Harbor lights · Midtown after dark · free to look at

New York Night Tours

Harbor cruises, buses, helicopters, skyline vans and walks after dark

New York Night tours show you the city lit up from a harbor cruise, a bus, a helicopter, a van to the viewpoints or on foot. Sunset moves four hours through the year, so each card shows how you see it, your time on foot and where you start, and you choose your evening.

See Top Tours Compare the tours

Almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book now and change your plans later.

4:28 to 8:31pmSunset, from early December to late June

24 hTimes Square never closes, and the harbor ferry runs all night

From $27A seat on a 90-minute sunset cruise

Hours, prices and access verified by the New York Night Tours team — last checked 2026-09-27.

New York Night Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-27

Start here

Top New York Night Tours for 2026

The best night tour of New York City is the one that shows you the lights the way you want to see them. Pick yours from these three.

Best seller

NYC Sunset & Harbor Lights Cruise with Statue of Liberty

★★★★★ 4.6 (8,948 reviews · 2 hours)

Harbor cruise2 hours on the waterPier 83, West 42nd StSails at sunset

Board at the Hudson pier on West 42nd Street for a two-hour New York Night cruise, timed to leave in the last of the daylight and come back under the city lights. A live New York guide narrates in English, and an app covers nine languages if you bring headphones. The route runs down the Hudson, passes within about 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty, then heads under three East River bridges. Arrive 45 minutes early for the security line, and buy food and drinks on board.

Board at Pier 83, West 42nd Street
Down the Hudson past the High Line
One World Trade Center and Ellis Island
Within about 100 feet of the Statue of Liberty
South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge
Under the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges
Back up the Hudson to Pier 83

From $45 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

View details Check Availability

NYC at Night: Luxury Bus Tour of Top City Highlights

★★★★★ 4.6 (338 reviews · 3 hours)

Closed-top busTwo stops on foot, 10 and 20 min8th Ave at 49th StMax 34 people

Meet in front of a diner on 8th Avenue at West 49th Street for a three-hour New York Night ride on a closed-top, climate-controlled bus. A local guide talks you past Central Park South, Rockefeller Center and Times Square, then down to Washington Square and SoHo. You get off twice, for ten minutes under the Art Deco tower on 34th Street and twenty in Dumbo for the skyline. Bottled water comes with your seat, 34 ride at most, and the bus has no wheelchair access.

Board on 8th Avenue at West 49th Street
Central Park South, the Plaza and 5th Avenue
Rockefeller Center and Times Square
Empire State Building: 10 minutes on foot
Flatiron, Washington Square and SoHo
Over the Manhattan Bridge to Dumbo: 20 minutes
Back via Little Island and Hudson Yards

From $45 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

View details Check Availability

NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey

★★★★★ 4.7 (664 reviews · 25 to 30 minutes in the air)

Helicopter flight25 to 30 min in the airLinden Airport, New JerseyYou pick the flight time

Take the train from Penn Station to Linden, New Jersey, where a free shuttle meets you on request, and check in 50 minutes before you fly. Your pilot narrates 25 to 30 minutes over the harbor, Lower Manhattan and the Hudson, north as far as the George Washington Bridge. You choose the flight time when you book, and landing fees and the fuel surcharge are in the fare. Bring photo ID, and leave everything but a camera, phone and sunglasses in the free lockers.

Check in at Linden Airport, New Jersey
Take off over Newark toward the harbor
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center
Up the Hudson past Midtown's towers
North to the George Washington Bridge
Back to land at Linden

From $330 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

View details Check Availability

Why book with us

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

⚖

Best Guides

New York Night guided tours put a live guide beside you, from the commentator on a harbor cruise to a professional guide on the ghost walks and a licensed guide among the Christmas lights.

✓

Book With Confidence

Almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and every card prints the fare and its basis, your time on foot and where you start.

★

Experience of a Lifetime

Watch the sun set behind the Statue of Liberty from the deck, see Midtown's towers light up from the Brooklyn waterfront, and fly along the Hudson past the lit spires.

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours ahead on almost every booking here, and the one private flight that is non-refundable says so on its card.

Everything available

All New York Night Tours and Tickets

New York Night Boat Tours

New York Night boat tours sail from Hudson piers and the South Street Seaport, most of them timed to the sunset rather than the clock. You watch the light go from the deck, then come back under the lit towers.

NYC Golden Hour Cruise (2hr)

★★★★★ 4.8 (457 reviews · 2 hours)

Harbor cruise2 hours on the waterPier 79, West 39th StSails at sunset

Sail from the ferry terminal at West 39th Street for two hours round the harbor, timed to cross the sunset rather than leave at a fixed hour. A live guide speaks in English, and a free bus brings you to the pier from points in Manhattan. The boat passes the Statue of Liberty without landing, along with Ellis Island, Hudson Yards and the East River bridges. Food and drinks come from the bar on board, with seats inside and out.

From $38 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

New York City Bright Lights Skyline Cruise on Yacht

★★★★★ 4.7 (126 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes)

1920s-style yacht75 minutes on the waterPier 62, Chelsea PiersMax 80 people

Step aboard a 1920s-style yacht at Chelsea Piers, off West 22nd Street, for a 75-minute New York Night cruise around Lower Manhattan. You choose one drink, from beer, wine and Champagne to soda, coffee or tea. Each booking gets a table, with seating inside and on deck, and no more than 80 guests sail. Light snacks are for sale on board, every age pays the adult fare, and gratuities are not included.

From $78 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Best value

NYC: Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise Ticket

★★★★★ 4.6 (2,852 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

Harbor cruise90 minutes on the waterPier 16, South Street SeaportSails at sunset

Catch the 90-minute sunset sailing from the South Street Seaport, out to the Statue of Liberty as the light goes. There is no live guide: pop music plays on board, and an app tells the story in nine languages if you bring headphones. Seats in the cabins and on the big outdoor deck are first come, first served, and the boat sails rain or shine. It does not land on Liberty or Ellis Island, and the full bar is extra.

From $27 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all New York Night boat tours

New York Night Bus Tours

New York Night bus tours leave from Midtown kerbs on 7th and 8th Avenues. The open-top double-deckers keep you on the top deck all the way round, while the closed-top buses stop for you to get off.

New York Night Tour Open Top Bus Tour

★★★★☆ 4.4 (3,123 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

Open-top double-deckerNo stops: all from the bus7th Ave at 47th St6pm or 8pm: take 8pm in summer

Climb to the open top deck on 7th Avenue at 47th Street for a 90-minute New York Night loop with a live guide and no stops. Departures leave at 6:00pm and 8:00pm daily, and in June and July only the 8pm bus runs after sunset. You stay aboard the whole way, so the city lights pass beside and above you. Seats are first come, first served, and wheelchair access is limited, so contact the operator before you book.

From $59 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Sightseeing Night Tour by Open-top Bus with Live Guide

★★★★☆ 4.2 (343 reviews · 2 hours)

Open-top double-deckerFrom the top deck, no stops7th Ave at 48th StMax 100 people

Redeem your ticket outside M&M'S World on 7th Avenue at West 48th Street, 15 to 30 minutes early, for two hours on an open-top double-decker. A live guide speaks in English, with recorded commentary in six languages. It is one continuous loop, not a service you step on and off, so the top deck is your seat for the evening. A free beer or wine at Planet Hollywood comes with the fare, and a wheelchair lift is on board.

From $67 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

New York City Holiday Lights Tour

★★★★★ 4.6 (663 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes)

Closed-top bus8 stops of 15 to 30 min7th Ave at 50th StDecember only

December only, this four-and-a-half-hour ride leaves 7th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets with a live guide who walks with you at eight stops. You spend 15 to 30 minutes at each, including a walk on the High Line and half an hour inside Grand Central Terminal. The route also takes in Hudson Yards, the South Street Seaport, Wall Street and Rockefeller Center. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early, since seats are first come, first served.

From $89 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all New York Night bus tours

New York Night Helicopter Tours

New York Night helicopter tours take off from airfields in New Jersey, with 25 to 30 minutes over the harbor and Manhattan. Landing fees are in the fare, and every flier needs photo ID.

New York City Night Lights Helicopter Tour from New Jersey

★★★★★ 4.9 (20 reviews · 25 to 30 minutes in the air)

Helicopter flight25 to 30 min in the airEssex County Airport, NJYou pick the flight time

Fly from the airfield in Fairfield, New Jersey, about 45 minutes by taxi from Midtown, for 25 to 30 minutes over the harbor, Manhattan and the Hudson. Live commentary comes through the cabin, and landing fees and the fuel surcharge are in the fare. Arrive 30 minutes early, or 45 after 4pm for the traffic, with your photo ID. Children from two pay the full fare, and passengers over 275 pounds buy a second seat.

From $334 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

New York City Night Skyline Tour by Helicopter

★★★★★ 4.8 (122 reviews)

Helicopter flightFlight length not listedEssex County Airport, NJYou pick the flight time

Check in 30 minutes early at the blue door on Wright Way, at the Fairfield airfield in New Jersey, for a flight over the lit city at a time you choose. All fees and taxes are in the fare, and the cabin seats six at most. If fewer than four passengers book your slot, your time may move to join another group. Each passenger may weigh up to 250 pounds, and no flight length is published, so ask before you book.

From $275 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all New York Night helicopter tours

New York Night Skyline Tours

New York Night skyline tours take you out of Manhattan to look back at it, from Dumbo, Queens or the New Jersey waterfront, or from a plane above the harbor. The vans stop long enough for you to walk and take photographs.

ICONIC New York City Skyline Night Tour: Dumbo & Long Island City

★★★★★ 5.0 (13 reviews · 3 to 4 hours)

Vehicle sized to the groupTwo stops: Dumbo and QueensHotel or set pickup pointMax 55 people

Pickup from your Manhattan hotel or a set point starts three to four hours of New York Night skyline views across the East River. A guide or driver-guide takes you over the Manhattan Bridge to Dumbo for about 70 minutes on foot, then to a Queens waterfront park for an hour. The vehicle is sized to the night's group, up to 55, and at most 12 can book together. Children under eight need a booster seat, and gratuities of 15 to 20% are recommended.

From $38 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

New York City Skyline at Night Guided Tour

★★★★★ 4.6 (222 reviews · 4 hours)

By van8 stops of 10 to 30 min7th Ave at 51st StMax 13 people

Ride a minivan from 7th Avenue at 51st Street for four hours on the New Jersey waterfront, with a driver-guide and 13 riders at most. Eight stops of 10 to 30 minutes begin with half an hour in a waterfront state park facing Lower Manhattan, then the state's 9/11 memorial. The route continues to the Hoboken waterfront and the Weehawken dueling grounds before the tunnel home. A bakery stop is at your own expense, and there is no restroom on board.

From $89 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

New York City Private Tour by Plane at Night

★★★★★ 5.0 (20 reviews · 45 minutes)

Private planeAbout 45 min, mostly aloftLinden Airport, New JerseyPrivate, up to 3 a booking

Wait by the black gate near hangar 400, at the airfield in Linden, New Jersey, for a New York Night flight of about 45 minutes, most of it over the harbor and Manhattan. The plane is your party's alone, with a pilot, a pre-flight briefing and refreshments. The fare is per person, and up to three of you can book together. It is the one booking here that is non-refundable, so be sure of your date before you pay.

From $178 per person, private flight

Non-refundable: no refund or change once booked, for any reason; the operator may still cancel for bad weather.

Check Availability

See all New York Night skyline tours

Manhattan Night Tours on Foot

New York Night walking tours in Manhattan swap the vehicle for a guide at street level: ghost stories in Greenwich Village, Prohibition bars in Midtown, or the Christmas windows in season.

Top rated

Greenwich Village Haunted Tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (100 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes)

On footOn foot, a dozen-plus stopsWashington Square ParkMax 13 people

Gather at the south-west corner of Washington Square Park for 100 minutes on foot through Greenwich Village with a professional guide. More than a dozen stops mix ghost stories with the neighborhood's past, including the memorial to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Groups stop at 13, so you stay close to every story, and the walk ends under the arch. It suits you if 90 minutes of walking is comfortable, and a wheelchair or stroller can come along.

From $35 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Hidden Bar and Speakeasy Night Tour NYC

★★★★★ 4.8 (55 reviews · 3 hours)

On footThree bars, about 45 min each8th Ave at 49th St21 and over, photo ID

Start at One Worldwide Plaza on 8th Avenue for three hours on foot through Midtown's bars, pubs and speakeasies, about 45 minutes in each. A local guide tells the story of Prohibition and immigration through the rooms you drink in. Entry to each venue is free and fast, while your drinks and the gratuity are extra. You must be 21 or over with photo ID, and the dress code is business or upscale casual, with no sportswear.

From $40 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Ultimate NYC Christmas Lights At Night Walking Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (29 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes)

On foot2.5 hours on footWest 34th St, Herald SqRuns 22 Nov to 4 Jan

Walk two and a half hours of New York Night Christmas windows from West 34th Street, where you meet outside a clothing store, to Central Park South. A licensed guide leads you past the windows at Macy's, through Bryant Park and on to the tree at Rockefeller Center. On the way you watch a department store's light show and the windows of Tiffany and Bergdorf Goodman. It runs from 22 November to 4 January, with 12 walkers at most.

From $54 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all Manhattan night tours

New York Night Christmas Lights Tours in Dyker Heights

New York Night Christmas lights tours take you from Midtown to the lit houses of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn in the holiday season. The coaches park and you walk the blocks for about an hour, while the private car drives them.

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Tour

★★★★☆ 4.5 (922 reviews · 3 hours 45 minutes)

By coachAn hour on foot in Dyker Heights10th Ave at 41st StRuns 27 Nov to 1 Jan

Leave from 10th Avenue at West 41st Street in a heated coach with a restroom on board, between 27 November and 1 January. You get about an hour on foot among the lit houses of Dyker Heights with a local guide, then 25 minutes in Brooklyn Heights for the skyline. The evening finishes at the winter village in Bryant Park. Taxes and fees are in the fare, it runs rain or shine, and hotel pickup is not included.

From $63 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

NYC Private Holiday Lights Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (87 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes)

Private SUV, chauffeurDrives the lit blocks, 30 minPickup in ManhattanChristmas-lights season

Private pickup at any Manhattan hotel or address puts your party of up to five in an SUV with a professional chauffeur for three and a half hours. The car drives the lit blocks of Dyker Heights for about 30 minutes, so you see the lights from your seat. A 20-minute stop by an East River bridge follows, and bottled water is on board. The fare covers the whole vehicle, gratuities are extra, and pickup outside Manhattan costs more.

From $649 per vehicle (up to 5)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Dyker Heights Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour

★★★★☆ 4.4 (670 reviews · 4 hours)

By coachAn hour on foot in Dyker HeightsBroadway at 51st StDaily, 1 Dec to 3 Jan

Between 1 December and 3 January, a climate-controlled vehicle leaves West 51st Street and Broadway for four hours with a licensed guide in English or Spanish. You spend an hour on foot among the displays of Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge. On the way back you stop for 15 minutes by an East River bridge and 15 more for the skyline. It runs in all weather, so dress for it, and food is not included.

From $45 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

New York City: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour

★★★★☆ 4.5 (846 reviews · 4 hours)

By road from MidtownAn hour on foot in Dyker Heights7th Ave at 51st StChristmas-lights season

Choose a guide in Spanish or English for four hours from 7th Avenue and West 51st Street to the Christmas lights in Brooklyn. You walk for about an hour in Dyker Heights, then stop for 15 minutes in Bay Ridge and 20 in Dumbo. The evening ends at Bryant Park in Midtown. Transport is part of the fare, food, drinks and tips are not, and it does not suit anyone with limited mobility.

From $49 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Niagara Falls Day Trip from New York

New York Night tours reach as far as Niagara Falls on this coach day trip, which stays for the falls lit up after dark. It is 23 hours in all, with more than five at the falls.

From NYC: Niagara Falls One Day Tour -Day & Night Experience

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1,300 reviews · 23 hours)

Coach day tripFive hours or more at the falls7th Ave at 51st StStays for the falls lit up

Set off from 7th Avenue at 51st Street on a 23-hour coach day to the American side of Niagara Falls, with more than five hours there. You stay into the evening to see the falls lit up, with a live guide in English or Spanish. Park and entrance fees are in the fare, and the Maid of the Mist ride with a poncho is included if you book that option. Food, drinks and tips are extra.

From $180 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

The city after dark

About New York Night Tours

New York never switches off its lights. Times Square is a public street open 24 hours, the bridge promenades stay open at all times, and the harbor ferry to Staten Island is free and runs all night. What changes through the year is the dark: sunset moves from 4:28pm in early December to 8:31pm at the end of June. Join us for the tours that show you the city after dark, by boat, bus, helicopter, van or on foot. We set out on every card how you see it, your time on foot and where you start.

The City Lit Up

The Empire State Building's tower lights change on a nightly schedule, and its decks stay open into the late evening, with hours set by date. The Statue of Liberty is reached only by the park's daytime ferry, so after dark you see it from a boat or from the air, and the spire of One World Trade Center stands over Lower Manhattan.

Where the Tours Start

The cruises board at Hudson piers on West 22nd, 39th and 42nd Streets and at the South Street Seaport. Buses, vans and walks meet on 7th or 8th Avenue near Times Square or in Greenwich Village, some vans collect you from your hotel, and the helicopters fly from Linden Airport and Essex County Airport in New Jersey.

When It Gets Dark

Sunset comes at 4:28pm in the first week of December and 8:31pm at the end of June, with full dark about half an hour later. A 6pm open-top bus in June is back before sunset, while from about November to mid-February it leaves after dark. The sunset cruises move their sailing time with the light.

A Brooklyn waterfront park, its carousel pavilion and the bridge above it at dusk

The marble arch in Washington Square Park lit white against the night sky

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center lit in front of a tower washed in blue

What you will see

Named Highlights of a New York Night

What the boats, the buses, the flights and the skyline vans show you, from the harbor at sunset to Midtown seen from across the rivers.

A spire that changes colourThe Empire State Building's tower lights change on a nightly schedule, and the closed-top bus from 8th Avenue stops for ten minutes at its foot.
The statue from the waterThe Statue of Liberty is reached only by the park's daytime ferry, so every night cruise sees it from the water, and the two-hour sunset sailing passes within about 100 feet.
A bridge that never closesThe Brooklyn Bridge promenade is open at all times, and the Dumbo stops on the buses and vans look back at it from the Brooklyn side.
The square that never sleepsTimes Square is a public street open 24 hours, and the Midtown buses and walks meet a few blocks from it on 7th and 8th Avenues.
Midtown from across the riverGantry Plaza State Park in Queens gets an hour on the Dumbo and Long Island City van, facing Midtown across the East River.
Lower Manhattan from the westLiberty State Park is the first stop on the New Jersey skyline van, half an hour facing Lower Manhattan across the harbor.

Plan your evening

Everything You Need Before You Go

When it gets darkWhat it costsWhere you startWhat to bringAfter the tour

Sunset in New York comes at 4:28pm in the first week of December and 8:31pm at the end of June, with full dark about half an hour later. In June a 6pm open-top bus is back before sunset, so take the 8pm one in summer, while the sunset cruises move their sailing with the light.

Weather and dark times

Times Square, the bridge walkways and the harbor ferry to Staten Island cost nothing. Fares run from $27 a person on a sunset cruise to $334 for a helicopter seat, and the private car and the private van are priced for the whole vehicle.

What night tours cost

The cruises board at Hudson piers on West 22nd, 39th and 42nd Streets and at the South Street Seaport. The buses and bar walks meet on 7th or 8th Avenue in the 40s and 50s, the ghost walks in Greenwich Village, and the flights leave from airfields in Linden and Fairfield, New Jersey.

Meeting points map

Decks, open tops and walks are outside, so bring a warm layer and shoes you can walk in: the coaches to the Christmas lights include about an hour on foot. Every flight asks for government photo ID, and the bar walks ask for ID showing you are 21 or over.

What to expect on the night

The free ferry to Staten Island leaves Whitehall at least every 30 minutes through the evening and all night, so a harbor crossing can end your evening. The observation decks in Midtown stay open into the late evening, with hours set by date, so check yours before you go.

Things to do after dark

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour for a New York Night?

Not to see the lights: the square, the bridges and the harbor ferry are free, and you can walk a good part of the city after dark on your own. What a tour buys you is the view you cannot reach alone: the harbor and the statue from the water, the skyline from the air, a ride between viewpoints miles apart, or a guide with the stories.

There are no New York Night tickets to buy for the lights themselves: Times Square never closes, the Brooklyn Bridge promenade is open at all times, and the Staten Island Ferry is free and runs all night. The New York Night ticket prices that matter are the tour fares, from $27 a person on a sunset cruise, and what each one adds: a seat on the water or in the air, a ride between viewpoints miles apart, or a guide. Make your New York Night booking for the date you want, since almost every New York Night reservation here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead. If you would rather go it alone, the things to do after dark and the one-evening plan show you how.

See Top Tours Which tour suits you?

Book with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead on almost every tour, and a change of plan costs you nothing.

Which one is me

Choosing the Right Tour for You

Start from your budget, your party and how you want to see the lights, and the right evening follows.

The lowest fare

The lowest fare is $27 a person, for a 90-minute sunset sailing from the South Street Seaport with an app in place of a live guide. The two-hour sailing from West 42nd Street has the most reviews, from $45, and the New York boat tours night visitors book all leave from Manhattan piers.

On the water

Night time boat tours NYC operators time to the sunset change their hour through the year, so Manhattan boat tours night departures in June sail later than in December. The yacht from Chelsea Piers pours you one drink and gives every booking a table.

Through the lights by bus

The closed-top evening from 8th Avenue gets off on 34th Street and in Dumbo, from $45. Every New York night bus tour leaves from Midtown. On the night tour Big Bus New York runs, or any night bus tour NYC visitors take on an open top, you stay on the top deck, and for a Manhattan night bus tour in June the 8pm departure is the one that runs in the dark.

Above the city

The flight from Linden gives you 25 to 30 minutes over the harbor and Midtown, from $330 a seat. All New York night time helicopter tours take off in New Jersey, so a night time helicopter tour New York City visitors book starts with a train or a taxi. Every NYC helicopter tour night seat needs photo ID, and a Manhattan helicopter tour night flight sets a weight limit for each passenger.

The skyline from outside

Each NYC skyline night tour takes you out of Manhattan to look back at it, from Dumbo, Queens, the New Jersey waterfront or a plane above the harbor. The van to Dumbo and Queens collects you in Manhattan, from $38 a person.

On foot with a story

The Manhattan night tours on foot include ghost walks in Greenwich Village, bar walks for over-21s in Midtown and Hell's Kitchen, and a Christmas lights walk in season. The ghost walk that starts at 8pm meets outside a restaurant on 6th Avenue, from $39.

Compare

Which New York Night Tour Is Right for You?

Every New York City night tour is a different way to see the same free lights, so read how you see them, your time on foot and where you start before the price. The private car and the private van are priced for the whole vehicle, while a seat on a boat, a bus or a helicopter is priced per person.

Tour	Rating	How you see it	Time on foot	Starts at	Fare	Best for
NYC Sunset & Harbor Lights Cruise with Statue of Liberty	4.6 (8,948)	Harbor cruise	2 hours on the water	Pier 83, West 42nd St	From $45 per person	First-timers who want the harbor at sunset and after	Book
New York Night Tour Open Top Bus Tour	4.4 (3,123)	Open-top double-decker	No stops: all from the bus	7th Ave at 47th St	From $59 per person	Summer visitors who want the 8pm open top deck	Book
Circle Line: 2hr - New York City Harbor Lights Cruise	4.4 (3,034)	Harbor cruise	2 hours on the water	Pier 83, West 42nd St	From $45 per person	Wheelchair users who want the two-hour harbor cruise	Book
NYC: Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise Ticket	4.6 (2,852)	Harbor cruise	90 minutes on the water	Pier 16, South Street Seaport	From $27 per person	Budget travellers happy with an app instead of a guide	Book
New York City Mafia and Local Food Tour led by NYPD Guides	4.9 (1,490)	On foot	On foot, with a dinner in tastings	East 12th St at 2nd Ave	From $129 per person	Food lovers who want crime stories with dinner	Book
From NYC: Niagara Falls One Day Tour -Day & Night Experience	4.4 (1,300)	Coach day trip	Five hours or more at the falls	7th Ave at 51st St	From $180 per person	Travellers with a spare day who want the falls lit up	Book
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guided Tour	4.5 (922)	By coach	An hour on foot in Dyker Heights	10th Ave at 41st St	From $63 per person	Families who want the lights and a heated coach	Book
New York City: Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour	4.5 (846)	By road from Midtown	An hour on foot in Dyker Heights	7th Ave at 51st St	From $49 per person	Spanish speakers who want the lights and a Dumbo stop	Book
NYC at Night: 3-Hour Luxury Bus Tour of Top Highlights	4.5 (757)	Closed-top bus	One photo stop, in Dumbo	8th Ave at 49th St	From $42 per person an offer fare with no end date shown	Travellers who want the closed-top bus at an offer fare	Book
New York City: Gangsters and Ghosts 2-Hour Walking Tour	4.7 (688)	On foot	2 hours on foot	Depends on the option	From $34 per person	History fans who want gangsters and ghosts on foot	Book
Dyker Heights Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour	4.4 (670)	By coach	An hour on foot in Dyker Heights	Broadway at 51st St	From $45 per person	Spanish or English speakers who want the lights by coach	Book
NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey	4.7 (664)	Helicopter flight	25 to 30 min in the air	Linden Airport, New Jersey	From $330 per person	Travellers who want the most-reviewed flight, from Linden	Book
New York City Holiday Lights Tour	4.6 (663)	Closed-top bus	8 stops of 15 to 30 min	7th Ave at 50th St	From $89 per person	December visitors who want long stops and guided walks	Book
NYC: Bar, Lounge and Rooftop Nightlife Tour	4.5 (588)	On foot	Three or more venues on foot	8th Ave at 49th St	From $38 per person	Over-21s who want a rooftop lounge and cocktails	Book
New York City Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village	4.7 (506)	On foot	2 hours on foot	6th Ave at Waverly Place	From $39 per person	Night owls who want a ghost walk at 8pm	Book
NYC Golden Hour Cruise (2hr)	4.8 (457)	Harbor cruise	2 hours on the water	Pier 79, West 39th St	From $38 per person	Travellers who want a live guide and a free pier bus	Book
Sightseeing Night Tour by Open-top Bus with Live Guide	4.2 (343)	Open-top double-decker	From the top deck, no stops	7th Ave at 48th St	From $67 per person	Wheelchair users who want an open-top ride with a lift	Book
NYC at Night: Luxury Bus Tour of Top City Highlights	4.6 (338)	Closed-top bus	Two stops on foot, 10 and 20 min	8th Ave at 49th St	From $45 per person	First-timers who want two stops on foot by bus	Book
New York City Skyline at Night Guided Tour	4.6 (222)	By van	8 stops of 10 to 30 min	7th Ave at 51st St	From $89 per person	Travellers who want the skyline from the Jersey shore	Book
New York City Bright Lights Skyline Cruise on Yacht	4.7 (126)	1920s-style yacht	75 minutes on the water	Pier 62, Chelsea Piers	From $78 per person	Couples who want a drink and a table on deck	Book
New York City Night Skyline Tour by Helicopter	4.8 (122)	Helicopter flight	Flight length not listed	Essex County Airport, NJ	From $275 per person	Budget flyers who want the lowest helicopter fare	Book
Greenwich Village Haunted Tour	5.0 (100)	On foot	On foot, a dozen-plus stops	Washington Square Park	From $35 per person	Walkers who want ghost stories in a small group	Book
NYC Private Holiday Lights Tour	4.8 (87)	Private SUV, chauffeur	Drives the lit blocks, 30 min	Pickup in Manhattan	From $649 per vehicle (up to 5)	Parties of five who want to see the lights seated	Book
Hidden Bar and Speakeasy Night Tour NYC	4.8 (55)	On foot	Three bars, about 45 min each	8th Ave at 49th St	From $40 per person	Over-21s who want Prohibition history in Midtown bars	Book
Ultimate NYC Christmas Lights At Night Walking Tour	4.8 (29)	On foot	2.5 hours on foot	West 34th St, Herald Sq	From $54 per person	December walkers who want the windows and the tree	Book
New York City Private Tour by Plane at Night	5.0 (20)	Private plane	About 45 min, mostly aloft	Linden Airport, New Jersey	From $178 per person, private flight	Parties of up to three who want a private flight	Book
New York City Night Lights Helicopter Tour from New Jersey	4.9 (20)	Helicopter flight	25 to 30 min in the air	Essex County Airport, NJ	From $334 per person	Travellers who want a small cabin and live commentary	Book
Night Tour: New York City Lights	4.7 (19)	Air-conditioned vehicle	6 stops of 5 to 20 min	West 49th St at 8th Ave	From $48 per person	Spanish speakers who want a guide in their language	Book
ICONIC New York City Skyline Night Tour: Dumbo & Long Island City	5.0 (13)	Vehicle sized to the group	Two stops: Dumbo and Queens	Hotel or set pickup point	From $38 per person	Photographers who want long stops in Dumbo and Queens	Book
Private Skyline Tour of New York City at Night	5.0 (3)	Private minivan	8 stops of 5 to 25 min	Pickup in Manhattan	From $889 per group (up to 4)	A party of four who want the Jersey shore privately	Book

A relaxing way to take in the city lights; in summer, take the 8pm tour so that it is dark enough.Doris M · Family · August 2026 · New York Night open-top bus

Sunset at the Statue of Liberty on the way out and the skyline lit up on the way back; arriving at about 6:10 was just right for seats.Jennifer W · Family · August 2026 · New York Night harbor lights cruise

Expensive, but a once-in-a-lifetime trip with the best views of the city; the shuttle from the station was ideal.Daryl G · Family · January 2026 · New York Night helicopter flight from Linden

What to expect

How a New York Night Tour Runs

Pick your month and your hour

Sunset runs from 4:28pm in December to 8:31pm in June, so a 6pm start can fall in daylight or long after dark.

Choose how you see it

The first line on each card says harbor cruise, yacht, bus, coach, van, helicopter, plane or on foot.

Check your time on foot

The second line gives the stops and how long you get off, or your time on the water or in the air.

Find where you start

The third line names the pier, the kerb or the airfield, or says you are collected, so you can plan the trip there and back.

Book the date you want

Almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and the one flight that does not says so on its card.

See Top Tours

Traveller reviews

New York Night Tours Reviews

Travellers' own words about the cruises, the flights, the skyline vans, the walks and the Christmas lights, with the stars each gave, four-star evenings included, because they help you choose.

★★★★★

New York Night yacht cruise from Chelsea Piers

The best views of the city, and a lovely break from the hustle. Friendly, fun staff made it a relaxing evening.

Leah M. · Family · June 2026

★★★★★

New York Night speakeasy walk

Booked with two friends, and everyone loved it. A funny guide told the story of Prohibition in a way that held the whole group.

Judy J. · Friends · May 2026

★★★★★

Christmas lights coach to Dyker Heights

A guide who knew the history of the Christmas decorations and was patient with everyone. Worth it for anyone in the city at Christmas time.

Winifred F. · Solo · January 2026

★★★★★

NYPD mafia and food walk

A mix of Lower East Side history, mafia and police lore, stories from film and television, and good Italian food. Walking through Little Italy lit up for the coming San Gennaro feast was a bonus.

Debra S. · Friends · September 2026

★★★★★

New York Night ghost walk at 8pm

One of the best ghost tours ever taken, and very informative. A knowledgeable, personable guide made the evening.

Pamela W. · Couples · August 2026

★★★★★

Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge lights coach

A good tour and a guide with plenty of information. It is not only a bus tour: there are several blocks of walking. The stop at a lookout over the river was a welcome surprise, with a lot to photograph.

mike23txus · Friends · December 2025

★★★★★

New York Night skyline van to Dumbo and Queens

For skyline photographs, book this: the angles from Dumbo, with the bridges lit, are the reason. It is relaxed rather than rushed, with real time to take pictures, and a good choice for a first visit.

Larry S. · May 2026

★★★★★

New York Night sunset cruise from the Seaport

Lovely pacing: the boat slowed near the Statue of Liberty and at the other photo spots. Each side of the boat got a good view, and the front deck was just as good for pictures as a seat up top.

Carly · United States · September 2026

★★★★★

New York Night skyline van to New Jersey

The best tour of the week, with the best views of the skyline. A small group meant more time at each stop.

Cheryl M. · March 2023

★★★★★

New York Night Christmas lights walk

Two and a half hours among the holiday lights, the tree and the shop windows, with a guide who knew the story behind each sight. The timing was just right to watch a whole light show set to music.

Nancy K. · December 2025

★★★★☆

New York Night rooftop and bar walk

A good tour with a friendly guide. The last two bars were the favourites.

Murielle · Canada · December 2025

★★★★★

Golden hour harbor cruise

An informative guide, great music and plenty of moments for pictures. The two-hour sunset cruise was the highlight of the whole holiday.

monique · United States · September 2026

Read all reviews

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do New York night tours start?

It depends on the ride. The harbor cruises sold as sunset or harbor lights sail at sunset, so their hour moves through the year. TopView's open-top bus leaves at 6pm and 8pm, a Greenwich Village ghost walk starts at 8pm, and the helicopter flights let you pick a slot.

Is it dark on a 6pm night tour?

Only from about November to mid-February. In June the sun sets about 8:30pm and it is fully dark about 9pm, so a 6pm bus is back before sunset and the 8pm one is the bus to take. In early December it has been dark since about 5pm.

Can you see the Statue of Liberty at night?

From the water or the air, yes: the harbor cruises pass close to it and the helicopters fly over it. The island itself is reached only by the park's own ferry, so no night tour lands there.

Is the Empire State Building open at night?

Yes, into the evening. This autumn the Empire State Building closes at 10 or 11pm depending on the date, the entry door shuts an hour earlier, and you need a timed reservation. No night tour includes a ticket; one bus stops outside for ten minutes.

Where do New York night helicopter tours leave from?

New Jersey, not Manhattan. HeliNY flies from Linden Airport, which you reach by NJ Transit from Penn Station and then a shuttle or a short taxi. Charm and Zip Aviation fly from Essex County Airport in Fairfield, about 45 minutes by taxi or by the Lakeland bus from Port Authority.

How long is a night helicopter flight?

HeliNY and Charm Aviation both list 25 to 30 minutes in the air. Check in 30 to 50 minutes before your slot, depending on the operator, with photo ID.

Do New York night tours include hotel pickup?

A few do. The Dumbo and Long Island City skyline tour collects you from hotels and set points, and the private car and private skyline van pick up anywhere in Manhattan. Cruises, buses and walks meet at a pier or a Midtown kerb, and flights start at the airfield.

How long is a night tour?

From 75 minutes on the yacht to four and a half hours on the December holiday bus. Most cruises and buses take 1.5 to 3 hours, and the skyline vans and Dyker Heights coaches about 4 hours.

Can I cancel a New York night tour?

Almost every tour refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before it starts. The private night flight by plane is non-refundable, and its card says so. Operators may also cancel for bad weather or too few bookings, then offer a new date or a full refund.

Are New York night tours wheelchair accessible?

Some are: Circle Line's harbor cruise from Pier 83, the open-top buses (Big Bus lists a lift), some of the helicopter flights, the Greenwich Village walks and the mafia dinner walk. Most vans, coaches and the closed-top buses say they are not suitable.

Do night tours run in the rain?

Most cruises, buses and walks run rain or shine, and the open decks and bus tops are outside, so bring a layer that sheds water. Flights and some vans may be cancelled for bad weather, and then the operator offers a new date or a full refund.

Can you hop on and off the open-top night bus?

No. Neither open-top night bus lets you get off along the way: TopView runs one 90-minute loop with no stops, and Big Bus says its two-hour night tour is not a hop-on hop-off route.

Which night tour is cheapest?

Circle Line's 90-minute Statue of Liberty sunset cruise from Pier 16, from $27 per person. It has an app audio guide and music rather than a live guide, and seats are first come, first served.

Are the New York night bar tours 21 and over?

Yes. Both bar walks need government photo ID showing you are 21, which for visitors from outside the US means a passport, and they ask for upscale casual dress.

What should I wear on a night tour?

A layer even in summer, because it is cooler on the water and on a bus's top deck. From November bring warm, windproof clothes: the Dyker Heights coaches include about an hour on foot outside.

See all FAQs

Photographs

New York Night Gallery

The Statue of Liberty in silhouette on its island against an orange sunset

Lower Manhattan's towers and a lit suspension bridge under a violet twilight sky

The Art Deco spire on 34th Street lit blue above Midtown at dusk

Grand Central Terminal's facade and the Chrysler Building's crown lit at night

One World Trade Center's lit spire and the grid of Manhattan from the air at night

The Flatiron Building's narrow prow and the lights of Fifth Avenue at night

View full gallery

Read before you go

New York Night Travel Guides and Advice

Dark times

When New York Night Falls: What Time It Gets Dark, Month by Month

Sunset moves four hours through the year, from 4:28pm in early December to 8:31pm in late June. What that means for a 6pm or an 8pm start, month by month.

Read post →

The harbor

Can You See the Statue of Liberty on a New York Night?

The island is reached only by the park's own ferry, so after dark the Statue is seen from the water or the air. Which boats pass how close, and which flights go over.

Read post →

The airfields

Getting to Linden and Fairfield for a New York Night Flight

Every night flight leaves from New Jersey. The train from Penn Station, the bus from Port Authority, the taxi time, and the ID and check-in rules at the airfield.

Read post →

Read all posts Planning guides

Where it is

Visitor Information for New York Night Tours

Midtown Manhattan
The buses, vans and bar walks meet on the avenues a few blocks from Times Square, and the cruises board at the Hudson piers to the west

Nothing is loaded from Google until you press it.

Name

Times Square Alliance, the organisation that looks after Times Square, the public square most Midtown departures meet near.

Address

1560 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10036. Telephone (212) 768-1560.

Hours

The square is a public street, open 24 hours a day. Each tour's start time is shown when you book, and the sunset cruises move theirs with the light.

Getting there

The best-selling cruise boards at the Hudson pier on West 42nd Street and 12th Avenue, about a mile west of the square. Every other start is on the New York Night tour meeting points map.

Book Your New York Night Tour

Choose how you want to see the lights, then your date. Fares start at $27 a person, you book at the fare shown on each card, and almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.

See Top Tours