---
title: Garbage and Rats in New York City Walking Tour
lang: en
type: tour
city: New York
country: United States
price: 45
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.97
reviews: 152
duration_minutes: 150
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 10 of 71 (Walking Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-21
data_updated: 2026-10-21
canonical: https://guidekin.com/usa/new-york/tours/garbage-and-rats-in-new-york-city-walking-tour/
---

# Garbage and Rats in New York City Walking Tour

In our comparison: #10 of 71 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

The Garbage and Rats in NYC Walking Tour is a unique dive into dirty subjects: 
-how New York City is built on trash; 
-how rats thrive on human consumption; 
- and how NYC has dealt with both these filthy, disease-causing problems since 1626. 

We'll learn about rat biology and habits, garbage disposal systems, metaphorical rats (i.e. - corrupt people), and gross stories featuring all of the above. This is the intersection of science and history at its finest!

The guide is a graduate of the New York City Trash Academy, the New York City Rat Academy, and a member of the New York City Rat Pack, "an elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists." Rats, garbage, and New York City history are her passions!

Please note: During the tour we may or may not see rats, but everyone will learn a lot about NYC's long history with garbage and rats!

## Before you book

- Meeting point: We will meet on the southeast corner of…
- Starts 15:00, 16:30: 2 departures a day
- Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked
- Strollers OK: infants accepted

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €45 per person
- Duration: 2h 30m
- Rating: 4.97/5 from 152 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Off the Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Start times: 15:00, 16:30
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-21

## Reviews

4.97 from 152 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
99% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 151 of 152.

- 5 stars: 150 (99%)
- 4 stars: 1 (1%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 1 (1%)

## What's included

- This experience includes a guided walking tour.
- Max 15 people per tour for an intimate experience

## Not included

- Bottled water

## Itinerary

1. **Wall Street** (15m) - We will start on Wall Street and discuss its role as a garbage dump in Nieuw Amsterdam, as well as the official market for buying and renting enslaved African people.
2. **South Street Seaport Historic District** (1h 15m) - As we walk up South Street, we will discuss the history of garbage, landfill, rats, and the former Fulton Street Fish Market. We will also stop at the former site of Sportsman's Hall, a notorious "rat pit," to talk about rat fights.
3. **DeLury Square** (25m) - We will visit DeLury Square and talk about the garbage strike of 1968, John DeLury, and the Sanitation Union. Then we shall stroll down the historic Ryder and Eden Alleys.
4. **City Hall Area** (20m) - The tour continues up Ann Street, the site of an infamous rat attack in 1979, into Theatre Alley, and to City Hall Park. Along the way, we will dive into more rat lore and trash-y facts.

## Schedule

- Runs: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
- Departures: 15:00, 16:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-21
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

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

## Meeting point

We will meet on the southeast corner of Wall Street and Pearl Street (in front of the Hyatt Hotel). The guide will have a sign for Off the Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours.

Ends: The tour officially ends by the Tweed Courthouse, which is convenient to several subway stops.

## Good to know

- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels

## Compared with other Walking Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #10 of 71** | €45 | 2h 30m | 4.97 (152) | shared |
| [Manhattan Adventure Sightseeing Boat Tour - from Chelsea Piers](/usa/new-york/tours/manhattan-adventure-sightseeing-boat-tour-from-chelsea-piers/?format=md) | €90 | 1h | 4.99 (727) | shared |
| [Hamilton and Washington Revolutionary Walking Tour](/usa/new-york/tours/hamilton-and-washington-revolutionary-walking-tour/?format=md) | €48 | 3h | 5.0 (217) | shared |
| [NYC Private Walking Tour](/usa/new-york/tours/nyc-private-walking-tour/?format=md) | €1541 per group | 4h | 5.0 (185) | private |

Ranked #10 of 71 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €23 to €180, median €44; typical length 2h. 15 of 71 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/usa/new-york/nyc-walking-tours/?format=md

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