CitySightseing NYC vs. Big Bus New York

It can be tricky to know where to start when navigating New York, so why not get a great overview with one of these open-top bus sightseeing tours? This way, you can hop off wherever you'd like to explore at your convenience. Read on for our rundown on two main bus operators.

By Casey Makovich
Published: May 16, 2024
New York open top bus

What's the best Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in New York City? Depends on what you're looking for. There are several tour bus companies in NYC - we've compared the two most popular hop-on hop-off bus tours to highlight the differences and help you choose the one that's right for you.

We'll tell you about the major differences between Big Bus New York vs. City Sightseeing, so you can choose one that is right for your New York trip, depending on what you want to see and do - and a few other factors.

The basics and what's included with your ticket

Big Bus New York

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  • Ranked #1 on TripAdvisor! Big Bus consistently ranks highest for customer satisfaction.
  • Live narration: Big Bus is the only New York hop-on hop-off bus tour company with live, licensed tour guides on every bus who provide an interactive tour experience and point out all of the sights along the way, making sure you don't miss a thing.
  • Languages available: All buses offer pre-recorded commentary in 10 languages.
  • Trip-planning tools: All Big Bus hop-on hop-off tours come with access to a free mobile app that includes customizable maps, bus timetables, and information about the city's top sights.
  • Ticket duration: Bus tour tickets are valid for one calendar day unless activated after 3:00 pm, in which case they would be valid for a 24-hour period.
  • Tour routes: Big Bus tours feature 3 routes with their standard tickets (Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown) with the opportunity to add the Brooklyn Tour or Night Tour at highly discounted rates.
  • WiFi: Each bus features FREE WiFi onboard.
  • Hours of operation: Buses run from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm every day.

City Sightseeing Tickets:
 

  • Languages available: All buses offer pre-recorded commentary in 12 languages.
  • Ticket duration: Standard City Sightseeing tickets are valid for 48 hours.
  • Tour routes: Standard City Sightseeing tours feature 2 routes with their standard tickets (Uptown and Downtown).
  • Extras: Each ticket includes a free 90-minute night tour on the bus, access to a 4-stop hop-on hop-off ferry tour, and a ticket to your choice of either the NYC Museum or the New York Historic Society.
  • Hours of operation: Buses run from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm every day.

New York bus route comparison

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Big Bus:

A Big Bus New York ticket gets you access to 2 routes

  • Uptown: includes stops at Theater District, Columbus Circle, American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center Plaza, Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, The Frick Museum, and more.
  • Downtown: includes stops at Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Empire State Building, Flat Iron District, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall, Lower East Side, United Nations, Rockefeller Plaza, Central Park, Battery Park (where you can get a ferry to the Statue of Liberty), and more.

City Sightseeing:

A City Sightseeing ticket gets you access to 2 routes (+ a nighttime tour):

  • Uptown: includes stops at Hell's Kitchen, Theater District, Columbus Circle, American Museum of Natural History, Upper West Side, Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, and more.
  • Downtown: includes stops at Times Square, Empire State Building, Flat Iron District, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown/Little Italy, Battery Park, Lower East Side, Rockefeller Plaza, Central Park, and more.
  • Night Tour: the night tour is not a hop-on hop-off tour but a way to see the sights at night.

Let's recap our NYC bus tour comparison:

Bus tour of New York

Overview: Both New York City hop-on hop-off bus tours provide an easy and convenient way to get a feel for the city, see some of the top sights, and learn a bit about the city's important history and culture. You'll get a comprehensive overview of the city and get a feel for the city layout.

Both run on fairly frequent intervals, so hopping on or off is easy. 

Routes included: Big Bus includes a Midtown route, which covers Midtown Manhattan to the western side of the Manhattan peninsula, which City Sightseeing bus routes do not, while City Sightseeing bus routes include a route through Brooklyn, which Big Bus does not (though a Brooklyn route is available as an add-on at a significant discount for ticket holders).

Hours of operation: City Sightseeing standard tickets allow you to hop on and off for 48 hours while Big Bus standard tickets are 1 calendar day (unless you redeem your ticket after 3:00 pm, in which case it will be valid for 24 hours), but Big Bus' hours of operation are significantly longer than those of City Sightseeing's bus. 

Customer preference: Big Bus is the #1 ranked bus tour on both Viator and TripAdvisor. 

Ways to save on New York bus tour tickets: 

Both Big Bus and City Sightseeing New York bus tours are available attraction choices on New York sightseeing passes.

Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour tickets are available on:

City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour tickets are available on:

  • New York City Sightseeing Pass: an all-inclusive pass that includes tickets to the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour and admission to other local attractions.

See how you can save up to 50% on New York attractions

Discover our full line-up of New York attractions including The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and more.  

🤩 >> If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you.    

😎 >> If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option. 

Casey Makovich
Go City Travel Expert

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The Best Time to Visit The Empire State Building

One of the most frequently Instagrammed landmarks in the States – nay, on the entire planet – the Empire State Building is the skyscraping cinematic star of downtown Manhattan. The iconic tower has featured in Hollywood classics from King Kong to Sleepless in Seattle and its dizzying stature (all 443.2 meters of it, to be precise) means that wherever you’re staying in New York, it’s kind of hard to miss. All you need to do is look up! There are a number of ways you can visit: choose from self-guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and premium access-all-areas packages with champagne. We break down the various options below, with our expert guide to the best times to visit the Empire State Building. Opening hours The Empire State Building is open every single day, rain or shine, from morning until late, including all holidays. Pre-booking is essential and opening hours vary, so do check the Empire State Building website for the latest information before making your booking. With Go City, you get access to the 86th-floor observation deck with its uninterrupted 360-degree views of the Big Apple and is accepted for admission until 45 minutes before closing time. The number of NYC icons you can spot from up here is truly staggering. Tick off the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and more from this sky-high vantage point. Best time to visit the Empire State Building The Empire State Building is one of the most-visited attractions in the Big Apple. It’s rarely anything other than busy but you can avoid long waits and jockeying for position on the observation decks by visiting early in the morning or late in the evening. For families with young kids, the best time to visit the Empire State Building is in the mornings before around 11AM. Bonus: children aged five and under go free. Meanwhile, late evening visits (after 10PM) reward romantics with uncrowded platforms and splendid views of the illuminated Manhattan skyline. The busiest part of the day is between 11AM and 3PM, when the tourist hordes descend (or should that be ascend?) in their hundreds. Similarly, early evening tends to get busy as the offices empty out. Inevitably weekends (especially Saturdays) are when the Empire State Building is at its busiest. The popularity of the Empire State Building means booking is essential. We recommend reserving your slot as far ahead as possible to avoid disappointment. Getting to the Empire State Building The Empire State Building is located on 34th and Fifth, slap bang in the center of Midtown. It’s very hard to miss and you really shouldn’t need a map to locate it! There are stacks of ways to get there. Take the 123 or ACE line to Penn Station, from where it's just a five-minute walk. Or jump on the NQRW and BDFM lines for trains to Herald Square Station, also five minutes away. Grand Central Station, reachable via 7 and 456 lines, is around a 10-minute walk. Of course, if you want to do it New York style, you can also cruise right up to the entrance in a classic yellow taxi cab. Tickets You can pre-book your tickets direct on the Empire State Building website. Options available include access to both the 86th-floor outside observation deck, and the dizzy heights of the 102nd-floor platform, with its far-reaching views across the Big Apple and beyond to six neighboring states. You can also book sunrise and sunset slots or go the whole hog with a premium package that includes a guided 90-minute tour taking in the Art Deco lobby on 5th Avenue, the Celebrity Walk and more, as well as, naturally, full skip-the-line privileges. Save money with a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive pass for New York attractions, which includes entry to the 86th-floor observatory via the lightning-fast elevator as well as stacks of other top attractions in and around NYC. These include the Top of The Rock Observatory, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the Guggenheim and the Statue of Liberty. Where to eat There is a selection of eateries on the Empire State Building’s ground floor. Head to the State Grill & Bar for New York classics like strip steaks, burgers and caesar salads. Tacombi is the place for Mexican margaritas and tacos and a number of other outlets widen the choice to specialty salads, sushi and burritos. Of course, here in the heart of Midtown Manhattan it’s unlikely you’ll go short of places to eat and there are dozens of top bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Splash out on afternoon tea at the 5-star Peninsula hotel or hit the Grand Central Oyster Bar for buttery scallops and classic Oysters Rockefeller. In brief... We recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the evening on weekdays to avoid the crowds and enjoy amazing sunrise views or see the best of the famous New York City lights after dark. Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance and get ready to experience some of the best views in the Big Apple! Choose Go City to make great savings when visiting this and other popular New York City attractions! Useful links Buy tickets online Get the Go City attraction pass for New York Visit the Empire State Building with Go City Official Empire State Building website
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