New York City Helicopter Tour

Tickets, Aerial Routes & Visitor Guide to NYC by Helicopter

⏱ 15-45 min flight (1 hr total)👤 All ages$$$$

NYC helicopter tours have grown significantly as a tourism category in the past decade. Several operators run sightseeing flights from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (Lower Manhattan, near the Battery) or the heliport in Kearny, NJ — the latter is cheaper and offers longer flights.

Standard flights last 12 to 30 minutes and cover the iconic essentials: the Statue of Liberty (close enough to circle), lower Manhattan including One World Trade, the Brooklyn Bridge, midtown Manhattan (Empire State, Chrysler Building), Central Park from above, and back along the Hudson. Longer flights (typically 30 minutes) include a circle of Yankee Stadium, the George Washington Bridge, and the Cloisters in upper Manhattan.

Doors-off photography flights are bookable from some operators — typically more expensive, with stricter weight and gear restrictions, and worth it for serious photographers but not for general sightseeing. Standard doors-on flights offer plenty of photo opportunities through the helicopter's bubble window.

Helicopter sightseeing is regulated by the FAA and the City. Routes and noise restrictions are real factors; tours can't always cover every requested area on every flight. Weather and wind conditions can ground flights on short notice; book travel insurance if you're flying internationally for this.