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The 5 Best NYC Bus Tours for 2024

Let a trained driver worry about the traffic while you enjoy the Big Apple's best sights.

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As one of the largest cities in the world, New York City has so much to see and do. That's why many visitors start their trip off with a bus tour to see iconic sights and neighborhoods and get the lay of the land. To help you find the tour that's best for you, U.S. News reviewed traveler sentiment and expert input to determine the top New York bus tours. Read our suggestions below for some of the best bus tours you can book for your next trip to the City That Never Sleeps.

Big Bus Tours

Price: Adults from $80; kids from $70 Duration: 75 to 90 minutes

Big Bus New York offers a hop-on, hop-off tour that features 18 stops at major attractions like Bryant Park, Broadway and St. Patrick's Cathedral, with prerecorded commentary provided along the way. Double-decker buses frequent stops every 20 minutes on the Red Line (which runs through downtown) and every 30 minutes on uptown's Blue Line. The Essential Ticket, which is valid for one day, grants you access to the 90-minute downtown and 75-minute uptown routes and lets you add on extras like tickets for Madame Tussauds, the Empire State Building or a harbor cruise. Big Bus New York is a hit with travelers who appreciate the ability to tailor tours to their interests. Others bemoaned the overcrowded buses and long wait times.

You can also book a Discover Ticket, which explores famous landmarks downtown, or an Explore Ticket, which is a two-day hop-on, hop-off bus tour experience. Big Bus Tours also operates a seasonal night tour.

Check prices & availability on:

A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours – The Original Brooklyn Pizza Tour

Price: Adults from $105; kids from $95 Duration: 4.5 hours

Brooklyn has so much to see and do – and eat! The Original Brooklyn Pizza Tour, which reviewers describe as a great experience with even better pizza, lasts 4.5 hours and takes travelers throughout the borough to sample delicious slices from places like Grimaldi's and L&B Spumoni Gardens. You'll also see filming locations for movies like "Saturday Night Fever" and "Goodfellas."

Ticket prices include lunch. Tours are available Friday through Monday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. A Slice of Brooklyn also leads a seasonal tour exploring Dyker Heights' Christmas lights , among other options.

On Location Tours – "Sex and the City" Hotspots Tour

Price: From $66 Duration: 3.5 hours

Fans of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda can relive all their favorite "Sex and the City" moments during this New York bus tour, which features more than 40 popular locations from the show and movies. During the tour, you'll view iconic filming locations, walk past Carrie Bradshaw's brownstone apartment, sample cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, drink a cosmopolitan (if you wish) and shop in Greenwich Village. Plus, you'll visit stops from the reboot "And Just Like That," including Bergdorf Goodman and Chelsea Market. Reviewers peg this tour as fun and fabulous.

Tourgoers can pay another $10 for priority seating. Participants must be 18 or older. Tours generally depart Thursday to Sunday at 2 p.m., though additional days may be available during the summer months. On Location Tours operates other filming locations tours for shows and movies, including "Gossip Girl," "The Sopranos" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," among others.

USA Guided Tours – Discover NY Tour

Price: Adults from $99; kids from $89 Duration: 6 hours

On this full-day tour, you'll drive through some of the city's most famous neighborhoods and most-visited areas. You'll have your choice of a traditional bus or a bus with either a glass top or a convertible top. Regardless of the vehicle, enjoy the expert commentary and a history lesson from your tour guide as you cruise past Times Square, Madison Square Park, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and more. A 15-minute stroll through each of the main stops is included, as is a boat cruise that takes you to see the famous NYC skyline. Many travelers call this tour fantastic and a must-do in New York.

Tours depart at 9 and 10 a.m. daily. USA Guided Tours also offers a night tour of the Big Apple.

Hush Hip Hop Tours – Birthplace of Hip Hop

Price: Adults from $79.99; kids from $58 Duration: 3 hours

Travelers routinely praise the Birthplace of Hip Hop tour not only for its cultural lessons about Harlem, but also for the informative guides who explain the history of hip-hop music. During this tour, you'll see famous clubs, murals dedicated to artists and the Apollo Theater. Plus, you'll get to observe a dance session and show off your moves.

Outings run Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Hush Hip Hop Tours also operates walking tours of Harlem and Brooklyn, among others.

Check prices & availability on:  

Interested in more New York City tours? Check out the:

• Best New York City Tours
• Best New York City Food Tours
• Best Statue of Liberty Tours
• Best New York City Boat Tours
• Best New York City Walking Tours

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , New York City , New York Vacations , Mid-Atlantic Vacations , US Vacations

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The 10 best bus tours in NYC

From superhero movie sets to a Sex and the City excursion, these are the best NYC bus tours for sightseeing

Photograph: Courtesy Big Bus New York Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Want to take in all that NYC has to offer but with maximum comfort and convenience? Book yourself an NYC bus tour — these stellar sightseeing options are a visitor's best friend. While you could get your steps in on a walking tour or eat your way through NYC on a foodie jaunt, you’ll see more sights in a smaller amount of time on one of the city’s top bus tours. Whether you’re looking for the classic hop-on hop-off experience that stops at all the major attractions, a themed TV and movie route spotlighting popular filming locations or a spirited excursion to the outer boroughs, we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best bus tours in NYC. Read on, then hop on!

RECOMMENDED: Find more New York City tours .

This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click  here .

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best NYC bus tours

1.  big bus new york hop-on hop-off tour.

First time exploring the wonderful city that is New York? This comprehensive, fully narrated tour allows you to customize your itinerary to just how you want it, boarding and leaving whenever it’s convenient for you. Vouchers can be redeemed in Times Square, where the tour begins. Choose from two circuits: the 90-minute Downtown Loop, which visits neighborhoods such as Little Italy and Chinatown and attractions like the Stock Exchange and the World Trade Center; and the 75-minute Uptown Loop, which includes classic New York spots like Lincoln Center, Rockefeller Center and the Apollo Theatre. Think of it as a handy little passport to discovering all the best of this fascinating city. 

2.  THE RIDE New York City

Double-decker bus tour not your thing? Amp up your usual sightseeing excursion with this dynamic part-show, part-city tour. Yes, it’s as wild and wonderful as it sounds. The multi-million-dollar bus (yep, you heard that right) offers outward-facing stadium seating with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Billed as a “traveling theater,” the uniquely designed bus allows riders to take photos of top attractions ( the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal) and interact with street performers during the 75-minute ride. It's a blast.

3.  New York Bus Night Tour

If New York is the city that never sleeps (which it totally is, btw), it makes sense to experience it in all its nighttime glory. This after-hours tour starts in midtown Manhattan, then drives past iconic and illuminated landmarks like the Empire State Building, Times Square and Chinatown, with expert commentary on the city’s history and celebrity residents along the way. There will also be time to stretch your legs during the four-hour excursion, with guided walks in High Line Park and Grand Central Station. And trust us, all those glittering, gleaming views of Manhattan at night are just as glorious as billed. 

4.  Sex and the City Hotspots Tour

Has there been a better unofficial NYC spokesperson than Carrie Bradshaw herself? This bus tour pays homage to the New York-loving sex columnist by spotlighting all of the hotspots from the original stint of the hit HBO show. (Alas, locations from the  And Just Like That  reboot aren’t featured, so no Che Diaz sightings here!) B oard the bus and get reacquainted with some of your favorite Sex and the City settings, like Steve and Aidan's bar Scout — where you can stop to sip a Cosmo, of course — the Pleasure Chest, where Charlotte bought her 'Rabbit' vibrator, and Carrie’s iconic stoop. Jimmy Choos optional!

5.  Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens Coach Tour

Manhattan may get a lot of the glory, but this comprehensive tour (it lasts for four-and-a-half hours) takes you through three equally deserving boroughs that made New York, well, New York. (Sorry, Staten Island!) Board in midtown and drive north through the Upper East Side to Spanish Harlem and the Bronx. Check out Yankee Stadium and the Italian enclave on Arthur Avenue before crossing into Queens. You’ll drive through Astoria and Long Island City before entering Brooklyn, where you’ll explore trendy ‘hoods including Greenpoint and Williamsburg. There’s just enough time left to drive over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge for one last look at the New York City skyline. Lush .

6.  Birthplace of Hip Hop Tour - Harlem & The Bronx

Like R euben sandwiches, eggs Benedict and Martin Scorsese, hip-hop was born right here in New York City. Discover the origins of the groundbreaking musical genre on this bus tour of Manhattan, Harlem and the Boogie Down Bronx . Led by a grandmaster —no, not Flash, but similarly legendary emcees like Kurtis Blow, Johnny Famous, Roxanne Shante and Reggie Reg — the excursion starts at the location of the first hip-hop party in Manhattan before heading uptown to iconic spots like the Apollo Theater, the Graffiti Hall of Fame and Yankee Stadium. You’ll get to watch a real b-boy and b-girl dance session, snap photos in front of famous murals dedicated to Big L and Kool Herc, and even learn how to freestyle!

7.  Superhero Film Tour of New York

From Spider-Man to Batman to Jessica Jones , New York City has played home to many a superhero. On this sightseeing tour, you’ll see around 40 locations featured in your favorite super-powered TV shows and movies, from the setting of the Battle of New York in The Avengers to The Daily Planet building from the Superman franchise to the exact spot where Danny Rand flips over a cab in Iron Fist . This is one fascinating exploration that will make superhero fans and comic-book buffs very happy indeed.

8.  Sunday Harlem Gospel Guided Tour

Explore the culture of Harlem, one of the meccas of Black-American identity, on this guided tour. The tour visits both iconic and lesser-known attractions, such as  Columbia University, the Cotton Club and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. After visiting the Apollo Theater, where Michael Jackson once performed, and the famous stretch of 125th Street, where Duke Ellington lived, guests will be welcomed by a local congregation to participate in a Gospel mass. 

9.  Gossip Girl Bus Sites Tour

“Spotted at Grand Central, bags in hand” is the opening line of the New York-centric hit show Gossip Girl . And this is a big “XOXO” to the city and its super-elite, showcasing a number of memorable locations from the hit teen drama. Follow in the footsteps of Blair Waldorf , Serena van der Woodsen and the rest of the Constance Billard crew and explore many of the show’s glamorous locations on this three-hour bus tour, including The Empire Hotel (where Chuck Bass lived and worked), the Vera Wang boutique where Blair tried on her wedding gown and, of course, those iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where you can take a photo op.

10.  The Sopranos Filming Locations Bus Tour

First thing’s first: yes, we know that The Sopranos largely takes place in New Jersey. But just like Jersey residents proudly tout “NJ/NYC” in their Instagram bios, we’re going to lovingly co-opt the crime drama as our own. Starting in midtown Manhattan and crossing over into the Garden State, this Jersey-set tour will feature key locations from the Mafia-inspired HBO series, including the diner where Chris was shot, the spot where Big Pussy spoke with the FBI and the booth in Tony’s restaurant where the final episode was filmed. You’ll also catch a glimpse of Satin Dolls (the Bada Bing bar).

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HOLIDAY RIDE – now through Dec 30

minute experience (approx)

42 nd & 8 th

departure location

laughs with our hosts & performers

Experience the energy that powers New York City with the traveling theater that drives discovery.

Explore a whole new side of NYC with THE RIDE. Our custom-designed, multimillion-dollar bus is perfect for people-watching, but the entertainment doesn’t stop there.

The streets come alive during this uproarious one-of-a-kind theatrical adventure, and you have the best seat in the house. Take a bite out of The Big Apple with our two hilarious hosts and enjoy surprise performances during this unique 75-minute show.

When the streets are the stage, anything is possible. Sit back and enjoy THE RIDE as this entertainment spectacle unfolds right before your very eyes.

About Holiday Ride – Nov 14 through Dec 30

Embrace the holiday spirit in an unforgettable New York City experience with THE RIDE – where the wonder of the season meets theatrical delight.

Step aboard our custom-designed bus, a window to the city’s festive magic, and immerse yourself in the ultimate holiday spectacle. As you journey through the twinkling streets, the city becomes more than a backdrop; it’s a living, breathing stage of yuletide joy.

This special holiday RIDE edition, led by our charismatic hosts, is filled with merry surprises and performances that capture the essence of NYC’s holiday charm. From the shimmering lights of the city to heartwarming acts on every corner, the holiday spirit comes alive in a way only New York can deliver.

Experience the enchantment of the Big Apple during the most wonderful time of the year. With laughter, wonder, and festive cheer around every turn, THE RIDE is more than a tour; it’s a holiday celebration on wheels. Sit back, relax, and let the magic of the holidays unfold in an extraordinary journey through New York City.

The Ride Buzz

You’ve never experienced nyc like this..

See what past riders have to say about this one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.

Made me realize how much I’ve missed being in NYC .

Danielle S. (New Paltz, NY)

Technologically advanced party-bubble ! Perfect & wonderful.

From the moment we departed we didn’t stop laughing!

Vicky G. (Tonyrefail, UK)

Drama, comedy, documentary, and reality all rolled into one .

If I could give 10 stars I would! Definitely a must see and worth every penny.

Talizzaro (Rockland, MA)

A rock star sightseeing bus on steroids.

Love watching New York go by while they add their own sparkle with their own street performances.

Ruth (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

It’s like looking at a giant movie screen of NYC!

An authentic, witty new york experience and you can trust me, i’m a new yorker..

Stay01283447057 (New York, NY)

Entertainment Experience | From $79 | 75 Min.

Corporate & Private Bookings

Customize your experience with a private tour.

Groups, Schools, & Travel Professionals

Book your group outing with THE RIDE.

To book with a pass, please email us at [email protected] with the following information:

• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Date & Time of THE RIDE you’d like to take (from our calendar, under TICKETS)
• Number of Tickets
• All Pass Numbers (can be found on the face of your pass, under the QR Code)

Group Sales

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Which New York Bus Tours Are Best?

This post reviews and compares the various bus tour options available to you in NYC, including hop-on-hop-off, fully guided, themed, and night tours. 

This content written by local tour guides who don't just review but actually lead these bus tours, so we know a thing or two about them.

If you are looking for content written by enormous media companies using AI and favored by Google, then you've come to the wrong place.

If you are like many visitors, you are struggling to decide which of the many bus tour companies to choose, or if to choose one at all.

There are hop-on-hop-off buses, fully-guided bus tours, themed tours, night tours, and the list goes on.

Well, we are here to help make sense of it all.

In this post, we explain the pros and cons of each option and compare the different options.

These are two questions that we locals get asked all of the time, and the following tips come from our own experiences.

And we also got inspiration from the contributions of the roughly 200k members of our popular NYC Travel Tips Facebook group. At the bottom of this you can see what group members thought about bus tours.

Our group consists of locals, like our guides, veteran visitors to NYC and newbies.

There's no need to become a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations, so check us out once you finish reading this post.

So, without further ado, let's get moving.

• Double Decker Bus Hop-on-Hop-Off
• Hop-on Hop-off Tours Compared
• Fully Guided Bus Tours
• Movie + Themed Bus Tours
• Night Bus Tours
• Combo Deals
• Brooklyn Bus Tours

NEW YORK HOP ON HOP OFF SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS

Traditional hop-on-hop-off bus companies provide transport to major sites all over the city, which can be appealing if the New York subway system seems daunting.  

Typically guests purchase 1, 2, or 3-day access passes and can then get on/off the bus at any of the company's designated stops at any time, or they get tickets through a tourist pass .

Most multiple-day tickets include more than one route to explore, a free bike rental, and sometimes even a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty!

Depending on the service you use, tickets might also include admission to more than one museum, popular attractions like the Empire State Building, and freebies at nearby businesses.

Prices for these combination tickets are sometimes too good to pass up.

All offer audio headsets with commentary in multiple languages.

Unfortunately, no hop-on-hop-off company offers live tour guides at this time. For live guides, check out the next section .

The market is very competitive with companies outdoing each other's prices regularly.

Be sure to check for any deals by clicking the links.

However, no information is provided when you are off the bus, and commentary on board occasionally consists of a recording.

For that reason, these tours are best for those looking for an informational shuttle service between attractions rather than detailed information about the city.  

Leave the detailed touring to our pay-what-you-wish walking tours  or our audio tours , many of which start and end near popular bus stops.

Likewise, during the busy season, guests may have to wait for multiple buses to pass through a stop as seat availability is not guaranteed.

Also, keep in mind that though bus tours guarantee easy transportation around the city, they are not always the quickest as all bus tours are subject to NYC traffic!

BIG BUS TOURS

If we were ranking these buses, Big Bus would be at the top of the list.

Big Bus Tours consist of 35+ stops around New York City on 5 routes, including Downtown, Uptown, and Midtown Manhattan routes, Harlem Routes, and one route in Brooklyn ( see map detail ).  

You can also download their app, which has maps to help you plan your route.

Guests listen to an audio recording in one of 10 languages while on the bus and they are free to wander around on their own at each stop.  

They also offer a  night tour , which is not a hop-on-hop-off tour as well as  combo packages .  

All of the Big Bus routes are included for free with the Sightseeing Pass , GoCity Explorer Pass , and the New York Pass .

UPDATE: Big Bus has actually added a new feature for kids: Peppa Pig ears!

All children who climb onboard will receive a pair of Peppa Pig ears to wear and an activity sheet.

There is also an audio commentary channel just for kids which focuses on the history of this character and includes music from the latest album.

Big Bus Tickets

Here are just a few of their most popular tickets. Prices are for tickets purchased online. It's slightly more expensive on-site.

All prices below reflect an additional 10% off pricing that you can only get when purchasing tickets directly from the official Big Bus website.

Essential Ticket 1 Day

• 1 Day Hop-on, Hop-off w/ 2 extensive routes
• The ticket includes 50% on a 2-hour bike rental.
• Price: $72/Adults | $63/Children

Premium Ticket 2 Day

• 2-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour w/ 2 extensive routes
• Price: $90/Adults | $81/Children

Deluxe Ticket 3 Day

• 3-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour w/ 2 extensive routes
• The ticket includes a 2-hour bike rental
• Price: $100/Adults | $90/Children

Discover Ticket 1 Day

• 1-Day Hop-on, Hop-off Tour covering Downtown route
• Price: $54/Adults | $45/Children

Learn more and/or purchase tickets here .

TIP: Save an additional 5% off tickets by using Tiqets !

Big Bus also offers even more combinations where you can add on attractions (see below ), which could include access to the Empire State Building,  Madame Tussauds, and much more.

Be sure to read our post comparing all the different tourist pass options in NYC .

Review of Big Bus New York

Big Bus is the best-reviewed hop-on-hop-off bus tour in NYC and the company regards itself as the premium hop-on-hop-off bus service in New York City.

This company sports an overall 4 out of 5-star  rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide. Reading their reviews will help set proper expectations.

Most negative comments focus on the amount of time that it can take to get onto a bus and the audio systems not working properly. Negative reviews are more likely in high seasons.

Even those who didn’t enjoy their experience typically reported that this bus service was worth considering. 

TopView NYC

This is a relatively new company offering hop-on-hop-off bus tours, but they’re giving the competition a run for their money.

Not only are their prices much cheaper, but they also offer a lot of additional activities and attractions for free with each ticket.

In addition to their main Downtown tour, they also provide hop-on-hop-off routes of Uptown & Harlem, Brooklyn, and even a Night tour.

Depending on which ticket option you choose, you can also get access to a Statue of Liberty Cruise, a Central Park Bike Rental, and the Museum of the City of New York.

This hop-on-hop-off bus tour ticket can be used at any time within 6 months of the original purchase date.

That means you are free to buy tickets when they are on sale and wait until you plan to visit NYC to use them. 

Reviews of TopView NYC

Ratings for this company have suffered in recent years.

While some of this might be due to issues that all companies had during the pandemic, there is no mistaking the fact that their reviews are not very good anymore.

TopView has an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars , and most guests feel that they don't provide accurate instructions on how to use their service.

Whatever is going on behind the scenes, one thing is for sure: many reviewers are displeased with this company.

Their prices might be some of the lowest in NYC, but sometimes when it seems too good to be true, it actually is.

Same Day Downtown Pass

• 24-hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
• $45/Adults | $35/Children

Same Day Downtown & Uptown Pass

• 24-hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown & Uptown Bus Tour
• $61/Adults | $51/Children

All City Pass (2-Day)

• 48-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
• Uptown Tour
• 2-Hour Central Park Bike Rental
• $81/Adults | $71/Kids

All City Pass (3-Day)

• 72-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
• Brooklyn Tour
• Statue of Liberty Cruise
• Museum of the City of New York
• Free Butterbeer at the Harry Potter Store
• Skyscraper Museum
• $115/Adults | $101/Kids

All City Pass (5-Day)

• 120-Hour Hop-on-Hop-off Downtown Bus Tour
• $131/Adults | $115/Kids
• Purchase tickets or learn more .

TIP: We highly recommend choosing a more reliable and better-rated service, but if you're really looking to save some money, this is the most affordable hop-on hop-off bus tour currently available in NYC.

CITYSIGHTSEEING NYC BUS TOURS

NOTE: Big Bus has officially taken over every aspect of operation for City Sightseeing in New York City, so this service is no longer available.

The following information is kept here only for those who have not yet been informed of this change.

CitySightseeing NYC offers a similar open-top, double-decker hop-on-hop-off service as Big Bus.

Like Big Bus, CitySightseeing is a global company and you most likely have seen their red double-decker buses in other cities.  

Reviews of CitySightseeing NYC

When it comes to their hop-on-hop-off service, the reviews are mixed.

CitySightseeing has earned an overall rating of 3 ½ out of 5 stars.

As with most bus services in New York, the negative comments focused mostly on long wait times and audio systems not working properly.

Those who were pleased with their experience reported that the bus drivers/guides were both helpful and knowledgeable.

( NOTE - there are no longer live tour guides).  

Previous guests have complained about experiencing a lot of pressure to tip the guide/driver at each stop.

So, either be prepared to ignore these pleas or carry $1 bills to distribute at each stop.

• Downtown Tour (Midtown south to the Financial District)
• Uptown Tour (Midtown north to Harlem)
• Brooklyn Tour (Currently unavailable)
• Bronx Tour (Currently unavailable)
• Night Tour/Holiday Lights (Currently unavailable)
• Downtown: $59/Adults | $49/Children

NEW YORK CITY HOP ON HOP OFF TOURS COMPARED

If you're having trouble deciding which hop on hop off company to work with and figuring out how much tickets cost, this section will directly compare all the most pertinent details about each service.

As you can see, there are a few main differences you'll want to keep in mind when deciding which service to choose:

• No matter how you do the math, Big Bus is the bigger name in hop-on hop-off tours, and they do charge a bit more.
• Although they aren't as popular as Big Bus, they do have 3 day and 5 day tickets, and they also include additional activities that aren't offered by their competitors.
• If you read the reviews for each service, you'll find a lot more negative experiences being reported about TopView NYC than Big Bus.

HOP ON HOP OFF WITH A TOUR GUIDE 

As a company that primarily offers walking tours, we prefer these types of bus tours as they include all the benefits of a bus tour without most of the cons!

The guide accompanies you on and off of the bus at each stop so you get detailed information about all the major sites, rather than just wandering around on your own.

You are also with the same bus, driver, and guide for the entire duration of the tour, so you never have to worry about getting a seat and can enjoy the tour in a more intimate setting.  

These are premium tours run in climate-controlled buses, therefore they are more expensive than the traditional hop-on-hop-off variety.

However, you will see a lot more, more in-depth, in a much shorter amount of time. 

USA GUIDED TOURS

Visiting New York can be an exciting and bewildering experience.

If you’re looking for a nice overview of the entire city, you might want to consider the NYC Day Bus Tour .

In addition to a fully guided trip throughout the Big Apple, you’ll also enjoy a walking tour and usually a boat cruise (Apr 1 till Dec 31)  around Manhattan.

The full trip will take roughly 5 hours to complete and you will see a lot of significant landmarks along the way.

Your tour guides hop off at each stop to help show you around!  

Available daily from 10 AM – 3 PM.

TIP: If you are planning on visiting Washington, DC, you will get 30% off the Discover DC Tour  (normally $69) if you purchase it at the same time as your Discover DC Tour.  

You will need to call USA Guided Tours to confirm your NYC tour date.

• $99 for Adults
• $89 for Children
• $10 off for members of the Military
• Duration: 5 hours
• More info or to book online .

Reviews for USA Guided Tours NYC

All of the reviews for USA Guided Tours are positive.

With a full 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and Viator, it’s safe to say that this is one of the highest-rated tour companies in NYC.

One happy customer went so far as to exclaim that this is a must for any first-timers in New York. This seems to be a common sentiment, as several visitors left similarly positive comments. 

ONBOARD NYC

OnBoard offers day and nighttime tours, including an 8-hour Premium See-It-All Tour, which covers the length of Manhattan and comprises a visit past or to the Statue of Liberty. 

• Cost : $69.99 and up depending on type/length of tour and which day of the week
• Duration : Tours vary from 3.5-8 hours
• Tour with Staten Island Ferry Ride
• Tour with a ticket to the Statue of Liberty
• Not currently available

Reviews of OnBoard NYC Tours

Reviews for this company are very good, resulting in an overall 4 ½ star rating on TripAdvisor and Viator. 

Some went so far as to indicate that they visited locations you wouldn’t typically see on a tour of New York City. 

SPECIALTY AND THEMED BUS TOURS

• NYC Street Theater
• Movie and TV Tours
• Scott's Pizza Tour
• Hip Hop Tours
• Kenny Kramer's Seinfeld Tour

The Ride is Broadway on a bus!

A unique experience that, according to their website is "equal parts theatrical show and immersive tour."

It's designed to be fun and entertaining, with street performers scattered throughout the tour route.  

The information about the city is rather limited and the route is confined to the area around Times Square, so guests looking for a comprehensive city tour should look at "The Tour" or elsewhere.

Tickets and Reviews of The Ride

This service has received an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide ( read the reviews ). 

Most guests enjoyed their experience on The Ride, but some have said that the quality of this tour has decreased over time.

It would appear that this trip does not appeal to all audiences, but it’s worth noting that hundreds of customers have left positive feedback about their adventures.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, many passengers have suggested that this is one of the most original and unique bus tours in New York!

• Price: $79 per person
• Duration : 75 minutes
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before tour time.
• Purchase tickets here .

TIP: The Ride is free for those who purchase the New York Pass  or  the Explorer Pass .

Read our post comparing NYC tourist passes . 

This fun and educational trip is from the same company that brought you The Ride.

The Tour is less about the performance (there are no singers or dancers along the route) than it is about the city itself. 

Clocking in at 15 minutes longer than The Ride, this service is more affordable and it covers a slightly larger area.

TIP: Both the RIDE and the TOUR are free for those who purchase the New York Pass  or  the Explorer Pass .

Reviews of The Tour

Much like the other services from this company, The Tour has an overall 4 out of 5-stars rating on TripAdvisor.

There are a few negative comments, but the overwhelming majority of their ratings are positive.

Some passengers suggest that this is a great option for anyone who might be short on time, while others say it’s the best tour they’ve ever taken.

Several of the negative reviews indicate that they were expecting the same experience that is offered on The Ride, but that simply isn’t the case.

Please make sure to select the right bus tour from this company to avoid any confusion.

• Cost: $39 per person
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Not currently available.

TIP: Both the RIDE and the TOUR are usually free for those who purchase the New York Pass  or  the Explorer Pass .

ON LOCATION TOURS

If you’re a major movie buff, then this is the tour for you!

On Location Tours specializes in showing guests where all their favorite movies and TV shows were filmed.

Some of their most popular tours include:

• NYC TV & Movie Tour
• Sex and the City Hotspots Tour
• Gossip Girl Sites Tour
• Sopranos Sites Tour
• TCM Classic Film Tour
• When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour
• Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Sites Tour
• Superhero Film Locations Tour
• Manhattan TV & Movie Sites Tour
• East Village TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour
• and the Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour .

Guides also pepper the tours with history about the neighborhoods you drive through.

Reviews of On Location NYC Tours

With a 4 ½ out of 5-star  rating and over 1,500 positive reviews on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide, it’s safe to say that On Location Tours has impressed a lot of customers.

That being said, about 10% of their reviews are from unhappy passengers, who complain that the tour wasn’t as long as they were promised, while others simply found it uninteresting.

Although these comments may be troubling, it’s worth remembering that there are ten times as many people who absolutely loved their experience with this company.

Several guests recommend this tour for film buffs of all ages, stating that it is both informative and fun for movie lovers.

• Cost: Varies with tours, but most are between $30-$70.
• Duration:  Tour times vary, but most run between 2-4 hours

HUSH HIP-HOP TOURS

Whether you are looking to bust a move or bust a rhyme, Hush Hip Hop Tours has the perfect tour for fans of the genre.

It claims to be the only hip-hop tour company in the world with pioneers of hip-hop, DJs, and professional break-dancers leading its tours.

As you travel from one location to the next, some of the people who helped make the movement possible will explain how this art form was born in the streets of NYC.

Their tours will take you to Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.

Reviews of Hush Hip Hop Tours

This may be one of the highest-rated experiences on the list, as Hush Hip Hop Tours have earned an overall 5 out of 5-stars rating from most 

An overwhelming majority of customers have reported that their trip around New York was not only memorable but historically accurate as well.

Some have even said that this tour is great for all audiences, suggesting that you need not be a fan of hip-hop to learn a lot about the city while on your trip.

There are only a handful of negative comments, and few of them seem to have anything in common that would suggest any major issues with their service.

• Bus Tours: from $75
• Free cancellation with 24 hours notice.

TIP: Hush tours are also available for free with The Sightseeing Pass .

SCOTT'S PIZZA TOUR

Scott's Pizza Tours are the premier pizza tours of New York City.  

Scott's offerings are primarily walking tours. However, on Sundays, Scott offers a pizza bus tour that reaches the outer boroughs of NYC.  

• $85 per person
• Duration: 4.5 hours
• Includes stops at 4 pizzerias
• Proof of vaccination is required
• Stops change weekly

Reviews of Scott's Pizza Tours

Everyone loves pizza, and according to reviewers on TripAdvisor, learning about the dish can be pretty fun.

An overwhelming majority of the reviews for their bus tour are positive.

This tour takes place on a yellow school bus, so it might not be the most comfortable seating you’ll ever experience.

That said, almost everyone who has experienced the trip has had an absolute blast.

Positive reviews suggest that the entire journey is entertaining, and you’ll even have the opportunity to eat a few slices!

Scott also offers pizza walking tours, including:

• Greenwich Village Pizza Walk
• Crosstown Pizza Walk
• Lower East Side Pizza Walk
• Brooklyn Pizza Walk

KENNY KRAMER'S SEINFELD TOUR

Fans of Seinfeld will definitely want to consider taking this tour.

According to Larry David, Kenny Kramer was the actual person who inspired the hilarious character of Cosmo Kramer.

Believe it or not, Kenny still lives in New York and he provides a fabulous tour of the city to give fans a better idea of what life was like for the people that inspired the characters in everyone’s favorite show about nothing.

Visit a lot of the locations you’ve seen in the series and hear about the creation of this concept from Kramer himself!

With the exception of just one negative review, every rating on TripAdvisor is positive. 

Some fans report waiting years to take a tour with Kenny only to have their expectations exceeded in the end.

According to many reviewers, this might be one of the more entertaining bus tours in the city, and it’s perfect for any fan of Seinfeld.

• Cost: $47.50 (plus $2 service charge)
• Available Saturdays at 12 PM
• Duration: 2-3 hours

DO-IT-YOURSELF NYC BUS TOUR

If all of the above sounds out of your price range, then you could always take advantage of the public bus system and tour around the city on your own!

The New York Times published a great article a few years back about the best bus lines and routes to see all the major sites in the city.  

For under $10, the public bus system offers visitors a great way to explore the city on their own for a minimal cost.  

Don't forget that you can also take our free walking tours in combination with this option.

Another option is to download our audio tour app and use it for the neighborhoods that take the bus or subway to get to.

COMBINE BUS, BOAT, HELICOPTER TOURS AND MORE

If you are interested in taking both a boat and bus tour while visiting New York, it's often cheapest to purchase those two tickets as part of a combo deal.

Many companies offer a variety of combinations, including helicopter tours and museum tickets as well.  

Child prices are even less, but they vary. Click the company links for more details.  

Be sure to also read our post comparing the various tourist passes , such as the New York Pass, CityPass and the Explorer Pass, which may be an even better fit for you. 

All passes include some form of bus tour.

In addition to their hop-on hop-off bus tours, this company also offers a variety of additional activities you can combine with their tours to save money.

These combo packages include tickets to some of the most popular attractions in New York City, so there's a pretty good chance you're already planning to see them anyway.

• $100/Adults | $90/Children
• $80/Adults | $70/Children
• $130/Adults | $120/Children

Purchase combo tickets here .

Some of these deals are better than others, and in the case of packages that include the Statue of Liberty or the 9/11 Memorial Museum , we recommend reading more about these to find out if you can get tickets for even cheaper another way.

It's also worth noting that most of these attractions are also included alongside the Big Bus tours with the New York Pass , the  New York Sightseeing Pass  or  the Explorer Pass .

CITY SIGHTS

City Sights also offers several different combo packages at a low rate. Use the promo phrase SAVE10 to get an extra 10% off each package.

Big Bus Classic Tour + 1 Attraction

• 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
• Both Downtown and Uptown Loops
• Empire State Building
• Top of the Rock
• Intrepid, Sea, Air, and Space Museum
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Madame Tussauds
• 9/11 Tribute Museum
• New York Historical Society
• The Cloisters Museum
• Central Park Sightseeing Guided Bike Tour
• Central Park Sightseeing Walking Tour
• $79/Adults | $69/Children
• Purchase this combo deal .

Big Bus Classic Tour + 3 Attractions

• $139/Adults | $129/Children

The Sightseeing Pass

• NYC Bus Tour for 1-10 days
• One World Observatory
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum
• Night Bus Tour
• American Museum of Natural History
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Guggenheim Museum
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• On Location Tours - When Harry Met Seinfeld
• Prices from $149/Adults | $139/Children

New York Tour Shuttle

This bus tour is perfect for those who only have limited time in New York.

Over 9 hours, you'll see several different landmarks and enjoy access to sites such as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

Additionally, you'll also make a special stop in Little Italy for lunch.

This is a fairly comprehensive day trip that covers most of the bases in NYC.

Tickets are a bit expensive, but ratings indicate that the service may be worth its higher price tag.

• Ticket Prices: $99 per person
• Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
• Availability: Thursday – Monday at 9:00 AM
• Statue of Liberty (w/ access to the Pedestal)
• Wall Street Walking Tour
• St. Patrick's Cathedral
• Little Italy

Reviews for this service are quite good, as a majority of customers have given the trip a 5-star rating.

Several visitors mentioned their tour guides by name, indicating that they were very friendly and provided a lot of useful information about the city.

Although they enjoyed the experience, some reviewers felt it important to note that you will need a lot of stamina for this all-day outing.

If you are interested in day trips such as this, consider checking out our comparison of NYC in a day tours .

This company is currently offering their night bus tour in a combo package which includes tickets to the Edge Observatory.

If you're planning to visit this attraction and you're interested in taking a bus tour at night, this is an excellent opportunity to save some money.

The bus tour itself begins at 5:30 pm and lasts for 4 hours, so you'll want to visit the Edge Observatory before taking the tour.

This combo tour is available 3 days a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

• $94/Adults | $84/Children

NIGHT BUS TOURS OF NYC

Many of the companies listed above also offer evening bus tours.

The New York skyline is breathtaking when illuminated after dark, and a bus tour is a great way to see many different areas of the city in a short amount of time.

Night tours do not typically operate as hop-on-hop-off tours, even though many are operated by hop-on-hop-off companies in double-decker buses.

There are also small group shuttle bus night tours.  

NOTE: Some of these night tours are included in the multiple-day tickets offered by each company.

In addition to its highly-rated daily tour, this company also provides one of the longest and most detailed night tours in New York.

Clocking in at 4 ½ hours in length, the NYC Night Bus Tour will take you past some of the most popular destinations in the entire city, including locations such as Times Square, Chelsea Market, Chinatown, and Greenwich Village.

This excursion also includes at least one short walking tour. Discover how New York City changes when the sun goes down! Available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 5:30 PM to 10 PM.

• $59 for Adults
• $49 for Children
• $6 off w/ Military ID
• Duration: 4 hours
• Availability: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
• More information and to book .

Every single review for this particular night tour is 5 stars . Most guests report that this company is very professional and reliable, describing their tour guides as entertaining and knowledgeable. 

TOP VIEW NYC

In addition to their hop-on hop-off bus tours, this company also offers a night tour which allows you to see what the city looks like after dark.

This outing doesn't include any of their other bus tours, nor does it provide access to the Museum of the City of New York or a free Central Park bike rental.

Even so, it is one of the few options for a night bus tour as of March 2024.

If you're interested in seeing the city lights after the sun sets, this is an excellent option you might want to consider.

• Not Hop-on Hop-off
• No additional activities or routes
• $51 per person

NOTE: Don't forget that this night tour is included with their 2, 3, and 5-day hop-on hop-off bus tour ticket.

TIP: We recommend considering another service, as this company routinely receives negative reviews indicating they aren't the best option on our list.

BIG BUS NIGHT TOUR

Big Bus offers nightly bus tours that depart between 6-7 pm every 15-20 minutes from Times Square (6 pm - 8 pm in winter months).

Sites include Radio City Music Hall, 5th Avenue, the Empire State Building, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn waterfront.

You can view their night tour route map (yellow).  

• Price: $62.10 per person
• Duration : 2 hours.
• Included in the price of all multi-day Big Bus tickets.
• It is not included in the New York Pass.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

We hope that this post provides you with enough information to decide which, if any, NYC bus tour is right for you.

To help you get a sense from others about the various tours, we've included these opinions and suggestions from members of our popular New York Travel Tips Facebook group.

Here, Lindsey asks the question that anyone considering these tours wants to know.

Among those who have taken and enjoyed a bus tour, one of the most common reasons they gave is to become oriented to the city.

Rather than hop on and hop off, many people found it helpful to do a full loop first and note what sites you’d like to go back to.

This can be a great way to narrow down your itinerary to only places you know you will like.

These tours are more than just a way to orient yourself, you’ll learn things about NYC as well and see a lot!

Plus, on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, you may be pleasantly surprised to discover new places that intrigue you enough to go back and visit them.

This group member liked learning about the city’s neighborhoods and then deciding where to go back to.

She also loved the fact that the bus gives her feet a rest while she still discovers more of the city.

Like the others, this group member recommends them but feels that the tours are best used as sightseeing tours, rather than a means of getting from attraction to attraction as that can eat into one’s time.

For those who have never done a bus tour, don’t worry as they are pretty easy to use.

For example, Big Bus has an app that shows you in real time where buses are so you know when to be at the stop.

You may have noticed that two members above were able to take the Big Bus tour for free by purchasing a New York Pass. You can read more about this pass here .

Need help planning your bus tour itinerary? This member has organized one for you!

As for taking the unusual tour, The Ride, it really depends on what you are looking for. 

If you are looking for an informative tour that takes you around the city, The Ride isn't the best choice. That isn't to say you won't enjoy it.

If you want to be entertained in a one-of-a-kind manner, then it could be just what you are looking for, especially after a long day and you want to sit back and relax.

If you have any more questions about NYC bus tours (or anything else about NYC) that we haven't covered here, check out our New York Travel Tips Facebook group !

And much, much more

About the author.

Stephen Pickhardt

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Immerse yourself in the architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture of New York City with our NYC bus tours! Experience the ultimate convenience as we offer multiple pick-up locations and affordable prices, ensuring an unforgettable sightseeing adventure. Take your pick from our guided double-decker bus tours that provide a breathtaking 360° view of the city, or explore at your own pace with our self-guided option. Our hop-on hop-off bus tours are designed to take you on a remarkable journey at your own pace. From Times Square and the iconic Empire State Building to Central Park, our NYC bus tours are a great way to discover the city that never sleeps.

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Hop On Hop Off in NYC

The efficient way to see the city.

Taking a taxi or the subway around the city to get every attraction you want to visit, is not only expensive but you don’t end up seeing much of New York City itself. Hop-on Hop-off bus tours are great for exactly this reason, you can jump on or off whenever you want to. This way you discover the city from a completely new perspective while getting where you want to go. 

You'll also love this:

• The 3 Absolute Best Night Bus Tours in NYC
• Fun Things to Do in New York at Night

Table of Contents

Hop-on Hop-off Providers and Routes

There are four different operators of Hop-on Hop-off tours in New York. The two most popular providers are TopView Sightseeing (operate the red&white buses) and Big Bus (which use the dark red buses). These two providers have the largest fleet of buses and drive the routes at regular intervals. While these two operators do have slightly more busses meaning that you won’t have to wait as long at the stops, all of the hop on hop off bus tours on offer drive similar routes along with the same attractions.

IMPORTANT: Even though the hop on hop off buses pass most major attractions along their routes, they are not suited for regular transportation within the city. For simply getting from A to B, the subway is a much better choice.

Hop-on Hop off Buses are great if you want to see a lot in little time

Overview of all Hop-on-Hop-off Loops

Both of the operators of the Hop-on-Hop-off tours are fairly comparable, the only difference being the higher popularity of the Big Bus tours. All hop-on-hop-off tours providers offer the same loops: Downtown, Uptown, Brooklyn, and the evening/night tour.

• Downtown Loop (2 hours)

The most popular tour is the Downtown loop. This tour includes sights such as Times Square, Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building, SoHo , Battery Park, Radio City Music Hall, Little Italy, Wall Street, the Financial District, Lower East Side, the United Nations Building, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall and many more.

• Uptown Loop (2 hours)

The Uptown loop takes you to the north of Manhattan. You will cross famous 5th Avenue, drive along Central Park in the direction of Harlem , and will see many other attractions on this tour including Lincoln Center, American Museum of Natural History, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Grant’s Tomb, Apollo Theater, Harlem Market, The Museum Mile, the Guggenheim, and the Metropolitan Museum.

You can check out the Uptown and Downtown loops plotted on the map below. This way you can check what attractions along the way you want to see along with where you might want to stop to explore.

• Brooklyn Loop (2 hours)

The third option is the Brooklyn Loop. On this route, you will see the best spots of this beloved borough, for example, the Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Antique Furniture District, Fulton Mall, the Brooklyn Museum, and many others. The new departure point for the tour is Old Fulton Street by Prospect Street in Brooklyn. It no longer connects to any loops in Manhattan.

• Night Tour (2.5 hours)

The fourth tour is the Evening/Night Tour. This hop-on-hop-off bus tour through NYC is also very popular because seeing New York at twilight and at night is truly something special. You will drive by all relevant attractions: you will have a chance to see Times Square and its nighttime glow, the Empire State Building, Central Park,  Greenwich Village , SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy.

• Harlem Tour (1.5 hours)

You can also take the Harlem/Bronx Tour. This tour will take you way up to the northern part of New York City and covers such great sights as the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market, Sylvia’s & Red Rooster Lenox Lounge, the Harlem neighborhoods, and the Yankee Stadium.

Tickets for Hop-on Hop-off in NYC

Before purchasing your hop-on-hop-off tickets, you should first find out whether your sightseeing pass already includes tickets. Here’s an overview of what sightseeing pass includes what loops, for how long and by which provider:

Compare Passes

Should you not want to make use of a sightseeing pass, you can find all ticket options by the two major providers, Big Bus and TopView Sightseeing. Note that all tours are offered in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese!

1. Big Bus Ticket Options

• Classic (1 day) : Uptown, Downtown
• Premium (2 days) : Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Harlem, Night Tour
• Deluxe (2 days) : Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Harlem, Night Tour, Sightseeing Cruise, Empire State Building Admission

2. TopView Ticket Options

• 1 Day: Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Night Tour, Cruise
• 2 Days: Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Night Tour, Cruise
• 3 Days: Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Night Tour, Cruise
• New York Sightseeing Ferry: Hop-on Hop-off ferry
• Night Tour only: Hop-on Hop-off bus tour at night

You can even add attractions to those ticket options!

Bus tickets with attractions

Where can I get a good deal on hop-on-hop-off bus tickets?

It is best to buy tickets online . They are cheaper if you buy them online in comparison to at the ticket counter (this is due to the fact that if you buy in advance, the operator can plan ahead). Buying tickets online is secure and fast. First, you choose the date you want to take a tour, and how many people will be on the tour. Then you choose which route you would like to book. You will be sent a voucher that you can redeem at any of the bus stops to hop on the bus!

The Absolute Best Night Bus Tours in NYC

Fun Things To Do in New York At Night

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide . Also check out my hotel finder for New York !

Get exclusive content, real insider tips, and the best deals in NYC for FREE!

Start of your trip: We will remind you with current events when you are in NYC!

5 Best Bus Tours in New York City

The energy of New York City is found in its streets. One of the best ways to experience this vitality, and cover serious ground at the same time, is with a bus tour, rolling between Manhattan neighborhoods, one beautiful block at a time.

From a themed tour (like the Sex and the City Hotspots tour) to hop-on, hop-off options that offer direct transportation to the top landmarks in the city, here are the five best bus tours that NYC has to offer.

Big Bus New York

The Big Bus is easy to spot: bright red, open top, and double-decker. This classic bus tour provides a thorough introduction to Manhattan, with two routes, the downtown red loop, and the uptown blue route – and hop-on, hop-off service for stopping at top landmarks along the way. Take a seat in the open-air top deck and instead of traveling by subway (where you see nothing as you move between neighborhoods), you will see New York’s famous street life as the bus travels between the Financial District, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and Chelsea . The most popular stops on the downtown route include the 9/11 Memorial and the High Line, while popular stops on the uptown loop include 5th Avenue shopping and Harlem ’s Apollo Theater. For some fresh air, stop in the 843-acre Central Park and go for a stroll.

Climb aboard The Ride – and the bus becomes the theater while the New York City streets are the stage. Instead of seats facing forward with the flow of traffic, seats aboard The Ride are turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, stadium-seating style. This 75-minute tour combines sightseeing (including landmarks like the Chrysler Building and Carnegie Hall) with live entertainment (both from onboard guides providing fun facts and screening movie clips, and on-the-street performers including break dancers and improv comedians). The busy Manhattan streets provide additional entertainment and the bus is equipped with 40 TV screens, tons of LED lights, and a club-quality sound system to keep the atmosphere festive. Kids age 6 and up are welcome to join.

Gray Line CitySightseeing Holiday Lights Tour

Witnessing New York City by night is an essential experience when visiting Manhattan. The streets always have certain electricity, but by night, the thoroughfares, landmarks, and bridges are lit up in spectacular fashion. There’s no better way to see it than from the open-air top deck of a double-decker bus. This after-dark excursion takes between two and three hours to complete and includes the chance to see famous attractions including Rockefeller Center (and its famous sparkling Christmas tree ), the bright lights of Radio City Music Hall , the department store holiday windows along 5th Avenue and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. From Times Square to Central Park, this tour showcases the best of New York’s famous holiday lights .

Open Loop New York

Take advantage of technology to know exactly when your bus is coming, with the “Where’s My Bus?” web page from Open Loop . This bus tour, with an uptown route and a downtown route, offers a double-decker experience complete with an audio guide available in multiple languages (including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and more). Tickets are available for one, three, or five days of unlimited use, offering convenient transportation to attractions across Manhattan including the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Times Square, and the High Line. Hop-on, hop-off stops are also available in favorite downtown neighborhoods, including the West Village and the East Village. When you’re done with exploring, use your phone to confirm where and when to hop on the next bus.

Sex and the City Hotspots Tour

Strut the same streets as Carrie and shop in the same stores as Samantha during this 3.5-hour bus trip from On Location Tours complete with Sex and the City trivia, cocktails, and New York City sightseeing. The tour begins in front of the iconic Plaza hotel and continues throughout neighborhoods featured in the popular HBO series including the Meatpacking District , the West Village , and SoHo . The tour includes a glimpse of Carrie’s gorgeous brownstone (which is actually in the West Village and not the Upper West Side, where it is supposed to be located in the show) and stops include an adults-only sultry boutique and a cupcake bakery favored by Carrie. The tour wraps up with a drink at the bar that stood in for Steve and Aidan’s bar in the series. 

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New York City Tours

New york city sightseeing tours.

NY See It All Tour

Highest rated bus tour in new york.

Imagine seeing all the greatest icons of New York City in just under 6 hours. Think it can’t be done? Think again. Year after year we win awards for the best bus tour in New York City! Here’s why:

The NY SEE IT ALL is NYC’s Most Popular Comprehensive Guided Tour. It combines a bus tour with short walks and a ride on the world famous Staten Island Ferry. The #3 most popular attraction in New York City. You will experience breathtaking views of the Statue, Lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and the boat traffic in one of the busiest harbors in the world. This tour will show you everything Manhattan has to offer without leaving you on your own to get lost or miss attractions.

NY See It All Snapshot

• Departs Daily at: 10:00 AM & 12:30 PM
• 5.5-Hour Duration
• Prices from $59.99 to $89.99
• Includes Staten Island Ferry Cruise
• See the Statue of Liberty From Ferry
• Tour Guide HOPS OFF With You
• Comprehensive NYC Tour

Get Tickets

Our tour guides hop off with our guests. Your tour guide will hop off the bus with you at each stop, showing you each attraction in detail. This 5-star service is unparalleled in New York City. You will be so happy you chose our tour because we will show you New York City in ways you can’t even begin to achieve on your own. Don’t take our word for it. Read what our customers say.

The ferry ride rocks. The NY See It All! Tour now includes the world famous Staten Island Ferry. Ride on the #3 most popular attraction in New York City to see the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, and much more!

Get Tickets Wait! There’s more! Free bottled water is OnBoard during the tour. Our shuttle buses are climate controlled, so they’re cool in summer and warm in winter. The shuttle waits for you at each attraction so you don’t have to stand around waiting for the next empty bus. These are just a few of the reasons to take an OnBoard Tour Today!

Why is it so great? Tour Guide Will Hop Off The Bus With You At Each Stop. See why this is so important by clicking here.

NY See It All Itinerary

Guided walks take you to:

Times Square 9/11 Memorial Empire State Building New York Stock Exchange Wall Street Trinity Church World Financial Center Federal Hall Madison Square Park Flatiron Building South Street Seaport US Customs Building 5th Avenue Rockefeller Center NBC’s Today Show Set St. Patrick’s Cathedral Central Park Strawberry Fields Dakota Building BEST VALUE: See the Statue of Liberty up close from the Staten Island Ferry and avoid the long lines at Ellis Island. We guarantee you’ll not only save time, but get better pictures of Lady Liberty!

Get Tickets Ready to book? We guarantee you’ll be glad you chose OnBoard Tours for your NYC visit. You can conveniently book now online (by hitting the big red button) or call us at: 212-852-4821 .

Along the way, you’ll also see the following attractions from the bus or boat: Ellis Island Central Park Zoo Tiffany’s Brooklyn Bridge St. Paul’s Chapel Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Hudson River East River FAO Schwarz Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (now home to Fashion Week!) Chrysler Building Woolworth Building Met Life Building Trump Tower Plaza Hotel City Hall Washington Square Park New York Public Library Greenwich Village SOHO/Tribeca Macy’s Harold Square

Flexible Tickets Refund Policy: In an effort to keep our prices low all sales are final. If you’re uncertain of your travel plans and feel they might unexpectedly change, please purchase our optional Tour Insurance.

BEST NEW YORK CITY BUS TOURS

Experience new york city on new york city.

EXPLORE NYC BY BUS AND A BOAT RIDE PAST THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. WITH A TOUR GUIDE.

• NUMBER #1 MOST POPULAR TOUR IN NYC
• FREE HOTEL PICKUP AVAILABLE!
• Clock Starts at 9:30AM
• Users 24 Passengers Per Bus
• Hour Glass 6 Hours
• User Ages 3+

Six Hour Bus and Boat Tour

This New York City Bus and Boat Tour is an exciting and comprehensive tour that takes visitors on a journey through the iconic sights and landmarks of the city. Book online today!

• Clock Choose your start time
• Users Up to 44 Passengers
• User All ages

Private Tour

See New York City with a private tour group! Experience the highlights of New York City for six hours. New York is a phenomenal city with lots to offer. Book your New York private bus tour online today!

• Free cancellation up to 48h in advance -> If you cancel your booking 48h in advance of your tour departure time / A full refund will be issued.
• Free cancellation up to 1h in advance with tour booking insurance -> IF YOU PURCHASE TOUR BOOKING INSURANCE at $5.99 per booking, booking cancellation may be up to 1h in advance of your departure time for a full refund.

SEE ALL NEW YORK CITY HAS TO OFFER!

Our bus and boat tour includes a boat ride past Lady Liberty herself!

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City. The copper statue was originally conceived as an emblem of the friendship between the people of France and the U.S. and a sign of their mutual desire for liberty. Over the years, the statue has come to mean much more. It is the Mother of Exiles, greeting millions of immigrants and embodying hope and opportunity for those seeking a better life in America. It stirs the desire for freedom in people all over the world. It represents the United States itself.

Best New York City Bus Tours is not commercially operated. We are a family-owned and operating tour company and have been around for over 35 years. Our team will treat you like  family and by the end of the day — we will be family. We offer a six-hour Bus and Boat Tour in New York City. Our tour guide hops off and hops on with you! Each of our tour buses fit 14 passengers with a tour guide on board, so you will have a more personalized and comfortable tour. It combines a bus tour with short walks with your tour guide while the bus waits for you to return! Come experience sightseeing tours in New York City in our climate-controlled buses for your viewing pleasure. Book the best Bus and Boat Tour in New York, NY.

ABOUT BEST NEW YORK CITY BUS TOURS

Explore new york city on our bus and boat tours ★★★★★.

Our small bus tour was so much fun! Our tour guide Bryant was so informative and 100% customer service oriented. So friendly and helpful and he really knows his facts about NYC. I wished we had longer than our 6 hours and didn’t want the tour to end. Guy was our driver and he was so friendly and helpful as well. When we come back to NYC I hope Bryant is our tour guide again! Thank you!

We were only in New York for the weekend and through trip advisor this tour was recommended and true to form what a tour!! Saw so many landmarks, learned some history, and generally a great experience! Bryant was exceptional! And so much knowledge he was able to answer all our questions. Guy can sure drive in NYC traffic. Highly recommend this tour!

We had a hotel pickup. They were on time. Both Guy and Martin were very informative and knowledgeable of the city. The transportation was clean and comfortable. We received everything as promised. I would definitely use their services again!!

Excellent tour! We saw so much in that short amount of time. With a smaller tour group it was more personable and Frank was awesome! He was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Best tour and tour guide, so worth the money.

New York Bus Tour

Discover the city that doesn’t sleep. Hop on and off in New York Bus Tour as many times as you like with ticket options valid for 1, 2, or 3 days.

Hop on Hop off New York Tour

• Duration 1 day
• English-speaking guide

Manhattan Sightseeing Bus Tour

• Duration options: 6 hours
• Small group

Ferry or Night and New York Bus Tour

• Duration 2 hours - 3 days
• Optional audio guide

Midtown Manhattan Multimedia Bus Tour

• Duration 1.5 hours
• Theater seating

TOP SELLING

Nyc bus tours and attractions tickets.

• Duration 1 - 3 days
• 3 Attraction Entry

Downtown Virtual Reality Bus Tour NYC

• Virtual reality headsets

New York City: Superhero Bus Tour

• Duration 3 hours
• Private group

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Bus Tour

• Duration options: 4 hours
• Small group available

create your vacation destiny

New york bus tour options, hop on hop off new york tour.

How should one go about the desire of travelling through the city that never sleeps? A hop on hop off bus tour swoops in to save the day. One can explore the city and see its landmarks and monuments from Times Square, to the Empire state building. The New York bus tour consists of 40 key points of interest that take a tour through all the notes of culture, diversity, ethnicity, beautiful architecture, and picturesque views. There are three ticket options that one can available.

Them being:

• Classic ticket: unlimited boarding on the Uptown Loop and the Downtown loop for a whole day.
• Premium package: unlimited boarding for two days on the uptown, downtown, Brooklyn, Harlem and NYC by night, loops.
• 2-day deluxe package tour: unlimited boarding for two days on Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn, Harlem, NYC by night loops, and 1-hour circle line Liberty cruise, and entry to The Empire state building. Every loop has an average duration of 1.5 hours, and the frequency and timing depend on the loops. 

This Hop on Hop off New York tour includes an English speaking guide, free Wi-Fi, recorded commentary in 10 languages, a one-hour circle line liberty cruise, entry to the Empire State building, and live bus tracking via free app. (A few depend on the kinds of options selected).

Big Bus New York, Ferry or Night Tour Options

Exploring New York could be a teeny bit more fun if availed the sightseeing bus. One could go to his or her favourite locations and explore at his own pace. There happen to be 1,2 and 3-day tickets. Uptown and downtown are two convenient options that can be boarded anytime, and also one can opt for the night tour or ferry tour to look at the city from a different perspective. 

New York’s best monuments and prestigious skyscrapers can be viewed. One board has access to quite a few amenities too. 

The downtown loop has 21 stops, the uptown loop has 23 stops, and the non-stop night NYC bus tours cover Times Square north and south and the Empire state building. One through this connects to the most iconic landmarks and attractions, while also getting the brief of how the city comes together. 

• The highlights of this big bus New York tour are tonnes. One discovers illuminated landmarks and basks under the brilliant lights of the city. 
• The culture through Chinatown to Harlem is one worthy of praise, so is the informative tour on Big Apple history that the tour guide introduces with a certain ease. 
• The major landmarks like the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 memorial and many more are covered too. 
• The open-top deck of New York City and the panoramic views of it soothe the might, instilling also an enthralling charisma. 

3-Hour Superhero NYC Bus Tours

Do you want your superhero fantasies to come to life? Do you want to interact with the way the comics portray NYC? Well, look no further! All the famous locations of your favourite superhero comic movies are here and you get a tour of them! Delve into the most filmed city in the world with a tour guide.

The adventure starts in the heart of Times Square where movies like Spiderman, Captain America, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Incredible Hulk TV series, have been filmed. One will also get to see the Chrysler building, Flatiron building, Madison square park, Lower east side, Chinatown, and the historical buildings in the Financial District.

• The highlights of NYC bus tours are many. One can visit the heart of New York City that was featured in Captain America: The first avenger and The Amazing Spider-Man. 
• The Statue of Liberty, from X-Men and Superman, is also one of the most popular highlights.
• Adding to this list, are The Daily Planet (from Superman Franchise), Park Avenue from Avengers, City Hall, and tonnes others featured in DC and Marvel movies.

Manhattan Sightseeing Bus Tour NY

The city of New York presents the world with Manhattan. The city lets you enjoy vibrant sights, while your guide fills you in on the various stories that go with the sights. One gets to explore the various facets of the city and its various neighbourhoods. Through this, one also discovers the awe-inspiring landmarks of Rockefeller centre, Chrysler building, Empire state building, Lincoln centre, Central Park, and Fifth Avenue. 

One can also head to Greenwich Village, the artsy SoHo district, the hub-hub in the bustling streets of Chinatown, the always busy Wall street, Sidewalk cafes in little Italy, etc. In the end, one finally visits the charming Battery Park to soak in the beauty and enjoy stunning views of the Statue of Liberty- one of the icons of New York and the United States of America.

Highlights 

• This tour has one enjoy the views of the Empire state building and the statue of liberty. 
• This knicks in the opportunity to hear interesting stories of each neighbourhood from your expert guide. 
• Also, one can visit Greenwich Village, SoHo, and Central Park.

Open-Top Night NYC Bus Tours with Live Commentary

What does one do when he wants to visit and take in all of the city that never sleeps, at night time? How should one go about this desire and how is it possible? Well, this tour comes in handy when in doubt. Accompanied by an entertaining and live tour guide, one gets to enjoy the Big Bus Night tour of NYC. 

This is a 1.5-hour ride, and through this one enjoys the absolutely beautiful Manhattan skyline, that is lit up. Also enjoyed are the stunning glow of the various attractions in this city, like the Radio City Music hall, and the empire state building. The night NYC bus tours also make their way across the river, where one gets to have a look at the marvellous lit up Skyline of Manhattan from the Brooklyn waterfront. 

• The highlights of this New York bus tour include the magnificent skyline of Manhattan from Brooklyn.
• One gets to learn about the city’s major landmarks during the live commentary.  
• The city that never sleeps is all lit up, and one gets his way into soaking it all in and becoming a part of it. 
• One could also head up to the Avenue of the Americas for views of Macy’s department store and radio city music hall. 
• Most importantly something that one can never miss out on is the bright lights of Times Square at night. It is thoroughly beautiful.

Things to know before you go

Advantages of new york bus tour.

Why should one choose the top view?

This is because they have the most curated tours there could ever be, and their local experts know NYC inside out. Another list of reasons go as such:

• Presents unlimited hop on hop off services so that the tourists can enjoy their favourite locations with much ease.
• Their routes are the best to see NYC with over 40 stops near major attractions in the city.
• Their 2-3 day passes include free entry to the Statue of Liberty cruise and bike rental.
• It has a live map to track the bus. The only one with a live map. 
• With an app, one can board the busses without any toil. No printed documents are required as an app can do it all.
• One can stay connected with friends and family as there is WiFi available on the bus.

Hop on Hop off New York Routes and Timetable

• Explore Downtown – Red Route Timetable  

The tour duration of this is 90 minutes with the frequency of a bus every 60 minutes. There are 10+  main locations of this tour: Empire state building, SoHo, Chinatown/ Little Italy, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Circle line sightseeing, M&M World, etc. every bus features audio commentary in 10 languages that are pre-recorded. 

• Explore Uptown – Blue Route Timetable

The Hop on Hop off New York tour duration is 90 minutes, while the frequency of the buses is every 2 hours.  Hop on from 7th Avenue and W 5oth St at 10 am, 12 pm, and 2 pm daily. This covers the uptown section of the city, with Times Square north being the most prominent of the stops.

Top New York's Landmarks by NYC Sightseeing Bus

There are quite a few places in New York that deserve to be awed at. A few of such places are:

• The Statue of Liberty: This was France’s gift to America on the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. One could get here early for a ticket and then climb to the top to see how the city looks from up there.
• American Museum of Natural history: The dinosaur collection in this library is the best and it is the largest museum of natural history in the world.
• Brooklyn Bridge: The Brooklyn Bridge is extremely safe, and once a parade of 21 elephants crossed over to prove the point!
• Central Park: This is a huge lush oasis in the city, and the best place to pass some time!
• Chrysler Building: This is one of the most breathtaking buildings in the world. While up close, it is even more beautiful.
• Empire state building: on a clear day, one can see five states from the observation deck!
• Fifth Avenue: This is the most iconic store line up there ever will be!
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art : This is the largest museum in the US. 
• Rockefeller centre: This is where the New Yorkers come to chill and hang out. 
• Wall Street: $54 billion worth of shares are exchanged here every day. One can even not be a millionaire and enjoy the sight here.
• Times Square: it is definitely a sight to behold. This has the world’s largest LED sign!

What's Include in Bus Tours NYC

• It comes with a live guide, with audio guides that are available in ten different languages. that, and also free WiFi.
• The New York bus tour includes headphones and commentary within the bus, Ferry or night tour (if option selected), Hop on hop off bus ticket (route and duration depend on option booked). The package does not include Attraction tickets.
• The main icons (Brooklyn bridge, Empire state building, Times Square), Midtown, Uptown(Central park, museum mile), or a very personal customized journey.
• One through this tour, can loop around New York and take a moment to awe at the beauty that it has to offer.

Smile and enjoy New York. take a Bus Ride of The NY City.

Discover the best of New York City by taking the Hop on Hop off tour which brings you to the most iconic attractions in NY.

• new york city

My ‘Tourist’s Guide’ to Riding the Bus in New York City!

• Posted by by Elle-Rose
• Updated: October 26, 2023
• 5 minute read

Most tourists in NYC either get around by taxi or the Subway – but I much prefer the bus!

Using the bus is my favorite way to get around NYC.

But I used to be a little intimidated by the bus network (even though I had been using the Subway for years!). There was just something about NYC buses that seemed a little confusing!

Well, if you’re also visiting NYC soon, you might be wondering if the bus system is any good, and (importantly) how it all works. Hopefully, in this blog post, I can tell you! And put your mind at ease soy ou can use the bus confidently!

Navigating a new city’s public transportation can be a little scary and intimidating, but I promise you, the bus system in NYC is super easy.

And there are some big advantages to taking the bus over the Subway or a taxi too! Some of the main advantages are:

• The bus is much much cheaper than a taxi.
• The bus involves a lot less steps than the subway (useful for people with accessibility issues).
• NYC buses have phone charging points! This is seriously underrated – and I always appreciate it if my phone is running low on battery.
• You don’t lose WiFi or signal on the bus, meaning you can still make calls or stream videos, etc.
• On the bus, you can still enjoy views of the city! You’ll have lovely bug windows to look out of (which the subway definitely lacks!).
• The bus can often drop you much closer to your destination than the Subway.

Now that I’ve, hopefully, convinced you of the advantages to taking the bus – this blog post will tell you everything you need to know, including how it all works, how to pay, and other tips.

1. Planning Your Route

The first thing you’ll want to do when using the bus in NYC, is planning your route.

There are a few ways to do this (which I’ve listed below) but my fool-proof method is definitely Google Maps. And that’s the method I would recommend above all others . Google Maps just makes it super easy, and gives you all the info you need (along with live tracking along your journey).

Google Maps : This is my preferred way of route planning. You can easily use Google Maps to find directions and real-time bus arrivals. Just enter your destination, select the public transportation option, and it will provide you with bus routes and schedules. It can even direct you to the nearest bus stop too.

MTA Bus Time : Visit the MTA website or download the Bus Time app. It provides real-time bus tracking and schedules for every route, making it easy to plan your journey.

CityMapper: CityMapper is another app you can use (works in a similar way to Google Maps) to help you find out which bus routes are nearby, and when they’re scheduled. It’ll also give you total journey ETAs.

Official Maps : This is a little old-school, but you could always grab a paper map from a subway station or a visitor center to help you get oriented and see the bus routes.

Tip: I’ve found that once you figured out the best bus routes near to your hotel / accommodation – it only gets easier. Memorize the most helpful bus route for your hotel, and then you know which to look out for.

2. Bus Stops and Identification

NYC bus stops are typically marked with a green and white sign that includes the bus route numbers, a map of the route, and the direction of travel.

Sometimes there will be seating, and a little shelter area, sometimes it’ll just be a pole with a sign (like the example below).

Here’s what to look for:

• Bus Number : Check the route number to make sure it’s the one you need.
• Direction : Make sure you’re waiting on the correct side of the street for the direction you want to travel. Using one of the apps above should help with this!
• Schedules : While the official schedules are handy, remember that buses may arrive a little early or late, so use real-time tracking whenever possible.

3. Paying the Fare

One of the things I was most nervous about when I first started using NYC buses, was knowing how to pay.

Well hopefully, if you’re like me, this next section will help put your mind at ease.

The easiest way to pay on a New York City bus is by using your MetroCard (which can be purchased at subway stations, kiosks, and some convenience stores). You’ll likely buy one of these at the start of your vacation / trip to NYC because it is used on the Subway too.

You can also pay by exact cash (but this can be a little tricky), especially as coins and cash are becoming less frequently used.

Here’s how to pay your fare, depending on the method:

• MetroCard or Unlimited Ride MetroCard : If you have a MetroCard, simply dip it in the little Metrocard slot by the driver’s seat, when you board the bus. There is a little image by the Metrocard slot that instructs you which way to dip the card too, so that’s nice and easy.
• Exact Fare : If you don’t have a MetroCard, you can also pay in exact change when boarding the bus. Bus drivers do not provide change, so you’ll want to have as close to the exact amount as possible. You drop the coins into the change area, again by the driver’s seat.

4. Boarding the Bus

Boarding the bus is pretty easy, and not really any different from boarding the bus in any other location. But I’ll outline a few bits of advice below – just in case you need it!

• Queue Up : Form a line behind the designated bus stop sign. Wait patiently for passengers to exit before boarding, but most passengers with disembark from the back doors – so this isn’t always an issue.
• Show Your Card or Pay : If you have a MetroCard, dip it into the card reader by the bus’s entrance, where the driver sits. If you’re paying with cash, drop your exact fare into the farebox next to the driver.
• Take a Seat : Find an available seat or hold on to a handrail if the bus is crowded.

5. Requesting a Stop

Some NYC city buses show the live locations on a little screen in the center of the bus. So if you’re nervous about missing your stop, be sure to sit where can view this screen. I’ve included a photo of it below.

Bear in mind, NYC buses will not always stop at every bus stop along the route. To request a stop, and ensure it stops, follow these steps:

• Pull the Cord or Press the Strip : When your stop is approaching, pull the cord or press the stop request strip located near the windows. This will signal the driver to stop at the next designated bus stop.

6. Exiting the Bus

When the bus arrives at your desired stop, here’s what you should do:

• Exit through the Rear Door : In many NYC buses, passengers exit through the rear door to speed up boarding. This bit did confuse me a little at first, but you have to press the rear door with the palm of your hand to open it.
• If the driver doesn’t open the rear door, politely shout “Rear door please” to remind them. This has happened to me once or twice, and you just have to shout and ask, otherwise they’ll drive off and you’ll miss the stop!
• Check for Personal Belongings : Obviously, ensure you have all your personal belongings with you before leaving the bus – especially if you’ve been taking advantage of their USB phone charging ports!

7. Additional Tips for taking the bus in NYC

There are just a few other things it’s worth knowing before you board a bus in NYC. Juse etiquette-type stuff that’s it’s worth remembering.

• Peak Hours : Buses can get crowded during rush hours (approximately 7 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM), so plan accordingly. If you’re not OK with crowds and busy buses – then it might be worth avoiding them during these times.
• Express Buses : NYC has something called ‘express bus routes’ – these are quicker than other buses, but they also require an additional fare. Be sure to check before boarding an express bus.
• Bus Etiquette : Remember to offer your seat to elderly or disabled passengers and keep your conversations at a reasonable volume. Don’t play music via your speakers either – always have headphone with you.

Let me know if you’ve got any questions or if I can help!

Elle-Rose is the owner and editor of The World and Then Some! She has been a professional travel writer for over 12 years, writing for many different publications, including this one. Elle-Rose is a city break expert, and she specializes in popular locations such as NYC, London, Las Vegas and Dubai, regularly visiting to stay on top of new attractions, restaurants and hotels. Elle-Rose is super active on TikTok (@theworldandthensome), and loves filming video content in the cities she visits - so go and say hello!

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Watch CBS News

Justin Timberlake breaks his silence at Chicago tour stop: "It's been a tough week"

By Kerry Breen

June 22, 2024 / 10:02 AM EDT / CBS News

Just days after his arrest for allegedly driving while intoxicated , Justin Timberlake took the stage for the first of two concerts in Chicago. 

Between songs on Friday, he appeared to address the Sag Harbor arrest. Social media videos from the event show him addressing the audience. 

"We've been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights. It's been a tough week, but you're here, and I'm here," he said, before bowing to cheering fans. 

“It’s been a tough week” - Justin Timberlake pic.twitter.com/rIp2LZpZHs — Zach Moss (@zachlmoss) June 22, 2024

"I know I'm hard to love sometimes but you keep loving me right back," Timberlake added. 

Timberlake was arrested on Tuesday in Sag Harbor, Long Island. The singer was stopped at 12:37 a.m. local time after he allegedly drove through a stop sign, according to court documents reviewed by CBS News. Timberlake also allegedly failed to keep to the right side of the road, according to court documents. 

Timberlake allegedly told police that he had "one martini" and was following friends home, but the officer who pulled him over said that the singer was "in an intoxicated condition," with "bloodshot and glassy" eyes, and a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath." He also allegedly "performed poorly on all standard field sobriety tests." Documents reveal that Timberlake refused three breath tests. 

Timberlake was arrested and his mug shot was taken. Timberlake was arraigned on Tuesday morning and released on his recognizance. He will make a virtual appearance in court again on July 26, officials said. 

The Chicago concerts are his first public appearances since the arrest. The stops are part of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, his first major tour in five years. He will play a second concert on Saturday night. 

• Justin Timberlake

Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.

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New Buffalo Double Decker Bus Tour tells tale of Teddy Roosevelt's 'Unexpected Inauguration'

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Starting this Wednesday, people can experience a new double decker bus tour and witness all the sites of Buffalo history associated with the tragic assassination of President William McKinley and the quick, "unexpected inauguration" of his Bull Moose successor, Theodore Roosevelt.

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site has teamed up with the Buffalo Double Decker Bus Tours to present an opportunity for history buffs to board a Leyland Olympian English double decker bus to view the historic locales in Buffalo that include where President William McKinley was shot and the estate where McKinley stayed during his ill-fated convalescence.

"To some extent, the bus tour covers the same story that we do in a tour of our museum, which is the story of President McKinley, his visit to Buffalo, his shooting and eventual death, and Roosevelt's inauguration here at the home, but it tells it from a different perspective," says Mark Lozo, education director of the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration Site.

"The bus allows us to travel around to different parts of the city to see locations that are connected to that story, and to talk about aspects of that story and perspectives on it that we don't normally have a chance to talk about when touring the museum itself. So it's a an opportunity, even if you've been to the Roosevelt site, to learn new facts and aspects of that story that you might have never heard before."

The bus takes you on a tour of the grounds of the where the Pan American Exposition was and where the Temple of Music once stood, including the Buffalo History Museum, the only major building still standing from the exposition, according to Lozo.

"We'll head downtown also, to visit the area of the train station, where then Vice-President Roosevelt would have arrived in Buffalo, following the shooting of President McKinley. We will then go by the location of where police headquarters would have been at the time, and Old County Hall where President McKinley's body would be laid out after his death, and where, ultimately, the assassin would be tried," added Lozo.

Tickets are going fast for this month's tour, which is June 26th starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, but not to worry. There will be three more tours going on through September. The dates are as follows: July 24, August 28, September 25. Each ticket costs $35 or $30 if you are a member of the TR Inaugural Site. You can click here for more information. Tickets include half-price admission to the museum and a bonus "Guide to the Pan-Am Grounds."

This is just the beginning of more exciting things to come for the TR Inaugural Site, according to the site's new Executive Director Spencer Morgan, who took over for the previous director in April.

"It's bringing the TR site to the next level. If you visited the TR site in the past, you know that we have some wonderful technology, some wonderful, wonderful sensory experiences as you tour and as you commence throughout the house. We're planning on adding more to that. And I'm really excited about some of the advancements, especially the technological ones we'll be making here onsite. Another exciting piece to the TR site is our virtual reality components that we have accessible through our website.

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So far, the “World Tour” isn’t ruined.

On June 25-26, NYSNC singer/”Social Network” star/Sag Harbor arrestee Justin Timberlake will headline back-to-back nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden as part of his ongoing ‘Forget Tomorrow World Tour.’

And, if you want to see the man with the most meme’d mugshot of the year live, ticket prices are cheaper than ever.

At the time of publication, last-minute seats are going for as low as $112 before fees on Vivid Seats.

When our team last reported on Timberlake ticket prices back on June 3, they started at $176 before fees .

For those keeping score, that’s a cool $64 in savings.

Curious to see if JT will address the most-talked about DWI of the year live? Hoping to hear “Cry Me A River” and “Mirrors” live?

Here’s your chance, TN Kids.

For more information about Justin Timberlake’s Madison Square Garden ‘Forget Tomorrow World Tour,’ we’ve got everything you need to know and more below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

Justin Timberlake MSG tickets

A comparison of what tickets cost to see Timberlake at MSG at the time of publication versus on June 3 can be found below.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Justin Timberlake tour 2024

Can’t make it to see Timberlake live this week?

Not a problem.

He’ll be at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Monday, Oct. 7 and Newark’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

That’s not all, though. JT will be touring all over North America and the rest of the world (it is a world tour after all) from now until December.

Want to see if he’s headed to your neck of the woods?

All ‘Forget Tomorrow Tour’ dates including venues and links to buy tickets can be found here .

Joey Fatone 2024 tour

From June through August, fellow *NSYNC alum  Joey Fatone  is hitting the road with AJ McLean joining him on select dates.

“It’s gonna be a lot of *NSYNC songs, a lot of Backstreet Boys songs,” Fatone shared on  Instagram .

If you want to see if the ’90s icon is headed to your neck of the woods, you can find Fatone’s complete tour schedule  here .

Also, it should be noted that  Chris Kirkpatrick  has a trio of concerts lined up this year as well.

Justin Timberlake set list

The ‘Forget Tomorrow World Tour’ launched in late April this year.

For a closer look at what Timberlake has been taking to the stage, here’s a rundown of what he performed at a recent gig in Austin on June 1, courtesy of  Set List FM .

01.) “No Angels” 02.) “LoveStoned” 03.) “Like I Love You” 04.) “My Love” 05.) “Technicolor” 06.) “Sanctified” 07.) “Infinity Sex”

08.) “FutureSex/LoveSound” 09.) “Imagination” 10.) “Drown” 11.) “Cry Me a River” 12.) “Let the Groove Get In” 13.) “My Favorite Drug” 14.) “Señorita” 15.) “Summer Love” 16.) “F**kin’ Up the Disco” B-Stage

17.) “Play” 18.) “Suit & Tie” 19.) “Flame” 20.) “Say Something” 21.) “Pusher Love Girl” 22.) “Until the End of Time” 23.) “Selfish” (Acoustic) 24.) “What Goes Around… Comes Around” A-Stage

25.) “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” 26.) “Rock Your Body” 27.) “SexyBack” Floating Stage

28.) “Mirrors”

Justin Timberlake new music

On March 15, Timberlake dropped his sixth studio album  “Everything I Thought I Was.”

Made up of 15 songs, the “The Social Network” star reflects on fame, his legacy, and life — and that’s just the contemplative lead track “Memphis.”

After that, Timberlake returns to the dance floor for the slinky “F**kin’ Up the Disco” and “No Angels.” This is the fun Timberlake you remember from the early aughts. All falsetto and club-ready beats, no self-seriousness here.

Other standouts include the bubbly “Infinity Sex,” the gorgeous ballad “Love & War” and the hypnotic “Sanctified.”

Of course, you’ll need to make it a priority to check out his long-awaited collab on “Paradise” with *NSYNC, too.

Want to hear the record in its entirety? If so, you can find “Everything I Thought I Was”  here .

Huge stars on tour in 2024

JT isn’t the only icon on the road this year.

In fact, many of the biggest names in the game are pounding the pavement these next few months.

For a closer look, here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

•  New Kids On The Block with Paula Abdul

•  Usher

•  Chris Brown

•  Bryson Tiller

•  PartyNextDoor

Who else is out and about? Check out our list of the  50 biggest concert tours in 2024 here  to find out.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy , New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed Bruce Springsteen and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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GloRilla Releases Video For Her New Summer Anthem “TGIF”

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Today, GRAMMY-nominated artist GloRilla releases the new video for her viral hit “TGIF” via CMG/Interscope Records. Directed by Jerry Morka and Diesel, Glo proves why she’s the life of the party, encouraging her friends to twerk atop her tour bus to dance alongside them during a fun beach day.

“TGIF” first gained traction when Glo previewed the song on social media, which created massive demand for the song’s release. She eventually started performing the song during stops on Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer Tour, with the crowd rapping along her memorable lyrics,  “It’s 7 pm Friday, it’s 95 degrees…I ain’t got no n—a and no n—a ain’t got me.”

Hot on the heels of her recent triumph, the star-studded collaboration “Wanna Be (Remix)” featuring Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, GloRilla is on a winning streak. First unveiled at Megan and Glo’s tour stop at Madison Square Garden last month, the trio’s dynamic performance and Cardi’s powerful verse catapulted the remix to the top of the charts, solidifying it as the official anthem for the summer. “Wanna Be” initially debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and with this star-studded remix, it has surged back into the top 15, a testament to GloRilla’s status as one of the genre’s top hitmakers. This week, Glo will conclude the domestic leg of Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer Tour, following a string of unforgettable shows in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Glo’s hometown of Memphis.

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Taylor swift and travis kelce leave london eras tour show hand in hand after onstage surprise.

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So long, London.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift left her third and final Eras Tour show in London hand in hand, as seen in a fan video .

The Kansas City Chiefs player, 34, was spotted waiting for the pop star in an all-white outfit and a bucket hat as she chatted with someone on Sunday.

THEY ARE DRESSED NICE WHERE ARE THEY GOING?! pic.twitter.com/5h9AUKB8aP — Tayvis Nation 🏈🫶🏻 (@tayvisnation) June 23, 2024

After wrapping up her conversation, Swift stepped into frame in a pink dress and heels, reaching for her partner’s hand as they walked down a ramp.

“THEY ARE DRESSED NICE WHERE ARE THEY GOING?!” one X user asked.

Another gushed , “going on a date after a 3+ hour show?! and they say love is dead.”

Swift, also 34, kicked off her England performances on Friday and rolled right into another show on Saturday.

Kelce was spotted at Wembley Stadium for all three concerts, even making a surprise onstage appearance for the final show.

He joined two of her backup dancers during the “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” transition, fanning himself during the songwriter’s subsequent wardrobe change.

Swift will have a few days off before hitting the stage in Dublin next week.

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Want celebrity news as it breaks? Hooked on Housewives?

Kelce, who is in his NFL offseason, last attended one of his girlfriend’s shows in Paris in May, making headlines for dancing with Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid .

The athlete remained abroad for a Lake Como getaway with Swift.

The couple stayed in a luxurious private villa , which cost $21,000 per night, and he filmed his and brother Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast from somewhere “in Europe.”

The tight end gushed about Swift’s “unbelievable” skills while urging listeners to catch her upcoming tour stops.

“It has her new ‘Tortured Poets Department,’ a handful of those songs in the new show, which means  there’s a new segment , new lights, new dancing and everything,” Travis said at the time. “I enjoyed every bit of it.”

The three-time Super Bowl winner hadn’t met Swift when he first attended an Eras Tour show in Missouri in July 2023 — although he did try to give her his phone number on a friendship bracelet.

While he was “disappointed” Swift didn’t talk to him at the time, news broke two months later that the duo were dating .

When the “Catching Kelce” alum next attended one of her shows in Buenos Aires in November 2023, the couple were caught on camera embracing and kissing .

He has since watched Swift perform in Singapore and Sydney, showing PDA both times.

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School districts grapple with electric bus transition

New York has set ambitious goals to phase out traditional diesel school buses by 2027 for all new purchases and achieve a fully electric fleet by 2035, securing significant funding and incentives to support districts with the costly transition.

However, many districts are still facing challenges, according to school officials.

What You Need To Know

New york is mandating electric school bus fleets by 2035, and phasing out diesel purchases by 2027 districts cite high upfront costs and infrastructure upgrades as major challenges funding gaps remain despite state and federal grants, and uncertainty around budget votes utility coordination and workforce training are underway to prepare for the transition lomg-term benefits include reduced emissions, operating costs and healthier rides.

School districts across the state are configuring their plans to electrify bus fleets while committed to meeting state mandates, said Dr. David Perry, superintendent of the South Colonie Central School District.

"The cost of electric vehicles are two and a half to three times the cost of a diesel bus," Perry said. "So, at this point in time, due to the cost and the uncertainty of when our capital project will come to completion, we're still purchasing the diesel vehicles."

The upfront cost is a major hurdle, with electric buses costing more than $300,000 each, Perry said, adding that they'll rely on state and federal grants to offset the premium, but funding gaps remain.

"We will take a current diesel bus, which is planned for removal from our fleet. We'll trade that in, we'll get a certain rebate on that through the NYSERDA and the New York State energy grant program," he said.

Coordination with utility companies and workforce training initiatives are also underway as districts prepare for the electric bus transition. South Colonie, for instance, has begun planning for its new transportation hub, designed to facilitate the shift from diesel and gas to electric.

Bus driver Frank Waterson plans to keep his foot on the gas as he prepares for the switch.

"It'd be interesting. I drove a bus about a month and a half ago, a demo bus. The drive was very similar to this," Waterson said. "I'm really interested to see how the endurance is going to be at the end of the day, how many miles are we going to get out of, if we do a complete run or not."

With the 2027 phase-out deadline looming, districts have implemented strategies for a seamless process, said Don Keegan, associate superintendent of business services at the North Syracuse Central School District.

"All those buses purchased at that time would have to be zero-emissions buses. And then by 2035, your entire fleet has to be a zero-emission bus," Keegan said.

A driving factor will be the outcome of future budget votes. There may be uncertainty if local residents reject funding for the expensive electric bus purchases, Perry said.

"Communities will have to again understand the process, understand the commitment financially for replacing these buses," he said.

Keegan acknowledged the challenges but said, "We're going to make sure that we make a smooth transition for our students and families, and that's just going to take a little bit of time."