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Which NYC Bike Tour is Best?

Updated: March 10, 2024

This post lists several options for enjoying a New York bike tour, including our pay-what-you-like option.

We've also listed options for bike rentals, self-guided tours, as well as discounts on guided tours. 

Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.


Calendar of New York Bike Tours

Use this link for more information or to find another Central Park bike tour.


CENTRAL PARK BIKE TOURS

There are several different companies that offer bike tours in and around Central Park.

Many of them have set up shop within a few blocks of the park, making it easy to drop in and take a ride throughout the day.

On these tours, you will see a variety of sites such as the Columbus Circle, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Belvedere Castle, Cleopatra's Needle and more.

For additional details on these services, please read our full post on Central Park bike tours.


BROOKLYN BIKE TOURS

If you’d rather see a different side of NYC, this section will provide all of the information you need to find the right Brooklyn bike tour.

We will cover some of the more popular bike tour companies in the area and discuss your self-guided tour options. 


Unlimited Biking - Brooklyn Bridge

This is the sister company to Unlimited Biking Central Park and we recommend them as well.

They provide the bikes for our Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan Bike Tours. In addition to this, you can also take their own Brooklyn Bridge bike tour.

If you book through this link for their bike tour, you’ll receive 20% off.

Ticket Details (prices reflect discount)

This tour is also included for free with both the Explorer Pass and the New York Pass


Brooklyn Giro Bike Tours

Rather than just focusing on the Brooklyn Bridge, this company also offers bike tours of notable neighborhoods and the waterfront.

Alternatively, you can also spend an entire day riding around Brooklyn and seeing all of the sights in this borough.

The advantage of choosing this company is that they offer a few different options to consider.


Ticket Details

Ride the Bridges Tour

  • $68 per rider
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Availability: Daily at 8 am, 10 am & 2 pm
  • Includes both Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan Bridge

Brooklyn Tour

  • $88 per rider
  • Duration: 3-4 hours
  • Availability: Daily at 11 am, 2 pm
  • See several Brooklyn neighborhoods

A Half Day in Brooklyn

  • $118 per rider
  • Duration: 5-6 hours
  • Availability: Daily at 11 am
  • Includes most neighborhoods and breakfast/lunch stops 

Additional Brooklyn Bike Tours

Whether you’re looking for a different kind of experience or you just want to find a better price, there are several different bike tours to consider in Brooklyn.

Some tours include neighborhoods such as Chinatown and Little Italy, allowing you to explore even more of New York City.

Most are about 2-3 hours in length, but some can last up to 4 hours or more.

Alternatively, you can also rent a bike and take a GPS enabled audio tour of the Brooklyn Bridge for free.

Check here for more details and help to find a Brooklyn bike tour.


MORE NYC BIKE TOURS

Even though the most popular New York bike tours take place in Central Park and Brooklyn, there are still a lot of services you can enjoy in other boroughs and areas such as Harlem, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

This section will provide some information about bike tours you can enjoy in other neighborhoods of NYC. We will also discuss some of your self-guided tour options.


Unlimited Biking

In addition to both their Central Park and Brooklyn Bridge tours, this company also offers a Harlem Highlights bike tour.

This tour will take you through neighborhoods such as the Hamilton Heights district and includes sites like the Harriet Tubman statue and the Malcolm X Mosque.

They also offer a New York Highlights bike tour taking you through Manhattan, from midtown to downtown, ending just below the Brooklyn Bridge.

During the tour, you'll see Times Square, Lincoln Center, the High Line and other areas of Manhattan. 

NOTE:  Save 20% off either tour by booking through this link for their bike tour.


Ticket Details

  • Harlem Highlights
  • $36/Adults | $32/Children  (price is with the 20% discount above; tax not included)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Availability: Daily at 11 am
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.
  • Note: tour is currently unavailable as of March 2024
  • New York Highlights:
  • $52/Adults | $49.60/Children   (price is with the 20% discount above; tax not included)
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Availability: Daily at 11 am
  • Purchase tickets or learn more

TIP: You can also take the Harlem Highlights tour for free if you have a New York Pass. The New York Highlights tour is included for free in both the New York Pass or Explorer Pass.


Harlem + Bronx Giro Tour

This 5-hour tour covers Harlem, Upper Manhattan and some sections of the Bronx.

The tour focuses on historical sights such as Columbia University, Grant's Tomb, Harlem’s famed 125th Street and Apollo Theater.

Then it is onto the Bronx where you will ride through lovely Crotona Park, stop at Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo and much more.

Along the way, you will have opportunities to see some breathtaking views from Upper New York City’s waterfronts.


Ticket Details

Harlem-Bronx Bike Tour NYC

  • $148 per rider
  • Duration: 6 hours including a lunch stop
  • Availability: Daily
  • Hours: 10 am

Additional NYC Bike Tours

If you still can’t find a bike tour you want to take, rest assured that there are still many to consider.

Whether you want a closer look at Harlem, Manhattan, the Hudson River or even Coney Island, you’ll find that there are several different opportunities when it comes to bike tours NYC.

Some private tours with a specific focus may cost more than others, but you should be able to find an excursion that fits your itinerary.

Use this link to find a New York bike tour that you will enjoy. 


Self-Guided Bike Tours

Whether you want to take matters into your own hands or you just want to save a little money, it is fairly easy to take a self-guided bike tour of New York City.

All you would have to do is rent a bike or take advantage of a bike-share program and use one of our free GPS enabled audio tours.

We estimate that this option could cost as little as $10 per person. If you plan on doing this, you will require a pair of headphones and a smartphone for the audio tour.

Here are a few of the audio tours you can take while biking around the city:

  • Central Park
  • Lower Manhattan
  • The Brooklyn Bridge
  • The High Line
  • Midtown Manhattan
  • Harlem

For a full list, make sure to check our GPS enabled audio tour post. Check our bike rental/bike share section for more details about how to borrow a bike in NYC.


BIKE RENTALS AND BIKE SHARES

If you’d rather just ride around NYC and get a little exercise while seeing the sights, you may want to consider either renting a bike or taking advantage of a bike-share.

This section will provide information about bike rental services and bike-sharing options you may want to consider.

NOTE: Many of these companies offer their services for free with a tourist pass. Check our post about attraction passes in NYC for more information.

Bike Rentals in New York City

Unlimited Biking - Central Park

This company operates out of a building on W 56th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue (map).  

Open daily from 9 am - 7 pm (21:00)

We recommend this service because they have been very reliable for us and they actually provide the bikes for our Central Park Bike Tours.  

Unlimited Biking includes helmets, baskets/bike bags, locks, and illustrated maps with the rental.

Hybrid bikes, road bikes, electric bikes, kids bikes and baby attachments available for rental. 

If you use promo code FTFB you will get a 20% discount.

Starting Prices:

  • 2 hour = $25/Adults | $17/Children
  • 4 hour = $40/Adults | $27/Children
  • Day Pass = $45/Adults | $37/Children (9 am until 5 pm (17:00))
  • 24 Hours = $65/Adults | $50/Children
  • 48 Hours = $100/Adults | $75/Children
  • 72 Hours = $125/Adults | $100/Children
  • 1 Week = $200/Adults | $150/Children
  • 1 Month = $250/Adults | $175/Children
  • Please click here to book your bike rental.

Taxes and fees are extra.

If you are considering one of the tourist discounts passes for your time in the Big Apple, then note that the New York PASS will give you a 4-hour free rental and the Explorer PASS gets you a full day free rental at Central Park Sightseeing.

They also offer their own bike tours, walking tours, pedicab as well as horse and carriage tours of Central Park.  

The FTBF discount is also good for these items.

In addition to their shop on W 56th, you can also either pick up or drop off bike rentals at the following locations:

Unlimited Biking- Columbus Circle
346 West 57th Street
New York NY 10019

Unlimited Biking- Harlem
111 West 110th Street
New York NY 10026

Unlimited Biking- Brooklyn Bridge
79 Chambers Street

New York NY 10038

Unlimited Biking - Hudson River
455 12th Avenue
New York NY 10019


Unlimited Biking - Brooklyn Bridge

Pick up a bike at 38 Park Row in Lower Manhattan (map). Open daily from 9 am - 7 pm. 

Unlimited Biking includes helmets, baskets/bike bags, locks, and illustrated maps with the rental. Hybrid bikes, road bikes, electric bikes, kids bikes and baby attachments available for rental.

They provide the bikes for our Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan Bike Tours. If you use promo code FTFB you will get a 20% discount.

Prices (reflect discount):

  • 2 hour = $25/Adults | $17/Children
  • 4 hour = $40/Adults | $27/Children
  • Day Pass = $45/Adults | $37/Children (9 am until 5 pm (17:00))
  • 24 Hours = $65/Adults | $50/Children
  • 48 Hours = $100/Adults | $75/Children
  • 72 Hours = $125/Adults | $100/Children
  • 1 Week = $200/Adults | $150/Children
  • 1 Month = $250/Adults | $175/Children
  • Please click here to book your bike rental.

Taxes and fees are extra.

As with their Central Park services, the New York PASS offers a 4-hour free rental and the Explorer PASS will give you a full day free rental at Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing.

They also offer their own bike tours across the bridge. The discount is also good for these items. 

In addition to their Brooklyn Bridge location, Unlimited Biking also allows you to pick up or drop off bike rentals at any of the following locations:

Unlimited Biking- Columbus Circle
346 West 57th Street
New York NY 10019

Unlimited Biking- Harlem
111 West 110th Street
New York NY 10026

Unlimited Biking- Central Park
56W 56th Street
New York NY 10019

Unlimited Biking - Hudson River
455 12th Avenue
New York NY 10019


Blazing Saddles

You’ll find this company near Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport (South Street and Fulton Street) or Pier 84 at Hudson River Park (12th Avenue and West 43rd Street). Blazing Saddles opens at 9 am daily.

Prices:

  • between $10-$30 per hour
  • $35-$69 for 24 hours

NOTE: Save 30% by purchasing your rental online. Alternatively, you can also get an all-day bike rental for free using the New York Sightseeing Pass


Bike Rent NYC

Located just one block from Central Park at 117 West 58th Street and 203 W 58th Street.

They are open from 8 am - 8 pm every day. This company offers earlier rentals which are closer to Central Park.

Prices:

  • Between $9.40 - $30 per hour
  • Between $45 - $63 for 24 hours

*Save 30% by purchasing your rental online. Alternatively, you can also get an all-day bike rental for free using the New York Sightseeing Pass.


Unlimited Biking - Hudson River 

Pick up a bike at Pier 78 located at 455 12th Avenue. (212) 729-4142

Unlimited Biking includes helmets, baskets/bike bags, locks, and illustrated maps with the rental.

Hybrid bikes, road bikes, electric bikes, kids bikes and baby attachments available for rental. 

Open daily from 9:00 am-7:00 pm April through September.

Prices:

  • 2 hour = $25/Adults | $17/Children
  • 4 hour = $40/Adults | $27/Children
  • Day Pass = $45/Adults | $37/Children (9 am until 5 pm (17:00))
  • 24 Hours = $65/Adults | $50/Children
  • 48 Hours = $100/Adults | $75/Children
  • 72 Hours = $125/Adults | $100/Children
  • 1 Week = $200/Adults | $150/Children
  • 1 Month = $250/Adults | $175/Children

Please click here to book your bike rental.

If you need a bike for more than four hours you can rent a Day Pass for $40 and you get the bike from 9am-7pm. Includes a free helmet, lock & basket.

TIP: Free full day rental included in both the New York PASS and the Explorer PASS.

Even if you plan to bike around the Hudson River, you can always pick up or drop off bike rentals at any of the following Unlimited Biking locations:

Unlimited Biking- Columbus Circle
346 West 57th Street
New York NY 10019

Unlimited Biking- Harlem
111 West 110th Street
New York NY 10026

Unlimited Biking- Central Park
56W 56th Street
New York NY 10019

Unlimited Biking- Brooklyn Bridge
38 Park Row
New York NY 10038


Citibike Hop-on, Hop-off Bike Share 

New York City has a bike share program sponsored by Citibank, called Citibike. They have a number of rental options geared toward visitors and tourists.

Short-Term Passes:

  • Day Pass (24 hours of Citibike access) $15 for unlimited 30-minute rides
  • More information here.

How it works:

With short-term rentals, you get unlimited 30-minute rides. 

Note: If you plan to use your bike for longer than a 30-minute ride, be sure to check the bike in at any Citibike Dock throughout the city and then you can take it back again almost immediately.

Allow at least 2 minutes for the docking system to process your return and then you can take a bike out for another 30 minutes.

As long as you check into a dock every 30 minutes, you can bike for as long as your rental period allows. Just be sure to watch the clock.


What if the dock is full when I return my bike?

If you arrive at a dock and there are no spots available to re-dock, you get a 15-minute grace period to return the bike to a different dock.

However, you MUST check in at the fully occupied dock before heading to another dock with available spaces. 

You will be directed to the nearest dock that has spots. Also, bikes are equipped with GPS to help you locate docks. 


DISCOUNT PASS OPTIONS

Many of the companies we have mentioned in this post offer services through some of the more popular New York discount passes.

This section will provide a breakdown of all the bike tour services provided by each tourist pass.

New York Pass

  • Unlimited Biking Central Park Bike Tour
  • Unlimited Biking Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rental
  • Unlimited Biking Central Park Bike Rental
  • Unlimited Biking Harlem Bike Rentals
  • Unlimited Biking Harlem Highlights Bike Tour
  • Blazing Saddles Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rental

The New York Sightseeing Pass

  • Fancy Apple Central Park Bike Tour

New York Explorer Pass

  • Unlimited Biking Central Park Bike Tour
  • Unlimited Biking Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour
  • Unlimited Biking Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rental
  • Unlimited Biking Central Park Bike Rental
  • Unlimited Biking Harlem Bike Rentals
  • Unlimited Biking Harlem Highlights Bike Tour
  • Blazing Saddles Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rental
  • Surrey Bike Rental on Governor's Island

For additional details on these bike tours and many other fun activities and attractions included with each of these services, please read our post about New York City Tourist Passes.

About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: March 10th, 2024
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