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Harlem Gospel Church Tour: Cultural Walking Experience
4.1
56 Ratings
New York
Experience the soul-stirring gospel music and power of prayer at a historic Harlem church. Then, join a cultural walking tour led by a lifelong Harlem resident to explore the rich heritage of this iconic neighborhood.
Experience the soul-stirring gospel music and power of prayer at a historic Harlem church. Then, join a cultural walking tour led by a lifelong Harlem resident to explore the rich heritage of this iconic neighborhood.
Duration:
3 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center - Guests arrive at the Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center at 9:30 AM. Here we have wifi and bathroom for our guests. We start with light breakfast and video presentation. At this point we register all the guests. Many guests take this time to relax a bit in our comfortable environment having a…
- Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center - Guests arrive at the Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center at 9:30 AM. Here we have wifi and bathroom for our guests. We start with light breakfast and video presentation. At this point we register all the guests. Many guests take this time to relax a bit in our comfortable environment having a cup of coffee and such watching video or listening to jazz music.
- Apollo Theater - We end this tour at the Apollo Theater, we are able to visit lobby area but not for entrance into main theater. Tour guide will tell great stories pertaining to the Apollo.
- Harlem - After leaving Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center we will visit historic Harlem church fir one hour. The power of pray and beautiful music will leave you enchanted and inspired.
After gospel church service we will engage in 2 hour cultural walking tour covering 400 years of Harlem history with special emphasis on 20th century Harlem. Along the way see beautiful architecture, historic music / jazz clubs, civil rights movement sites, theaters and many historic churches of various denominations.
What's Included
- Walking tour with portable video and audio
- Tours begin with a light morning snack including water, juice, and coffee
- Guided by a local Harlem-born and raised tour guide
- Luggage and bag storage available
- Walking tour with portable video and audio
- Tours begin with a light morning snack including water, juice, and coffee
- Guided by a local Harlem-born and raised tour guide
- Luggage and bag storage available
What's Not Included
- Hotel Pickup
- Hotel Pickup
Additional Information
This excursion takes you to one of Harlem’s most venerable churches where you will experience uplifting gospel music and the strength of prayer. Following the church service, a native Harlem resident, who has lived in the area all their life, will guide you on a cultural walking tour. This tour is enhanced with portable video, sound, and picture…
This excursion takes you to one of Harlem’s most venerable churches where you will experience uplifting gospel music and the strength of prayer. Following the church service, a native Harlem resident, who has lived in the area all their life, will guide you on a cultural walking tour. This tour is enhanced with portable video, sound, and picture presentations at locations of cultural importance. The additional media element will boost your appreciation and comprehension of Harlem’s past.
- Place available to leave bags and belongings inside Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center while on tour
- Place available to use restrooms and charge cell phones and other devices inside Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center
Location
Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center
Malcolm X Boulevard
Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center located 104 Malcolm X Boulevard between 115th -116th streets. #2 and #3 trains on express IRT lines arrive directly to meeting location.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(56 Ratings)
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Dream03923732882
Feb 23, 2025
Gospel tour - The guide was a delightful surprise.
He is incredibly charismatic, with the soul of an artist and a wealth of knowledge about Harlem. He shared insights on everything from the neighborhood’s development and architecture to movies filmed there.
As a local, he brings an authentic and slightly eccentric charm—in the best way possible—paired with a genuinely kind heart.
Beyond the gospel experience, we received a profound history lesson on Black culture, civil rights activists, and more. It was far more enriching than simply attending a gospel service and watching from the pews
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Henya1808
Oct 21, 2024
Excellent and surprising tour - Excellent tour with an excellent guide. The tour was full of surprises and changed my opinion on Harlem completely. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anne
Oct 8, 2024
Harlem history comes alive - Excellent walking tour that brings Harlem history alive. Guide was amazing. Highly recommend this tour. Church service was great
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ian_c
Sep 23, 2024
Uplifting - Neil ,our guide was very entertaining and connected well with our whole group.He had an excellent knowledge base and as he was local seemed to know everyone when we were out and about on the streets of Harlem.
The Gospel Service with the Gospel Singing was very uplifting.We were also privileged to witness someone being Baptised.
Overall it was a great insight into Harlem and well worth the fee.
Review provided by Viator
Eric_w
Nov 12, 2023
It was fantastic - Going to the church brought back memories as a youngster, the guide was really cool lighthearted really knew his way around Harlem. I would recommend him again.
Review provided by Viator
Fiona_d
Nov 8, 2023
Wealth of Knowledge - Wonderful Harlem History tour and Gospel experience. Knew many locals and the relevance of the different buildings.
Review provided by Viator
Beatrice_e
Jul 13, 2024
Sunday service - The guide was good although he spoke to the front of the crowd most of the time. Us oldies at the back. He was very knowledgable and funny. The chapel service was moving and the choir all I anticipated- could have listened to them all day. Thank you. Bea
Review provided by Viator
David_l
Sep 24, 2024
This Tour Did Not Meet Its Promises - The tour description said we were to meet at the Harlem Heritage Tourism and Cultural Center at 9:15 am. Several of us waited outside until around 9:30 am when our guide Neil looked out through the door and then quickly closed it. The tour was to begin the Cultural Center with a "light morning snack, water, juice, and coffee." None of the above were ever offered. The walking tour was to be complimented wit portable video and audio. None was ever offered. We were to have bathrooms at the beginning of our tour. We were never invited into the center and no bathroom stops were ever provided during the almost four hour tour.
The church service was good though we heard only the preliminaries and not a word of the sermon. The rest of the stops and descriptions were minimal and gave us only a small impression of the Harlem area and its impact on history. The tour was to end with a visit to the lobby of the Apollo Theater but we never entered the building. In total we were very disappointed with the tour and our guide. That he did not wear any identification or badge even left us wondering if it was the real tour guide or a scam.
Review provided by Viator
Naymike
Sep 8, 2024
Guide was a no show! Don’t waste your time - The guide was a no show! There were at least 15 people disappointed today. Voicemail was full so couldn’t leave a message and they never responded to email. Luckily for us, a fellow tour member worked out which churches were doing gospel and we were able to visit and experience an amazing service.
Don’t waste your time or money with these amateurs - google which churches are open to visitors and do it yourself!! So easy and each church super welcoming to visitors!
We’ve now lodged claims with our credit card company - should have read the reviews here. This is a common occurrence.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
404gittel
Sep 18, 2023
Disappointing and not what was advertised - We were supposed to meet up at the Heritage Center. No Multimedia Show as advertised- went straight to the church, were we just waited. We went to church, the gospel wasn’t present. Our guide seemed to go missing while we were in there, he repeated himself, and honestly he was more interested in greeting other people. We left early, as it seemed unorganised. Also we cancelled a trip last year due to illness, and they told us, we could get a refund. We never did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
