A bus ride past Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge, a bird’s-eye view from the Empire State Building, and a ferry ride to Lady Liberty: this tour packs three classic New York experiences into one day. I like that you can shape much of the day around your own interests, and that the ferry ticket covers both Liberty and Ellis Islands.
The main trade-off is time. Eight hours sounds generous, but the ferry has its own schedule, the Empire State Building requires a pre-booked entry time, and traffic can eat into your plans. Treat this as a handy framework for seeing big sights, not a promise that you can linger everywhere.
- At a glance
- A big-picture day, with some moving parts
- Getting your bearings from the open-top bus
- The Empire State Building needs a time slot
- The ferry makes Lady Liberty more than a skyline view
- What the price buys, and where the value depends
- Who should choose this tour
- A few practical details before you go
- Should you book it?
- FAQ
- How long does the tour last?
- Where does the tour start?
- Can I hop off the bus and rejoin later?
- What languages are available for the audio commentary?
- Is the Empire State Building ticket included?
- Does the ferry ticket include Ellis Island?
- Does the ferry ticket include entry to the Statue of Liberty monument or island museums?
- What are the minimum age and child ticket rules?
- Is the tour wheelchair-accessible?
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At a glance
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9 / 9- Two bus routes: Use the downtown and uptown routes to see major sights and choose where to hop off.
- Empire State Building admission: Entry is included, but you must arrange a date and time before boarding the bus.
- Liberty and Ellis Islands: The round-trip ferry is included; entry to the statue’s interior and Ellis Island museums is not.
- A full-day outing: The stated schedule runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with changes possible due to traffic or weather.
- Practical orientation: The app offers city information and real-time bus tracking, and audio commentary is available in five languages.
👉 See our pick of the 6 Best Tours In New York
A big-picture day, with some moving parts
This is a good fit if you want an easy way to see several famous New York sights without building the whole day around subway transfers and separate ticket searches. The bus gives you a broad view of the city, while the Empire State Building and ferry add two fixed attractions that are harder to fold into a casual ride around town.
The arrangement also asks you to plan ahead. You need to redeem your voucher with a Big Bus representative before boarding, then secure an Empire State Building time slot through the booking link on your voucher or with staff at a departure location. The ferry runs from Stop 9 at Battery Park between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and its security screening requires an extra 30 minutes before boarding.
The advertised day starts at 9:00 a.m. at Stop #1, outside M&M’s World at 724 7th Avenue, and lists a 5:00 p.m. return. But the return point is based on your preferences, and the schedule can shift with traffic and weather. Think of those times as the day’s outline rather than a minute-by-minute guided itinerary.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in New York.
Getting your bearings from the open-top bus
The one-day pass gives you access to two routes, downtown and uptown, with the freedom to hop off at stops that interest you. That flexibility is the tour’s most useful feature: you can use the bus as a moving introduction to the city, then spend more time at a sight that catches your eye.
The route highlights include Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge. From the open top, you get a different view from the one you’d have underground or in a taxi, and the audio commentary adds context as you pass landmarks. Commentary is available in English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. An English-speaking professional driver/guide is also included.
There is no need to treat every stop as a must-see. New York traffic can slow the buses, and waiting or hopping off too often can leave less time for the Empire State Building and ferry. I’d use the app’s real-time bus tracking to decide when to stay aboard and when to get off, rather than setting an ambitious list of stops before you know how the day is moving.
The open top is a plus for clear views, but the weather matters. On a wet or cold day, the ride may be less comfortable, and popular buses can feel crowded during peak tourist season. If you want a relaxed, unhurried city tour, keep your expectations flexible and consider how much time you want to spend riding versus exploring on foot.
The Empire State Building needs a time slot
Admission to the Empire State Building is included, making this more than a drive-by sightseeing tour. You can leave the bus, enter the building at your reserved time, and head up for panoramic views across Manhattan. It’s a memorable way to understand the city’s scale: the streets and landmarks you’ve just passed become part of one broad view.
The important detail is that the included ticket does not mean you can simply arrive whenever you please. Before boarding the bus, book a date and time using the link on your voucher or ask staff at a departure location for help. Build the bus portion of your day around that appointment, and leave room for traffic and the time needed to get to the building.
The tour information doesn’t specify how long to spend inside, so avoid planning the rest of the day too tightly. If the observation deck is a priority, make that reservation first, then choose your bus stops around it. That small bit of planning can keep the day from turning into a race between attractions.
The ferry makes Lady Liberty more than a skyline view
The ferry is a major part of the package, not just a scenic extra. It takes you to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island, giving you the chance to see the Statue of Liberty up close and take in views back toward Manhattan. The journey is round-trip, so you return by ferry rather than arranging separate transport.
Be clear about what the ticket covers. Ferry admission is included, but access to the interior of the Statue of Liberty monument and entry to museums on Liberty and Ellis Islands are not. If you want to go inside the monument or visit a museum, you’ll need to account for those extra tickets separately.
The ferry operates from Stop 9 at Battery Park between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Allow at least 30 minutes before boarding for security checks. That window matters: you can’t assume the ferry will fit neatly into whatever gap remains after your bus ride and Empire State Building visit. Map out the order of your day before setting off, and keep an eye on the clock.
Liberty and Ellis Islands reward a slower pace, but the full tour is still listed as an eight-hour experience. You may need to choose between spending longer on the islands and making several bus stops. If the statue is your main reason for booking, put the ferry high on your list and treat extra bus stops as optional.
What the price buys, and where the value depends
The experience is listed from $155.25, while a package option is shown from US$135. Prices and package details can vary, so check the exact option you select and make sure it includes the bus pass, Empire State Building admission, and ferry tickets described here. The value is strongest when you plan to use all three parts.
This is not simply a bus ticket. You’re paying for a day of sightseeing transport plus admission to the Empire State Building and a ferry journey to two islands. For a first New York visit, that can make the cost easier to justify than buying each included element separately, especially if you want the convenience of having the main pieces arranged together.
But it is not the cheapest way to get around the city. Public transport may cost less if your priority is simply getting from neighborhood to neighborhood, and the bus can be slower in traffic. Meals, drinks, personal expenses, tips, and additional island attraction tickets are not included, so leave room in your budget for those.
The bundle also works best if you’re comfortable following a few time-sensitive steps. You need to redeem your voucher before boarding, book the Empire State Building slot, and meet the ferry’s operating hours. If those details sound like more hassle than help, separate tickets may give you greater control over the day.
Who should choose this tour
I’d consider this tour if you’re visiting New York for the first time and want a straightforward introduction to its headline sights. The bus can help you get oriented across uptown and downtown, while the included admissions give the day a clear focus. Multilingual audio commentary is useful if you prefer to listen in a language other than English.
It can also work well if you’re traveling with someone who wants a less complicated way to move between major attractions. The activity is wheelchair-accessible, and children must be at least three years old. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount, and children aged 13 or older pay the adult rate.
It is less suited to anyone who wants a very slow day or plans to explore every stop in depth. The bus pass offers flexibility, but the timed Empire State Building visit and ferry operating window limit how spontaneous the whole day can be. If your priority is one island visit, one observation deck, and a broad city tour, the mix makes sense. If you want to linger for hours at each sight, split the activities across separate days.
A few practical details before you go
Redeem your voucher with a Big Bus representative at a stop before boarding the bus or cruise. The recommended location is Stop #1, in front of M&M’s World on 7th Avenue at 48th Street. The departure and listed return point are at 724 7th Avenue, though the return point depends on your preferences.
The voucher is valid only on the date specified, and confirmation is normally sent within minutes. If you need to cancel, a full refund is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using local time at the destination. Since traffic and weather can change the schedule, keep some slack in your plans after the tour.
Should you book it?
Book this if you want a convenient first-day overview with three big-ticket elements already grouped together: a hop-on, hop-off bus, the Empire State Building, and the Liberty and Ellis Island ferry. The best approach is to reserve your Empire State Building time first, plan around the ferry’s 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. window, and be selective about bus stops.
Skip it if the price feels high for transport, if you prefer to build every detail yourself, or if you want more time at each attraction than one day allows. For a first visit, though, the combination can save planning effort and deliver a useful mix of city views, landmarks, and ferry time.
New York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Empire State & Statue of Liberty Tour
“Great for first-time visitors wanting an easy and informative way to explore a city. Pros: Convenience: Easy way to see major attractions without n…”
FAQ
How long does the tour last?
The stated duration is eight hours, with a listed departure at 9:00 a.m. and return at 5:00 p.m. Traffic and weather can change the schedule.
Where does the tour start?
The departure point is Stop #1, outside M&M’s World at 724 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
Can I hop off the bus and rejoin later?
Yes. The one-day ticket provides access to the downtown and uptown hop-on, hop-off routes, so you can explore stops at your own pace.
What languages are available for the audio commentary?
Audio commentary is available in English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian.
Is the Empire State Building ticket included?
Yes. Admission is included, but you must pre-book a date and time through the link on your voucher or with staff at a departure location before boarding the bus.
Does the ferry ticket include Ellis Island?
Yes. The ferry travels to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island and includes the return journey.
Does the ferry ticket include entry to the Statue of Liberty monument or island museums?
No. The ferry ticket does not include interior monument access or entry to museums on Liberty or Ellis Islands.
What are the minimum age and child ticket rules?
Participants must be at least three years old. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount, and children aged 13 or older are charged the adult rate.
Is the tour wheelchair-accessible?
Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair-accessible.
