BOOK HARLEM TOURS & TICKETS

Harlem is a fun place to visit throughout the year; but, the best time to visit is probably between April and June or September to early November. During these times, the weather is pleasantly mild and the tourist traffic drops off. Families on vacation and European travelers come to New York during the summer months, which is high season. The city can become quite crowded during Thanksgiving and New Year’s, too. You’ll find it difficult to find hotel rooms or flight tickets; so, try to book ahead. Harlem is very quiet from January through March because of snowfall and dropping temperatures. However, if you are looking to take a budget Harlem trip, you can take advantage of some real bargains if you don’t mind a little snow.

During your Harlem vacation, you can easily find your way from midtown Manhattan to the main shopping centers and streets in Harlem. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes on the subway. But, Harlem controls a large area, so you might want to look up the New York’s MTA subway map to find out exactly where you want to go. On Saturdays and Sundays, construction work on the tracks can disrupt the normal transit flow. Before your Harlem Tour, check the New York’s MTA website for updates. You can buy Unlimited MetroCards as an inexpensive way to use the subway during a longer Harlem trip. This also give you access to the many busses that go from downtown Manhattan to Harlem, as well. Besides public transport, you can also use yellow cabs, green taxis, Uber, or Lyft.

Low on cash? No problem! The North Woods of Central Park borders with Harlem and while you’re inside, the sounds of the city are quite muffled. Enjoy a picnic lunch near Harlem Meer, where you can watch local fishermen catch and release all day long.

• Harlem was settled by the Dutch colonists in the 1600’s. It was called Nieuw Haarlem after a city by the same name in the Netherlands.
• Since then, Harlem has been inhabited by different people during different waves of migration, including African-Americans, Jews, Italians, and Hispanics.
• During the 1920’s, Harlem experienced a burst in intellectual, social, and artistic creativity, influencing black writers from the Caribbean, African colonies, and Paris, too. It was called the ‘Harlem Renaissance’ and was considered to be a rejuvenation of African-American culture.
• Some famous people from Harlem are Louis Armstrong, Al Pacino, Harry Houdini, Ed Sullivan, and the Marx brothers.