Hop on Hop off Bus in New York

The Hop on Hop off bus in New York is the perfect way to explore the city, especially on your first day. These sightseeing buses allow you to explore a large part of the city in a short time and see many famous sights right away.

There are several routes available, taking you past the Empire State Building, Central Park and the 9/11 Museum, among other attractions.

Which Hop on Hop off bus should I take?

Since there are several Hop on Hop off bus providers in New York, I’ve narrowed it down to a few interesting options for you. If you’re looking for more detailed information, please continue reading below:

• Option 1: If you want to use the Hop on Hop off bus for one day and see the best bits of Manhattan, this option is great value for money.
  More information on this Hop on Hop off ticket

• Option 2: Do you want to explore the city with the Hop on Hop off bus, visit the Empire State Building and take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty? Then this is the most interesting option for you.
  More information on this sightseeing package

• Option 3: This package offers a Hop on hop off bus ticket valid for multiple days. Explore all of Manhattan during the Uptown and Downtown Loops and hop on and off as much as you want. You can also discover other parts of the city.
  More information on this multi-day ticket

How does the Hop on Hop off bus work?

The double-decker buses are impossible to miss and travel past famous sights in New York. They make a number of stops along the way, where you can hop on or off. Most routes start at Times Square, where the buses are usually still empty. That’s why I recommend getting on here.

The Hop on Hop off buses are not really suitable for use as a means of transport, but they are perfect for sightseeing in New York. For fast transportation, it is best to take the subway.

Because you can sit inside or under the canopy, the buses are also a good option when it rains.

The buses run quite slowly and sometimes get stuck in traffic. That’s why I specifically recommend using these buses during the first day(s) of your trip to New York, so you can get your bearings and get an overview of the city.

When you board the bus, you can pick up free earplugs, which you will need for the audio system to listen to the guide during the journey.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.co.uk. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Read more about NewYork.co.uk and Eric

Eric’s Tip: “I recommend taking the bus early in the morning. That way, there isn’t much traffic (yet) and you can become familiar with the city on your first day. In my opinion, it’s best to sit at the top of the bus on the right-hand side. From there, you have a good view of the sights and can take the best photos.”

Where can I buy tickets?

My advice is to buy your tickets for the Hop on Hop off bus in New York online in advance. Tickets are available for a fixed period or a specific route. Your tickets will be activated when they are scanned as you board the bus for the first time.

Ticket types

Please pay close attention to the type of ticket you purchase and which bus routes are included. There are two types of tickets for the Hop-on Hop-off bus:

• Day tickets: These are only valid on the calendar day on which you use them. They are often referred to as 1-day tickets, for example.
• Hourly tickets: These tickets are valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours from the moment you first board. For example, if you board the bus for the first time at 10:00, you can use your ticket until 10:00 the next day.

The number of hours is calculated consecutively. A 72-hour ticket is therefore valid for 3 full days from the moment of activation. It is not possible to pause usage in between.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.co.uk. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Read more about NewYork.co.uk and Eric

Eric’s Tip: “If you are unsure about the number of days, I recommend purchasing a 2-day ticket, which allows you to take different routes. A ticket for the Hop on Hop off bus is also included in the Explorer Pass and New York Pass.”

Which provider should I choose?

There are several Hop on Hop off bus providers in New York. There are some differences between the routes and tickets that they offer. If you’re unsure which provider you should choose, here’s my recommendation:

Big Bus New York

In my experience, the Big Bus is the best Hop on Hop off bus in New York. They have the nicest buses, which are often less crowded than those of other providers. The Big Bus hop on hop off tours offer a comfortable experience and more value for money.

Big Bus in New York offers the following routes:

• Downtown tour (2 hours)
• Uptown tour (2 hours)
• Brooklyn tour (2 hours)
• Night tour (2 hours)

There are other Hop on Hop off providers besides those mentioned above. In Manhattan, you’ll probably see double-decker buses from other organisations, too. I don’t recommend these bus tours because I’ve either had a bad experience with them or because their offer is not as good as the options mentioned above.