When traveling abroad, get a policy from one of the best travel insurance companies. You can get a 5% discount on Heymondo, the only insurance that pays medical bills upfront for you, HERE!
There are several hop-on-hop-off bus tours in New York City that maximize your time and help you see dozens of attractions in one day. These bus rides are among the best tours in NYC because they allow you to take the bus all over the city as well as get on and off at your own pace. It may seem as a more expensive way of transportation in NYC, but will save you a lot of time while exploring the city.
These hop-on hop-off New York Big Bus tours also include narrated commentary in several languages, so you can listen to interesting facts about key landmarks while you ride past them. When you see something you’d like to explore, hop off and check it out. The bus will come around again, and you can hop back on to continue the route.
3 Best Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in NYC
This type of bus tour is especially helpful for families with kids since they can do lots of sightseeing while saving time and money. Kids get tired and bored easily, so don’t waste money paying for admission to an attraction you’ll only spend a few minutes at!
In a nutshell, these are the top three sightseeing bus tours in Manhattan:
Before we dive in, I want to tell you that several New York city passes, like the NY Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass, include New York Big Bus tickets.
1. Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, the best hop-on hop-off bus tour in NYC
First, the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour is one of the most popular tours in the city. These daily tours offer commentary in several languages, as well as a Downtown and Uptown route. Your ticket includes access to both routes, although you can choose a 1, 2, or 3-day pass, or a Downtown-only or Uptown-only ticket.
1. Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, the best hop-on hop-off bus tour in NYC
There is also a mobile app where you can keep track of bus arrivals, view New York Big Bus maps, and get sightseeing recommendations. Enjoy the ride through NYC and hop off at any stop that interests you. The bus goes past the Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, the Empire State Building, and other popular places in Manhattan.
2. NYC City Sightseeing Bus (Grayline bus tour), a great NYC hop-on hop-off bus tour
NYC’s Grayline Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is another worthwhile tour that goes through Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Harlem. This is one of the best open-top buses in New York because it grants you panoramic views of top attractions like the Rockefeller Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Times Square. It also goes past some of the best museums in NYC, like The Met, the Guggenheim, and the 9/11 Museum.
2. NYC City Sightseeing Bus (Grayline bus tour), a great NYC hop-on hop-off bus tour
New York City’s Grayline tours include audio narration in 11 languages, including English, Spanish, and French. The company also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour, as well as an accompanying mobile app with updates and bus routes. Also, the bus stops by several hotels, so it can be a convenient option if you’re staying in the heart of the city.
3. TopView NYC Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, another good hop-on hop-off bus tour in NYC
A third option is this TopView NYC bus tour, which offers routes through Downtown, Uptown, Harlem, and Brooklyn. You can even book a Statue of Liberty cruise or take the tour at night. The multi-day passes are a great deal since they include the cruise and discounts at several attractions.
3. TopView NYC Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, another good hop-on hop-off bus tour in NYC
This is one of the best hop-on-hop-off bus tours in NYC if you want to see a wide variety of attractions across the city’s different neighborhoods. Among the sites you’ll visit, you can stop at the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center, and some of NYC’s top parks, including Union Square and Columbus Circle.
These New York City hop-on hop-off bus tours operate daily and include free onboard Wi-Fi and audio narration in 11 languages. Once you book, you can use your ticket any time in the next 12 months. I also recommend downloading the accompanying app to see a live map with up-to-date arrivals and departures.
Which NYC hop-on hop-off bus tour is best?
Now that you’ve read about the 3 best double-decker bus tours in New York, you have a better idea of which one suits your preferences. If you’re still unsure, here is a comparison chart with the NYC bus tour prices, ticket options, and stops.
For the price comparison, we have used the basic ticket including the downtown and uptown routes.
1-day (adults) | $54 | $59 | $49 |
1-day (kids) | $45 | $59 | $39 |
2-day (adults) | $72 | - | $55 |
2-day (kids) | $63 | - | $21 |
3-day (adults) | $90 | - | $65 |
3-day (kids) | $81 | - | $28 |
Downtown Tour | $45 | $49 | - |
Uptown Tour | $45 | $49 | - |
Night Tour | No | No | Yes |
Highlights | • Downtown route | • Downtown route | • Downtown route |
NYC HOP-ON HOP-OFF BUS TOURS |
* Included only in 2-day and 3-day tickets
I hope you found a hop-on hop-off bus tour in NYC you’d like to do! One last thing I’ll mention is that we have a complete guide with tourist maps of NYC, so you can see the locations of all the attractions you’re most interested in.
Of course, don’t hesitate to leave me any questions or comments below. I’ll be happy to answer you! Until then, have a great time exploring New York City!
New York trip in September, when should I purchase tickets for 4 adults? I want to wait until the latest possible date but still be sure of availability.
Hi Brenda,
You should be fine waiting until a couple of weeks before your travel dates!
If it is raining/pouring or snowing will they still travel? I thought I saw on one post that it said in inclement weather it would not run.
Thank you for your blog!
Hi Robin, they still run. You can get into the cover area. However, if it’s unsafe to drive, they will cancel the tours.
Ascen