Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York
New York, United States

Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points

Outty Ranking 62 5.0 · 4 traveler reviews2.3 hoursFrom $20

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

2

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Age 12 and under

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From, per person$20
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Outty Ranking

62/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 4 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points worth booking?

Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points is a 2.3-hour experience in New York, United States, from $20 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice, based on a 5/5 rating across 4 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
62 / 100
Rating
5/5 (4)
Duration
2.3 hours
From
$20 per person

This two hour walking tour is a deep dive into the dirty history of the Five Points neighborhood in NYC, once called "the foul core of New York City's slums" and an area of "moral leprosy." In a way, it's also a ghost to

What you get

    About this experience

    This two hour walking tour is a deep dive into the dirty history of the Five Points neighborhood in NYC, once called "the foul core of New York City's slums" and an area of "moral leprosy." In a way, it's also a ghost tour, as we'll be exploring a geography (streets and natural features) erased by development and redevelopment. We will uncover the lives of the people who lived in this area (now Chinatown) from 1800 - 1900, discussing how sewage, sex, and sickness pervaded a neighborhood filled with the "poorest of the poor" until it was razed and rebuilt starting in 1897. This is not a tour for the faint of heart! Your guide for this tour is a graduate of the Sanitation Foundation's Trash Academy and has a Master's of Public Administration from Columbia University. This topic is her passion!

    What's included

    Included

    • Walking tour

    Not included

    • Bottled water

    What you'll see and do

    1. Collect Pond Park

      We will discuss how Collect Pond was transformed from a fresh water pond with a park to a reeking, polluted swamp to a foul landfill. In this spot, we will also discuss The Tombs (aka the Halls of Justice).

      15 minutes here

    2. Columbus Park

      The tour will stop just east of Columbus Park on Worth Street. We will talk about the historic location and stories of Paradise Square, The Old Brewery, Cow Bay, and the intersection of streets that gave the Five Points neighborhood its name.

      15 minutes here

    3. Chinatown

      The tour will continue through the historic area of the Five Points, stopping at the former sites of Donovan's Alley, Chatham Theatre, Chatham Square, Park Street, Mulberry Bend, Bandit's Roost, and Bottle Alley. We'll visit the site of a former notorious brothel and see the oldest tenement in New York City. During the tour, we'll discuss sewage, sex, and sickness in the Five Points from 1800 - 1900.

      90 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    New York

    We will meet in Collect Pond Park on Leonard Street between Lafayette and Centre Streets.

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    We will end in Columbus Park on the corner of Baxter and Worth Streets.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Mon, Wed
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Off the Beaten Subway Track Walking Tours

    Know before you go

    • 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

    Photos

    Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York, photo 2Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York, photo 3Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York, photo 4Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York, photo 5Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York, photo 6Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points in New York, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    3 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    The guide

    1 mention

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Photo opportunities

    1 mention

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Traveler reviews

    4 verified traveler reviews for Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    4
    4 star
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    Sort
    ACDC769 · June 2026

    A fascinating deep dive into life in the former Five Points of NYC

    The "Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points" walking tour is a fascinating deep dive into the unknown corners of what was once the most densely populated neighborhood in New York City. Learning about the trials and tribulations that immigrants had to deal with on a daily basis, gives us a new-found appreciation for social safety nets and access to healthcare. Suzanne's well-researched tour is intriguing and informative -- with irreverent humor thrown in for good measure! Highly recommended!

    Response from the operator: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you found it informative and also entertaining. :)

    via Tripadvisor

    ItsDeborahNYC · June 2026

    SUSANNE'S "Sewage, Sex and Sickness"

    Susanne's tour is a delicious—and, on occasion, delightfully disgusting (hey, we're talking about 19th-century sewage here!) —journey back to 19th-century New York. She combines deep knowledge of the period with a sense of whimsy, delivering a narration that is always easy to hear and enriched by a fascinating collection of historical photos and images from the era. To help visitors visualize long-gone sites such as Cow Bay and Paradise Square, she also distributes vintage maps of the area, bringing the city's past vividly to life. In preparing this tour, she has ventured down countless historical rabbit holes—and you'll thoroughly enjoy exploring them alongside her.

    Response from the operator: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed following me down the rabbit holes!

    via Tripadvisor

    meladh2022 · June 2026

    Interessting educative and entertaining

    Mrs: Suzanne is very professional guide

    Response from the operator: Thank you! I very much appreciate this kind comment!

    via Tripadvisor

    SteveC2270 · June 2026

    Unique different and fun

    Suzanne Reisman brought to life an undercounted era of New York City history. Her narration made the former Five Points district feel like a ghost landscape: a place whose streets, buildings, smells, and social conditions have largely been erased by redevelopment, but whose history still lingers beneath present-day Chinatown. By interpreting the neighborhood through sewage, sex, sickness, poverty, and survival, she allowed us to see what no longer visibly exists and to sense the human reality behind the notorious reputation of the old Five Points.

    Response from the operator: Thank you! I am so touched by this review, as it is so important for me to honor the people and geography of the past.

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    2.3 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Mon, Wed
    Price range
    $20 to $50
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    1
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Why this scores 62

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)79
    Review evidence (18% weight)20
    Booking momentum (14% weight)10
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)57
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New York.

    How much does Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points cost?

    +

    Prices start at $20 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New York usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points take?

    +

    Plan for about 2.3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New York is not rushed.

    Is Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 4 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in New York, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2.3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points?

    +

    Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New York can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New York and add a light layer if any part of the 2.3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Sewage, Sex, and Sickness in the Five Points start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New York within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in New York?

    +

    New York has more bookable experiences than any other city on Outty, and the quality spread is brutal. Observation decks are commoditised, so we score them on timed-entry reliability and sunset slots. Food tours and borough walks are where the ranking really separates operators, and the top scores in the city all come from small-group guides. On Outty we rank every New York experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Grand Canyon VIP Helicopter Tour, Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights, NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit New York?

    +

    September to early November, and late April through June. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in New York?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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