Hop on Hop off Bus Tours NYC
If you are looking for a fast and very comfortable way to tour the city, here is everything you need to know to get on the tourist bus.
Views of the city from the top of the tour bus | ©Kate Brown
Visiting New York by tour bus is a very practical idea, as it allows you to get to know the most important areas of the city in a quick way while you travel comfortably seated.
It is a great option to visit the Big Apple in a short time or even to move between the main attractions to see in New York without having to depend on public transportation schedules. I tell you everything you need to know to enjoy it to the fullest.
New York Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour
Select between the two-day and three-day pass
Perfect if you want to enjoy the city while taking a break from intense walking and getting around New York while still contemplating the views of its streets and skyline.
This two or three-day pass for the New York sightseeing bus allows you to visit, following the guided commentary on board, the most famous sights of New York as Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, etc.. The bus is from the famous Big Bus company and has two floors with an open roof to take all the pictures you want from the best angles.
You can choose a Classic ticket to make the tours of Downtown and Uptown Manhattan or opt for a 2-day Premium pass with Brooklyn tour, Harlem tour, the panoramic night tour and a free 1 hour Circle Line bike rental of 1 hour duration.
Another possibility is to choose the 3-day deluxe pass with all the tours included, the night tour and the bike rental option**. You have several different routes and passes to choose from so you can explore New York freely using the bus as transportation, hopping on and off at more than 30 stops throughout the city.
This option also includes a night sightseeing tour with a Premium or Deluxe pass.
Why I like this option: This is the cheapest and most complete option to enjoy the New York City sightseeing bus. You can hop on and off as many times as you want during the tour and you can also enjoy a bike ride.
The Big Bus routes
Downtown - Red Route
The Red Route is two hours long and operates between 8AM and 5PM. This guided tour of downtown New York City can start at any of the stops on this route. The tourist attractions that the Red Route connects are the main attractions you need to see in Manhattan:
- Broadway
- Wall Street
- Statue of Liberty
- Ellis Island
- Little Italy
- Chinatown
- Soho
Uptown - Blue Route
The Blue Route operates between 9 AM and 5 PM. This guided tour of Uptown New York City lasts 2 hours and can be started at any of its stops. The tourist attractions that are part of the Blue Route are:
- Madison Square Garden
- Fifth Avenue
- Times Square
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- MoMA, Museum of Modern Art NY
- Central Park
Brooklyn - Purple Trail
The Purple Route is 1 hour long and runs at 10 AM, 12 PM and 3 PM. This guided tour summarizes the best things to see and do in Brooklyn and can be started at any of the 4 stops that make up the route. Sightseeing attractions on the Purple Route are:
- Grand Army Plaza
- Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets Stadium
Harlem - Green Route
The Green Route operates at 10 AM, 12 PM and 3 PM. This guided tour of the best things to see and do in Harlem lasts 1 hour and can be started at any of its stops. The tourist attractions that are part of the Green Route are:
- Apollo Theater
- Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
NYC by Night - Yellow Route
The Yellow Route is 1 hour long and operates from 6 PM to 8 PM. This night tour is non hop-on hop-off, meaning you do not have the option to get off and get back on at any part of the tour. It has one stop and the tourist attractions that can be seen on the Yellow Route are:
- Times Square
- Statue of Liberty
- Wall Street
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Empire State Building
- Manhattan Bridge
How much does a New York City sightseeing bus ticket cost?
From 39 Euros in Hellotickets you can find a ticket that allows you to access the tourist bus of the city from any of its stops and get on and off as many times as you want. If you want to do the night tour, the price is a little higher, it will cost you around 50 Euros.
Children under 12 years old have access to a reduced price and only pay 35 Euros, so it is a good option if you are traveling to New York with small children or family. You can also bring your baby and they don't need a ticket.
Tips for using the New York City Sightseeing Bus
If you're ready to board one of these double-decker buses, it's best to consider the following tips to get the most out of the experience.
Activate your ticket first thing in the morning
Tickets can be activated automatically from the moment you board one of the buses, so it's best to do it first thing in the morning to make the most of the day. No time? Don't worry, if you have a busy morning you can always activate it after 15:00 and the ticket will last for 24 hours, so you can use it until 15:00 the next day.
Do one of the full routes to take advantage of the views
If you get a good spot on the top floor of the bus (which is not always the case because there are usually more travelers wanting to take the same seats as you) take advantage of the full route: you will be able to take photos, take a break and use the route as a good way to locate yourself in the city and then decide at which stops you want to get off.
Do it at the beginning of your trip
If you are going to be in New York for several days and it is your first time in the city, the tour bus is a good way to orient yourself on the New York map. Take the tour at the beginning of your stay there to calculate distances, discover new neighborhoods and decide which stops and attractions you will visit during the rest of your travel agenda.
Take advantage of the tourist card tickets
Many of New York's sightseeing cards include a free ticket to the sightseeing bus or a cruise on the Hudson River. Keep this in mind because if you purchase one of these New York City Sightseeing Cards you'll get free access and it's worth taking advantage of it.
Use it as public transportation
Yes, you read that right. The New York subway is very well connected and its frequency is enviable, but if you want to move between one attraction and another, the safest thing is that they are well connected in one of the routes of the tourist buses. Make the most of your travels and enjoy the scenery as you make your way from museum to skyscraper or to the next stop on your travel journey.
The sightseeing bus at night
Another option offered by the City that never sleeps is to take the tourist bus at night. This will allow you to close the day in a relaxed way while resting after a long walk watching the lights of the city. The New York night tour bus is also a great option if you are traveling to New York in the winter and want to protect yourself from the cold when the low temperatures are lurking.
It is also a great way to enjoy the Christmas lights if you are traveling to New York at Christmas, undoubtedly the most magical time of the year. On those days when the crowds take over the streets, sitting relaxed on the tour bus cruising through the city at night will seem magnificent.
Other interesting activities in New York
If you're considering booking a sightseeing bus pass, you've realized that the size of New York City is often beyond the walking ability of travelers. If you want to delve a little deeper into all the areas and neighborhoods of the city, I've created this guide about 6 Best New York City Neighborhoods so you can get oriented and start organizing your itinerary.
And if you want to discover the most interesting points of the city with a guided tour, my favorites are the Contrasts Tour and the Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour. Here are the details of both tours: New York Contrasts Tour y Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour.