new york night tour bus

The Absolute Best Night Bus Tours in NYC

Are you ready to explore New York City? The city that never sleeps has so many sights that it would take a lifetime to see everything. So, while you won’t be able to see the entire city during one trip to NYC, we do suggest that you sign up for a nighttime bus tour. You’ll love experiencing the glamour of New York illuminated by night, where you’ll see many famous attractions and be entertained by the live guides. But how do you know which one to choose? Today we’ll look at the best night bus tour NYC to make it easier.

You'll also love this:

• Fun Things You Can Do in New York at Night
• Hop-on-Hop-off in NYC

We have already done several of the tours and were positively surprised. Therefore, when planning your trip, you should seriously consider taking a night tour by bus – seeing New York at night is simply amazing!

In a rush? Further down, I’ll answer your question about 👉 which night bus tour in NYC is the best and I’ll tell you how you can even 👉 do it for free !

Table of Contents

What Is The Night Bus Tour?

As the name would suggest, a night bus tour takes visitors on a sightseeing adventure around NYC after dark. The landmarks you see will depend on which bus tour you choose, and we consider the two we’ll discuss here today to be the best, which are provided by Big Bus and Top View .

It’s important to note that while most NYC bus tours are hop-on-hop-off, the night tours are not!

There are no scheduled stops, and you cannot get off the bus in the middle of the route. With that being said, let’s take a detailed look at each of these.

Quick Comparison

Here you can compare the different providers and routes and find the best night bus tour for you!

#1 Big Bus Night Bus Tour NYC

Ranked among the best night bus tours in NYC, Big Bus is a famous tour company in the city. This company is the largest operator of sightseeing bus tours in the world. They began with just three buses and have grown to operate in over 20 cities across four continents with hundreds of buses.

Big Bus Night Bus Tour NYC Information

• Price: from $62 for children / $62 for adults
• Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
• Departure/Arrival Location: 7th Ave & W 48th, Outside the M&M Store
• Departure Time: Tours begin at 7:00 pm and run through 9:00 pm

As you make your way to the departure area, consider that seats are first-come, first-served on the bottom or top deck. Once aboard the open-top double-decker, you’ll want to plug in your recorded audio commentary that’s available in 10 languages ranging from English and Spanish to German, Japanese, and more. Listening to this during the duration of your trip is the best way to learn lesser-known facts about each attraction you see.

Big Bus Night Bus Tour NYC Route And Attractions

You will start at the M&M World Stop and make your way through Times Square. The first attractions you’ll see are Bryant Park, stores along 5th Ave in Midtown, and the infamous Empire State Building .

You will then travel through NYC’s Flatiron district, where you’ll see the famed Flatiron Building and Union Square before heading through Noho and Soho . The bus then travels through Little Italy and Chinatown before heading over the historic Manhattan Bridge toward Brooklyn. At this point, the bus will circle back over the bridge and continue toward the Avenue Of The Americas, where you’ll get an up-close look at Hudson Square, Greenwich Village , and the garment district before arriving back at your final destination.

Big Bus Night Bus Tour Tickets

Here you can buy tickets for the night tour. Note: these are not available separately, but only as an upgrade in combination with the regular hop-on hop-off bus tour.

GET TICKETS

#3 Top View Night Bus Tour NYC

Top View buses are among the most famous and easiest to spot in NYC. They operate a large fleet of double-deckers that are equipped with the latest in GPS triggered audio technology that’s available in 11 languages. Top View operates over 40 bus stops and offers rides all day, making it easy for visitors to explore the city on their own terms.

Top View Night Bus Tour NYC Information

• Price: $49 for children / $59 for adults
• Duration: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
• Departure/Arrival Location: 46th St between 7th Ave & 8th Ave, off of 8th Ave
• Departure Time: Tours begin at 7:00 pm and run through 11:00 pm

Top View offers one of the best night bus tours in NYC, as it’s comprehensive and passes many of the most famed attractions the Big Apple has to offer. Aboard one of the open-top double-decker buses, you will be delighted by the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps. Between the flashing lights and stunning architecture, it will provide you a new view of the city that you can’t see during the day.

Top View Night Bus Tour NYC Route And Attractions

The Top View night bus tour begins in Times Square and travels down 5th Avenue past Bryant Park and the Empire State Building . It then travels past some of the city’s most famous areas, including the Flatiron District , Greenwich Village, Soho, Chinatown, and Little Italy .

The bus will then head toward the harbor, where you will cross the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn . This is usually a fan-favorite as the splendor of the Manhattan Bridge at night is unbeatable, as are the breathtaking views of Manhattan’s towering skyline .

You will then head back toward Manhattan, where you’ll enjoy other famous sights such as the United Nations Building, Chrysler Building , and the Grand Central Terminal . Finally, you’ll travel through Times Square once again before arriving at your departure point.

In the end, if you’re looking for a fun night experience in New York City , then you don’t want to miss out on one of these unique encounters. Regardless of which night bus tour NYC that you choose, the views are unmatched, and you’ll have plenty of lasting memories to take back home.

Top View Night Bus Tour Tickets

Here you can buy tickets for the night tour.

Get Tickets

My Recommandation

Which Night Bus Tour is the Best?

The routes of the night tours are pretty much the same and will take you to the most beautiful and impressive places in New York.

Nevertheless, there is one clear recommendation for me: Big Bus. Why? They have the most modern buses compared to the other providers and the guides were always in a good mood.

BIG BUS TICKETS

Do the night tour for free

Do you already know the attractions passes for New York? With these you can visit many attractions and tours for a very reasonable fixed price (this includes the night tour).

You can learn more about them here:

• New York Pass Comparison – Which New York Pass is the Best?
• Complete List of Attractions and Tours included in the New York City Passes

Fun Things To Do in New York At Night

Hop On Hop Off in NYC

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 !

Hole dir deine wöchentliche Dosis New York mit meinem Loving New York-Newsletter! Er ist vollgestopft mit den neuesten Artikeln, Videos, Erfahrungsberichten und allem, was gerade Interessantes und Wissenswertes im Big Apple passiert.

Ich selbst war über 25x in meiner Lieblingsstadt und möchte dir mit meinen Emails dabei helfen, eine sensationelle Zeit vor Ort zu haben.

Und als BONUS bekommst meine ✔️ "24 Tipps für deine New York-Reise" ✔️ die U-Bahn-Karte und ✔️ die offizielle NYC-Karte zugeschickt. Ganz KOSTENLOS!

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

Manhattan in Lights – Night Tour + Top of the Rock Ticket

💡 Feel like discovering NYC’s millions of lights aboard a luxury mini bus ? This tour is for you.

🧭 Multiple stops around Manhattan: Little Island, High Line, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Terminal, the Rockefeller Center and more! Round trip from Times Square!

📈  Make the experience even more magical by adding a ticket to “The Top of the Rock” Observation Deck

🎟️ Click HERE for LUXURY EXPERIENCE tickets:   $10 more per ticket but your mini-bus will have a clear glass roof

‼️  EXCLUSIVE 👉🏼 USE CODE NY15 for an EXCLUSIVE 15% DISCOUNT – VALID ON BOTH THE GENERAL AND THE LUXURY EXPERIENCE

THE CODE ALSO WORKS ON THE TICKETS for the TOP OF THE ROCK OBSERVATION DECK

🏆 Our tour has EXCELLENT RATINGS on TripAdvisor : more than 3800 review with 5/5 Average Rating.

👇 See the live ratings clicking on the BOOK NOW button below

ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY

• Cancellation Policy
• COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

THE EXPERIENCE

🌃 Admire New York City’s iconic landmarks at night on a fully-guided bus tour

🌉 Make stops at Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, the High Line, Little Island and more

🗣️ Enjoy entertaining live commentary and get off at various stops for short guided walks

🌃 Take in unforgettable 360° nighttime views of the city at the  Top of the Rock Observation Deck

🚐 Ride in comfort aboard a climate-controlled, sightseeing mini-bus 👉🏼  Make your experience LUXURY clicking HERE

Experience awesome New York City sites at night , as you hop aboard our comfortable tour bus for a comprehensive, fully-guided bus tour of NYC at night.

Your tour guid e will accompany you and will get off with you at each stop , helping you see a different side of New York City.

This 4.5-hour guided night bus tour includes stops at the High Line Park, Little Island on Hudson River, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport, and Times Square!

📌 The tour starts at 5:30 pm in the Times Square area on 7th Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets (in the middle of the block), and ends at 10 pm at the same location.

We leave our starting/ending location in Times Square and go to our FIRST STOP – one of the most fascinating attractions in New York City – the High Line Park . The stop includes a 15-minute walk on the elevated, linear park that was originally a railway dating back to the industrial days of the west side of Manhattan.

We continue our guided walk to NYC’s newest outdoor space – Little Island – a 2.4-acre public park on the Hudson River.

Off to Pier 17 at the historic South Street Seaport for magnificent views of the Downtown Brooklyn skyline and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge at night !

Our next stop is Grand Central Terminal for a quick indoor tour of this iconic NYC landmark and the views of the Chrysler Building and NYC’s newest skyscraper – One Vanderbilt!

Our last stop is one of the most famous NYC landmarks: the Rockefeller Center

If you purchased optional Top of the Rock tickets – you will experience its amazing outdoor sky deck with 360° views of New York City.

Additional sites and neighborhoods you’ll also see from the comfort of your bus include Tribeca neighborhood , where celebrities Robert De Niro and Taylor Swift live, Midtown East , Battery Park City , Soho , the Chelsea Piers , the West Village , the Financial District , the Meatpacking District , the three bridges along the East River – Brooklyn Bridge , Williamsburg Bridge , and Manhattan Bridg e, the Empire State Building , the United Nations Building , One World Trade Center , the Metlife Building , the Chrysler Building , and more!

✅ Licensed Tour Guide

✅ Transportation on Mini Bus

✅ Tickets for the “Top of the Rock” Observation Deck can be added when booking your tour

❌ Hotel pick-up and drop off

❌ Beverages (although there will be ample opportunities to purchase snacks and drinks)

❌  Gratuities (never required, but highly appreciated if you enjoyed the tour)

People with mobility impairments: although the amount of walking is very limited, we get on and off our Mini Bus multiple times during the tour

• Free Cancellation up to 24 Hours in Advance > if you cancel your booking 24 hours in advance of your tour departure time – a full refund will be issued
• Free Cancellation up to 1 Hour in Advance With Tour Booking Insurance > if you purchase Tour Booking Insurance at $5.99 per booking, booking cancellations may be made up to 1 hour in advance of your tour departure time for a full refund
• Buses cleaned with epa-registered disinfectant between every tour
• Hand sanitizers available aboard buses
• Limited seating on buses for added space between passengers
• Contactless check-in process

MEETING POINT

📍 The tour departs at 5:30 PM on 7th Ave between 50th & 51st Streets (in the middle of the block) and ends at 10 PM at the same location.

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NYC Skyline Night Tour

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The experience

Experience the incredible sights and sounds of “The City That Never Sleeps” on our NYC Night Bus Tour. From your seat atop a double-decker bus, you'll marvel at the city's mesmerizing lights and enjoy a journey filled with laughter and entertainment. Choose our NYC Skyline Night Tour with Live Entertainment for engaging commentary from our entertaining host, or opt for our NYC Night Tour with an Audio Guide to learn fascinating facts about NYC through complimentary headphones. This New York night bus tour is surely to leave you with a night of memories to last a lifetime!

• Live Entertaining Host with city knowledge and fun facts.
• Participate in trivia questions.
• Breathtaking open-top views of iconic NYC landmarks.
• Audio narration available in 11 languages with complimentary headphones.
• Spectacular views of renowned landmarks.
• Capture stunning photos of New York City's skyline at night.

Amazing photo ops

• Brooklyn Bridge
• Manhattan Skyline
• Grand Central
• Chrysler Building
• One Vanderbilt
• Empire State Building
• Times Square
• Flatiron Building
• Washington Square Arch
• Little Italy
• Manhattan Bridge

Boarding Info

• NYC Skyline Night Tour with Live Entertainment: Daily 6:00PM - 8:00PM, departures at 6:00PM & 8:00PM
• NYC Skyline Night Tour with Audio Narration: Daily 6:00PM - 12:00AM (1:00AM Friday & Saturday), departures every hour
• NYC Skyline Night Tour with Live Entertainment: Stop 15
• NYC Skyline Night Tour with Audio Narration: Stop 1 or Stop 2 (varies based on departure selection)
• How to board: Scan your e-pass, no print-outs needed
• Complete trip duration: Approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes

Departure Point and Route Map

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This holiday season, get a dreamy North Pole Express ride in the center of NYC! You'll get a golden round trip ticket and be greeted by the Express Conductor. Once on board, you're on the right track to meet Santa at the ""North Pole""! With the Enhanced Experience, you'll also hear engaging stories from Elf while sipping hot chocolate. Don't forget to write your wishes to Santa - those on Santa's Nice List will get a sleigh bell as a present. Sing along Christmas carols as the North Pole Express bus ride travels through the sparkling Manhattan. If you are looking for a North Pole Express near you, look no further and hop on our North Pole Express bus for the adventure!

• German sausage
• Chicken tender
• Cornbread cake
• Chocolate bars

Beverages & Juices

• Orange juice
• Apple juice
• Cranberry juice
• Beers & wines
• Hard liquors
• Sea Breeze Vodka of choice, Cranberry and Orange Juice
• Manhattan On The River Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters
• Tequila Sunset Tequilla of choice, Orange Juice, Grenadine Syrup
• City Mule Tito's Vodka, Ginger Beer, Lime Juice
• Top Deck Margarita Milagro Tequila, Orange Liqueur, Lime Juice
• Captain's Choice Cuba Libre Bacardi Rum, Coca Cola, Lime Juice
• Ask the bartender for more!

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