depending on where you are staying in NY, it could be a very early start for you to make it to the starting point.
Written 12 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the guide engaging and informative. Regarding the choir, we apologize if it did not meet your expectations. The church we visit is part of a small congregation, and while we strive to provide outstanding Gospel music experiences, we do not have control over the composition of the performers on any given day. However, we chose this church for its consistently high music quality, and we appreciate your understanding. We also acknowledge that the early start time can be challenging, especially for those staying further away. The timing is designed to ensure we capture the rich history of Harlem while allowing us to attend the church service on time. Thank you again for your valuable feedback, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Written 18 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Giomaxi
Turin, Italy320 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
Very crowded tour and somewhat chaotic organization in the initial distribution between the various linguistic groups.
Tour around semi-deserted Harlem, led by Sergio, a nice and engaging Spaniard, of course, but who sometimes focused too much (and in the cold!) on general aspects of New York, to the detriment of the specific ones of Harlem, its history and culture.
The biggest disappointment was that of the Gospel mass in the Canaan Methodist church: very little gospel, on the other hand long sermons, electoral propaganda, fundraising... In short, a bore.
Many more tourists than faithful, crowded together in a pigeon loft with a very limited view of the choir and the church.
It's not worth the money and getting up early: in hindsight, you can organize yourself very well, choosing a more intimate and authentic function.
Google
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apprezziamo il tuo feedback e siamo spiacenti di apprendere che la tua esperienza con noi non è stata all'altezza delle tue aspettative. Il nostro obiettivo con questo tour è fornire informazioni sulla ricca storia di Harlem e sui suoi vivaci quartieri. Durante il tour a piedi, miriamo a mostrare narrazioni significative che incarnano l'orgoglio di Harlem. È importante notare che la chiesa che visitiamo è una venerabile istituzione con oltre un secolo di storia. Anche se partecipiamo come ospiti al loro servizio, non è inteso che sia un concerto gospel. Apprezziamo il tuo contributo e lo useremo per migliorare il tour andando avanti. Grazie ancora per aver condiviso i tuoi pensieri con noi.
Written 30 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ron
Heerlen, The Netherlands128 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Early on a Sunday morning through the streets of Harlem, accompanied by an experienced guide. The information provided was very extensive and sometimes difficult for the Europeans present to place. Maybe a little too detailed in my opinion. The gospel service was a beautiful experience, with a lot of passion. The choir consisted of 3 men and 3 women with beautiful voices. The service was just a little too long for us (2.5 hours). What was striking was that there were few locals in the church. All in all, I would recommend this tour without a tour of Harlem.
Google
Written 21 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dank u voor het delen van uw mening met ons; uw feedback is ontzettend waardevol. Als een bedrijf gespecialiseerd in historische en educatieve ervaringen, zijn we toegewijd aan het aanbieden van rondleidingen met culturele context. Onze missie is diep geworteld in het bevorderen van intercultureel begrip, en we zijn er trots op deze verhelderende rondleidingen te faciliteren als een kernonderdeel van onze toewijding. ----- Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us; your feedback is immensely valuable. As a company specializing in historical and educational experiences, we are dedicated to offering cultural context tours. Our mission is deeply rooted in fostering intercultural understanding, and we are proud to facilitate these enlightening tours as a core part of our commitment.
Written 26 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Clo
Brescia, Italy9 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
It was interesting to walk with the guide through the streets of Harlem, but I found the gospel mass terrible, truly a tourist trap. Two short gospel songs performed (among other things) by 6 girls (total 10 minutes) and then an hour and a half of awarding of honours, requests for money for the congregation, some sporadic prayers. Tourists are placed in the tunnel and therefore cannot be in contact with the locals. An early rise (the tour starts at 7.30 AM) and an unnecessary expense. Absolutely not recommended.
Google
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We regret to know that you were not satisfied with the gospel experience. This is a 100 year old black church with a smaller black congregation due to COVID, gentrification and the fact that many of them are older. Despite these challenges, they warmly welcome international visitors and provide a wonderful gospel worship experience (which many of our guests enjoy). We take visitors to different churches around Harlem and we are proud to support this historically black church as one of our partners. Thanks again for the feedback. ----- Grazie per aver dedicato del tempo per lasciare una recensione. Ci dispiace sapere che non eri soddisfatto dell'esperienza evangelica. Questa è una chiesa nera di 100 anni con una congregazione nera più piccola a causa del COVID, della gentrificazione e del fatto che molti di loro sono più anziani. Nonostante queste sfide, accolgono calorosamente i visitatori internazionali e offrono una meravigliosa esperienza di adorazione del Vangelo (di cui godono molti dei nostri ospiti). Portiamo i visitatori in diverse chiese intorno ad Harlem e siamo orgogliosi di sostenere questa chiesa storicamente nera come uno dei nostri partner. Grazie ancora per il feedback.
Written 14 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rose O
Lajes, Azores, Portugal7 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
The Tour guide was wonderful, therefore, the two stars, however, the gospel choir was only one person. She was a fantastic singer but we were expecting a choir... We were very dissapointed. The guide had warned us not to expect a "sister act", however, to have only ONE girl sing and the Minister seemed liked he was an Actor. Not to mention the "envelope" scene, I understand the donating purpose, but it was very exagerated. It all seemed like a movie scene. :(
Written 18 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We understand that the performance on that particular Sunday, with only one choir, may not have fully met your expectations. This occurrence is very unusual, and we apologize as it was beyond our control. However, we hope you were still able to enjoy the beautiful music during the service. We strive to provide uplifting and inspiring experiences, and your feedback is important to us.
Written 21 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Eduardo G
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2025 • Solo
Honestly, you pay to access a Gospel Mass that everyone can access since it is public. The tour is pretty flat and boring. Nor did the guide do anything to give him dynamism or entertainment.
In short, you can do the same thing by walking around the neighborhood and searching the internet.
Automatically translated
Written 11 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. Our Gospel experience offers more than attending a service—it provides cultural and historical context, insights into gospel music, and the church’s community role. While church access may be limited specially on busy weekends, our relationship ensure seamless arrangements, allowing guests to experience the service respectfully and immersively. -- Gracias por tus comentarios. Nuestra experiencia del Evangelio ofrece más que asistir a un servicio: proporciona un contexto cultural e histórico, información sobre la música gospel y el papel comunitario de la iglesia. Si bien el acceso a la iglesia puede estar limitado, especialmente los fines de semana concurridos, nuestra relación garantiza arreglos perfectos, lo que permite a los invitados experimentar el servicio de manera respetuosa e inmersiva.
Written 14 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

justalittlebitocd
Melbourne, Australia656 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We got our tickets included in our ‘New York Pass’ and were able to book in advance on line

First up let me say a massive thank you to our tour guide , Ludie. She was phenomenal !!! I do wonder if our trip would have been quite as good with a different guide

Anyway, I am sure all the other reviews and the website tell you what you will see

The gospel performance for me was the highlight of the tour . It’s about 1.5 hours . Just be mindful this isn’t a performance like you see Whoopi Goldberg in sister act . We only had 4 gospel singers and there is a 3 piece band

We also noted maybe only 20 church goers with the rest of the attendees from the tour groups
Written 2 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Half-Day Harlem Gospel Experience Walking Tour provided by Inside Out Tours

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