Don’t settle for any average Broadway tour while you're visiting New York City. This Broadway theaters and Times Square tour gives you an insider’s look with a guide who is actually a Broadway performer. Learn about the history and happenings of New York City’s famous theater district, and hear the backstage stories about the stars of yesterday and today.

A behind-the-scenes look at the unique history and culture of Broadway
Hear backstage and audition stories from your guide, a real Broadway performer
The perfect tour to enjoy before you see a Broadway show
See famous Broadway locations like Sardi's and 42nd Street

What's Included

Professional, entertaining guide - a Broadway performer
Times Square, Broadway Theaters, Midtown

Gratuities
Face mask available for a $1 fee.

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

1556 Broadway
1556 Broadway, New York, NY 10120, USA
Please meet your guide at 46th Street and Broadway (Times Square) in front of the George M Cohan Statue (a man holding a top hat and a cane). The guide will be there 15 minutes before the tour starts and will be wearing an orange hat AND/OR a blue shirt or jacket.

Start time

04:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Broadway’s theatrical performances date back as far as 1750, when actors/managers Walter Murray and Thomas Kean established a resident theater company on Nassau Street. They presented Shakespeare plays and ballad operas, which served as the start of the theater in New York City. Today, Broadway performances are presented in 40 professional theaters with 500 or more seats in each.

Meet this tour’s thespian guide at the TKTS ticket booth in Times Square to begin a behind-the-scenes look at the theater industry. Learn about the history of Broadway and hear some fascinating stories about the performances and stars that have graced its stages.

Stop at One Shubert Alley, Broadway’s oldest and most exclusive gift store. There’s Sardi’s restaurant, the toast of Broadway for more than 90 years. Check out the caricatures of showbiz celebs on the walls of this legendary Times Square Continental eatery. Walk down 42nd Street, home to many a Broadway theater. Visit the Hotel Edison NYC, surrounded on all sides by Broadway theaters, and the Church of St Mary the Virgin, aka Smokey Mary’s, a New York City landmark known for its use of incense at services. And finally, check out the bronze statue depicting American composer, playwright, actor and producer George M. Cohan.

The tour is a perfect precursor to seeing any Broadway show.

Duffy Square

You’ll meet your guide at the feet of George M. Cohan, legendary pioneer of New York theater. From there, your immersive Broadway experience will lift the curtain on a world of auditions and opening nights, huge disappointments and massive successes.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Broadway

Step into the footsteps of giants and listen to the stories of greats like Ethel Barrymore, Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart, Julie Andrews, and so many more, all narrated by one of our own Broadway hopefuls.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
A moderate amount of walking is involved. Please wear comfortable shoes
Please note: This tour does not go backstage, as Union rules prohibit access to working theaters
Not wheelchair accessible

Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Filter by:

Q:Does the Broadway Theaters and Times Square tour go inside any theaters?

A:No, this is primarily an outdoor tour that gives you a firsthand insider’s perspective of the industry. You may go inside buildings such as the Edison Hotel or New York Marriott Marquis.

Feb 2021

Q:How much walking will we be doing on the Broadway Theaters and Times Square tour with a Broadway Actor?

A:We cover about 1 mile at a leisurely pace, and the walking route is fairly level.

Feb 2021

Q:What happens if it rains on the day of my Broadway Theaters and Times Square tour with a Broadway Actor?

A:Our tours run rain or shine, so please check the local forecast to plan. In rare cases when we have to cancel for extreme weather, we’ll offer you the chance to reschedule or give a full refund.

Feb 2021

Q:What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Broadway Theaters and Times Square with a Theater Professional ?

A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Broadway Theaters and Times Square with a Theater Professional ?

A:The policy on sanitization is:

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Q:What is the social distancing policy during Broadway Theaters and Times Square with a Theater Professional ?

A:The policies on social distancing are:

Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Broadway Theaters and Times Square with a Theater Professional ?

A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

It was no 'Piece of Crap' - take the tour and you'll know what I mean.

Reviews

5.0

279 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 279 reviews

Great entertaining informative tour

Marlynn_J, Aug 2022

Our tour guide was amazing. She explained so many things about theater and Broadway. She was full of energy and entertaining. The history of each theater was particularly good information for my daughter who dreams of being an actress

Tour Summary

Robert_W, Jul 2022

Hearing Laura talk about some of the history behind the theatres and her weaving in her own personal experiences made it a memorable tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. We're happy to hear you had a memorable experience. The poor rating leaves us to think that something must have gone wrong. If you could reach out to us to let us know we would be very appreciative as we are always striving to improve our tours. You can reach us at info@exp1.com

Great for Theater Lovers

5dm5sy6pm2, Jul 2022

This was a great tour for people that live the theater. The guide was funny knowledgeable and engaging.

Theo had great energy and...

Steven_R, Jun 2022

Theo had great energy and enthusiasm. He needs to know a bit more theatre history about the Astor Place riots and why each theater is named for who it is named for.

Great tour!

Martha_M, Jun 2022

Chris was a great guide and provided lots of interesting - and often unknown - facts about the theaters, the plays, and actors. Highly recommend the tour.

You get to feel her passion for the theater.

Joshua_F, Jun 2022

Lauren did a great job taking us around the theaters and telling us their stories. You get to feel her passion for theater. It was fun to get tips and tricks on how to get less expensive tickets for shows. Very fun tour.

Lauren was great, it was...

Fully_T, May 2022

Lauren was great, it was informative, her enthusiasm is infectious and my 10-yr-old drama kid loved it!

Broadway Theaters

Patricia_G, Apr 2022

Enjoyed learning about the history of the Broadway theaters, very interesting, with excellent guide/presentation.

Excellent experience

Andrea_D, Mar 2022

A was a great experience! We really liked the curiosity and the story of the theatres! Very interesting The guide was ready good and informed

Fun in NYC

Melanie_R, Mar 2022

We had a great time learning about Broadway with Chris T! He was funny, knowledgeable and personable. Would definitely recommend to do before seeing a show or deciding what to get tickets for.

Great tour with guides working in the business

Gregg_R, Mar 2022

The interaction with tour guides with actual experience and aspirations in the business was paramount for my daughter whom also shares the affinity of performance. True and gritty discussion that paints the reality of giving your dreams a shot in the Big Apple.

Engaging

Anonymous, Feb 2022

Claire handled the windy, cold afternoon with grace, by warming our minds and hearts with interesting history about the city and Broadway. Her stories were engaging and her wit sharp. Even though we have been visiting NY for decades, we definitely enjoyed this tour. Thanks, Claire. Break a leg. Absolutely worth the time. Thanks, Claire.

Enlightening and fun

Ainur_I, Dec 2021

TJ was awesome! Kind, careful and humorous. Plenty of interesting enlightening stories. Everyone in the group felt involved. There were no dull moments on the tour. TJ told us about his hometown with a lot of love and respect. I really enjoyed this tour.

It's a Hit

Anne_B, Sep 2021

Chris was a wonderful guide. He really knows his Broadway history and shared very interesting experiences of what it is like to be an actor in NYC. He was friendly, enthusiastic (obviously loves the theater), and easy to talk to. This tour was lots of fun and gives you another view on the Broadway experience.

Great tour!

Geri_M, Sep 2021

Guide was great. Very knowledgable and entertaining. Learned a lot. Saw Times Square from a different perspective.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Great Broadway walkabout!

Joseph_R, Sep 2021

Great tour around Broadway and Times square. Our guide was excellent with great knowledge of the history of the theaters, neighborhoods and shows. Highly recommended.

Chris was Excellent!

Marilyn_P, Aug 2021

Chris was excellent and very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the tour! Loved his wit combined with his personal experiences!

Rip Off

Christina_L, Aug 2021

I was scheduled for a 4p.m. tour and was at the location (Cohen Statue w/cane and top hat). I thought I was going to be a few minutes late due to traffic and closed streets, so I messaged the tour guide but I actually arrived at 4:01. There are thousands of people in Time Square and I searched and searched for a tour guide with an orange flag or an orange anything. Me and my daughter hung out in the area until 4:10, I then messaged the tour guide again and got a response saying your tour guide left at 4:13. "Left from where????" We were in front of the statue for 15mins. The guys selling the bus tours said we were in the right location. There should be a more proficient way to communicate other than the message board. There should be synchronous communication (cell phone). Also, the only way that I could've missed that tour is if the guide stepped off at 4:01. I basically got ripped off.

Response from Host, Sep 2021

We ask all of our guests to check in 15 minutes prior to departure. Our guide will try to be at the meeting location for 5 minutes for late guests. However they cannot stay longer as it would not be fair for the other guests. Our guides do not communicate with guests as they are focused on the tour and other guests. I'm sure you would not appreciate if your guide was constantly on the phone trying to catch up late guests. You were texting with our office. Our records indicated you did not arrive until 4:15pm to the meeting location. If you're late, it would be difficult to catch up to the tour.

1 traveler found this review helpful

A Must for Broadway Lovers

Stanley_F, Aug 2021

Philip gave an enjoyable, educational, and entertaining 1 1/2 hour walking tour of the Broadway theatre district. Great history, behind the scenes stories, and what to look forward to once Broadway opens again. We loved it. Highly recommended!

Nice Times Square and Broadway tour

Violeta_D, Jul 2021

TJ was a great tour guide. His information was helpful and one could tell he is passionate with what he does.

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Questions?

Product code: 5250BROADWAY

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