New York: Madame Tussauds and Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Madame Tussauds puts pop culture within arm’s reach, while the open-top Big Bus gives you a simple way to cover downtown New York without paying for several separate rides. Together, they make a lively day that shifts from wax celebrities and Marvel heroes to city streets and landmark views.

I like two things in particular: the freedom to hop off and explore across 13 stops, and the fact that Madame Tussauds offers much more than a row of wax figures, with Broadway sets, a fashion runway, and a Marvel 4D show. The bus ticket also includes live tracking in the Big Bus app.

The main consideration is time. A 90-minute loop is only the ride itself, and getting off at several stops turns the day into a series of choices. The bus package covers the Downtown Loop, not entry to landmarks or a Statue of Liberty ferry.

• Five floors of pop culture: Madame Tussauds spans 85,000 square feet, with music stars, film actors, athletes, world leaders, and more.
• More than a photo stop: Try Broadway-themed sets, the Oval Office, The Tonight Show, Marvel, and the Glow Gala runway.
• A 90-minute downtown circuit: The Big Bus loop covers neighborhoods including SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, Battery Park, and the Financial District.
• 13 places to get off: Buses are scheduled every 10 to 15 minutes, so you can build a day around the stops that interest you.
• An app that helps with timing: Use the Big Bus app for route details and real-time bus tracking.
• A bundled price: The package costs $99 per person and advertises a 10% saving compared with buying the activities separately.

One day, two very different New Yorks

This package combines two kinds of sightseeing. At Madame Tussauds, New York is presented through familiar faces and staged scenes. On the bus, the city itself becomes the show: you ride above street level, take in broad views, and decide where you want to pause.

That mix can work well if you have limited time and want both a light, entertaining indoor attraction and an easy way to see downtown. It is less suited to someone hoping for a guided walking tour or a deep visit to a single landmark. The bus commentary is digital audio, not a live guide, and the included route is specifically the Downtown Loop.

You have one day from the moment you activate the ticket. That gives you room to mix the museum and bus, but it does not mean you can see every listed attraction in depth. Think of the Big Bus as a way to connect a few chosen stops, not a promise to cover all of Manhattan in a day.

Inside Madame Tussauds in Times Square

Madame Tussauds occupies 85,000 square feet across more than five floors, so allow yourself time to move through the different settings rather than treating it as a quick photo booth. The collection spans music, movies, sports, politics, and pop culture. You can pose with figures including Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Lionel Messi, Audrey Hepburn, and members of the Kardashian family.

The fun is in the scenes as much as the likenesses. You can step into Broadway sets, take a seat beside Jimmy Fallon in a Tonight Show setup, and visit an Oval Office scene. If you enjoy playful photos, the Glow Gala runway puts you in a New York Fashion Week-style moment. If wax figures are not your thing, these interactive backdrops may still give you a reason to look around.

The Marvel Superheroes 4D Experience is included with general admission. It adds a more theatrical element to the museum visit, though it is a distinct attraction within the package, not a separate city tour. If you are visiting with children or a group with mixed interests, the range of scenes gives you more to talk about than a straightforward gallery of famous faces.

A practical point: you must redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff before visiting Madame Tussauds. Build that step into your arrival plan. The supplied redemption point is at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World, or you can redeem with a Big Bus driver at a stop along the route. The ticket is described as skip-the-line, but that does not remove the required voucher redemption.

Riding the Downtown Loop

The bus is an open-top double-decker, a handy way to get a broad view of the city without having to navigate every block on foot. The Downtown Loop takes about 90 minutes if you stay aboard for the circuit. Its route includes SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, Battery Park, and the Financial District, with 13 stops where you can get off and explore.

Buses are scheduled every 10 to 15 minutes. That gives you flexibility, although real-world timing can still affect how tightly you plan your day. Check the Big Bus app for live bus tracking instead of relying only on a printed schedule. You can also use it to find route information and keep track of your ticket.

The audio commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. The driver speaks English. This is useful if you want context while riding, but it is not the same as having a guide answer questions or lead you on foot through a neighborhood. You set the pace and choose when to get off.

The bus can also help with transport costs. A rider who used the tour to get around the city found it a good way to avoid paying for multiple rideshares, and was able to hop off at several locations before catching another bus. That is the package’s clearest practical strength: you get transport and sightseeing in one ticket, rather than just a seat on a single tour.

Choosing stops around the sights

The package highlights the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, and the Charging Bull. The Downtown Loop also passes through areas where you can explore on foot, including the Financial District and Battery Park.

Keep the difference between seeing a landmark and entering it in mind. The included items are Madame Tussauds admission, the Marvel 4D Experience, and a 24-hour Downtown Loop bus ticket. There is no listed admission to the Empire State Building or One World Trade Center, and no Statue of Liberty ferry ticket. Treat those landmarks as sights to look for or plan around, not as separately included visits.

The 9/11 Memorial is a meaningful stop if you want time to reflect. Wall Street and the Charging Bull offer a very different look at the Financial District, while Battery Park gives you a change of pace near the water. Each stop asks for time off the bus, so choose the places that matter most to you rather than trying to collect them all.

SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown make the route more than a checklist of famous buildings. You can get off and spend time in the neighborhoods, then rejoin the circuit when you are ready. The bus provides a useful overview, but the more you want to explore on foot, the fewer stops you can fit into one day.

Is $99 a good value?

At $99 per person, the package makes most sense if you plan to use both parts: the museum and the bus. The bundle advertises a 10% saving compared with buying the activities separately, and the bus can replace several individual rides if you hop on and off through the day. If you only want Madame Tussauds, or expect to spend the day walking, the combined ticket may be less useful.

Consider how you like to sightsee. The bus ticket gives you a 24-hour hop-on hop-off period from first activation, but this activity is described as valid for one day. It is not a multi-day transit pass. You pay for the option to ride the loop and explore its stops, so the value improves when you use the bus more than once.

The museum adds value for people who enjoy celebrity culture, photo opportunities, and themed settings. It may be a weaker fit if you prefer art museums, historic interiors, or quiet exhibits. Here, the appeal is light entertainment and familiar faces, with enough different scenes to make the visit feel broader than a single gallery.

The five ratings available give an overall score of 4.2, but that is a small sample, so I would not treat it as a firm measure of quality. The most useful practical feedback is that the bus can help you get around without paying for multiple rideshares, and that Madame Tussauds has more to see than expected. Those points fit the package’s strongest selling points: flexibility outdoors and variety indoors.

A few practical points before you go

You can activate your ticket in the Big Bus app by adding your booking reference. On the day, open the ticket, press Activate, and show it to the driver at a stop. If you prefer, redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at the stated 7th Avenue and West 48th Street location or with a driver.

Remember the order: voucher redemption with Big Bus staff is required before you visit Madame Tussauds. The app is also useful for route details and live bus locations. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own way to the first stop.

The activity is wheelchair accessible. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking.

Who should book this New York combo?

I would choose this package if you want an easy, flexible day with a mix of pop culture and city sightseeing. It suits first-time visitors who like having a broad overview, families or groups that enjoy interactive photo settings, and anyone who expects to hop off at several downtown stops.

I would skip it if your main goal is to enter major landmarks, take a Statue of Liberty ferry, or spend a long time with a live guide. Those are not included. Book it for the combination of Madame Tussauds and flexible downtown transport, and decide in advance which stops matter most. Used that way, the day can feel varied without turning into a race across the city.

FAQ

How much does the package cost?

The listed price is $99 per person. The package advertises a 10% saving compared with buying the activities separately.

What is included in the ticket?

It includes general admission to Madame Tussauds, the Marvel Superheroes 4D Experience, and a 24-hour Big Bus Downtown Loop ticket. The bus is an open-top double-decker with multilingual digital commentary.

How long is the Big Bus Downtown Loop?

The full Downtown Loop takes about 90 minutes if you stay on the bus for the circuit.

How many Big Bus stops are there?

The Downtown Loop has 13 stops. The stated bus frequency is every 10 to 15 minutes.

Which languages are available for the audio commentary?

The audio commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. The driver speaks English.

Does the ticket include entry to the Statue of Liberty or other landmarks?

No landmark admission or Statue of Liberty ferry is listed as included. The package includes Madame Tussauds admission and the Big Bus Downtown Loop ticket.

How do I activate the bus ticket?

You can add your booking reference in the Big Bus app, then activate the ticket on the day and show it to the driver. You can also redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff or a driver.

Do I need to redeem the voucher before going to Madame Tussauds?

Yes. Redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff before visiting Madame Tussauds.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.