
The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 33 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour worth booking?
The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour is a 2-hour experience in New York, United States, from $42 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 33 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (33)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $42 per person
Explore the fascinating evolution of psychiatry in New York City on this guided walking tour through the Upper East Side. Discover how ideas about the mind, medicine, and morality transformed over two centuries, shaping
What you get
- All Fees and Taxes
About this experience
Explore the fascinating evolution of psychiatry in New York City on this guided walking tour through the Upper East Side. Discover how ideas about the mind, medicine, and morality transformed over two centuries, shaping both the city and the modern field of mental health. From early asylums and medical pioneers to psychoanalytic movements and pharmaceutical breakthroughs, this tour traces a complex and often controversial story still visible in Manhattan’s streets and institutions.
What's included
Included
- All Fees and Taxes
What you'll see and do
Upper East Side
1.) John Finley Walk: East River vantage point to view Roosevelt and Wards Islands
12 minutes here
Upper East Side
2.) Yorkville Glockenspiel: South-west corner of 83rd St and York Ave (a mural nod to the German Yorkville neighborhood)
12 minutes here
Upper East Side
3.) New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute: 247 East 82nd St.
12 minutes here
Upper East Side
4.) East 80th St. Houses
12 minutes here
Upper East Side
9.) Hunter College Baker Theatre Building: Formerly the Mount Sinai Dispensary, the Neurological Institute, and the Kennedy Child Study Center: 149-151 East 67TH St
12 minutes here
Park Avenue Armory
10.) Park Avenue Armory: 643 Park Avenue
12 minutes here
Upper East Side
11.) Tillinghast House: 26 East 64th St., off Madison Ave.
12 minutes here
Madison Avenue
12.) 15-17 East 62nd St., off Madison Ave.
18 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
New York
Meet at the 87th St and East End Ave entrance to Carl Schurz Park (3 blocks east of 86th St subway Q line).
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
A few blocks from southeast corner of Central Park
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Sat
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Purefinder New York
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 33 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
9 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
33 verified traveler reviews for The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Don't miss it!
What a great tour! Krombie was so knowledgeable and engaging! She is a true expert who provided so much information and insight into all things psychiatric in NYC. A great way to spend the afternoon.
Response from the operator: Thank you very much. Delighted to hear that the Psychiatric tour made for such an engaging afternoon. Very much appreciated.
via Viator
So glad we did this!
Absolutely brilliant. Guide was funny, informative, and entertaining. We will for sure be booking another tour with this organization. Thank you for a great afternoon.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your review. We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour, and you’re very welcome to join us again on any Purefinder New York experience.
via Tripadvisor
Hilarious, Informative Tour
Fantastic tour with a super knowledgeable, funny, and engaging tour guide! A great way to get know the city better and learn some hidden NYC stories.
Response from the operator: Thanks for joining The Psychiatric History of New York tour. We’re glad you enjoyed it and hope you’ll come along on another Purefinder New York walk to explore more of the city’s darker history.
via Tripadvisor
Great for locals and tourists alike
A fun, wry, and informative tour, as well as a nice way to contemplate the Upper East Side. It's engaging enough to not even need the tour aspect, but then you'd miss all the architecture. I'd love to do the rest of them.
Response from the operator: Thank you for this great review! The Psychiatric History of New York is a niche Purefinder New York tour, so we're very pleased that you enjoyed it. 😁
via Tripadvisor
Best NYC experience in a long time
Filled in (many) gaps in my (limited) knowledge Fantastic knowledgeable guide Reading up on the subject. - family member(s) are bipolar Glad to live in 21st for sure ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Response from the operator: Thank you, Olga! We're so glad the tour resonated with you and that it sparked further reading. We look forward to welcoming you again on any of our Purefinder New York tours!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 5+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Sat
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 12
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New York.
How much does The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour cost?
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Prices start at $42 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 The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour take?
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Plan for about 2 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 The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 33 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 The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour?
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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 The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 5. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 2-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour?
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Around 12 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?
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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-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does The Psychiatric History of New York: Upper East Side Tour start and how do I get there?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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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