Hop on Hop off Bus Tours in New York

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. Here are the best options:

The best option

Bus Tours: 2-3 Day Passes

Choose between the two and three-day pass

Perfect if you want to enjoy the city while taking a break from intense walking and get around New York while still taking in the sights of its streets and skyline. Includes a one-hour cruise

Duration: 60 to 120 minutes

From $ 45 at Hellotickets

This two or three-day New York City sightseeing bus pass allows you to see New York's most famous sights such as Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, etc., by following the guided commentary on board. The bus is from the famous Big Bus company and has two floors with an open top to take all the pictures you want from the best angles.

You can choose a Classic ticket for the Downtown and Uptown tours of Manhattan or opt for a 2 day Premium pass with Brooklyn tour, Harlem tour, the panoramic night tour, and a Circle Line sightseeing cruise of 1-hour duration.

Another possibility is to choose the 3-day deluxe pass that includes all tours, even the night tour and the one-hour Circle Line sightseeing cruise. 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 over 30 stops throughout the city.

This option also includes a 1-hour cruise on the Statue of Liberty Circle Line and a nighttime sightseeing tour with a Premium or Deluxe pass.

Why I like this option: This is the most economical and most complete option to enjoy the New York sightseeing bus. You can hop on and off as many times as you like during the tour and you can also enjoy a cruise on the Hudson.

Night Option

Bus Tour: 4-hour Night Tour

City lights from the sightseeing bus

If you like the idea of taking the sightseeing bus tour at night to see the city lights on, this is the best option.

Duration: 4 hours

From $ 59 at Hellotickets

New York, the city that never sleeps. Twenty-four hours a day it is on the move and if when the sun rises it is vibrant and amazing when it sets it is magical and fascinating. Watching it sparkle during a night tour bus excursion that starts at 5:30 PM is an absolutely wonderful experience. Even more so if you do it aboard a comfortable bus accompanied by a local guide who will show you a different side of the city.

With this tour, you will also have a guided walking tour of the city included. During the tour, you will see the most relevant points of interest and the most iconic places in New York, such as Times Square and Broadway, Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue, and the Brooklyn Bridge, among others.

Why I like this option: this is the most complete night tour if you want to enjoy a sightseeing bus ride as the sun goes down in a city that never sleeps.

Downtown - Red Route

The Red Route lasts two hours and operates between 8AM and 5PM. This guided tour of downtown New York City can begin at any of the 17 stops on this route. Sightseeing attractions on the Red Route are:

Uptown - Blue Route

The Blue Route operates between 9 AM and 5 PM. This guided tour of Uptown New York lasts 2 hours and can be started at any of its 10 stops. The tourist attractions that are part of the Blue Route are:

Brooklyn - Purple Route

The Purple Route is 1 hour long and runs at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM. This guided tour of Brooklyn can be started at any of the 4 stops that make up the route. Sightseeing attractions on the Purple Route are:

Harlem - Green Route

The Green Route operates at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM. This guided tour of Harlem lasts 1 hour and can be started at any of its 4 stops. The tourist attractions that are part of the Green Route are:

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:

If you're considering booking a sightseeing bus pass, you've realized that the sheer 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 have created this guide on 20 best New York City Neighborhoods so you can orient yourself 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 and Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour.