Walking Route East Village in New York

Discover the artistic and alternative side of New York on this walking route through the East Village. Walk the narrow streets lined with low-rise buildings of the East Village, home to many students and locals. As you wind your way through various areas, you’ll pass well-known shops as well as small independent businesses. Having lived in this neighbourhood myself, I know it like the back of my hand. I mapped out the route myself and took all the photos, and I regularly revisit it to keep everything up to date. With my Eric’s New York App, you can start the walk whenever you like and at your own pace.

Download the app and buy your walking route for New York here

Highlights of the East Village Route

This walk shows you just how diverse New York is in a single itinerary. You’ll start in the bustle of Midtown, amongst the skyscrapers and major department stores, and from there you’ll gradually make your way to a completely different part of the city.

The further you go, the more intimate it becomes. The tall buildings give way to low-rise buildings and narrow streets, and the big brands to independent shops, cafés and businesses run by local entrepreneurs. As you walk along, you’ll soon realise that you’ve entered a different New York.

Once you arrive in the East Village, you’ll see what the neighbourhood is famous for: an artistic, alternative atmosphere with room for all sorts of things. This is the neighbourhood of students, artists and people who do things a bit differently, and you can see that everywhere.

At each stop along the way, I’ll tell you what you’re seeing and why that spot is worth a visit. That way, you’ll get a feel for the neighbourhood that you’d miss on an ordinary walk.

East Village: The Alternative New York

During my first few months living in New York, I had a flat in the East Village. It’s a neighbourhood that has always stayed with me, precisely because it offers space for all sorts of styles and ways of life that you don’t often come across elsewhere in Manhattan.

The East Village has traditionally been one of Manhattan’s more affordable neighbourhoods. This is partly because many of the older buildings do not have lifts, which keeps rents down. It is precisely this affordability that attracts many young and creative people to live here, and that gives the neighbourhood its own unique character. Here, it’s not about the sights, but about the neighbourhood itself, and that’s what makes this East Village walk so worthwhile.

How’s this walking route?

This East Village walking tour is 3 miles long (5 km) and takes about 2 hours. The route is flat and follows the pavement, so it’s easy to manage. There are plenty of places to stop along the way.

In the East Village in particular, you’ll find plenty of small cafés and coffee shops where you can sit down for a while. You set the pace yourself, and the walk is easily manageable even with children.

Practical Information

• Starting point: Madison Square Park
• Distance: 5 kilometres (about 3 miles)
• Duration: approximately 2 hours
• Price: from £2 as part of a package
• Best time: This walk is lovely to do at the weekend or around midday on a weekday, when the neighbourhood is really bustling.

Pairs well with:
With this bundle, you can explore every part of New York at your own pace. This route links up nicely with the Greenwich, SoHo, Chinatown & Little Italy route: the starting point of that route is near the end of this walk. This means you can walk straight on to the next part of the city without any detours.

How does the walking route work in the app?

All you need for this self-guided East Village walking tour is my Eric’s New York App. The route works offline, so even without a signal, you’ll know exactly where you’re going. It only takes a few minutes to get everything ready:

1. Download the free Eric’s New York App from the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Tap the ‘Routes’ icon at the bottom, or the menu button in the top right-hand corner of the home screen.
3. Select the East Village walking route.
4. Tap ‘Buy route’ and complete the payment.
5. You’ll now see the full route in the app, with all the points you’ll pass. At each point, you’ll find my stories, tips and photos.
6. On the map, click on the green figure to view the route and your own location. That way, you won’t get lost along the way.

If you buy the route before you set off, you can take your time at home to have a look at what you’ll be seeing along the way. Once in New York, you simply follow the map on the app. You’re, of course, free to stop for a coffee or take a detour; after that, you can carry on with the route.

If you’re on your mobile, you can open this link directly to the walking routes in the app

Tip: Budget-friendly walking routes through New York

Are you planning to walk more than one walking route during your city break? If so, choose the package in the app. It allows you to buy several routes at once, which works out cheaper than buying them individually. That way, you can discover the most beautiful parts of New York on foot in just a few days.

View all walking routes and packages in the app