The 11 Best Helicopter Tours in NYC

A helicopter tour is one of the most exciting things you can do during your stay in NYC, but picking the best helicopter tour in NYC is not an easy task, especially if you have no idea what to look for. Luckily for you, we have tried and tested them all!

In this article, we will compare all of the best helicopter tours in NYC as well as recommend to you our absolute favorite, which is in our opinion has the best value for money.

Looking for a shortcut? Click here to  👉 compare the helicopter flights, see 👉 my personal recommendation or see 👉 all details including my review of the helicopter tours.

Last but not least try our 👉 Helicopter Flight Finder that helps to find the perfect helicopter tour for you!

Which is the Best Helicopter Tour in NYC?

Depending on what you are looking for, there are three categories of helicopter rides over New York City: Short helicopter rides, medium helicopter rides, and long helicopter rides. Which one of these is best for you will depend on your budget and how long you want to spend taking in the sights of New York from above. We have broken the helicopter flights down, in order to give you a choice in each category.

Please note: There are no helicopter tours in NYC on Sundays from Manhattan (but from New Jersey!), meaning that helicopter rides on other days may get sold out faster. If you can help it, don’t wait until the day before to book it, as you may be out of luck. We recommend booking your NYC helicopter flight 1-2 weeks in advance.

My Recommendation

I can recommend you three helicopter flights over NYC: first of all the New York Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour, because in my opinion it offers the best price-performance ratio and starts right in Manhattan. So you don’t have a long way to get there.

The cheapest helicopter flight, which also does not require a transfer, is the Manhattan Sky Tour. I have done both several times and it was always the highlight of my New York trip!

If you want to take a helicopter ride with several people and are looking for a cheap provider, check out the Taste of NYC Helicopter Tour!

All Helicopter Tours in Detail

While in the table above only the 4 to 6 most important helicopter flights are shown, here you can find all helicopter tours in detail. For each one you will find a separate review from me!

1. 01

   Manhattan Sky Tour

   Helicopter Tour in Financial District

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   Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport | 12 – 15 Minutes | The Manhattan Sky Tour is the perfect helicopter ride for first time visitors to NYC! Seeing the skyscrapers and streets of Manhattan from above is an experience that you will will definitly not be forgetting any time soon. Seeing NYC’s main attractions from the sky gives you a completely different perspective and provides you with the chance of taking some amazing and unique photos of the concrete jungle below you.

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2. 02

   Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour

   Helicopter Tour in Financial District

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   Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport | 18 – 20 Minutes | The Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour takes you on an areial tour over Manhattan and its many attractions. You wont forget the view of NYC from above or the feeling of flying high above the skyscrapers any time soon. Especially for those of you who like taking photos, this is a guaranteed way to secure some amazing shots of the NYC skyline.

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3. 03

   Taste of NYC Helicopter Tour

   Helicopter Tour in New Jersey
   

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   Departure: Kearney, New Jersey | 12 – 15 Minutes | The Taste of NYC Helicopter Tour is the most affordable helicopter flight over New York. During the 12-15 minute flight you will see the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You can also see the famous One World Trade Center at the southern tip of Manhattan and the Empire State Building!

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4. 04

   Night Helicopter Ride NYC: City Lights Skyline Experience

   Helicopter Tour in New Jersey
   

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   Departure: Linden, New Jersey | 25 – 30 Minutes | Have you ever seen the sights of New York City from the air at night? If not, then you should book a seat on the City Lights Skyline Experience helicopter ride NYC from Helicopter Flight Services. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allows visitors to see aerial views of Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and much more while they are lit up at night!

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5. 05

   Grand Island Helicopter Flight

   Helicopter Tour in Financial District
   

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   Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport | 25 – 30 Minutes | Enjoy seeing NYC from a bird’s-eye view for 30 exciting minutes with the Grand Island Helicopter Flight. You will see all the main NYC attractions from above allowing you to take some amazingly unique pictures of some of NYC’s most famous sights. You will fly over everything from the Statue of Liberty, The One World Trade Center and the Yankees Stadium to the New York Harbor and Central Park! This is undoubtedly an experience you will not want to miss out on.

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6. 06

   New York Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights

   Helicopter Tour in Financial District
   

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   Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport | 12 – 15 Minutes | For a unique and exciting experience, look no further! A helicopter ride over Manhattan is one of the things that we highly recommend doing when you visit NYC. From up in the air the sense of scale you get is second to none, making this city even more impressive than it already is. Flying along the Hudson River this helicopter tour will give you a great view of Manhattan, its main attractions and the surrounding boroughs.

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7. 07

   Helicopter Tour: Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island

   Helicopter Tour in Financial District
   

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   Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport | 25 – 30 Minutes | No trip to New York is complete without a helicopter ride over NYC. With everything the Big Apple has to offer, it can be difficult seeing all the mighty rivers, iconic sights, and historical landmarks in one trip. However, the easiest way to accomplish this is by boarding a state-of-the-art helicopter and enjoying the ride. The Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island helicopter ride NYC by Helicopter Flight Services is one of the most comprehensive tours available. You’ll see sights such as the Chrysler Building, Statue of Liberty, General Grant National Memorial, and so much more.

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8. 08

   Ultimate Manhattan Sightseeing Helicopter Flight

   Helicopter Tour in Financial District
   

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   Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport | 25 – 30 Minutes | New York is one of the best cities for tourism and sightseeing. However, it’s also a bustling city, so rather than stand in line to see the famed sights, it’s much easier to book a helicopter ride over NYC. Doing so allows you to see the gorgeous skyline and iconic views from the air.

   The Ultimate Manhattan Sightseeing helicopter tour provided by Helicopter Flight Services is one with which you can’t go wrong.

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9. 09

   New York Helicopter Tour: City Skyline Experience

   Helicopter Tour in New Jersey
   

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   Departure: Linden, New Jersey | 25 – 30 Minutes | The City Skyline Experience is a helicopter ride over NYC that provides aerial views of Manhattan’s skyline and other historical sights. Other travelers may be present with this shared ride experience, but that doesn’t take away from the exceptional views and still provides an excellent opportunity for marvelous photos.

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Find the perfect Helicopter Flight over NYC in no time!

Not quite sure which of the many helicopter flights over New York are the best for you? With my helicopter flight advisor this can be done very quickly! Try it out right now by clicking on the “Let’s start”-button below! 👇👇👇

The Best Private Helicopter Rides

Even the “regular” helicopter flights over NYC are really beautiful and guaranteed to give you many goosebumps moments. But if you are looking for a romantic helicopter flight for two and want it to be something really special, the private helicopter flights over New York City are perfect!

Here you can find the best private helicopter tours in NYC:

The Best Helicopter Ride from JFK to NYC (and all other NYC Airports)

Something really luxurious is the combination of airport transfer and sightseeing flight – there are several providers that will take you by helicopter from the airports around New York City to Manhattan. Starting your New York vacation couldn’t be better!

Here you can find the best New York Helicopter Airport Transfers:

Helicopter Tour Routes

To get a better idea of the different helicopter routes, you can take a look at the map below. It shows you which main attractions you will be able to see and therefore may help to determine which the best helicopter tour length for you. You can choose from short, medium, and long helicopter tour in NYC.

Our Favorite: The Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour

For us, the best helicopter tour in NYC is the Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour. Why? See it for yourself:

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FAQ about Helicopter Tours in NYC

How much is a helicopter flight in New York?

Prices for helicopter flights in New York vary, depending on the length of the tour. Typically, you can expect to pay between $155 and 300.

Where do helicopter flights in New York leave from?

New York City has four main providers of helicopter rides. You can recognize them by their different colors:  The red ones are New York Helicopter & Liberty Helicopter and the black helicopters are owned by Zip Aviation. Each of them has the same departure location (Downtown Manhattan Heliport) however fly slightly different routes over the city.

How early do I need to arrive before my helicopter flight over New York?

Please be at the Heliport 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time for a compulsory safety induction, unless you’re otherwise instructed.

Can I change the date of my helicopter ride?

It is entirely possible that your travel plans for New York change last minute. Don’t worry, this is not a problem as the date and time of your helicopter tour can be canceled up to 72 hours prior to departure!

Book your tickets 1 – 2 weeks in advance – you will have a fairly accurate weather forecast by then!

How many people fit into a helicopter?

Depending on the helicopter, 4 – 6 people will be on one flight.

Is there a weight limit for helicopter flights in New York?

No. However, all passengers weighing over 300lbs (136kg) may need to pay for an extra seat depending on the flight. This can be paid to the provider at check-in.

Can I choose my seat?

Due to the need for the weight on both sides of the helicopter to be balanced, you will not be able to pick your seats. However, you can voice your seating preferences during the process and the staff will try to accommodate your wishes with this in mind.

What can I not take on board of a helicopter flight?

Only items that can be kept on your person are allowed on board, such as a cell phone, camera, or sunglasses. Any larger items (e.g. water bottles or oversized cameras that can block the view) need to be left at the heliport. Should you need to leave things behind, there are small lockers available for ($2).

What do I need to bring?

Please make sure to bring your booking confirmation as well as a valid photo ID for every passenger. This also includes children! Also, don’t forget your camera or phone to capture some moments of this incredible experience!

Is there anything that is not included in the helicopter ticket price?

A security fee of $40 per person is included in most of the ticket price. The fee is mandated by the heliport and payment is required upon check-in. Also not included are the tip (optional), as well as hotel transfers.