Open-top buses and city tours
The best big bus tours in New York
Open-top hop-on hop-off buses, borough tours, a night bus and a half-day photo-stop tour.
See our 7 picks
The best big bus tour in New York is an open-top hop-on hop-off ticket. It loops past Times Square, the Empire State Building and Lower Manhattan. It costs from €55, for 1 to 3 days.
For one ride with a live guide, the 4- or 5-hour bus tours are the other choice. All but one of our picks have free cancellation. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 7 picks for bus tours in New York
One hop-on hop-off ticket, two guided tours of Manhattan, two tours of the other boroughs, a night tour and one tour for TV fans. The one ticket you cannot refund is listed last.
-
from €55 per person Our top pick Valid 1–3 days 4.2 (6,601) reviews on GetYourGuide
Open-top hop-on hop-off ticket, 1 to 3 days
Big Bus Tours runs this open-top double-decker. You get on and off as often as you like, with audio in six languages. The 48- and 72-hour tickets add the Uptown loop and a live-guided night tour.
Best for A first day in the city, and seeing a lot fast
Check availability: Open-top hop-on hop-off ticket, 1 to 3 days on GetYourGuide -
from €61 per person 4 hours 4.7 (473) reviews on GetYourGuide
Half-day bus tour with photo stops
A 4-hour tour on a climate-controlled bus with a licensed guide. It covers more than 30 places and stops for photos at several of them. Water is included.
Best for Short trips, and anyone who wants the guide on board
Check availability: Half-day bus tour with photo stops on GetYourGuide -
from €71 per person 5 hours 4.6 (1,530) reviews on GetYourGuide
5-hour bus tour from Manhattan
A guided tour in English, German, Italian or Spanish. It passes Lincoln Center, Central Park West, Greenwich Village and SoHo. You also walk from Little Italy to Chinatown.
Best for A guided overview in your own language
Check availability: 5-hour bus tour from Manhattan on GetYourGuide -
from €75 per person 6 hours 4.6 (578) reviews on GetYourGuide
Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens bus tour, 6 hours
A day beyond Manhattan's main sights. You see street art in the Bronx and Brooklyn and views of the Brooklyn Bridge. It also visits Harlem, Chinatown and Little Italy.
Best for Seeing the city beyond Manhattan
Check availability: Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens bus tour, 6 hours on GetYourGuide -
from €67 per person 5 hours 4.7 (528) reviews on GetYourGuide
Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn bus tour, 5 hours
The same idea, one hour shorter. You see Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and the Manhattan skyline from across the river. The guide speaks English or German.
Best for A shorter day in the other boroughs
Check availability: Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn bus tour, 5 hours on GetYourGuide -
from €43 per person 3 hours 4.5 (792) reviews on GetYourGuide
Night bus tour, 3 hours
A closed-top bus with a live guide after dark. It passes Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building. It stops in DUMBO for the Brooklyn Bridge view.
Best for The city lights after dark
Check availability: Night bus tour, 3 hours on GetYourGuide -
from €285 per person 2 hours 4.6 (443) reviews on GetYourGuide
Gossip Girl sites bus tour
A 2-hour bus tour to places from the TV show, such as the Met Steps. Non-refundable: you cannot cancel for your money back. It is the priciest pick here.
Best for Fans of the show
Check availability: Gossip Girl sites bus tour on GetYourGuide
New York bus tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-top hop-on hop-off ticket, 1 to 3 days | €55 per person | Valid 1–3 days | Yes | A first day in the city, and seeing a lot fast | The most-reviewed bus ticket here: 4.2 from 6,601 reviews. |
| Half-day bus tour with photo stops | €61 per person | 4 hours | Yes | Short trips, and anyone who wants the guide on board | The best-rated Manhattan bus tour: 4.7 from 473 reviews. |
| 5-hour bus tour from Manhattan | €71 per person | 5 hours | Yes | A guided overview in your own language | A guide in four languages, and 4.6 from 1,530 reviews. |
| Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens bus tour, 6 hours | €75 per person | 6 hours | Yes | Seeing the city beyond Manhattan | The fullest borough tour: 4.6 from 578 reviews. |
| Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn bus tour, 5 hours | €67 per person | 5 hours | Yes | A shorter day in the other boroughs | The best-rated borough tour: 4.7 from 528 reviews. |
| Night bus tour, 3 hours | €43 per person | 3 hours | Yes | The city lights after dark | A guided night tour with a photo stop: 4.5 from 792 reviews. |
| Gossip Girl sites bus tour | €285 per person | 2 hours | Non-refundable | Fans of the show | The one bus tour for TV fans: 4.6 from 443 reviews. |
Open-top hop-on hop-off ticket, 1 to 3 days
€55 per personValid 1–3 days 4.2 (6,601)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- A first day in the city, and seeing a lot fast
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed bus ticket here: 4.2 from 6,601 reviews.
Half-day bus tour with photo stops
€61 per person4 hours 4.7 (473)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Short trips, and anyone who wants the guide on board
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated Manhattan bus tour: 4.7 from 473 reviews.
5-hour bus tour from Manhattan
€71 per person5 hours 4.6 (1,530)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- A guided overview in your own language
- Why we picked it
- A guide in four languages, and 4.6 from 1,530 reviews.
Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens bus tour, 6 hours
€75 per person6 hours 4.6 (578)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Seeing the city beyond Manhattan
- Why we picked it
- The fullest borough tour: 4.6 from 578 reviews.
Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn bus tour, 5 hours
€67 per person5 hours 4.7 (528)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- A shorter day in the other boroughs
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated borough tour: 4.7 from 528 reviews.
€43 per person3 hours 4.5 (792)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- The city lights after dark
- Why we picked it
- A guided night tour with a photo stop: 4.5 from 792 reviews.
€285 per person2 hours 4.6 (443)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Fans of the show
- Why we picked it
- The one bus tour for TV fans: 4.6 from 443 reviews.
- Group size is not stated on the booking pages.
- None of the 7 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Hop-on hop-off New York: how it works
A hop-on hop-off bus drives a fixed loop past the big sights. You get off at any stop, look around, and catch a later bus. Your ticket is valid for 1, 2 or 3 days.
On our pick, Big Bus Tours, you start at 724 7th Ave, near Times Square. The app shows where each bus is. Other companies run similar loops.
Prefer to ride on your own? Our NYC subway map guide helps you plan the trains.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Unlimited rides for your ticket length | Entry to sights, unless the ticket says so |
| Open-top double-decker buses | Food and drinks |
| Audio with free earbuds, in 6 languages | Hotel pickup |
| Live-guided night tour on 48/72-hour tickets | The Uptown loop on a 1-day ticket |
| A Circle Line cruise with some ticket options | The night tour on a 1-day ticket |
The open-top double-decker bus tour
The open top gives you the best view of the tall buildings. Sit upstairs on a dry day. On a cold or wet day, a closed bus like the half-day tour is more comfortable.
The red bus: the Downtown loop
The red route is the Downtown loop. Big Bus says it runs from about 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The first and last bus are at the stop on 7th Ave in Times Square.
The blue Uptown loop runs from about 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It starts at 7th Ave and W 53rd St. You need a 48- or 72-hour ticket for it.
How long is one loop?
Big Bus says one Downtown loop takes about 90 minutes, with a bus every 30 minutes. The Uptown loop takes about 75 minutes, with a bus every hour.
So plan for a wait at each stop, up to 30 minutes Downtown and up to an hour Uptown. Big Bus says it runs every day except Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. Weather and events can change the service.
Other bus tours of New York: boroughs, night and photo stops
A guided bus tour is the best choice if you want one ride with a live guide. You stay on one bus and do not wait for the next one.
The half-day tour takes 4 hours and stops for photos. The 5-hour tour from Manhattan has guides in four languages. Two longer tours go to Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens.
The night tour takes 3 hours, with a stop in DUMBO. Check that it runs on your date before you book.
Would you rather walk? For SoHo and Chinatown walking tours, see our guide to tours on foot.
Is a bus tour worth it?
Yes, a bus tour is worth it on your first day. It shows you where everything is. Then you know which sights to go back to.
The bus can be slow in Midtown traffic. If you want speed, the subway is faster and costs $3 a ride. Our guide to the NYC subway map shows the lines between the same sights.
Does a pass include the bus?
Yes, two passes include it. The New York Pass All-Inclusive and the Explorer pass both include a 2-day Big Bus ticket for the Downtown and Uptown loops. The Essentials pass does not.
If you also want the sky decks and museums, compare the New York sights pass options first.
Booking tips for New York bus tours
Start early
Buses come every 30 to 60 minutes. Start in the morning, so you have time to get off at more stops.
Check the night tour
Some night routes are not running at times. Check that the night tour runs on your date before you choose a ticket for it.
Know what is included
A bus ticket does not include entry to the sights. Read the list before you book.
Keep free cancellation
Six of our seven picks can be cancelled for free. The Gossip Girl tour cannot be refunded.
Bus tours in New York: questions and answers
Is hop-on hop-off worth it in New York City?
What is a hop-on hop-off bus in New York City?
How much is the hop-on hop-off bus in New York City?
How long is the Big Bus tour in New York City?
What is the best bus tour in New York City?
Does the New York Pass include the hop-on hop-off bus?
More New York bus tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
Live prices from GetYourGuide load here.
Browse all on GetYourGuideLive prices are not showing right now.
See all of these tours with today's prices on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore ways to see New York
Sources (5), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in NYC editorial team.