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Hop-on Hop-off Uptown Tour (Red Line)

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The Hop-on Hop-off Uptown Tour (Red Line) is a great way to see the best of New York City. The tour takes you past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge. You can hop on and off the bus at any of the major stops along the route, so you can explore the city at your own pace. The tour also includes an audio commentary that provides interesting facts and information about the city.

Sight and Connection include:

• The Lion King Theater District
• New Year’s Eve Ball
• American Museum of Natural History
• The Museums of The City of New York
• Lincoln Center for Performing Arts
• The Guggenheim Museum
• El Museo de Barrio
• The Metropolitan Museum of Arts
• Central Park Zoo
• Columbus Circle
• Bloomingdale Outlet
• Carnegie Hall
• Central Park
• Museum of Modern Arts
• Apple Store 5th Avenue
• Fifth Avenue Luxury Shopping Destinations
• The Frick Collection
• Nueve Gallaria New York

It’s a fun, easy, and affordable way to explore the city.

Here are some tips for making the most of your tour:

• Purchase your tickets online in advance to save time.
• Wear comfortable shoes so you can walk around and explore the city.
• Bring sunscreen and a hat if you’re visiting during the summer.
• Bring a camera to capture all of your memories.
• Be prepared to hop on and off the bus at any time to explore the city at your own pace.

The tour takes you past some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

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• Included Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Downtown
• Hop-On Hop-Off Uptown
• Statue of Liberty Cruise
• Central Park Bike Rental
• Brooklyn Tour (Open Top Bus)
• Museum of the City of New York
• Skyscraper Museum
• Night Tour with Entertaining Host
• Harry Potter Store - Free Tankard of Butterbeer
• Extra Features
• Mobile boarding
• Movies & Celebrities audio channel

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Our tours are created by a team of local experts who know NYC inside out. We’ve got New York City covered: Downtown, Uptown, as well as The Night Tour–If it’s worth seeing–our hop-on hop-off NYC bus tours go there!

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New York Bus City Tours and Manhattan Sightseeing Guided by Local Experts

TopView ® offers the best New York sightseeing bus tours led by local experts so you won't miss the most important attractions. On our NYC bus tours, hop on, hop off, and take time to enjoy all of the different places to visit in New York City. We have dozens of hop-on hop-off bus tour stops near all major points of interest. Our New York sightseeing bus will take you by all of the biggest NYC attractions!

5 Best Routes for Open-Top Sightseeing Bus Tours in NYC

We have five New York tours that allow you to experience the best of New York City, including two hop-on hop-off NYC bus tours, Downtown and Uptown, along with Brooklyn, and an exciting Night Tour route! While enjoying our NYC bus tours, hop on or hop off to take part in the excitement, explore the sights, and make the most of your visit. We'll make sure you hit every stop on your list of NYC attractions to see and give you plenty of Instagram-worthy views from atop our NYC sightseeing bus!

What Is There to Do in New York? Top Manhattan Attractions

Our hop-on hop-off NYC tours can take you to the top of Manhattan and back again, stopping at some of the most famous sites in New York City, NY. Here are a few examples of city locations you can see on an NYC sightseeing bus around Manhattan:

• Rockefeller Center
• Times Square
• Empire State Building
• Flatiron Building
• Union Square
• Washington Square Park
• Battery Park
• Garment District

Our New York tours and sightseeing packages include multi-day passes and 24-hour passes as well as individual hop-on hop-off and nonstop double-decker tours. We offer plenty of choices so you can customize your New York City tours any way you want, and our flexible ticketing means that you can buy your tickets online now without having to plan a set schedule: Once you book your tour or package, you'll have twelve months to exchange your online booking confirmation for a boarding ticket. And our buses run seven days a week, 365 days a year, in any kind of weather, so no matter when you choose to visit New York City, we can help you make the most of your trip. Whether you want a day trip or simply to see the city sights at nighttime, you will find a TopView ® sightseeing pass that fits your needs.

Rain or Shine Manhattan Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tours

Learn more about the history, culture, and architecture of this one-of-a-kind city with our audio narration. Our big bus tour is available in 11 languages, with free earphones provided. And this isn't the only perk we offer! Our New York tours also provide free ponchos for rainy days.

Two Million and Counting Passengers on the Best Sightseeing Double-Decker Bus Tour in NYC

No matter your travel style, an adventure with TopView Sightseeing ® will add convenience and comfort to your trip. More than two million people have already discovered why TopView ® is the best choice for Big Apple sightseeing. For the best NYC bus tours at the best prices, book with us today!

Bike Rentals and Other Popular New York City Attractions

When you book our New York City tours as part of a complete All City package, we also include a 2-hour extension to any bike rental purchase, so you can cruise Central Park the way it was meant to be enjoyed, as well as free admission to the Museum of the City of New York . You can also enjoy a Liberty Cruise of New York Harbor and get close-up views of the Statue of Liberty. You know you want a selfie with Lady Liberty!

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hop-on hop-off Tours

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Big Bus: 1/2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of New York City

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Plan a hassle-free itinerary without worrying about traveling in New York City with this unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour.
• Get access to 2 routes with over 18 stops near the most iconic attractions in the Big Apple with buses every 10 to 15 mins.
• Get to know about the city’s history and landmarks on this open-top bus, through the multilingual commentary available onboard.
• Upgrade to include an exclusive bike rental offer by Unlimited Biking, NYC's premier cycle hire company. Rent 1 hour, get 1 free! Or, save $5 per person on bike or Segway tours.
• Some popular stops include Times Square, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and SoHo.
• 1/2-day unlimited hop-on hop-off pass
• Pre-recorded commentary in 6 languages
• Access to Downtown Loop
• Free mobile app to navigate and view stops
• Access to Uptown Loop (optional)
• Bike rental offer (optional)
• Admission to all the attractions

Downtown Loop (Red Route)

• First bus: 9am from stop #1 (M&M’s World)
• Last bus: 5pm from stop #1 (M&M’s World)
• Frequency: Every 10 to 15 mins
• Popular Stops: Brooklyn Bridge, SoHo, Times Square (East), Empire State Building & Chinatown/ Little Italy

Uptown Loop (Blue Route)

• First bus: 10am from stop #13 (Hope Sculpture)
• Last bus: 4pm from stop #13 (Hope Sculpture)
• Frequency: Every 60 mins
• Popular Stops: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park Zoo, Columbus Circle

Please click here for the detailed route map and boarding points.

• Tip: While out and about in New York City, resort to using Citymapper for the subway, which can be quite helpful.
• Facilities: Wheelchair accessibility, Pre-recorded commentary
• The pre-recorded commentary is available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Portuguese.
• The tour duration varies depending on your selected route.

Big Bus: 2-Hour Night Tour of New York

• Enjoy a captivating 2-hour night tour of the Big Apple, showcasing the radiant cityscape with unobstructed views from an open-top bus.
• Get a unique blend of entertainment and education with an expert English-speaking guide who brings the city's history to life through narration.
• Benefit from the free Big Bus Tours app, an efficient pocket companion that offers live bus arrival times, detailed maps, intriguing facts, and more.
• See the city's iconic sights like the Empire State Building in its full nighttime glory and Times Square, lit up with billboards and screens.
• 2-hour Big Bus night tour
• Live English-speaking guide
• Free mobile app
• Departure: 7pm every evening
• Departure point: Stop #1 M&Ms World @ 7th Ave. and West 48th St
• Note: The tour concludes back at Stop #1.
• Tip: Dress in layers since New York's weather can be unpredictable, and it can get a bit chilly on the open-top bus at night.
• This experience is wheelchair accessible.
• Luggage is not permitted on board.

New York Explorer Pass by Go City: Choose 2 to 10 Attractions

• Free cancellation anytime before the start of your experience
• Grab the Go City New York Explorer Pass that gives you access to the top attractions in the city and save up to 50%.
• With this pass, save the hassle of buying individual tickets to the Empire State Building, the Edge Observation Deck, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
• The Top of the Rock Observatory, One World Observatory, Statue Of Liberty, Ellis Island Ferry, and the American Museum of Natural History are just some of the attractions included in your pass.
• Choose between a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10-choice pass and tailor your itinerary to visit the attractions of your choice.
• What's more? Valid for 60 days, this mobile pass is all you need to explore New York with maximized convenience.
• Choice of 2/3/4/5/6/7/10 of New York's top attractions
• Valid for 60 days from the first use
• Museums: 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum & more
• Attractions: Empire State Building, Edge, LEGOLAND® Discovery Center New Jersey & more
• Cruises: Harbor Lights Cruise, Statue at Sunset Cruise, Liberty Cruise & more
• Guided tours: Lower East Side Food and Culture Walking Tour, Rockefeller Center Tour, Brooklyn Bridge Guided Bike Tour & more
• Access to hop-on hop-off bus tours
• Activities: Central Park Bike Tour, Harlem Jazz Series & more
• Get complete details here
• Certain attractions require prior bookings. For full details check out official websites.
• You can only visit each attraction once with this pass.
• First, download the Go City App. Use your order confirmation number to add your pass to your phone. Once you visit your first attraction, your pass will be activated!
• Feeling old school? You can also print your pass at home using the link in your confirmation email. You can also show this version of your pass on your phone.
• Get access to pre-recorded commentary, suggested itineraries, a handy map, and more, available at your fingertips!
• Your pass is activated as soon as you visit your 1st attraction and is valid for 60 days before it runs out. The days needn't be consecutive.
• Non-validated passes are valid for 2 years from the date of purchase.
• These tickets are valid for 24 months from the date of purchase.

New York Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours

New York City is a bustling metropolis located in the northeastern United States. It is home to iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Times Square, and is known for its diverse population, world-class museums, and vibrant arts and culture scene.

But getting around this large city can be a bit daunting for a new visitor. With New York’s Hop On Hop Off Buses , you can get to explore all the top spots in the city. And, with this convenient mode of transport, all you need is one ticket!

Read on to learn more about New York hop-on hop-off bus tours.

Why Choose New York Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours?

• Visit Iconic Landmarks: See all of the city’s top attractions from the open-top buses that are ideal for sightseeing.
• Easy and Convenient: Explore the best of the city without worrying about your commute with just one ticket.
• Save Money: Hop-on hop-off bus tours will help you save money as you won’t have to spend on local transport fares to get from one spot to the other.
• Complimentary Add-Ons: Get bike rentals from Unlimited Biking (BOGO), and more with your tickets.
• Pre-Recorded Commentary: There are audio guides in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and German to give you information on all the attractions you will visit.

For more information on the special features and inclusion, please check your tickets.

New York Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour Timetable

• Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM
• Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes
• Timings: 10 AM to 4 PM
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes

New York Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour Route

New York Hop On Hop Off Visitor Tips and Guidelines

• Know What Your Ticket Includes:  Most hop-on hop-off bus tour operators have multiple ticket options. Some may not include all the routes on the tour, while others may even offer additional perks like a boat ride or a walking tour. 
• Plan Your Route:  Find out the routes that your hop-on hop-off bus will take (all tour operators offer a map of their routes), so you can decide which stops you would like to get off at beforehand. It is also important to know which major attractions are near the stops. 
• Schedule Your Stops:  If you want to tour any of the attractions near the bus stops, make sure you know how long the tour will be, and when the next hop-on hop-off bus will stop. 
• Buy Attraction Tickets: Many attractions require entry tickets, be sure to purchase these in advance online to avoid standing and waiting in long queues.
• Peak Hours:  If you can you the time and day of your bus tour, find out what the rush hours are in New York during your visit, so you can avoid getting stuck in traffic. 
• Try to Take the Tour Twice:  If you have time, consider first making a full loop on the bus without getting on or off the bus. It may seem like this defeats the purpose of a “hop-on hop-off” tour, but this way you can get an overview of New York with a good seat and view for the entire trip.

Frequently Asked Questions About New York Hop On Hop Off

A. Yes, New York has a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

A. You can buy New York hop-on hop-off tickets online.

A. Yes, you can avail New York hop-on hop-off tickets online.

A. Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour ticket prices start from €23.

A. Hop-on hop-off buses in New York allow you to get on and leave the bus at any of the designated stops to see the major city landmarks whenever you want.

A. New York hop-on hop-off buses run between 10 AM to 6 PM and arrive at a frequency of 15 minutes.

A. Yes, there are audio guides available for adults in 5 languages on the New York hop-on hop-off bus tours, including English, Spanish, Italian, French & German.

A. Yes, New York’s hop-on hop-off bus tours are accessible to wheelchair users.

5 Best Bus Tours in New York City

The energy of New York City is found in its streets. One of the best ways to experience this vitality, and cover serious ground at the same time, is with a bus tour, rolling between Manhattan neighborhoods, one beautiful block at a time.

From a themed tour (like the Sex and the City Hotspots tour) to hop-on, hop-off options that offer direct transportation to the top landmarks in the city, here are the five best bus tours that NYC has to offer.

Big Bus New York

The Big Bus is easy to spot: bright red, open top, and double-decker. This classic bus tour provides a thorough introduction to Manhattan, with two routes, the downtown red loop, and the uptown blue route – and hop-on, hop-off service for stopping at top landmarks along the way. Take a seat in the open-air top deck and instead of traveling by subway (where you see nothing as you move between neighborhoods), you will see New York’s famous street life as the bus travels between the Financial District, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and Chelsea . The most popular stops on the downtown route include the 9/11 Memorial and the High Line, while popular stops on the uptown loop include 5th Avenue shopping and Harlem ’s Apollo Theater. For some fresh air, stop in the 843-acre Central Park and go for a stroll.

Climb aboard The Ride – and the bus becomes the theater while the New York City streets are the stage. Instead of seats facing forward with the flow of traffic, seats aboard The Ride are turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, stadium-seating style. This 75-minute tour combines sightseeing (including landmarks like the Chrysler Building and Carnegie Hall) with live entertainment (both from onboard guides providing fun facts and screening movie clips, and on-the-street performers including break dancers and improv comedians). The busy Manhattan streets provide additional entertainment and the bus is equipped with 40 TV screens, tons of LED lights, and a club-quality sound system to keep the atmosphere festive. Kids age 6 and up are welcome to join.

Gray Line CitySightseeing Holiday Lights Tour

Witnessing New York City by night is an essential experience when visiting Manhattan. The streets always have certain electricity, but by night, the thoroughfares, landmarks, and bridges are lit up in spectacular fashion. There’s no better way to see it than from the open-air top deck of a double-decker bus. This after-dark excursion takes between two and three hours to complete and includes the chance to see famous attractions including Rockefeller Center (and its famous sparkling Christmas tree ), the bright lights of Radio City Music Hall , the department store holiday windows along 5th Avenue and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. From Times Square to Central Park, this tour showcases the best of New York’s famous holiday lights .

Open Loop New York

Take advantage of technology to know exactly when your bus is coming, with the “Where’s My Bus?” web page from Open Loop . This bus tour, with an uptown route and a downtown route, offers a double-decker experience complete with an audio guide available in multiple languages (including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and more). Tickets are available for one, three, or five days of unlimited use, offering convenient transportation to attractions across Manhattan including the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Times Square, and the High Line. Hop-on, hop-off stops are also available in favorite downtown neighborhoods, including the West Village and the East Village. When you’re done with exploring, use your phone to confirm where and when to hop on the next bus.

Sex and the City Hotspots Tour

Strut the same streets as Carrie and shop in the same stores as Samantha during this 3.5-hour bus trip from On Location Tours complete with Sex and the City trivia, cocktails, and New York City sightseeing. The tour begins in front of the iconic Plaza hotel and continues throughout neighborhoods featured in the popular HBO series including the Meatpacking District , the West Village , and SoHo . The tour includes a glimpse of Carrie’s gorgeous brownstone (which is actually in the West Village and not the Upper West Side, where it is supposed to be located in the show) and stops include an adults-only sultry boutique and a cupcake bakery favored by Carrie. The tour wraps up with a drink at the bar that stood in for Steve and Aidan’s bar in the series. 

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Hop On Hop Off in NYC

The efficient way to see the city.

Taking a taxi or the subway around the city to get every attraction you want to visit, is not only expensive but you don’t end up seeing much of New York City itself. Hop-on Hop-off bus tours are great for exactly this reason, you can jump on or off whenever you want to. This way you discover the city from a completely new perspective while getting where you want to go. 

You'll also love this:

• The 3 Absolute Best Night Bus Tours in NYC
• Fun Things to Do in New York at Night

Table of Contents

Hop-on Hop-off Providers and Routes

There are four different operators of Hop-on Hop-off tours in New York. The two most popular providers are TopView Sightseeing (operate the red&white buses) and Big Bus (which use the dark red buses). These two providers have the largest fleet of buses and drive the routes at regular intervals. While these two operators do have slightly more busses meaning that you won’t have to wait as long at the stops, all of the hop on hop off bus tours on offer drive similar routes along with the same attractions.

IMPORTANT: Even though the hop on hop off buses pass most major attractions along their routes, they are not suited for regular transportation within the city. For simply getting from A to B, the subway is a much better choice.

Hop-on Hop off Buses are great if you want to see a lot in little time

Overview of all Hop-on-Hop-off Loops

Both of the operators of the Hop-on-Hop-off tours are fairly comparable, the only difference being the higher popularity of the Big Bus tours. All hop-on-hop-off tours providers offer the same loops: Downtown, Uptown, Brooklyn, and the evening/night tour.

• Downtown Loop (2 hours)

The most popular tour is the Downtown loop. This tour includes sights such as Times Square, Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building, SoHo , Battery Park, Radio City Music Hall, Little Italy, Wall Street, the Financial District, Lower East Side, the United Nations Building, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall and many more.

• Uptown Loop (2 hours)

The Uptown loop takes you to the north of Manhattan. You will cross famous 5th Avenue, drive along Central Park in the direction of Harlem , and will see many other attractions on this tour including Lincoln Center, American Museum of Natural History, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Grant’s Tomb, Apollo Theater, Harlem Market, The Museum Mile, the Guggenheim, and the Metropolitan Museum.

You can check out the Uptown and Downtown loops plotted on the map below. This way you can check what attractions along the way you want to see along with where you might want to stop to explore.

• Brooklyn Loop (2 hours)

The third option is the Brooklyn Loop. On this route, you will see the best spots of this beloved borough, for example, the Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Antique Furniture District, Fulton Mall, the Brooklyn Museum, and many others. The new departure point for the tour is Old Fulton Street by Prospect Street in Brooklyn. It no longer connects to any loops in Manhattan.

• Night Tour (2.5 hours)

The fourth tour is the Evening/Night Tour. This hop-on-hop-off bus tour through NYC is also very popular because seeing New York at twilight and at night is truly something special. You will drive by all relevant attractions: you will have a chance to see Times Square and its nighttime glow, the Empire State Building, Central Park,  Greenwich Village , SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy.

• Harlem Tour (1.5 hours)

You can also take the Harlem/Bronx Tour. This tour will take you way up to the northern part of New York City and covers such great sights as the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market, Sylvia’s & Red Rooster Lenox Lounge, the Harlem neighborhoods, and the Yankee Stadium.

Tickets for Hop-on Hop-off in NYC

Before purchasing your hop-on-hop-off tickets, you should first find out whether your sightseeing pass already includes tickets. Here’s an overview of what sightseeing pass includes what loops, for how long and by which provider:

Compare Passes

Should you not want to make use of a sightseeing pass, you can find all ticket options by the two major providers, Big Bus and TopView Sightseeing. Note that all tours are offered in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese!

1. Big Bus Ticket Options

• Classic (1 day) : Uptown, Downtown
• Premium (2 days) : Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Harlem, Night Tour
• Deluxe (2 days) : Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Harlem, Night Tour, Sightseeing Cruise, Empire State Building Admission

2. TopView Ticket Options

• 1 Day: Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Night Tour, Cruise
• 2 Days: Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Night Tour, Cruise
• 3 Days: Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Night Tour, Cruise
• New York Sightseeing Ferry: Hop-on Hop-off ferry
• Night Tour only: Hop-on Hop-off bus tour at night

You can even add attractions to those ticket options!

Bus tickets with attractions

Where can I get a good deal on hop-on-hop-off bus tickets?

It is best to buy tickets online . They are cheaper if you buy them online in comparison to at the ticket counter (this is due to the fact that if you buy in advance, the operator can plan ahead). Buying tickets online is secure and fast. First, you choose the date you want to take a tour, and how many people will be on the tour. Then you choose which route you would like to book. You will be sent a voucher that you can redeem at any of the bus stops to hop on the bus!

The Absolute Best Night Bus Tours in NYC

Fun Things To Do in New York At Night

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

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The 5 Best NYC Bus Tours for 2024

Let a trained driver worry about the traffic while you enjoy the Big Apple's best sights.

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As one of the largest cities in the world, New York City has so much to see and do. That's why many visitors start their trip off with a bus tour to see iconic sights and neighborhoods and get the lay of the land. To help you find the tour that's best for you, U.S. News reviewed traveler sentiment and expert input to determine the top New York bus tours. Read our suggestions below for some of the best bus tours you can book for your next trip to the City That Never Sleeps.

Big Bus Tours

Price: Adults from $80; kids from $70 Duration: 75 to 90 minutes

Big Bus New York offers a hop-on, hop-off tour that features 18 stops at major attractions like Bryant Park, Broadway and St. Patrick's Cathedral, with prerecorded commentary provided along the way. Double-decker buses frequent stops every 20 minutes on the Red Line (which runs through downtown) and every 30 minutes on uptown's Blue Line. The Essential Ticket, which is valid for one day, grants you access to the 90-minute downtown and 75-minute uptown routes and lets you add on extras like tickets for Madame Tussauds, the Empire State Building or a harbor cruise. Big Bus New York is a hit with travelers who appreciate the ability to tailor tours to their interests. Others bemoaned the overcrowded buses and long wait times.

You can also book a Discover Ticket, which explores famous landmarks downtown, or an Explore Ticket, which is a two-day hop-on, hop-off bus tour experience. Big Bus Tours also operates a seasonal night tour.

Check prices & availability on:

A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours – The Original Brooklyn Pizza Tour

Price: Adults from $105; kids from $95 Duration: 4.5 hours

Brooklyn has so much to see and do – and eat! The Original Brooklyn Pizza Tour, which reviewers describe as a great experience with even better pizza, lasts 4.5 hours and takes travelers throughout the borough to sample delicious slices from places like Grimaldi's and L&B Spumoni Gardens. You'll also see filming locations for movies like "Saturday Night Fever" and "Goodfellas."

Ticket prices include lunch. Tours are available Friday through Monday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. A Slice of Brooklyn also leads a seasonal tour exploring Dyker Heights' Christmas lights , among other options.

On Location Tours – "Sex and the City" Hotspots Tour

Price: From $66 Duration: 3.5 hours

Fans of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda can relive all their favorite "Sex and the City" moments during this New York bus tour, which features more than 40 popular locations from the show and movies. During the tour, you'll view iconic filming locations, walk past Carrie Bradshaw's brownstone apartment, sample cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, drink a cosmopolitan (if you wish) and shop in Greenwich Village. Plus, you'll visit stops from the reboot "And Just Like That," including Bergdorf Goodman and Chelsea Market. Reviewers peg this tour as fun and fabulous.

Tourgoers can pay another $10 for priority seating. Participants must be 18 or older. Tours generally depart Thursday to Sunday at 2 p.m., though additional days may be available during the summer months. On Location Tours operates other filming locations tours for shows and movies, including "Gossip Girl," "The Sopranos" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," among others.

USA Guided Tours – Discover NY Tour

Price: Adults from $99; kids from $89 Duration: 6 hours

On this full-day tour, you'll drive through some of the city's most famous neighborhoods and most-visited areas. You'll have your choice of a traditional bus or a bus with either a glass top or a convertible top. Regardless of the vehicle, enjoy the expert commentary and a history lesson from your tour guide as you cruise past Times Square, Madison Square Park, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and more. A 15-minute stroll through each of the main stops is included, as is a boat cruise that takes you to see the famous NYC skyline. Many travelers call this tour fantastic and a must-do in New York.

Tours depart at 9 and 10 a.m. daily. USA Guided Tours also offers a night tour of the Big Apple.

Hush Hip Hop Tours – Birthplace of Hip Hop

Price: Adults from $79.99; kids from $58 Duration: 3 hours

Travelers routinely praise the Birthplace of Hip Hop tour not only for its cultural lessons about Harlem, but also for the informative guides who explain the history of hip-hop music. During this tour, you'll see famous clubs, murals dedicated to artists and the Apollo Theater. Plus, you'll get to observe a dance session and show off your moves.

Outings run Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Hush Hip Hop Tours also operates walking tours of Harlem and Brooklyn, among others.

Check prices & availability on:  

Interested in more New York City tours? Check out the:

• Best New York City Tours
• Best New York City Food Tours
• Best Statue of Liberty Tours
• Best New York City Boat Tours
• Best New York City Walking Tours

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , New York City , New York Vacations , Mid-Atlantic Vacations , US Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

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Red Eye Bus Tour to New York City: My Experience and What You Need to Know

My sister had been mentioning a bus tour to New York City for over a year. She had heard about a local person that put tour bus trips together around the holidays and one of those trips was to New York City. Finally, in 2019, I gave in and booked a trip for both me and my sister.

Now that we’ve taken a red eye bus tour to New York City, I want to share my experience and what I feel that you need to know if you decide to book your own bus trip there.

This blog post may contain affiliate links (meaning I will get a small commission if you buy through my link). You won’t pay any more if you use this link and this will help me to keep the rest of my content free! Read the full Disclosure  here .

First off, let me be honest with you . I didn’t really want to go to New York City. I wasn’t excited about the trip at all really, not until basically the night we left.

My sister and I drove to the location where the tour bus would be parked. As we pulled into the parking lot, a giant bus was parked right in the middle of the lot just waiting to carry us off into the night. My sister and I loaded onto a cramped tour bus with all the other people going on the trip. We all had a few of our belongings in hand. If you want to know what I took with me on this red eye bus trip, I’ve made a list! 

Here’s a list of some of the items I brought with me for this NYC bus tour trip:

• This travel pillow was what helped me get a bit rest on the bus ride! I’m so happy I brought it with me.
• I carried a  Small, black Vera Bradley Backpack  (it ended up working out great for a day pack in NYC!)
• My “Friends” Sweatshirt that is so comfy! It was perfect to wear on the bus ride.  This one  is very similar to mine.
• These are the Duck Boots I wore  and honestly, even after walking 11+ miles, my feet didn’t hurt too bad in them!
• This is the beanie  I wore all day long. It kept my head warm and was cute at the same time!
• I carried a small water bottle with me as well. Mine is similar to  these . The size is great for easily carrying in a small pack all day.
• I wanted a little protection as well so  I carried pepper spray  too.
• This portable phone charger was a lifesaver!  I have an older iPhone and I had to charge it about 4 times. I got a good 3 charges out it before having to use my sisters.

Now, that you know what I brought with me for this red eye bus trip, I want to share what the bus ride to New York City was really like.

The Bus Ride to New York City

It. Was. Awful.

Okay, so I’m being a little dramatic but the bus ride did suck. There were over 50 people (mostly women) on the bus and we all had a few things that we had packed for the trip. We were crammed in the bus. Finally, after packing some of our things into the overhead compartments, we all settled down and was ready to head to New York City.

The lady over the bus trip had put together an itinerary of our trip, which was a nice bit of information to have handy. After handing out the itinerary and making sure everyone was onboard, we were off to New York!

I Had a Plan

Now, this bus trip is a red eye trip, meaning that we were riding throughout the night to our destination. So, me being the organized and prepared person that I try to be, had a plan. Since I knew our bus wouldn’t leave until around 10pm that night, I decided that I would wake up early on the day we were to depart. I would go all day so that by the time I sat down on the bus, I would be ready to sleep through the night.

Oh, how my plan didn’t work.

You see, I don’t remember the last time I tried to sleep on a bus but it’s not easy. I did make sure I brought a travel pillow , you know, the ones that are u-shaped and support your neck and make you look funny. Well, that is one item that definitely helped me rest on the bus. Notice I said “rest”, not sleep. No, I didn’t sleep a bit. For the nine plus hours that we rode on the bus to New York City, I didn’t sleep AT ALL . And I don’t think anyone else did either.

An Important Stop

I’m not sure if it was the excitement of going somewhere new and fun or that, for most people, it’s hard to sleep sitting up. Whatever the reason, I know that we were all running on empty. We did stop at a few gas stations along the way and we ate a Cracker Barrel in New Jersey at 5:30am that morning so that helped to keep us going.

After we ate our breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, everyone had the same idea: refresh and change for New York City!

Now, I’ll mention again, most of the people on this bus trip were women and we all wanted to look nice for our day in the city. So, when I walked into that Cracker Barrel restroom, I saw hair and clothes flying. There were women crowded in front of the mirror freshening up their makeup and brushing their hair all in this tiny area. I quickly made my way to a bathroom stall, changed, and bolted out the door. I wanted to do my makeup but there was no way I was fighting for a spot in front of the bathroom mirror. Instead, my sister and I got a little creative.

We found a mirror in the gift shopping area of the Cracker Barrel and whipped out our makeup and hair brushes and got ready there! In about five minutes, our hair and face were done and we were ready to hop back on the bus and get to New York City.

So, my advice to you, if you do a red eye bus tour, is to wear comfy clothes on the bus and then change during one of the stops that I’m sure the bus will make along the way. I’m glad I did this because I did not want to try to sleep in jeans or wear the same clothing for 36 hours. Do your hair and makeup at one of the stops as well. It’s simply too cramped on the bus to do much besides sit there.

I Finally Made it to New York City!

After a few more hours on the bus, the sun rose and we were approaching New York City!

By the time we made it to New York City however, I had been up for 24 hours . There was no way I could keep going. I just knew I would be too tired to really do much in the city.

I was wrong.

New York City has an energy about it that just keeps you going and I believe that’s what kept my sister and I going all day long. And wow, did we go!

Must See All The Things!

When you step off the bus, you’re on your own , at least, that’s how it worked for this bus trip. My sister and I decided to get with a small group of ladies though, when we left the bus. One of the ladies in the group had been to New York City before and we felt safer going with someone who know where and how to go.

With the group, I rode the subway…for the first time ever! That was how we went to see the 9/11 Memorial. Then, we all went to Chinatown and to Little Italy. We then rode the subway back to Times Square.

Although we had fun with the group of ladies that we were with, my sister and I eventually felt comfortable enough to go on our own. So, once we were back and to Times Square, my sister and I decided to separate from the group and do our own thing.

We didn’t want to do a lot of shopping because we didn’t want to spend a lot of money or carry a lot of things around all day. I mean, of course, I had to buy an “I Love NYC” t-shirt and a souvenir mug but that was basically it. Instead we just saw as much of New York City as possible in 12 hours!

After experiencing Times Square, we made our way to Central Park.

We then walked some more and ended up getting to look around at Tiffany and Co., went into Trump Towers, and saw the Empire State Building.

We also looked around inside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. My sister and I even went to Grand Central Station, explored Rockefeller Center, and more! 

All in just in one day!

Time to Go Home

Finally, it was time to meet back at the location where the bus would be picking us up that night. Slowly, those who had went their own ways or with other small groups all gathered together to wait on the bus. The driver eventually showed up (late) and we all quickly piled into the bus and were headed back to Virginia. We made a few more stops this time and I was able to change back into some comfy clothes for the bus ride home.

By the time I made it back onto the bus to go home, I had been up for about 40 hours! Finally, for the first time since Thursday night (it was Saturday night/early Sunday morning), I slept. It was on the bus, but I slept, at least for a few hours. 

Thoughts About New York City

This one bus trip changed my mind about New York City.

I had never really cared if I went to New York City. And even after booking the red eye bus tour there, I still wasn’t that thrilled about the thought of being in New York City. The people were going to be rude. I just knew it. I thought I would be overwhelmed by the tall buildings, people everywhere, and all of the traffic. How could a small-town girl that had never been in a huge city like New York ever feel comfortable there? 

Sometimes that picture you’ve created in your mind is inaccurate. And sometimes what you keep telling yourself isn’t true. Before you can really understand a place, you have to experience it firsthand. And I’m so glad I experienced New York City, despite the pictures I had painted in my head of it and what I thought the people would be like.

New York City is full of chaos, it’s true. However, I quickly learned to just embrace that chaotic lifestyle the day I visited and I actually enjoyed it. Oddly enough, I also quickly learned to go with the flow, literally. You have to go with flow of the people or you get run over!

Jokes aside, I was too quick to judge New York and the people who call it home.

The people who live there were nice to us. They helped us when we were lost or didn’t know what to do. I mean, we were tourists in their city and definitely stuck out but the locals knew that and were willing to help us out anyways. Quick shout out to the random girl in the subway and to Angel, from Brooklyn, for helping me with my metro card and for helping us navigate the New York City subway system!

Aside from them helping us, we also danced with New Yorkers on the street and bought food from the locals and they were all friendly to us. So, I was too quick to judge New York City and its people and now I know the truth.

What started out as a trip I wasn’t thrilled about ended up being one of the most memorable and favorite trips of my life. And now I want to go back to New York City so badly!

Now that you’ve read about my experience with a red eye tour bus trip to New York City, I hope you’ve learned a few things from it. However, I want to give you a few last tips for your red eye bus trip in case you want to know more.

A Few More Tips:

• Check out the items on my list above to see what to bring with you
• Wear comfy clothes on the bus
• Bring extra clothes for the actual day
• Don’t pack too much. It’s just one day!
• Fix your hair and makeup during one of the buses stops
• Don’t shop a lot unless you don’t mind carrying bags all day
• It can be hard to find a restroom while in New York City. There’s one at the Old Navy in Times Square! Go to the back of the second floor and they’ll let you in.
• There is also benches and large windows in that Old Navy so you can rest and people watch at the same time.
• Rest when you need to.
• There’s a light show on the building at Sak’s Fifth Avenue at night during the holiday season. Don’t miss it!
• Be smart and keep up with your money while in the city.
• Don’t be afraid to ask a local for help. The New Yorkers we came into contact with, were friendly!

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2 Comments on Red Eye Bus Tour to New York City: My Experience and What You Need to Know

In December what is the schedule from Zanesville to New York City?

This was a private tour out of Virginia. I’m not sure of other bus tour schedules, but I’m sure there is one near you. If you end up going, have a wonderful time!

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