NYC: Empire State, Statue of Liberty, & Hop-on Hop-off (Save 25%)

New York sightseeing can become a tiring puzzle of subway maps, ferry lines, timed entries, and long walks. This package puts three major pieces together: an open-top bus, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, and the Empire State Building. You can cover a lot of ground quickly, then hop off when a neighborhood catches your eye.

I especially like the two bus routes, which link Times Square, SoHo, Chinatown, Wall Street, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and more. I also like having the Empire State Building and ferry in the same booking, since those are the two attractions most first-time visitors usually want to fit in.

The weak point is organization. You must redeem some vouchers and reserve an Empire State Building time, and several people have lost time because directions or ticket procedures were unclear. New York traffic, limited bus frequency, heat, and changing ferry hours can also turn a neat plan into a scramble.

Key points before you book

• The bus ticket covers downtown and uptown Manhattan, with full loops taking about 90 minutes without getting off.
• The Statue of Liberty ticket is a ferry ticket only, covering roundtrip service to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, not the pedestal, crown, monument interior, or museum.
• The Empire State Building requires a reserved date and time, arranged online through the booking link or with Big Bus staff.
• Redeem your vouchers early, ideally at Stop 1, so you are not hunting for a representative late in the day.
• Open-top buses have weather limits, and the supplied information says air conditioning and heating are not available.
• The package is best for a first visit, especially if you value coverage and convenience more than a fully guided, in-depth tour.

What the $135 package really gives you

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. You are paying for a 48-hour Big Bus ticket, admission to the Empire State Building observation deck, and roundtrip ferry service to Liberty and Ellis Islands, if that option is selected. Digital commentary is available in several languages, and the ticket also includes a bike rental discount: rent for one hour and receive one hour free.

The value depends on how much you use. If you ride only a few stops, skip the ferry, or fail to reserve the Empire State Building, the price feels steep. If you use both bus loops and complete both major attractions, the single booking can save time and remove several separate purchases.

I would not treat the stated 1 hour 30 minute duration as the total package length. That figure matches the approximate time for a full bus loop. The included bus pass is listed as 48 hours, while some booking information describes the product as a three-day pass. Check the exact validity on your voucher before planning. The package language is not perfectly consistent here.

The best value comes from using the bus as transportation, not as your only sightseeing activity. Ride one full loop to get your bearings, then use the stops to reach areas that would otherwise require several subway connections or long walks.

The downtown loop, from Times Square to Battery Park

The downtown route begins near M&M’S New York on Seventh Avenue and West 48th Street. From there, it moves through Times Square, where the huge signs and theater marquees give you the classic New York welcome. The stop near the Knickerbocker Hotel is useful for Times Square, but expect crowds and traffic around the pickup point.

The next major stop is the Empire State Building and Koreatown, near CVS. This is the most important stop for the observation deck, though you should not simply walk into the building with only your mobile voucher. You need a reserved time and date, arranged through the Big Bus booking portal or with staff.

Flatiron District offers a change of pace. The Flatiron Building is one of Manhattan’s most recognizable facades, and the stop also puts you near the neighborhood’s shops and restaurants. The stop is listed in front of Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop, so use the exact location rather than assuming the bus will stop beside the building itself.

The bus then reaches SoHo at West Broadway and Spring Street. This is a good place to hop off for cast-iron facades, shopping, and a walk through lower Manhattan. Chinatown and Little Italy follow at 100 Lafayette Street. These neighborhoods are close enough to explore on foot, but the stop can be busy, and you need to keep track of where the next bus boards.

At Brooklyn Bridge, the stop on Park Row and Beekman Street puts you near the bridge approach and City Hall area. This is a practical point to leave the bus and walk toward the bridge, though the package does not include a guided bridge walk. Wall Street follows, with the route moving toward the financial district and the ferry area.

The Statue of Liberty stop is listed near Trinity Church on Trinity Place and Cedar Street, while another downtown stop is described as Wall Street and Statue of Liberty. This is one place where you should use the app or ask a Big Bus representative for the current boarding instructions. Confusion around Battery Park and the ferry entrance has caused people to waste time walking in the wrong direction.

The route continues to the World Trade Center at Church Street and Vesey Street. You can use this stop for the memorial area, Oculus, and nearby streets. Pier 57, Hudson Yards, and the Circle Line Midtown stop then take the route north along the west side of Manhattan.

Liberty Island and Ellis Island require a real schedule

The ferry is one of the package’s strongest features, but it is not a casual add-on. You must redeem your voucher with Big Bus staff before going to the ferry terminal. The ferry operates from Battery Park, with regular departures, but the supplied details give two different operating windows: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in one place and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in another.

For that reason, check the hours on your confirmation and plan to arrive early. Do not build your day around the last possible departure. New York traffic can slow the bus, and security and ferry lines can take time.

The ticket covers the ride to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, with an audio tour for both islands. It does not include entry into the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, crown, interior monument, or museum. If you want those areas, this package is not enough by itself.

The practical plan is to handle the ferry early in the day, then use the bus for downtown stops afterward. A late ferry departure leaves less room for missed connections, especially if you also have a fixed Empire State Building reservation.

Empire State Building: reserve before you start wandering

The Empire State Building is included, but the process is more structured than the phrase admission included suggests. You must pre-book a date and time through the Big Bus booking management link supplied with your voucher, or arrange it with Big Bus staff at Stop 1.

I would handle this first. Several poor experiences came from people waiting until late afternoon to print or redeem tickets, only to find no representative available or no workable time left. One person was advised to wait until later for a nighttime visit, then could not find the representative who was supposed to print the tickets.

Do not assume the QR code alone will get you through the Empire State Building entrance. The practical advice is simple: reserve your time early and make sure every person in your party has the correct ticket before leaving the Big Bus desk.

The observation deck is a good anchor for your day because the time slot forces you to keep moving. Just leave a generous buffer. Traffic, a delayed bus, and a walk from the wrong stop can easily eat into a tight schedule.

The uptown loop, Central Park, and museum country

The uptown route begins near the Hope Sculpture at Seventh Avenue and West 53rd Street, then returns to Times Square before heading toward Rockefeller Center. The Rockefeller stop at West 49th Street and Fifth Avenue is convenient for the plaza, NBC Studios area, and nearby shops.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art stop is at Fifth Avenue and East 83rd Street. This is one of the package’s most useful stops, since the museum sits along the east side of Central Park and is not close to the main downtown attractions. You can get off for the museum, then reconnect with the route later.

The Central Park Zoo stop is near Fifth Avenue and East 66th Street. Columbus Circle follows at the southwest corner of Central Park, and Carnegie Hall is near West 57th Street. Together, these stops make the uptown route useful for a broad first look at Midtown and the park’s eastern and southern edges.

The bus timing matters here. One part of the information says buses arrive about every hour on both routes. Another operating note says downtown service may run about every 15 minutes and uptown service about every 30 minutes. Treat the schedule as changeable, not clockwork.

Also check the final bus time for the day. A full route may be open until late afternoon, but that does not mean every stop has a bus at the same time. One passenger reached the Metropolitan Museum around 2:00 p.m. and found the last bus had already gone. Use the app’s live tracking and route information, and ask before getting off.

Commentary, staff, and the limits of a bus tour

The bus includes digital audio commentary in multiple languages. You may also hear live guides on some departures, but the package information emphasizes prerecorded commentary. The quality can vary by bus and route. Some riders have enjoyed the stories, while others found the sound system poor or the narration too focused on jokes and music.

Do not book this expecting a private guide who will reshape the day around your interests. The bus is mainly a transport and orientation tool. You will get general information as you pass landmarks, but you should use the stops to create your own walking time.

Stop locations are not always obvious. Look for the Big Bus sign, use the app’s Find a Stop feature, and remember exactly where you were dropped off. One useful staff member, Ibrahim, helped with ferry questions, printed tickets, and directions, but you should not rely on finding one particular person when you are under time pressure.

Staff assistance can make or break this package. Some people have received prompt help with ferry and Empire State arrangements. Others encountered conflicting directions, missing tickets, or staff who could not resolve a problem. That uneven service is the main reason I would redeem every attraction ticket as early as possible.

Weather, comfort, and mobility

These are open-top double-decker buses, and the supplied information says they operate without air conditioning or heating. That matters in summer heat, heavy rain, and cold weather. One hot-weather ride ended early after a child became ill, while another person found that rain stopped the day’s sightseeing.

Bring water in a screw-top bottle, sunscreen, and a light layer. Food and alcohol are not permitted on board, though nonalcoholic drinks in screw-top bottles are allowed. Trees along some routes can brush the upper deck, so sitting downstairs may be more comfortable on certain streets, though some buses have limited lower-deck seating.

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles with lifts are available, with lifts able to accommodate up to 650 pounds. You should note the requirement in the special requests field at checkout. Service animals are allowed, but other pets are not. Luggage cannot be brought on the bus.

Who should book this package

I would choose this for a first New York visit when you want to see the major sights without building every connection yourself. Families and older visitors may appreciate the chance to rest between stops, though the heat, stairs, queues, and open-top design still require stamina.

It also suits you if you want a quick orientation before exploring on foot. The downtown loop links many neighborhoods that can feel scattered on a map, while the uptown route gives you access to Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum without making you learn several subway routes on your first morning.

I would hesitate if you dislike fixed schedules, crowded boarding points, or prerecorded commentary. Independent visitors who are comfortable with the subway may spend less by buying attraction tickets separately. The package is also a poor choice if you want entry inside the Statue of Liberty, since the ferry is the only Liberty ticket included.

My recommendation: book only with a careful plan

This is a useful coverage package, not a carefree all-day pass. I like the combination of two bus routes, the Empire State Building, and Liberty and Ellis Islands, especially for a short first visit. The strongest parts are the range of stops and the ability to pause in SoHo, Chinatown, Wall Street, Central Park, and museum country.

I would book it if you will use both bus routes and complete both major attractions. Redeem your vouchers early, reserve the Empire State Building before sightseeing, confirm the ferry hours, and keep extra time around Battery Park. If you follow those steps, the $135 price can make sense.

If you want a quieter, more precise day, buy the attractions separately and use the subway. If you do choose this package, treat the bus as a flexible city shuttle, not as a perfectly timed tour. That small change in expectations will make the experience much easier.

FAQ

How long is the bus portion of the experience?

A full loop on either the downtown or uptown route takes about 90 minutes without getting off. The included bus ticket is listed as valid for 48 hours, although some booking information describes the product as a three-day pass, so check your voucher for the exact validity.

Do I need to reserve a time for the Empire State Building?

Yes. You must reserve a date and time through the Big Bus booking management link provided with your voucher, or with Big Bus staff at a departure location.

Does the package include entry inside the Statue of Liberty?

No. It includes roundtrip ferry service to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, plus audio tours. It does not include access to the pedestal, crown, monument interior, or museum.

Do I need to redeem the Statue of Liberty ferry voucher?

Yes. Redeem the voucher with a Big Bus Tours staff member before going to the ferry terminal at Battery Park.

How often do the buses arrive?

The supplied information says buses arrive approximately every hour on both the downtown and uptown routes. Operating frequency can vary, so use the Big Bus app for route details and live tracking.

Where can I redeem my ticket?

You may redeem a printed or electronic ticket at any of the listed bus stops. Stop 1 is also a practical place to arrange the Empire State Building and ferry details.

Are the buses wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Big Bus operates wheelchair-accessible vehicles with lifts that can accommodate up to 650 pounds. Add your accessibility needs in the special requirements field when booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refundable.