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New York Hop-on Hop-off Tour and Empire State Building

TourTruth score 4.5 out of 10

Below average

182 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • New York City
  • 1 hr 30 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore New York by bus for 48 hours, visit the Empire State Building’s 86th floor, and see the city glow on a guided night tour.

About this tour

See New York from open-top buses, landmark viewpoints, and the glow of the city after dark. This flexible New York hop-on hop-off tour pairs 48 hours of sightseeing across the Downtown and Uptown loops with entry to the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observation deck.

Ride between Midtown, Downtown, and Uptown, hopping off to explore places such as Times Square, Wall Street, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the city’s museums. Digital commentary brings the route to life, while the Big Bus app stores your ticket and offers route information and live bus tracking. When evening falls, join a two-hour guided night tour and watch New York’s famous landmarks shine beneath the skyline. The live night tour guide speaks English, and Wi-Fi is available on board.

The hop-on hop-off ticket is valid for 48 hours after its first use during operating hours. Activate it in the app or with Big Bus staff or a driver at a route stop. Make the most of your time in New York with a New York hop-on hop-off tour that combines flexible exploration, sweeping views, and an illuminated city ride.

Highlights

  • Explore Midtown, Downtown, and Uptown at your own pace
  • Admire Manhattan views from the Empire State Building’s 86th floor
  • See New York landmarks illuminated on a guided night tour
  • Use live bus tracking and route information in the Big Bus app

What's included

Included

  • 48-hour Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour on Downtown and Uptown loops
  • Entry to the Empire State Building’s 86th floor
  • 2-hour live-guided night tour
  • Digital commentary aboard the hop-on hop-off tour
  • Big Bus Tours app for ticket storage, activation, and live tracking
  • Wi-Fi on board
  • Statue of Liberty ferry, if option selected

Not included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • Wheelchair accessible; transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller; infants must sit on an adult’s lap
  • Service animals are allowed
  • The hop-on hop-off ticket is valid for 48 hours after first use, during operating hours
  • Activate your ticket in the Big Bus app or with Big Bus staff or a driver at any route stop
  • The night tour departs daily from Stop 1 at M&M’s World at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM

Frequently asked questions

How long is the hop-on hop-off ticket valid?

It is valid for 48 hours after first use, during operating hours.

Where does the night tour depart?

It departs daily from Stop 1 at M&M’s World at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

How do I activate my ticket?

Activate it in the Big Bus app or redeem your voucher with Big Bus staff or a driver at any route stop.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Can infants join the tour?

Yes. Infants can ride in a stroller but must sit on an adult’s lap.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 3.31 on Viator and 4.49 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in New York City
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 4.5.

Provider rating distribution in New York City

How many tours in New York City have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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