The Best Helicopter Tour NYC

A helicopter tour is one of the best things you can do during your stay in NYC. There is a reason why you will see multiple choppers flying up and down the Hudson River at all times. However, one question remains; which of the many tours on offer is the best?

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.

Check out the best helicopter tours in NYC here!

Which is the best helicopter tour 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 NYC from above. We have broken the helicopter flights down, in order to give you a choice in each category.

Our personal favorite is the Manhattan Scenic Helicopter tour. This one strikes the perfect balance between length and cost and provides you with an excellent experience for the price. If we had to pick one, this would be our best helicopter tour in NYC!

Best helicopter tour routes 

See the different routes you can fly below and what main attractions you will be able to see. Choose between a short (green), medium (blue), or long (red) helicopter tour.

Our favorite tour: The Manhattan Scenic Helicopter Tour

Where to start the ride and which routes to fly?

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 do I book a helicopter tour online?

The process is secure, easy, and convenient. We have linked to our partner Tiqets.com due to their secure and simple sale of tickets. The reason we have chosen them as a partner is due to their offer of Mobile tickets. This allows you to book a helicopter flight even if you are already in NYC without access to a printer.

Our tip: book your tickets 1 – 2 weeks in advance – you will have a fairly accurate weather forecast by then!

How to buy your tickets online:

1. Click on one of the links above or on the one below to purchase one of the helicopter tours. To see the differences again you can use the table at the top of the page.
2. Next select the date at the top of the page and click on the “Check availability” button.
3. Now you can choose which helicopter ride of the 3 best NYC helicopter tours you would like to purchase. It is also here that you select how many tickets you would like.
4. Follow the instructions and enter your personal details in the fields provided.
5. You will now receive a confirmation email/text.
6. PLEASE NOTE: Please be at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport 45 minutes prior to departure and present your ticket at check-in. You will also need to pay the remaining security fee here of $45 which is not included in the ticket price.

Check availabilities

Changing the date of your 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!

Pictures of New York City helicopter flights

You’re still not convinced about taking a NYC helicopter tour? Check out the pictures of one of the Manhattan Scenic Helicopter tours below. This is what you are going to see during your flight over Manhattan. Enjoy your view of the famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, or the Yankee Stadium.