Based out of a coworking building in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Unplugged Tours offers art workshops, private group tours, and guided public tours of New York City’s thriving cultural scene. Its two most famous experiences are the Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour in Brooklyn and the Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour. Both of these well-regarded walking tours depart daily, and typically last about two hours.
History of Brooklyn Unplugged Tours
Brooklyn Unplugged Tours was founded by Jeff Stirewalt, a Brooklyn native who attended Brooklyn College for business management before establishing the company in 2012. One of the most unique elements of Brooklyn Unplugged Tours is that it offers private, customizable tours. This means that interested customers can work with Brooklyn Unplugged Tours to design a tour from scratch, right down to selecting their very own theme, tour route, and length of experience. However, Brooklyn Unplugged Tours is best known for its guided walking tours that focus on the art and culture of Brooklyn’s vibrant streetscapes.
What’s to see on a Brooklyn Unplugged Tour
Brooklyn Unplugged Tours specializes in two public tours: its Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour in Brooklyn and the Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour in Williamsburg. These popular walking tours are led by passionate local artists and share tremendous insight about the people, places, and artworks that make Brooklyn such a magnet for creative types.
The Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour in Brooklyn leaves every morning of the week at 10:30am from in front of the Wyckoff Starr Coffee Shop. A ticket costs a little over $30 per person. Along the way you’ll learn about tags, murals, paste-ups, and other street art techniques, as well as hear all about the history of this cutting-edge art form and the ongoing role it plays in the day-to-day life of the Bushwick community. You’ll need to have your camera ready as you encounter unforgettable examples of graffiti and street art!
The Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour in Williamsburg departs seven days a week at 3:00pm from in front of a white storefront at 548 Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn. Just like its street art-focused counterpart, it lasts about two hours and covers roughly 1.5 miles. As you stroll through Williamsburg, your guide will point out the sights and sounds of one of Brooklyn’s liveliest neighborhoods while discussing the area’s history, artworks, shops, and more.
Tips for Touring with Brooklyn Unplugged Tours
- Brooklyn Unplugged Tours is included on several money saving tourist passes including the New York Pass, Go NY All-Inclusive Pass, NY Explorer Pass and NY Sightseeing Pass.
- If for some reason you must cancel or reschedule your tour reservation, be sure and do so at least 24 hours in advance of your outing. Brooklyn Unplugged Tours is not guaranteed to honor any rescheduling requests that occur on shorter than one day’s notice.
- Wearing good shoes for either of Brooklyn Unplugged’s walking tours is an absolute must, as both excursions cover multiple miles on foot. Likewise, be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of your tour so that you can plan your outfit accordingly.
- Kids of all ages are permitted to join Brooklyn Unplugged Tours, but the younger the child in question, the stronger they recommend taking stock of your little ones’ interest in walking a couple miles to gaze upon street art and trendy boutiques while listening to the history of various New York City neighborhoods.
- Bring a bottle of water or two, as well as some snacks. Food and drink are not provided during the tour, although you’re likely to encounter on your walk a number of dining establishments you’ll want to circle back to and check out on your own time!