While you take in the top sites in New York City, let a qualified driver worry about the traffic.
New York City, one of the biggest cities in the world, offers a wealth of attractions. Because of this, many tourists begin their vacation with a bus tour to view the city’s famous landmarks and neighborhoods and gain a sense of the terrain. The best New York bus tours were chosen by U.S. News after considering expert advice and traveler reviews to help you pick the trip that’s right for you. For some of the top bus trips that you may reserve for your upcoming visit to the City That Never Sleeps, see our recommendations listed below.
A large bus tour
Adults start at $60; children start at $50.
Approximately 75 to 90 minutes
With 14 stops at popular destinations including Bryant Park, Broadway, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Big Bus New York’s hop-on, hop-off trip includes prerecorded commentary. Every 15 to 20 minutes on the Red Line (which travels through downtown) and every 60 minutes on the Blue Line uptown, double-decker buses frequently stop. The 90-minute downtown and 75-minute downtown routes are accessible with the one-day Classic Ticket, and you may add on extras like tickets to Madame Tussauds, the Empire State Building, or a harbor cruise. Also available are multi-day passes. Travelers enjoy Big Bus New York because they may customize the tour to their interests. Others lamented the lengthy waits and crowded buses.
Passes for one day typically cost $60 for adults and $50 for children. Seasonal night tours are also offered by Big Bus Tours.
Original Brooklyn Pizza Tour offered by A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours
Adults start at $90; children start at $80.
Timing: 4.5 hours
There is so much to see, see, and eat in Brooklyn. The Original Brooklyn Pizza Tour lasts 4 1/2 hours and brings visitors throughout the borough to enjoy delectable slices from establishments like Grimaldi’s and L&B Spumoni Gardens. Reviewers hail it as a terrific experience with even better pizza. Additionally, you’ll see where “Saturday Night Fever” and “Goodfellas” were filmed.
Tickets, which include lunch, are roughly $90 for adults and $80 for kids under the age of 11. Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Friday through Monday are the days for tours. Along with other alternatives, A Slice of Brooklyn also offers a seasonal trip that visits the holiday decorations in Dyker Heights.
“Sex and the City” Hotspots Tour with On-Site Tours
Starting at $66
Timing: 3.5 hours
On this New York bus trip that visits more than 40 well-known filming and television locations for “Sex and the City,” fans of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda can relive all their favorite “Sex and the City” moments. The 3 1/2-hour trip includes viewing famous, must-see filming locations, Magnolia Bakery cupcake samples, a Cosmopolitan (if you like), and time for shopping in Greenwich. Additionally, you’ll go to locations from the “And Just Like That” reboot, like Bergdorf Goodman and Chelsea Market. Reviews describe this tour as fantastic, enjoyable, and worth taking.
The cost of the half-day tour’s tickets starts at $66, but VIP seating is an additional $10. The age requirement for outings is 18 years old. Tours typically leave at 2 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday. Other television and filming locations trips are offered by On Location Tours, including those for “Gossip Girl,” “The Sopranos,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” among others.
Discover NY Tour with USA Guided Tours
Price: Adults start at $99; kids start at $89
Time: six hours
You’ll go through some of the city’s most well-known neighborhoods and popular spots on this six-hour tour. You can choose between a standard bus and a bus with a glass top or a convertible top. Regardless of the vehicle, your tour guide will provide knowledgeable commentary as well as a history lesson as you pass Times Square, Madison Square Park, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and other notable locations. Both a boat sail to see the iconic NYC skyline and a 15-minute tour through each of the major stops are included. Many tourists recommend taking this all-day tour of New York City since it is wonderful.
Everyday at 9 and 10 a.m., tours start. For a standard bus, tickets start at $99 for adults and $89 for children. Buses with glass tops and open tops cost $119 per person. This tour is also available in Spanish through USA Guided Tours, along with a nighttime tour of New York City.
Birthplace of Hip Hop Tours with Quiet Hip Hop
Adults start at $80; children start at $60.
Time: three hours
Visitors frequently laud the Birthplace of Hip Hop tour for its cultural insights into Harlem as well as the knowledgeable tour guides who outline the background of hip-hop music. You’ll see renowned clubs, artist-themed paintings, and the Apollo Theater throughout the three-hour tour. Additionally, you’ll get to perform your own dance skills while watching a dance session.
The price of a tour is roughly $80 for adults and $60 for seniors (65 years and older) and children (6 to 18). Tours are free for children under five. At 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, excursions take place. In addition to Brooklyn and Harlem, Hush Hip Hop Tours also offers walking tours of those cities.