Although we are local tour guides who mostly lead walking tours, most of us also lead tours on the city's buses, so we know a thing or two about them.
Should I take a bus tour?
Which company is best?
These are two questions that we locals get asked all of the time, and the following tips come from our own experiences.
And we also got inspiration from the contributions of the roughly 200k members of our popular NYC Travel Tips Facebook group.
Our group consists of locals, like our guides, veteran visitors to NYC, as well as newbies.
There's no need to become a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations, so check us out once you finish reading this post.
- Double Decker Bus Hop-on-Hop-Off
- Fully Guided Bus Tours
- Movie + Themed Bus Tours
- Night Bus Tours
- Combo Discount Passes
- Brooklyn Bus Tours
NEW YORK HOP ON HOP OFF SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS
BIG BUS TOURS
- 1 Day Hop-on, Hop-off w/ 2 extensive routes
- Price: $60/Adults | $50/Children
- Learn more and/or purchase tickets here.
- 2-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour w/ 2 extensive routes
- Ticket includes half off a 2-hour bike rental
- Price: $80/Adults | $70/Children
- Learn more and/or purchase tickets here.
- 3-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour w/ 2 extensive routes
- The ticket includes a 2-hour bike rental
- Price: $100/Adults | $90/Children
- Learn more and/or purchase tickets here.
- 1-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour covering Downtown route
- Price: $50 per person
- Learn more and/or purchase tickets here.
- 1-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour covering the Uptown route
- Price: $50 per person
- Learn more and/or purchase tickets here.
TIP: Save an additional 5% off tickets by using Tiqets!
CITYSIGHTSEEING NYC BUS TOURS
- Downtown Tour (Midtown south to the Financial District)
- Uptown Tour (Midtown north to Harlem)
- Brooklyn Tour (Currently unavailable)
- Bronx Tour (Currently unavailable)
- Night Tour/Holiday Lights (Currently unavailable)
- Downtown: $59/Adults | $49/Children
TopView NYC
- 24-hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
- Also includes the following routes:
- Uptown & Harlem Tour
- 2-Hour Central Park Bike Rental
- Museum of the City of New York
- $35.50 per person
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
- 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
- Also includes the following routes:
- Uptown & Harlem Tour
- Brooklyn Tour
- Night Tour
- Statue of Liberty Cruise
- 2-Hour Central Park Bike Rental
- Museum of the City of New York
- $55/Adults | $21/Kids
- 72-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
- Also includes the following routes:
- Uptown & Harlem Tour
- Brooklyn Tour
- Night Tour
- Statue of Liberty Cruise
- 2-Hour Central Park Bike Rental
- Museum of the City of New York
- $65/Adults | $28/Kids
- 120-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
- Also includes the following routes:
- Uptown & Harlem Tour
- Brooklyn Tour
- Night Tour
- Statue of Liberty Cruise
- 2-Hour Central Park Bike Rental
- Museum of the City of New York
- $75/Adults | $37/Kids
HOP ON HOP OFF WITH A TOUR GUIDE
USA GUIDED TOURS
Tickets
- $99 for Adults
- $89 for Children
- $10 off for members of the Military
- Duration: 5 hours
- More info or to book online.
ONBOARD NYC
- Cost: $69.99 and up depending on type/length of tour and which day of the week
- Duration: Tours vary from 3.5-8 hours
- Tour with Staten Island Ferry Ride
- Tour with a ticket to the Statue of Liberty
- NYC Street Theater
- The Tour
- Movie and TV Tours
- Scott's Pizza Tour
- Hip Hop Tours
- Kenny Kramer's Seinfeld Tour
THE RIDE
- Price: $79 per person
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before tour time.
- Purchase tickets here.
THE TOUR
- Cost: $39 per person
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Purchase tickets here.
ON LOCATION TOURS
Some of their most popular tours include:
- NYC TV & Movie Tour
- Sex and the City Hotspots Tour
- Gossip Girl Sites Tour
- Sopranos Sites Tour
- TCM Classic Film Tour
- When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour
- Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Sites Tour
- Superhero Film Locations Tour
- Manhattan TV & Movie Sites Tour
- East Village TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour
- and the Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour.
Guides also pepper the tours with history about the different neighborhoods you drive through.
Reviews of On Location NYC Tours
With a 4 ½ out of 5-star rating and over 1,500 positive reviews on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide, it’s safe to say that On Location Tours has impressed a lot of customers.
That being said, about 10% of their reviews are from unhappy passengers, who complain that the tour wasn’t as long as they were promised, while others simply found it uninteresting.
Although these comments may be troubling, it’s worth remembering that there are ten times as many people who absolutely loved their experience with this company.
Several guests recommend this tour for film buffs of all ages, stating that it is both informative and fun for movie lovers.
- Cost: Varies with tours, but most are between $30-$70.
- Duration: Tour times vary, but most run between 2-4 hours
HUSH HIP-HOP TOURS
Whether you are looking to bust a move or bust a rhyme, Hush Hip Hop Tours have the perfect tour for fans of the genre.
They claim to be the only hip-hop tour company in the world with pioneers of hip-hop, DJs, and professional break-dancers leading its tours.
As you travel from one location to the next, some of the people who helped make the movement possible will explain how this art form was born in the streets of NYC.
Their tours will take you to Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.
Reviews of Hush Hip Hop Tours
This may be one of the highest rated experiences on the list, as Hush Hip Hop Tours have earned an overall 5 out of 5-stars rating from most
An overwhelming majority of customers have reported that their trip around New York was not only memorable but historically accurate as well.
Some have even said that this tour is great for all audiences, suggesting that you need not be a fan of hip hop to learn a lot about the city while on your trip.
There are only a handful of negative comments, and few of them seem to have anything in common which would suggest any major issues with their service.
- Bus Tours: from $75
- Walking Tours: from $50
- Free cancellation with 24 hours notice.
TIP: Hush tours are also available for free with The Sightseeing Pass.
SCOTT'S PIZZA TOUR
Scott's Pizza Tours are the premier pizza tours of New York City.
Scott's offerings are primarily walking tours. However, on Sundays, Scott offers a pizza bus tour that reaches the outer boroughs of NYC.
- $79 per person
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Includes stops at 4 pizzerias
- Proof of vaccination is required
- Stops change weekly
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
Reviews of Scott's Pizza Tours
Everyone loves pizza, and according to reviewers on TripAdvisor, learning about the dish can be pretty fun.
An overwhelming majority of the reviews for their bus tour are positive.
This tour apparently takes place on a yellow school bus, so it might not be the most comfortable seating you’ll ever experience.
That being said, almost everyone who has experienced the trip has had an absolute blast.
Positive reviews suggest that the entire journey is entertaining, and you’ll even have the opportunity to eat a few slices!
Scott also offers pizza walking tours, including:
- Greenwich Village Pizza Walk
- Crosstown Pizza Walk
- Lower East Side Pizza Walk
- Brooklyn Pizza Walk
KENNY KRAMER'S SEINFELD TOUR
Fans of Seinfeld will definitely want to consider taking this tour.
According to Larry David, Kenny Kramer was the actual person who inspired the hilarious character of Cosmo Kramer.
Believe it or not, Kenny still lives in New York and he provides a fabulous tour of the city to give fans a better idea of what life was like for the people that inspired the characters in everyone’s favorite show about nothing.
Visit a lot of the locations you’ve seen in the series and hear about the creation of this concept from Kramer himself!
With the exception of just one negative review, every rating on TripAdvisor is positive.
Some fans report waiting years to take a tour with Kenny only to have their expectations exceeded in the end.
According to many reviewers, this might be one of the more entertaining bus tours in the city, and it’s perfect for any fan of Seinfeld.
- Cost: $47.50 (plus $2 service charge)
- Available Saturdays at 12 PM
- Duration: 2-3 hours
DO-IT-YOURSELF NYC BUS TOUR
If all of the above sounds out of your price range, then you could always take advantage of the public bus system and tour around the city on your own!
The New York Times published a great article a few years back about the best bus lines and routes to see all the major sites in the city.
For under $10, the public bus system offers visitors a great way to explore the city on their own for a minimal cost.
Don't forget that you can also take our free walking tours in combination with this option.
Another option is to download our audio tour app and use it for the neighborhoods that take the bus or subway to get to.
COMBINE BUS, BOAT, HELICOPTER TOURS AND MORE
If you are interested in taking both a boat and bus tour while visiting New York, it's often cheapest to purchase those two tickets as part of a combo deal.
Many companies offer a variety of combinations, including helicopter tours and museums tickets as well.
Child prices are even less, but they vary. Click the company links for more details.
Be sure to also read our post comparing the various tourist discount passes, such as the New York Pass, CityPass and the Explorer Pass, which may be even a better fit for you.
All passes include some form of bus tour.
In addition to their hop-on hop-off bus tours, this company also offers a variety of additional activities you can combine with their tours to save money.
These combo packages include tickets to some of the most popular attractions in New York City, so there's a pretty good chance you're already planning to see them anyways.
Classic Ticket + Empire State Building
- $81/Adults | $71/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Classic Ticket + Madame Tussauds
- $69/Adults | $59/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Classic Ticket + Circle Line Liberty Cruise
- $70/Adults | $60/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Classic Ticket + Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- $81/Adults | $71/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Downtown Loop + Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- $69/Adults | $59/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Classic Ticket + Empire State Building + Liberty Cruise
- $95/Adults | $85/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Classic Ticket + 9/11 Memorial Museum
- $79/Adults | $69/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Classic Ticket + Empire State Building + Statue of Liberty
- $109/Adults | $99/Children
- Purchase combo tickets here.
Some of these deals are better than others, and in the case of packages which include the Statue of Liberty or 9/11 Memorial Museum, we recommend reading more about these to find out if you can get tickets for even cheaper another way.
It's also worth noting that most of these attractions are also included alongside the Big Bus tours with the New York Pass, the New York Sightseeing Pass or the Explorer Pass.
City Sights also offers a number of different combo packages at a discounted rate. Use the coupon code SAVE10 to get an extra 10% off each package.
Big Bus Classic Tour + 1 Attraction
- 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- Both Downtown and Uptown Loops
- Admission to one of the following attractions or activities:
- Empire State Building
- Top of the Rock
- Intrepid, Sea, Air, and Space Museum
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Madame Tussauds
- 9/11 Tribute Museum
- New York Historical Society
- Museum of the City of New York
- The Cloisters Museum
- Central Park Sightseeing Guided Bike Tour
- Central Park Sightseeing Walking Tour
- MoMA
- $75/Adults | $65/Children
- Purchase this combo deal.
Big Bus Classic Tour + 3 Attractions
- 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- Both Downtown and Uptown Loops
- Admission to one of the following attractions or activities:
- Empire State Building
- Top of the Rock
- Intrepid, Sea, Air, and Space Museum
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Madame Tussauds
- 9/11 Tribute Museum
- New York Historical Society
- Museum of the City of New York
- The Cloisters Museum
- Central Park Sightseeing Guided Bike Tour
- Central Park Sightseeing Walking Tour
- MoMA
- $129/Adults | $119/Children
- Purchase this combo deal.
- NYC Bus Tour for 1-10 days
- One World Observatory
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Night Bus Tour
- Admission to 90+ Attractions such as:
- Madame Tussauds
- American Museum of Natural History
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Guggenheim Museum
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- On Location Tours - When Harry Met Seinfeld
- The RIDE
- Prices from $139/Adults | $129/Children
New York Tour Shuttle
This bus tour is perfect for those who only have a limited amount of time in New York.
Over the course of 9 hours, you'll see several different landmarks and enjoy access to sites such as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.
Additionally, you'll also make a special stop in Little Italy for lunch.
Needless to say, this is a fairly comprehensive day trip which covers most of the bases in NYC.
Tickets are a bit expensive, but ratings indicate that the service may be worth its higher price tag.
- Ticket Prices: $99 per person
- Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Availability: Thursday – Monday at 9:00 AM
- Click Here to get your tickets
- Attractions/Activities Included:
- Statue of Liberty (w/ access to the Pedestal)
- Wall Street Walking Tour
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Little Italy
Reviews for this service are quite good, as a majority of customers have given the trip a 5-star rating.
Several visitors mentioned their tour guides by name, indicating that they were very friendly and provided a lot of useful information about the city.
Although they enjoyed the experience, some reviewers felt it important to note that you will need a lot of stamina for this all day outing..
If you are interested in day trips such as this, consider checking out our comparison of NYC in a day tours.
USA GUIDED TOURS
This company is currently offering their night bus tour in a combo package which includes tickets to the Edge Observatory.
If you're planning to visit this attraction and you're interested in taking a bus tour at night, this is an excellent opportunity to save some money.
The bus tour itself begins at 5:30 pm and lasts for 4 hours, so you'll want to visit the Edge Observatory before taking the tour.
This combo tour is available 3 days a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
- $94/Adults | $84/Children
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NIGHT BUS TOURS OF NYC
Many of the companies listed above also offer evening bus tours.
The New York skyline is breathtaking when illuminated after dark, and a bus tour is a great way to see many different areas of the city in a short amount of time.
Night tours do not typically operate as hop-on-hop-off tours, even though many are operated by hop-on-hop-off companies in double-decker buses.
There are also small group shuttle bus night tours.
NOTE: Some of these night tours are included in the multiple-day tickets offered by each company.
In addition to its highly-rated daily tour, this company also provides one of the longest and most detailed night tours in New York.
Clocking in at 4 ½ hours in length, the NYC Night Bus Tour will take you past some of the most popular destinations in the entire city, including locations such as Times Square, Chelsea Market, Chinatown, and Greenwich Village.
This excursion also includes at least one short walking tour. Discover how New York City changes when the sun goes down! Available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 5:30 PM – 10 PM.
Tickets
- $59 for Adults
- $49 for Children
- $6 off w/ Military ID
- Duration: 4 hours
- Availability: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- More information and to book.
Every single review for this particular night tour is 5 stars. Most guests report that this company is very professional and reliable, describing their tour guides as entertaining and knowledgeable.
TOP VIEW NYC
In addition to their hop-on hop-off bus tours, this company also offers a night tour which allows you to see what the city looks like after dark.
This outing doesn't include any of their other bus tours, nor does it provide access to the Museum of the City of New York or a free Central Park bike rental.
Even so, it is one of the few options for a night bus tour as of April 2023.
If you're interested in seeing the city lights after the sun sets, this is an excellent option you might want to consider.
- Night Tour
- Not Hop-on Hop-off
- No additional activities or routes
- $45 per person
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: Don't forget that this night tour is actually included with their 2, 3, and 5-day hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket.
TIP: We recommend considering another service, as this company routinely receives negative reviews indicating they aren't the best option on our list.
Big Bus offers nightly bus tours that depart between 7-9 pm every 15-20 minutes from Times Square (6 pm - 8 pm in winter months).
Sites include Radio City Music Hall, 5th Avenue, the Empire State Building, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn waterfront.
You can view their night tour route map (yellow).
- Price: $49/Adults | $39/Children
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Included in the price of all multi-day Big Bus tickets.
- It is not included in the New York Pass.
NOTE: As of April 2022, this tour is not currently being offered. They will likely return to service shortly.
