This blog may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy for more info.
Thinking about booking a helicopter tour over Manhattan?
I’ve spent a lot of time exploring this city, and I must say, a helicopter flight is VERY hard to beat. In fact, although I’ve been lucky enough to take helicopter tours all over the world, the one I did in Manhattan really stood out. There’s really nothing like seeing that iconic skyline from above!
I know helicopter tours are pretty pricey, which is why it’s so important to choose the best one. Naturally, you want the best experience possible when you’re splashing out! That’s why we’ve listed our top helicopter flights in Manhattan to help you decide which one is right for your trip.
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE NYC helicopter ride is this 12-15 minute flight over Manhattan! We saw the city’s iconic sights, learned a lot from our pilot’s commentary, and had a blast – the time quite literally flew by!
Check out the 1,000+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Best NYC Helicopter Tours
1. New York Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights
- Duration: 12-15 minutes
- Time: Departure times from 9 am to 5:30 pm
- Highlights: Learning about the city sights from our pilot, seeing the city from an aerial view, a short activity that can fit into a busy schedule
- Inclusions: Shared helicopter flight, onboard commentary, heliport landing fees, fuel surcharge
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check 1,200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Sometimes the most memorable travel experiences are short and sweet, like this 12-15 minute helicopter flight over Manhattan!
We loved every second of seeing NYC’s iconic sights from above. We learned so much from our pilot, who gave an impressive commentary as we flew. Not only was he flying the helicopter, but he was like a human encyclopedia too!
He took us over Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Ellis Island, and so many more sights. I think the coolest part was seeing the 9/11 Memorial from above so we could see just how large the pools were, it gave a totally different perspective.
Since this is a shared tour, we were able to make some friends and enjoy the views together, which honestly made it more fun!
This tour is one of the most popular flights out there with over 1,000 5-star reviews. Unlike most helicopter flights, this one includes the landing and fuel fees, so you can save about $50 USD on the day of the tour, which was a huge selling point for me!
Book our FAVORITE helicopter tour in advance here, before it sells out!
2. The Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York
- Duration: 12-15 minutes
- Time: departure times from 9 am to 5:30 pm
- Highlights: Soaring over Manhattan; seeing the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Chrysler Building, and more; learning about the city from the pilot
- Inclusions: Shared helicopter flight, onboard commentary
- Rating: 4.3 stars (check 1,700+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
This helicopter tour focuses on Manhattan, so you can see some of the most iconic sights from above!
This is a shared flight, which means that it’s more affordable, particularly if you’re a solo traveler or only traveling with 1-2 other people.
As well as Central Park and the iconic hotspots around Midtown Manhattan, you’ll also have birds eye views of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. We had such a fantastic time on this tour – we loved the views, the helicopter itself, and the interesting commentary from our pilot.
The tour costs $259 USD per person, making it one of the most affordable Manhattan helicopter tours. The flight lasts for 12-15 minutes, although we felt like ours was longer. We were worried that it would go by in the blink of an eye but honestly, there was so much to take in that it felt way longer than it actually was. We were so happy with our choice!
Check out the 1,000+ 5-star reviews and book this flight here!
3. The Big Apple Helicopter Tour of New York City
- Duration: 17-20 minutes
- Time: 9 am to 5 pm departure times
- Highlights: Flying over Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx; learning about the city from the pilot’s commentary; seeing NYC’s iconic sights from above
- Inclusions: Shared helicopter flight, onboard commentary
- Rating: 4.3 stars (check 450+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Usually, when people think of New York City, they think of Manhattan. However, the Big Apple is actually made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Each has its own distinct character and culture, and on this Big Apple Helicopter Tour, you get to see them all.
This tour provides a fascinating insight into just how huge and diverse New York City really is. Your pilot will provide lots of interesting commentary about the different boroughs and what makes them unique, and help you to identify lesser-known but significant landmarks. You’ll come away feeling like a seasoned New Yorker!
And of course, you still get to see Manhattan’s epic highlights like the Empire State Building, the One World Trade Center, Columbia University, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The tour lasts for 17-20 minutes, so you get plenty of time in the air. The tour costs $289 USD per person, and you’ll need to pay the $40 USD airport fee on the day. It’s worth noting that this is standard for all helicopter flights, and it’s outside of the helicopter company.
Book this popular flight here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you take off!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. The Empire Helicopter Tour of New York
- Duration: 25-30 minutes
- Time: 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm
- Highlights: Flying over NYC on a longer flight option, small group tour, seeing the famous sights from above
- Inclusions: Shared helicopter flight, onboard commentary
- Rating: 4.3 stars (check all the reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
This helicopter tour is one of the most in-depth ones on offer in Manhattan! At 25-30 minutes long, depending on the weather conditions, it provides a really comprehensive overview of the city. We think it’s ideal for people who don’t have long to spend in New York City and want to see as much as possible in a short time.
You’ll see iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Central Park, and Manhattan’s most famous skyscrapers, as well as flying over the Bronx to learn more about the area and see the enormous Yankee Stadium.
We highly recommend this tour if you don’t have a ton of time in the city and want a really in-depth helicopter tour. The pilot provides excellent commentary so you learn a lot whilst enjoying the spectacular views.
The Empire helicopter tour costs $389 USD per person. It’s longer than your average tour so if you want to maximize your time in the air, this is a great one to choose. Plus, we don’t think anyone has ever complained that their helicopter ride was too long!
Check availability and reserve this in-depth helicopter flight here.
5. New York Helicopter Tour: City Lights Skyline Experience
- Duration: 25-30 minutes
- Time: Departure times from 5 to 9 pm
- Highlights: Seeing NYC all lit up from the sky, learning about the city from the pilot’s commentary, longer flight time
- Inclusions: Shared helicopter flight, onboard commentary, helicopter landing fees and fuel surcharge fees, shuttle from New Jersey (upon request)
- Rating: 4.7 stars (check 550+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
New York is the city that never sleeps, and Manhattan really does look spectacular when lit up at night. So if you fancy doing a helicopter tour after dark, the City Lights Experience is the perfect ride for you!
You’ll depart after night falls and soar over Manhattan as you see its most famous sights lit up at night. The Statue of Liberty looks spectacular when she’s lit up, and Times Square’s neon lights look even more amazing by night!
What’s incredible about this tour is that helicopter rides after dark are normally only available for private, chartered flights, so this is such a unique opportunity. Seeing Manhattan glittering after dark is the kind of view that makes you pinch yourself, and it looks even more amazing from the sky.
This tour costs $329 USD per person and the ride lasts for 25-30 minutes. The long length of the flight means you’ll get a really in-depth overview of Manhattan and its many neighborhoods, including trendy areas like Tribeca, SoHo, and the West Village. You’ll also fly over the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and the busy George Washington Bridge.
I also appreciate that this tour includes the helicopter landing fees and fuel surcharge, which most tours require you to pay on the day!
This tour is likely to sell out – secure your spot in advance here!
Other Things to do While You’re in New York City
As the biggest city in the USA, there is no shortage of things to do in New York! I mean you could spend weeks here and still not see a fraction of what the Big Apple has to offer. But if you only have a few days and want to see the highlights, these are other top attractions and activities we highly recommend checking out.
- Eat pizza! – New York was home to the first pizzeria in the US way back in the early 1900s and it’s still something this city is known for. I dare say the pizza here is legendary! Top pizza joints include John’s of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, Prince Street Pizza in Nolita, and we also loved 2 Bros Pizza. You can even eat pizza (and lots of other treats!) on a food tour of Chelsea Market which is a foodie’s paradise!
- Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum – Making a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum is an essential stop while in NYC. The memorial is a lovely tribute to the tragic event, and we learned so much at the museum that made it all the more worthwhile. You must get entrance tickets to the museum in advance to ensure your entry (it’s quite popular, as you can imagine)!
- Explore Central Park – Likely you’ve seen this famous park in movies, so it’s a must while you’re here. Central Park is huge with great spots like a historic carousel, Belvedere Castle, and even a skating rink in the winter. There are several tours of Central Park, and you’ll feel like you’re starring in a rom-com with this 45-minute horse and carriage ride.
- Empire State Building – As one of the most iconic buildings in the entire world, the Empire State Building is an attraction like none other! Of course, you’ll see the building from afar, but the views are next-level from the Empire State Building observation deck. Make sure to reserve tickets for the main observation deck in advance as only a limited number of people are allowed up at a time.
- Take a day trip – Not only is NYC full of fun, but it’s close to other amazing destinations you can visit for a day! Head to Washington, DC to check out the White House, try some amazing Philly Cheesesteak and see the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, or take a tour from New York to Niagara Falls.
Where to Stay in New York City
New York City is huge – there is just no other way to put it! Even Manhattan (the area you’ll want to base yourself in) is a lot bigger than you think. That’s why choosing the right hotel in the right location is so important during your stay in New York.
Below, we’ve simplified it all for you by choosing a couple of the very best hotels available in the city. All three of these options have ideal locations close to attractions and the subway system. They all have amazing reviews, too, so just choose the one in your budget category and you’ll be ready to pack your bags!
Motto by Hilton – $$$
Motto by Hilton is a gorgeous hotel located in the Chelsea neighborhood only 600 meters from the Flatiron Building. The hotel features modern decor that has “speakeasy vibes”. In fact, they have a beautiful bar onsite that looks like the perfect place to sip an Old Fashioned. There are a variety of rooms on offer including some that are a little more budget-friendly, and some that are pure luxury with city views! Prices start from about $400 USD per night plus tax.
You can check prices and availability for Motto by Hilton online here!
Delta Hotels by Marriott New York Times Square – $$
Delta Hotels by Marriott New York Times Square is where we stayed the last time we visited New York, and honestly, we loved it! This hotel is the perfect combination of comfort and value for money. It was clean, modern, and our room had all of the amenities we needed for an enjoyable stay (air conditioning, k-cup coffee maker, steamer, large shower, big windows, etc). Plus, the location is ideal – it’s only a couple blocks from Times Square!
Prices do range, but they do go as low as $200 USD per night plus tax depending on the time of year and day of the week. You can check prices and book online here!
Nap York Central Park Sleep Station – $
For those traveling on a tight budget, Nap York is a budget hostel that’s an ideal choice. Although affordable, this property is immaculate and offers a ton of amenities for a great stay including air conditioning and a shared kitchen. The rooms are modern and the location is about as central as it gets! This property only offers dorm rooms, but they are affordable at as little as $150 USD per night.
You can check prices and book Nap York online on either Booking.com or Hostelworld
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
We are certain that if you stick to any of the five Manhattan helicopter rides mentioned above, you’re sure to have a fantastic time! I mean, how could you not?! The views of New York City from the sky are spectacular, and your helicopter tour is guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If you enjoyed this blog, check out some of our related blogs about visiting the USA. Or, a couple related reads below:
How to Spend THREE DAYS in New York City: 3-Day Itinerary