New York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Map & Tickets

Best New York Bus Tours

Discover the energy and skyline of New York City aboard a hop on hop off bus tour — the most flexible way to see the Big Apple’s world-famous sights. Glide past landmarks like Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building, hopping off whenever something catches your eye. With open-top views, multi-route coverage, and easy connections between Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Uptown, it is a relaxed and panoramic way to explore New York at your own pace.

How the Hop On Hop Off Bus Works in New York

The hop on hop off bus in New York operates several interconnected routes covering Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Uptown. Buses typically run from early morning (around 9 am) until early evening (6–7 pm), arriving every 15–25 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. Most companies, including Big Bus and City Sightseeing, offer 24-hour and 48-hour passes that let you explore freely across multiple loops. The Downtown loop focuses on Lower Manhattan icons like Wall Street, One World Observatory, and Battery Park, while the Uptown route winds through leafy Central Park, Museum Mile, and Harlem’s cultural landmarks. Brooklyn routes showcase the borough’s artistic scene and views of the Manhattan skyline from across the East River. Each bus features open-air decks, live or recorded commentary, and convenient stops near key attractions, making it easy to join and leave the route whenever you wish.

Top Stops and Attractions

Times Square – The pulsing heart of New York’s entertainment scene, where neon lights, Broadway theatres, and global brands create an unforgettable atmosphere both day and night.
Empire State Building – Hop off here to visit one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers and enjoy panoramic views stretching across Manhattan.
Statue of Liberty and Battery Park – Disembark near the waterfront to catch the ferry to Liberty Island or simply enjoy the harbour views and street performers.
Central Park – A peaceful green escape amid the bustle, perfect for a stroll, carriage ride, or quick picnic before re-joining the bus route.
Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO – Explore cobblestone streets, riverside cafés, and photo-worthy skyline vistas from this revitalised creative district across the river.

Why It’s Worth Taking

New York’s hop on hop off bus tours let visitors experience the city’s diversity without the stress of navigating its complex subway network on their first day. The open-top design transforms the journey into a moving viewpoint, ideal for photographing skyscrapers, street art, and city life as you pass by. Unlike many global cities, New York’s attractions are spread over several districts, so the bus gives a comprehensive orientation from Downtown’s financial core to Uptown’s cultural and residential elegance. By linking neighbourhoods such as SoHo, Chinatown, and Harlem, it reveals the contrast between historic landmarks and modern architectural marvels, offering a true snapshot of the city’s rhythm and scale. Evening tours also highlight the city’s illuminated skyline, providing a memorable way to experience Manhattan after dark.

Planning Tips

Start early in the morning to avoid queues at popular stops like the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center and to make full use of your ticket’s validity period.
If you choose a 48-hour pass, plan one day for Uptown and Midtown and the second for Downtown and Brooklyn to avoid rushing through major sights.
Bring a light jacket or sun protection — the open-top decks can feel breezy in winter and sunny in summer, especially when crossing bridges or travelling along the Hudson River.
Combine your bus pass with a short walking tour of neighbourhoods such as Greenwich Village or Chinatown, both easily accessible from nearby stops.
Check live schedules via the operator’s app, especially during peak events or parades, when routes may temporarily divert around closed streets.

Tickets and Access

Tickets for the New York hop on hop off buses are available in 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour options, often bundled with attractions passes that include ferry rides or observatory entry. Major boarding points include Times Square, Battery Park, and the corner of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, all within easy reach of the subway. Buses are wheelchair-accessible and equipped with multi-language audio guides covering English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more. Digital tickets can be scanned directly from your phone, and printed maps make route planning straightforward. Whether you are visiting for a day or a week, the service offers flexibility to explore New York’s vast landscape while keeping transport simple and scenic.

The hop on hop off bus in New York offers a relaxed way to explore major landmarks at your own pace, combining comfort, flexibility, and scenic views — ideal for first-time visitors who want to make the most of their time in New York.

A perfect way to maximize your time and see most of the sights in the City that never sleeps is to hop on board a tour bus. You will enjoy the guided tour knowing that you will not get lost in the big city.

1. New York Big Bus Tour

Duration: Flexible

It allows you to customize your experience depending on your preference.
Over 40 key points of interest for stopovers.
See top attractions like Statue of Liberty, Empire Building, Times Square, and Metropolitan Museum of art.
There are three ticket options you can choose from that suit your fancy.
Pick from

from $44.46

from $45.81

from $54.02

from $54.69

from $60.86

2. New York Grey Line Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Duration: Flexible

· Hop-on-hop-off bus as much as you can during the validity of your ticket.
Explore Downtown, Uptown and Bronx loops.
Visit Empire Building, Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, Times Square, Metropolitan Museum of art and other top attractions.
Get Discount booklet on local attractions,

from $26.51

from $32.48

from $56.32

from $64.46

3. New York Skyline Experience

Duration: 1 hour 30

This is a three hours tour of downtown NYC with opportunity to explore and view fascinating sceneries aboard a cruise and hop-off and hop-on buses
It is an opportunity to selectively participate in activities that thrill you the most instead of having to participate in group tours
This tour allows the visitor to explore

from $52.26

from $56.18

from $75.80

from $76.46

from $107.54

4. NYC Hop on Hop off Downtown Tour plus 1 Attraction

Duration: 1 hour 30

This is an opportunity to enjoy Manhattan in a bus tour with entry access to Lower Manhattan’s One World Observatory
Ride in a comfortable hop off and hop on bus and get educated about NYC history on your way
An opportunity to exit the bus whenever something catches your attention and a chance to upgrade your

from $65.90

from $76.44

from $78.79

from $83.16

5. Big Bus New York Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Tour

Duration: 1 hour 30

A great overview of the city of New York.
An opportunity to move quickly between the city's top attractions.
A perfect introduction of the city's attractions for first-time visitors.

from $36.02

from $43.61

from $50.04

from $55.15

from $60.86

from $65.17

6. NYC Package: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour, Statue of Liberty & 911 Memorial Museum

Duration: 3 days

Take care of many of your New York City sightseeing and transportation needs in one go with this 3-day NYC package a hop-on hop-off bus tour, 911 Memorial Museum and a Statue of Liberty tour. Ride a double-decker hop-on hop-off bus for 1 days, including a Downtown loop. Get an escorted walking tour of the State of Liberty, Ellis Island and...

from $209.50