Bowery Travel Guide

New York
New York
Hundreds of years of history layer on top of one another along this famous street in New York City’s Lower East Side.

Explore centuries of New York City history along the Bowery, one of the city’s oldest streets. This iconic corridor between Chatham Square in the south to Cooper Square in the north is just 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. A 30-minute walk passing art museums, performance venues and historical sites highlights the artistic and immigrant tradition that makes the Lower East Side neighborhood unique.

Start your tour of the Bowery with a look to the past at a historical museum in the surrounding blocks, such as the Tenement Museum, the Museum at Eldridge Street or the Museum of Chinese in America. Alternatively, look for clues in the streetscape. The thoroughfare was lined with farms 350 years ago. Notice the many historic tenement buildings, where working-class immigrants settled as the city boomed during the 19th century.

Observe the Bowery’s unusual width and grassy median. An elevated train ran the length of this street, casting a shadow where the city’s underbelly thrived. From gambling houses to dancehalls, the Bowery was a destination for New Yorkers seeking illicit delights. It was also the territory of the Bowery Boys, a notorious gang.

Appreciate the busy atmosphere of the Bowery today. As factories closed and the Lower East Side experienced decline after the 1970s, artists moved in and gave the neighborhood its bohemian, youthful reputation.

Check out the artsy wall at Bowery and Houston Street, where famous painters periodically install colorful, complex murals. Visit one of the neighborhood’s arts venues to experience the community’s enduring creative spirit. As well as presenting global contemporary artists, the New Museum also grants stunning, 360-degree views of Lower Manhattan from its seventh-floor observation deck. Sample a bohemian lifestyle at Bowery Poetry through daily writing workshops and nightly poetry and burlesque performances. Attend a concert at The Bowery Ballroom, where musicians have become famous since 1998.

Opening times and ticket prices vary between venues visit their individual websites for more information. The street itself is free and open to the public to visit. Child-friendly guided tours of the neighborhood are available most days from the nearby Tenement Museum.


Popular places to visit


Top hotels in Bowery

The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
4 out of 5
790 7th Ave, New York, NY
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹10,771 per night from 27 May to 28 May
₹10,771
per night
27 May - 28 May
Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews.
5.4/10 (4,258 reviews)
"The cushions in one of the sofas in the room was ripped totally exposing the foam cushion and pinned with one safety pin."

Reviewed on 10 May 2024

The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager hotel
PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager hotel
4 out of 5
215 Chrystie St, New York, NY
The price is ₹15,781 per night from 19 May to 20 May
₹15,781
per night
19 May - 20 May
Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their reviews.
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,484 reviews)
"The rooftop bar was amazing. If you stay here, do not miss an opportunity to have a drink iup there. Rooms were well put together HOWEVER, the music was so loud the last two nights of my stay in the club area, I literally could not sleep. I was awake until 2am ? and had to get up for a flight....two ..."

Reviewed on 10 May 2024

PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager hotel
Moxy NYC Lower East Side
Moxy NYC Lower East Side
4 out of 5
145 BOWERY, New York, NY
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹12,192 per night from 27 May to 28 May
₹12,192
per night
27 May - 28 May
Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews.
8.8/10 Excellent! (816 reviews)
"The Moxy was a really nice place to stay and the service was excellent - we would definitely stay there again"

Reviewed on 9 May 2024

Moxy NYC Lower East Side
The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel
The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel
4 out of 5
481 Eighth Ave., New York, NY
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹14,504 per night from 27 May to 28 May
₹14,504
per night
27 May - 28 May
Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their reviews.
8/10 Very Good! (4,371 reviews)
"The hotel is amazing! Very clean, staff is super nice, gym is incredible. The location is the only thing that is not the best but this is my personal opinion. You have a metro right in front so makes things easier."

Reviewed on 9 May 2024

The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel
Paramount Times Square
Paramount Times Square
4 out of 5
235 West 46th Street, New York, NY
The price is ₹12,441 per night from 12 May to 13 May
₹12,441
per night
12 May - 13 May
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews.
7/10 Good! (2,254 reviews)
"Small rooms in New York as we expected. Bathroom sink and toilet paper holder were awkwardly placed. Bathroom plug didn’t work along with the ice machine on our floor. It was adequate for what we needed"

Reviewed on 10 May 2024

Paramount Times Square
Hyatt Grand Central New York
Hyatt Grand Central New York
4 out of 5
109 East 42nd Street, at Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
The price is ₹14,834 per night from 19 May to 20 May
₹14,834
per night
19 May - 20 May
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews.
7.8/10 Good! (3,351 reviews)
"Location was great for walking or if you're taking the subway. The staff were very nice and helpful. Our room had issues with our bathroom and closet doors which we got help with and I think there may have been a bit of mildew on the bathroom ceiling. The stay overall was good and the hotel otherwise ..."

Reviewed on 8 May 2024

Hyatt Grand Central New York
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Bowery

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Lower East Side

Travellers love Lower East Side for its fantastic nightlife, and you can see more of New York by jumping on the metro at Essex St. Station or Delancey St. Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Orchard Street Shopping District and Lower East Side Tenement Museum.

Lower East Side
SoHo - Tribeca featuring street scenes and a city as well as a large group of people

SoHo

You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in SoHo. Spend some time visiting top spots like The Apartment, and catch the metro at Prince St. Station or Spring St. Station to see more of the area.

SoHo
Greenwich Village which includes a fountain

Greenwich Village

Spend some time visiting places like 5th Avenue while getting to know Greenwich Village, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Christopher St. - Sheridan Sq. Station or W 4 St. Station to see more of the area.

Greenwich Village
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Financial District

Enjoy the important monuments in Financial District. One World Trade Center is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Wall St. Station (William St.) or Broad St. Station to see more of New York.

Financial District
The High Line Park showing a garden, street scenes and a city

Chelsea

Chelsea is highly notable for its popular shops, and you might want to visit top sights like Madison Square Garden and Chelsea Hotel. See more of New York by jumping on the metro at 23 St. Station (8th Av.) or 23 St. Station (7th Av.).

Chelsea
Downtown Brooklyn showing heritage elements and a bridge

Downtown Brooklyn

Spend some time visiting places like Brooklyn Bridge while getting to know Downtown Brooklyn, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Jay St. - Tech Station or York St. Station to see more of the area.

Downtown Brooklyn

Bowery Travel Guide