NY: Statue of Liberty, Empire State, and Hop-on Hop-off Tour

The big appeal here is simple: you get three classic New York experiences in one two-day package. Ride above the traffic on Big Bus routes, look across Manhattan from the Empire State Building, then take the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands. I like the 48-hour flexibility and the chance to split the sights across separate days. I also like having live bus tracking and route information in the app, since New York traffic can make guessing arrival times a losing game.

The weak spot is coordination. You must reserve an Empire State Building time, and the Statue of Liberty ferry runs only from 9 AM to 3 PM. Crowded buses, slow traffic, poor audio, and long ferry lines can also eat up more time than you expect, so this is not a carefree, show-up-and-see-everything package.

Key points before you book

• Two full days of bus access: Your pass runs for 48 hours from the first activation, not simply two calendar days.
• Two routes cover different New York moods: The Downtown Route focuses on the harbor, financial district, and Brooklyn Bridge area, while the Uptown Route serves central Manhattan and farther north.
• The Empire State Building needs planning: Reserve a date and time before boarding, using the booking link on your voucher or Big Bus staff.
• The Statue of Liberty ferry leaves from Battery Park: Use Stop 9, with ferry service listed from 9 AM to 3 PM.
• The ferry ticket is not the monument ticket: You can visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but entry inside the Statue of Liberty monument is not included.
• The $135 price works best with careful planning: The bundle can save 25 percent against full retail, but missed reservations or unused attractions quickly reduce its value.

What the $135 package actually gives you

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. It is a bundle built around three separate New York products: a 48-hour Big Bus sightseeing pass, Empire State Building admission, and, if selected, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry.

The advertised bundle saving is 25 percent off full retail. That can be useful if you intend to use all the major pieces. The value drops fast if you skip the ferry, cannot get the Empire State time you want, or spend most of your time walking instead of using the bus.

I would treat the bus as the glue holding the package together, not necessarily the main attraction. It lets you cover a wide area without learning the subway on your first day. You can also hop off at Times Square, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and other stops, then return to the route when you are ready.

The pass is valid for 48 hours from first activation. That matters. If you activate it late on the first afternoon, the clock starts then, so plan your first ride with purpose. You can also take the attractions on separate days, which is a major help in a city where every crossing and queue takes longer than expected.

Starting the Big Bus routes in Manhattan

You can activate the ticket in the Big Bus app by selecting Add Booking, entering your booking reference, and then pressing Activate on the day you begin. Show the active ticket to the driver at any stop.

You can also redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World. That location is the recommended place to sort out the pass before boarding. Staff can also help with activation at departure locations, and the voucher may be redeemed with a driver at a route stop.

I would not leave activation until you are standing in a crowded queue. Sort it out early, check that the dates are correct, and confirm your Empire State Building reservation before the day gets moving. There have been serious problems when dates were printed incorrectly or attraction access was not properly arranged, and sorting out a mistake at the attraction can mean buying another ticket.

The bus has open-top seating, though availability depends on crowd levels and weather. The driver speaks English, while the digital commentary is offered in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Souvenir earbuds are provided.

The app includes route information and real-time bus tracking. Use it. New York traffic is not a minor detail here. A bus that looks close on the map may still arrive slowly, and a full bus may pass without taking more passengers.

Downtown Route: harbor views, Brooklyn Bridge, and Battery Park

The Downtown Route is the practical choice for the Statue of Liberty portion. Stop 9 is at Battery Park, where the ferry service operates from 9 AM to 3 PM.

The route also brings you near major sights such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the financial district. The Brooklyn Bridge is worth seeing from both the bus and on foot if your schedule allows. From the ground, you get the full scale of the stone towers and suspension cables. From the bus, you get a quicker look and a sense of how the bridge fits into the city around it.

Battery Park is more than a ferry stop. It gives you harbor views and a useful change of pace from midtown’s tall buildings. Still, allow extra time for the ferry process. The ride itself is only one part of the outing. Boarding, island walking, security procedures, and the return queue can take far longer.

One report described waiting about an hour for the return ferry. That is a good reason not to plan a tight appointment immediately after Liberty Island. You may also find Ellis Island difficult to fit in if the outbound and return process runs slowly.

The Downtown Route is affected heavily by traffic. Buses may pause at stops for five to ten minutes, and the full circuit can take much longer than the map suggests. If you have a fixed ferry time, get off early and walk or use another form of transport rather than relying on a bus arriving at the last moment.

Liberty Island and Ellis Island by ferry

The ferry ticket takes you to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, offering close views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. This is the part of the package that gives you the most direct contact with the harbor and the monument.

The included ticket is for the ferry and island access. Entry to the Statue of Liberty monument is not included. Do not confuse reaching the island with going inside the statue. If entering the monument is important to you, this package does not cover that admission.

The ferry schedule is a major planning limit. Service from Stop 9 is listed between 9 AM and 3 PM, so this is not a late-afternoon or evening activity. Start early if you want a proper look at both islands.

Liberty Island can feel crowded, especially around the main viewing areas and ferry boarding points. Ellis Island is included in the ferry plan, but fitting in both islands depends on the lines and your available time. If you are more interested in the Statue of Liberty than museum time, you may prefer to focus on Liberty Island and treat Ellis Island as optional.

I would schedule the ferry on one part of a day and keep the rest light. Combining it with a strict Empire State Building reservation and several bus stops creates too many opportunities for a missed appointment. The harbor views are rewarding, but this is not a quick photo stop.

The Empire State Building and its city views

The Empire State Building is the package’s fixed indoor attraction. Your ticket lets you go up for panoramic views over Manhattan and the surrounding city. From above, the city’s grid becomes easier to understand, and major landmarks are easier to place.

You must pre-book a date and time before boarding the bus. The booking link is provided on the voucher, and Big Bus staff at departure points can assist. Do this as soon as your plans are firm. One serious complaint involved a time slot becoming unavailable, leaving the buyer unable to use the Statue of Liberty part of the bundle. The broader lesson is clear: a combined ticket is only useful when its separate reservations are secured.

The Empire State Building is also a convenient hop-off point on the bus route. That makes it easy to combine with Midtown sights such as Times Square. But do not assume you can simply arrive whenever you like. The attraction appointment is the part that controls your schedule.

The view is the reason to go. The building itself is famous, but the value comes from seeing Manhattan spread out below you. Expect a very popular attraction rather than a quiet lookout. If you have already visited a high observation deck in New York, the experience may feel less essential. For a first visit, it remains one of the clearest ways to understand the city’s size and layout.

Uptown Route: Midtown and beyond

The Uptown Route gives you a different side of New York from the Downtown Route. It is useful for central Manhattan sights and lets you reach places that would otherwise require several subway decisions.

Times Square is an obvious hop-off point. You can see the signs, theaters, and constant movement, then rejoin the bus when you have had enough. The bus is handy here because Times Square is exciting but not a place where most people want to linger for hours.

The Uptown Route also makes sense on the day you visit the Empire State Building. You can ride for orientation, hop off near the building, then continue toward another Midtown stop after your timed visit. The route lets you cover more ground than walking alone, though traffic may make the trip slow.

The digital commentary adds context as you ride. Audio is available in several languages, but the equipment has not always been a strong point. Earbuds and sound quality can be poor, and engine noise or traffic may make the narration difficult to follow. Bring realistic expectations: the bus is a moving overview, not a quiet guided lecture.

The best use of the Uptown Route is to pick a few stops rather than attempt the entire city in one sweep. If you stay on board for too long, traffic and stop delays can consume the day. Use the route for orientation and transport, then walk around the places that interest you most.

How the bus affects your schedule

A hop-on hop-off ticket sounds completely flexible, but New York requires some discipline. Buses can fill up, and you may not be able to board the first one that arrives. At busy stops, you could wait for the next bus, then sit in traffic once you are aboard.

One German-language account described crowded buses, weak audio, and five to ten minute pauses at stops. The staff and drivers were described as friendly, which is useful, but good service cannot remove Manhattan traffic.

I would use the bus for long jumps between areas, not every short movement. If you are near Times Square and your next stop is only a few blocks away, walking may be faster. The bus earns its keep when you want a broad view of the city or need to move between Downtown and Uptown without planning another route.

The ticket includes a bike rental discount: rent for one hour and receive one hour free. The supplied information does not specify the rental location or bike route, so I would treat this as a bonus rather than a central part of your plan.

A practical two-day plan

For the best chance of using everything, I would split the attractions.

Day one: Downtown and the harbor

Activate the bus early, then use the Downtown Route toward Battery Park. Check the ferry schedule and allow plenty of time for boarding, island visits, and the return queue. If you still have energy, continue to the Brooklyn Bridge area, but avoid booking anything with a tight start time afterward.

Day two: Midtown and the Empire State Building

Use the Uptown or Downtown Route to reach the Empire State Building at your reserved time. After the visit, stop at Times Square and use the bus for further sightseeing. The second day is also a good time to use the app, check bus arrivals, and decide which route sections are worth your remaining hours.

You can reverse the order, and the package allows the attractions to be taken on separate days. The important point is to protect the ferry window and the Empire State appointment rather than trying to squeeze everything into one ambitious circuit.

What went well, and what caused trouble

The strongest positive feedback is about the overall experience being memorable, with one five-star account describing everything as superb and unforgettable. The package also gets its best practical value from the freedom to choose the order of the attractions and use the bus over two days.

Staff and drivers have been described as friendly, which helps when you need assistance with activation or route questions. The Empire State Building is also widely seen as a worthwhile part of the package, even if it may not feel extraordinary to someone who has already used several city observation decks.

The main problems are operational. Incorrect dates, difficulty contacting the company, unavailable Statue of Liberty access, full buses, slow traffic, long ferry queues, and poor audio can all turn a good-value bundle into an expensive headache.

The solution is not complicated, but it requires action from you. Confirm every date, reserve the Empire State Building time early, activate the pass correctly, start the ferry portion early, and leave generous gaps between major activities.

Who should book this New York combo

This tour suits a first-time New York visitor who wants a broad introduction without arranging each attraction separately. It is also useful for anyone who likes the idea of seeing Manhattan from above, from street level, and from the harbor in one purchase.

Families and older visitors may appreciate the bus because it reduces the need for constant walking. The service is wheelchair accessible, though crowded buses and traffic can still make the day slower than expected.

Independent walkers may find better value elsewhere. If you prefer moving quickly, using the subway, and choosing your own exact time at each sight, the fixed ferry window and bus delays may frustrate you. The bundle is also less appealing if you only want the Empire State Building or if the Statue of Liberty is your only priority.

Is the $135 ticket worth it?

I would book it when you want convenience, a city overview, and all three headline experiences. The 48-hour pass gives you room to spread things out, and the bundled saving can be real if you use the ferry and Empire State Building as planned.

I would skip it if you dislike queues, need precise timing, or expect the bus to move quickly through New York. The package rewards an organized schedule, not a spontaneous one. Reserve the Empire State Building first, use the ferry early, and think of the bus as a useful sightseeing framework rather than a fast taxi.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

The Big Bus hop-on hop-off ticket is valid for 48 hours from the time you first activate it.

Can I visit the attractions on separate days?

Yes. The bus tour and the two attraction visits may be taken on separate days.

Is entry inside the Statue of Liberty included?

No. The package includes the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry ticket if that option is selected, but entry to the Statue of Liberty monument is not included.

Where does the Statue of Liberty ferry leave from?

The ferry operates from Big Bus Stop 9 at Battery Park. The listed operating hours are 9 AM to 3 PM.

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

Yes. You must pre-book a date and time through the Big Bus booking link on your voucher or with Big Bus staff at a departure location.

What languages are available for the bus commentary?

The digital audio guide is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. The driver language is English.