More about: New York Hop-On Hop-Off Buses
Visiting New York by tourist bus is a very practical idea, as it allows you to see the most important areas of the city quickly while travelling in comfort.
The three main companies offering tourist bus services are: Big Bus Tours, City Sightseeing Bus and TopView NYC. All offer multilingual routes and commentary. However, it is important to note that Big Bus Tours has the most frequent service. You also have the option of enjoying a night tour.
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 walks, and get around New York while admiring the views of its streets and skyline.
This two- or three-day pass for the New York tourist bus will allow you to discover New York's most famous tourist attractions, such as Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Centre, etc., with guided commentary on board. The tourist bus usually has two open-top decks so you can take all the photos you want from the best angles.
You can choose a 1-day Discover ticket to tour Downtown Manhattan or opt for a 1-day Essential premium pass with the option of the Downtown Route (red route) and Uptown Route (blue route) and a bike rental offer. Another option is to choose the 2-day Explore pass with the option of the Downtown Route (red route) and Uptown Route (blue route) and a bike rental offer.
Why I like this option: it is the most economical and comprehensive way to enjoy the New York tourist bus. You can hop on and off as many times as you like during the tour and you also have the option of enjoying a bike ride.
Manhattan Night Bus Tour
Discover New York illuminated
On this night-time sightseeing bus tour, you will comfortably discover Manhattan's iconic landmarks and main attractions at the best time to admire the skyline. It is a unique experience that will dazzle you.
With this night tour of Manhattan by bus, you can comfortably visit the Big Apple's iconic sites at sunset, including the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Centre, the Jersey City financial district, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, among other destinations.
You will have the opportunity to get off at some stops to take a closer look at the place or take photographs. And you'll also get to try one of the famous cakes at Carlo's Bakery.
Why I like this option: you'll enjoy unbeatable views of Manhattan lit up at night that will take your breath away. A unique and comfortable experience to end the day.
New York tourist bus routes
Downtown - Red Route
The Red Route lasts two hours and operates between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. This guided tour of downtown New York can start at any of the stops on this route. The tourist attractions linked by the Red Route are the main ones you have 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 a.m. and 5 p.m. This guided tour of New York's Uptown area 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.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- MoMA, Museum of Modern Art, New York.
- Central Park.
Brooklyn - Purple Line
The Purple Route lasts 1 hour and runs at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. This guided tour summarises the best things to see and do in Brooklyn, and you can start at any of the 4 stops that make up the route. The tourist attractions on the Purple Route are:
- Grand Army Plaza.
- Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets.
Harlem - Green Route
The Green Route operates at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. 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 Theatre.
- Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
NYC by Night - Yellow Route
The Yellow Route lasts 1 hour and operates from 6pm to 8pm. This night tour is not hop-on hop-off, meaning you cannot get off and back on anywhere along the route. 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 ticket for the New York tourist bus cost?
At Hellotickets, you can book a ticket for the New York tourist bus from £34, allowing you to hop on and off at any of the stops as many times as you like. If you want to book a night tour of Manhattan by bus, it will cost £44, which is a higher price.
Children under 12 years old have access to a reduced price, so it's a good option if you're travelling to New York with young children or as a family. You can also bring your baby and they won't need a ticket.
Tips for using the New York tourist bus
If you are ready to book your sightseeing bus pass, it is best to keep the following recommendations in mind 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 this first thing in the morning to make the most of your day. Don't have time? Don't worry, if you have a busy morning, you can always activate it after 3 p.m. and the ticket will be valid for 24 hours, allowing you to use it until 3 p.m. the following day.
- Take one of the complete routes to enjoy the views: If you manage to get a good seat on the top deck of the bus (which doesn't always happen because there are usually other passengers wanting the same seats as you), take advantage of the opportunity to take the complete route: you can take great photos, relax and use the tour as a good way to get your bearings in the city and then decide which stops you want to get off at.
- 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, this is a good way to get your bearings on the map of New York. Take the tour at the beginning of your stay to calculate distances, discover new neighbourhoods and decide which stops and attractions you will visit during the rest of your trip.
- Take advantage of tourist card tickets: Many New York tourist cards include a free ticket for the tourist bus or a cruise on the Hudson River. Keep this in mind because if you purchase one of these New York tourist cards, you will have free access and it is worth taking advantage of it.
- Use it as public transport: The New York Underground is very well connected and runs frequently, but if you want to travel between attractions, they are likely to be well connected by one of the tourist bus routes, allowing you to make the most of the journey by enjoying the scenery as you travel from a museum to a skyscraper or to the next stop on your itinerary.
The night tourist bus
Another option offered by the city that never sleeps is to book the night tourist bus, which will allow you to end the day in a relaxed manner while you rest after a long walk seeing the lights of New York.
The New York night tourist bus is also a good option if you are travelling to New York in winter and want to protect yourself from the cold when low temperatures are lurking.
It's also a great way to enjoy the Christmas lights if you're travelling to New York at Christmas, undoubtedly the most magical time of the year. On those days when crowds take over the streets, sitting back and relaxing on the tourist bus as it crosses the city at night will seem wonderful. You have several options:
- Night tour of Manhattan by bus, from 44
- New York night tour by luxury bus, from £74
- New York night tour by bus, from £46
Other New York sightseeing bus options
The tourist bus caters to all tastes and, in addition to the day and night tours, there are other options available such as themed tours of specific areas such as Brooklyn, the Bronx or Queens; top experiences where you can opt for a luxury bus, or even a combination of experiences, i.e. you can combine the tour with a cruise.
Below are the most popular options:
- New York tour with cruise and bus tour, from £80
- New York night tour in a luxury bus, from 74
The complete package: tourist bus and cruise
If you want to enjoy the full experience , you can book a guided walking tour, tourist bus tour and cruise, from 80, a 6-hour experience in which you will see the most iconic places in New York on foot, by bus and by ferry.
Another option, if you prefer something more flexible, is to book the New York tourist bus with a cruise to the Statue of Liberty, as you can hop on and off at any of the 30 stops along the route. The pass is valid for one day and from the cruise to the Statue of Liberty you can admire the Manhattan skyline.
What is the best sightseeing bus in New York?
Hop-on hop-off tourist buses are an excellent way to explore and get to know New York City, as they offer you the possibility of getting on and off whenever you want.
The three main companies offering this service are: Big Bus Tours, City Sightseeing Bus and TopView NYC. All offer multilingual routes and commentary. However, it is important to note that Big Bus Tours has the most frequent buses.
- Big Bus Tours: Offers two routes: the Red Line (Downtown), which operates from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every 15-20 minutes, and the Blue Line (Uptown), which operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every hour. It covers the most popular tourist attractions such as Times Square, Central Park and the Empire State Building. It has recorded commentary in several languages and a mobile app for real-time tracking.
- City Sightseeing Bus (Gray Line): Offers routes through Brooklyn, Harlem, Downtown and Uptown, although it is less busy as it operates from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but departs every hour. It also has commentary and a mobile app.
- TopView NYC: Also offers routes through Brooklyn, Harlem, Downtown and Uptown, and has night tour options. It operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the full tour lasts 2 to 2.5 hours. It has commentary in 11 languages and a mobile app for live tracking.
- Night bus: With this option, you can admire the city's most iconic sights, such as the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, One World Trade Centre and the Empire State Building. The tour lasts 4 hours and is accompanied by a guide.
Other interesting activities in New York
If you are considering booking a pass for the tourist bus, it means you understand that New York has many things to do and see, and it is often beyond the walking capacity of travellers. If you want to delve a little deeper into all the areas and neighbourhoods of the city, I have created this guide 5 Best New York City Neighborhoods to help you find your way around and start planning your itinerary.
And if you want to discover the most interesting spots with a guided tour, I can tell you that my favourites are the Contrasts Tour and the Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour. Here are the details of both tours: New York Contrasts Tour and Upper and Lower Manhattan Tours. And I can tell you in advance that you won't regret booking the New York Contrasts Tour.