Lower East Side Tenement Museum

Learn the real stories of American immigrants from the 1860s and onward as you tour recreated apartments in a historic Manhattan tenement building.

Explore an authentic piece of New York City’s history at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Learn about the lives of early American immigrants through the museum’s painstakingly recreated living spaces and its many walking tours.

Check out the centerpiece of the museum, its historic tenement. From the street, the five-story brick building may look like many other historic buildings in the area. However, between 1863 and 1935, it was home to an estimated 7,000 people who hailed from over 20 countries. Immerse yourself in the immigrant experience as you tour the tenement’s cramped living quarters and learn about the lives of its past inhabitants.

Start your visit to the Tenement Museum at the Visitor Center and Museum Shop, a separate building on the street, where you purchase tickets and begin your tours. The Tenement Museum is open only by guided tour and has three ways to visit. Explore the tenement through the ages, meet the building’s residents played by costumed interpreters or join a walking tour to discover the Lower East Side’s rich immigrant history. Set aside 1 to 2 hours for a tour. For the most complete experience, combine a walking tour and a tenement tour.

Choose from a variety of available tenement tours. Learn about the stores run by immigrant families chasing the American Dream. Dive into the lives of sweatshop workers at the turn of the 20th century, when the Lower East Side was one of the world’s most densely populated locations. Find out how immigrants struggled through the Great Depression. Understand the challenges facing an Irish immigrant family struggling with prejudice in the 1860s.

Stop at the Museum Shop to get a themed book or gift from your visit. Attend a Tenement Talk, a regular series of complimentary performances and readings.

Find the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood. The Visitor Center and Museum Shop is in the same building with an entrance down the street. Purchase tickets in advance, as tours typically sell out, particularly during weekends.

Attractions and Neighbourhoods near Lower East Side Tenement Museum

Bowery Ballroom

Some of the world’s most exciting bands perform at this trendy but intimate venue that has great acoustics and frequently hosts big-name artists.

New Museum

Make sure you don’t miss this highlight of the Lower East Side’s thriving contemporary art scene, which has an interior as remarkable as its iconic exterior.

Chinatown

In just a few steps you are transported from busy downtown New York to the heart of China.

Little Italy

Fans of Italian cuisine and coffee will be in heaven in this small migrant district in Lower Manhattan.

Sperone Westwater

Delve into the rich cultural offerings of the Lower East Side by spending some time at this renowned contemporary art gallery, housed in an award-winning building.

Hotels near Lower East Side Tenement Museum

Roosevelt Hotel

45 E 45Th St

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of 5th Avenue and Grand Central Terminal. Chrysler Building and St. Patrick's Cathedral are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av Station (W. 42nd St.) is 5 minutes by foot and 47 - 50 Sts - Rockefeller Center Station is 8 minutes.

Hotel Edison Times Square

228 W 47th St

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Times Square and Broadway. 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center are also within 15 minutes. 49th St. Station is only a 2-minute walk and 47 - 50 Sts - Rockefeller Center Station is 6 minutes.

Hotel Pennsylvania

401 7th Ave

Rated 2.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Madison Square Garden, Macy's, and Empire State Building. Times Square and Broadway are also within 15 minutes. 34 St. - Penn Station (Fashion Av.) is only a 2-minute walk and 28 St. Station (7th Av.) is 4 minutes.

Row NYC

700 8th Avenue

Rated 3.6 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from St. James Theatre, Shubert Theatre, and Richard Rodgers Theatre. Times Square and Broadway are also within 5 minutes. 49th St. Station is 6 minutes by foot and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 7 minutes.

New York Hilton Midtown

1335 Avenue Of The Americas

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this eco-friendly hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. St. Patrick's Cathedral and Times Square are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av.-53 St. Station and 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) are within a 5-minute walk.

The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel

481 Eighth Ave.

Rated 3.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Times Square and Empire State Building. Broadway and Grand Central Terminal are also within 1 mi (2 km). 34 St. - Penn Station is only a 2-minute walk and 34 St. - Penn Station (Fashion Av.) is 3 minutes.

Millennium Hotel Broadway Times Square

145 W 44th St

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from Times Square, Broadway, and Town Hall. Minskoff Theater and Shubert Theatre are also within 5 minutes. 5 Av Station (W. 42nd St.) and 49th St. Station are within a 5-minute walk.

The Belvedere Hotel

319 W 48th St

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Times Square, Gershwin Theater, and Richard Rodgers Theatre. Broadway and Lunt-Fontanne Theatre are also within 10 minutes. 49th St. Station is 6 minutes by foot and 50 St. Station (Broadway) is 7 minutes.

Paramount Times Square

235 West 46th Street

Rated 3.5 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this romantic hotel is steps from Richard Rodgers Theatre, Times Square, and Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Broadway and Minskoff Theater are also within 5 minutes. 49th St. Station is only a 3-minute walk and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 8 minutes.

Wellington Hotel

871 Seventh Ave

Rated 3.7 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Times Square, Broadway, and Rockefeller Center. Grand Central Terminal and Empire State Building are also within 2 mi (3 km). 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) and 50 St. Station (Broadway) are within a 5-minute walk.

Hyatt Grand Central New York

109 East 42nd Streetat Grand Central Terminal, at Grand Central Terminal

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this romantic hotel is steps from Chrysler Building and Grand Central Terminal. 5th Avenue and Bryant Park are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av Station (W. 42nd St.) is 9 minutes by foot and Grand Central - 42 St. Station is 6 minutes.

Pod 51

230 E 51st St

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue and St. Patrick's Cathedral. United Nations Headquarters and Rockefeller Center are also within 15 minutes. Lexington Av.-53 St. Station is only a 4-minute walk and 51 St. Station is 8 minutes.

Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel

811 7th Ave

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from Broadway Theatre and Winter Garden Theatre. Times Square and Carnegie Hall are also within 5 minutes. 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) is only a 2-minute walk and 50 St. Station (Broadway) is 3 minutes.

Hudson New York

358 W 58th St

Rated 3.5 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Central Park and Columbus Circle. Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Opera House are also within 10 minutes. 59 St. - Columbus Circle Station is only a 5-minute walk and 57 St. - 7 Av Station is 5 minutes.

Pod 39

145 East 39th Street

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Chrysler Building and 5th Avenue. Grand Central Terminal and New York Public Library are also within 10 minutes. 33 St. Station (Park Av. S) is 9 minutes by foot and Grand Central - 42 St. Station is 6 minutes.

Park Central Hotel New York

870 7th Ave

Rated 3.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Carnegie Hall, Central Park, and Broadway Theatre. Columbus Circle and 5th Avenue are also within 10 minutes. 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) and 50 St. Station (Broadway) are within a 5-minute walk.

Salisbury Hotel

West 57Th Street, 123

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Carnegie Hall, Central Park, and 5th Avenue. Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall are also within 10 minutes. 5 Av.-53 St. Station and 57 St. Station are within a 5-minute walk.

Waldorf Astoria New York

301 Park Avenue

Rated 4.2 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this luxury hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center. Grand Central Terminal and Museum of Modern Art are also within 10 minutes. 51 St. Station is 5 minutes by foot and Lexington Av.-53 St. Station is 8 minutes.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton New York City - Times Square

1568 Broadway47th Street And 7th Avenue, 47th Street And 7th Avenue

Rated 4.4 / 5 by Guests

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Times Square is the only all-suite hotel on Broadway, in the heart of Times Square, steps from Broadway theaters, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Hard Rock Cafe, and much more.

Element New York Times Square West

311 West 39th Street

Rated 4.3 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Times Square, Madison Square Garden, and American Lyric Theater. St. James Theatre and Shubert Theatre are also within 10 minutes. 34 St. - Penn Station is 6 minutes by foot and Times Sq. - 42 St. Station is 6 minutes.

The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel

790 7th Ave

Rated 3.3 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is steps from Winter Garden Theatre and Broadway Theatre. Gershwin Theater and Times Square are also within 5 minutes. 7 Av. Station (E 53rd St.) is only a 2-minute walk and 50 St. Station (Broadway) is 3 minutes.

LaGuardia Plaza Hotel

104-04 Ditmars Blvd

Rated 4.1 / 5 by Guests

Located in Queens, this hotel is 1.5 mi (2.5 km) from Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from Citi Field. Roosevelt Island and Central Park are also within 9 mi (15 km). 103 St - Corona Plaza Station is 28 minutes by foot and 111 St. Station (Roosevelt St.) is 30 minutes.

DoubleTree by Hilton Metropolitan - New York City

569 Lexington Ave

Rated 4.0 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center. Museum of Modern Art and Madison Avenue are also within 10 minutes. Lexington Av.-53 St. Station and 51 St. Station are within a 5-minute walk.

Stewart Hotel

371 7th Ave

Rated 3.9 / 5 by Guests

Located in Midtown, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Macy's, Herald Square, and Empire State Building. Times Square and Broadway are also within 15 minutes. 28 St. Station (7th Av.) and 34 St. - Penn Station (Fashion Av.) are within a 5-minute walk.