The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City
Overview
A walking tour meets street theater in this immersive performance of New York language and slang. Set in the historically linguistic melting pot of the Lower East Side, this two hour interactive experience brings the slang, accents, and languages of NYC to life through a performing guide in character as "The Tour" — but all guests participate.
•Break the ice with a small talk activity where chalk becomes the marker of your personal space.
•Participate in a scavenger hunt for stickers printed with common words New Yorkers pronounce in a funny way
•Find newspapers hidden in odd places as a delivery boy recounts in verse the impact media has on our everyday speech.
•Dance like it's 1990 in a demonstration of hip hop moves that originated in NYC
•Hail a ride from a multilingual Chinatown dispatcher...just be sure you know what street you're on.
•Listen to "Nico Ramone" rant about the problems in his bohemian life as you try to guess the words he borrows from Yiddish.
What's Included
- Guide
- Meals
- Gratuities for quality service are strongly encouraged.
Meeting Location
117 East Houston Street
New York, NY 10002, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Book Online
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Sara D Roosevelt Park
15 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Arlene Grocery
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Orchard Street
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Tenement Museum (pass by)
Seward Park
15 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Chinatown
20 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Beastie Boys Square
5 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should feel comfortable walking across a distance of 1.8 miles/2.9 km over 2 hours
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES EARLY for check in. We cannot accommodate late arrivals, and once we begin we cannot answer the phone out of respect to other guests. If you are unsure you will be able to arrive on time, please contact us by email, and we will reply as soon as the tour is over. To plan accordingly, Subway commutes from Midtown and the Financial District are approximately 20 minutes; taxis and Ubers are also abundantly available but may take longer due to Manhattan traffic.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City?
Cancellation Policy
Still have questions?
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Activity code: C-5616659P1
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 20 traveler reviews collected by Cool NYC and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool NYC customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
- This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- Guide.
- Meals.
- Gratuities for quality service are strongly encouraged.
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025The minimum age to participate is 12. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City is as follows:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should feel comfortable walking across a distance of 1.8 miles/2.9 km over 2 hours
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for The City Speaks: Experience the Languages of New York City will be included in your confirmation email from Cool NYC. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Guide
- Meals
- Gratuities for quality service are strongly encouraged.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should feel comfortable walking across a distance of 1.8 miles/2.9 km over 2 hours
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES EARLY for check in. We cannot accommodate late arrivals, and once we begin we cannot answer the phone out of respect to other guests. If you are unsure you will be able to arrive on time, please contact us by email, and we will reply as soon as the tour is over. To plan accordingly, Subway commutes from Midtown and the Financial District are approximately 20 minutes; taxis and Ubers are also abundantly available but may take longer due to Manhattan traffic.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
