New York Bus Tour Discount Tickets & Tips for Visiting
New York is a city meant to be savored. Even if you did nothing but walk the streets for 365 days straight, you couldn’t experience all the sights, sounds and historic tales the Big Apple has to tell. Helping you see everything, plus navigate the ins and outs of the city’s most eclectic neighborhoods and go-to attractions, is the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, the highest rated hop-on hop-off bus tour in New York City. Visitors can disembark and rejoin the tour as often as they like with over 20 convenient stops, creating unending opportunities to experience specific locations in-depth and breeze through others. Check out our helpful guide for taking a New York Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, packed full of ways to save on admission, tips for visiting, other nearby attractions, and much more.
Looking for New York Bus Tour Discount Tickets?
We’ve got you covered – Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Classic Ticket is available with the below money-saving options, so you can choose the attraction pass that’s right for you: 1. Explorer Pass – Choose as you go. Includes admission to up to 10 attractions. 2. Build Your Own Pass – Select the attractions you want to visit prior to visiting. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more.
Tips for Enjoying the Day
- Your Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Classic Tour Ticket includes access to 2 routes: Downtown and Uptown. Familiarize yourself with the route maps to make the most of your day.
- Buses for the Downtown Route leave from Times Square from 8:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. daily. Buses for the Uptown Route leave from the Broadway Theater District at 8:40 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. daily.
- Each tour, not including hop-offs, takes around 1.5-2 hours to complete, depending on traffic.
- Both routes offer pre-recorded narration in 10 languages in addition to a live English-speaking tour guide on every bus.
- Every bus seat is located on the top deck for optimum views, which means being immersed in current weather conditions. A quick check of the forecast and dressing for it is a good idea.
- There is the option of sitting under a see-through glass dome in the front of the bus, but either way, visitors should gear up with sunscreen on sunny days. Rain ponchos are given to bus riders as needed.
- All guests are required to remain seated when the bus is moving and no seat belts are provided, so very little guests may be most comfortable sharing their seat with an adult.
- There’s a lot to see, so starting your day early is a very good idea, particularly if you are visiting during high peak tourist times, like Christmas or summer, when lines can get long at certain destinations.
- Exhibits like the Top of the Rock and Statue of Liberty get crowded fast, so make a point of getting to those as early as possible, to reserve your ticket times and map out the rest of your day.
How It Works
Powered by personality and in-depth knowledge, each bus is led by a tour guide, well-versed in New York’s nooks and crannies and able to tell a good story. Historical legends about Wall Street’s infamous beginnings, famous and infamous Revolutionary War heroes, music and fashion business moguls and the early immigrants who populated Manhattan are relayed with humor and combined with in-the-know tidbits of tantalizing, insider information. Every seat on the bus is a good one, providing bird’s eye views of larger-than-life locations from Times Square to Battery Park. Complimentary headsets are provided to all visitors, so you don’t have to worry about missing a thing. If you’re most comfortable listening and learning in your native tongue, no worries. In addition to the tour guide, recorded commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean and Russian.
What You Should Bring
- A camera with backup batteries is an absolute must. Many guests also enjoy bringing a selfie stick so they can get great shots of themselves with amazing New York City backdrops. Buses don't have electrical outlet access, so use your phone to take pictures sparingly.
- Many locations, such as the Statue of Liberty, require photo ID’s for admittance with no exceptions.
- You may want to save your dancing shoes for later that evening. Comfy walking shoes are your best bet.
- Gearing up with bottled water and light snacks to munch on, like protein bars, are a good idea but don’t overdo it! New York’s restaurant choices are unending, varied and astonishing. No matter your budget, you’re bound to find your heart’s (and taste bud's) desire.
Double Decker Bus Tour Stops Include
Times Square
- The Downtown Manhattan bus starts its journey from New York’s iconic Times Square, the home of the best New Year’s Eve party in the world and attractions like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
- Buses load in front of 777 8th Avenue, between 47th and 48th Streets every 20-to-25 minutes.
Empire State Building.
Empire State BuildingSouth Street Seaport
Steeped in maritime history and filled with some of New York’s finest (and most fun) shops and restaurants, the South Street Seaport boasts ongoing events and special exhibits, Seaport Studios and a vibrant atmosphere. Lovers of salt air and wide open water can transfer here for the Hop-on/Hop-off Ferry Tour.
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Ferry, and Battery Park
Visitors can enjoy views of the Statue from fun-filled, 25-acre Battery Park or ferry over to Liberty Island for a tour. An undeniable symbol of freedom and France’s most famous gift to the American people, the Statue of Liberty weighs 225 tons and stands at 305 feet. An event onto itself, Battery Park is filled with monuments honoring war heroes, famous immigrants and inventors. A kid-friendly destination, the Park also houses the whimsical Seaglass Carousel, Castle Clinton and the Labyrinth. Included in the Liberty Island Tour is nearby Ellis Island, the way station for immigrants coming to America from 1892 through 1924 and current home of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, recently reopened after Hurricane Sandy’s devastation. Here, visitors can explore their family’s history, by searching through passenger records in the interactive American Family Immigration History Center.
9/11 Tribute Center and Guided Tour
Dedicated to remembering and honoring those lost on one of history’s darkest days, the 9/11 Tribute Center Tour is led by survivors of the attack on the World Trade Center. Stories of courage, triumph, healing and resilience are told with knowledge and understanding. Visitors can also stop by the newly-built Freedom Tower, located nearby at One World Trade Center.
Other Hop-On/Hop-Off Destinations Include
- Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and the Top of the Rock
- Macy’s and Madison Square Garden
- Central Park
- Park Central Hotel
- Winter Garden Theater
- Waldorf Astoria Hotel
- City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge
- Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park
- United Nations
- Wall Street and the Financial District
- Chelsea
- Union Square
- Greenwich Village
- SoHo
- The Lower East Side, Little Italy and Chinatown
Places to Eat Nearby
New York is home to hundreds of amazing restaurants. Some downtown favorites include: Katz’s Delicatessen – Katz’s, the home of meat, made famous by legendary, overstuffed pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, took on even more notoriety after the release of the movie, “When Harry met Sally,” and the hilarious scene shot within its interior. Wo Hop – A haunt of NYU college students, this Chinatown institution is open 20 hours on most days and arguably serves the best pork congee in the city. Jane – A Greenwich Village favorite for lunch or brunch, a trip to Jane practically guarantees a celebrity sighting or two.
Save on Tickets with a New York City Explorer Pass
Remember, the New York City Explorer Pass® is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility, which includes Hop On Hop Off New York bus tours, plus admission to your choice of other top attractions. Save up to 50% on top museums, tours, and activities vs. paying at the gate. Visit multiple New York City attractions for one low price.