The best Airbnb experiences in New York City

There are plenty of tours in New York City (I’ve highlighted my favorites here) but I think one thing people don’t do enough of is the Airbnb experience. Most of us know Airbnb for their accommodation features, but they also have plenty of experiences where you can have a local guide you around. I actually like these experiences more than traditional tours because they have locals sharing something they’re passionate about, are small groups, and are usually off the beaten track.

I don’t think people take these tours enough, and they are always one of my favorite things to look out for when I travel anywhere in the world. New York City has a lot of options you can choose from. Here are my favourites:

Explore Brooklyn’s pizza scene

Pizza and New York City go together like bread and butter, and this Brooklyn pizza tour run by travel writer Danny Hinrich takes you to some of the city’s best spots while also giving you a really detailed history of pizza in the city (who knew that slices weren’t a thing until the 1940s!). I’ve done a lot of pizza tours in the city and I think Dani runs the best tour because she explains the history, is a lot of fun, and is an off the beaten path tour so you don’t get lumped into a big group of twenty people.

Painting masterpieces at the Met Museum

In this fun experience, you will visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and meet X, an experienced artist who will guide you on your painting journey. You’ll start with a friendly introduction and warm-up drawing, then you’ll wander through selected art galleries and pause to paint signature sculptures and artwork of your choice. Along the way, he will also explain the history of sculpting and painting techniques and the reasoning behind some of the exhibits. It’s definitely a fun and practical way to explore the MET.

Exploring African American history

On this walking tour of Lower Manhattan, you’ll meet your host Larry at the National Museum of the American Indian and then walk through the tapestry of hidden Black New York: from the site of Bowling Green (where enslaved Africans helped build the city), to the remains of Fort Amsterdam, and to the site of 17th-century slave homes. You’ll pass by Wall Street to learn about its slave market past, visit Federal Hall and the former Free African Oyster House, walk through Foley Square (site of the original execution quarters), and conclude your journey at the African Burial Ground National Monument. Larry is one of the best tour guides I have ever met. It is very interesting, engaging, funny and packed with a lot of knowledge. I loved this tour and learned a lot about it. It’s a great and unique way to see lower Manhattan. He also runs an amazing tour of Harlem too!

Make and taste New York pizza

If you want to do more than just eat pizza, visit Paulie Gee’s, where your host Logan will walk you through the history of New York-style pizza before shaping your own dough, choosing from a variety of sauces and toppings, and igniting your creation in a wood-fired oven. Then, you’ll sit down to eat your creation as well as some of the restaurant’s other famous dishes. It’s managed and interactive and Logan is a really interesting and personable host. It’s located in Greepoint, an area that most tourists skip, so next make sure you explore this one part of town that’s home to locals.

Next time you’re in New York City and looking to do something fun and unique, be sure to check out Airbnb Experiences because they’re really fun and interesting. I’ve made over a dozen of these and I think they are the best of the best. But if you find one you like be sure to email me about it so I can check it out!

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