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

New York spreads its best-known sights across a lot of ground. This package pairs a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass with the Empire State Building observation deck and a ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands, giving you several ways to see the city without planning every trip from scratch.

I like two things here: the flexibility to get off near places you want to explore, and the mix of skyline views, city streets, and harbor scenery. The main catch is that the attractions need some planning of their own. You must book a time for the Empire State Building, and you need to redeem your ferry voucher with Big Bus staff before heading to Battery Park.

Key points to know

• Three major sights in one package: The bus pass, Empire State Building admission, and round-trip Liberty and Ellis Island ferry are included.
• Two Manhattan routes: The downtown loop covers Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River side, and Midtown; the uptown loop reaches Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• The 90 minutes refers to a full bus loop: Your bus ticket is valid for 48 hours, not just one 90-minute ride.
• Ferry tickets do not include monument entry: You can visit both islands, but access to the Statue of Liberty’s interior, pedestal, crown, or museum is not included.
• Redeem attraction tickets early: Visit a Big Bus staff member before your plans get tight, especially for the Empire State Building and ferry.
• Plan around traffic and weather: An open-top bus can be a fine way to see the city, but delays, heat, rain, and hard-to-find stops can affect the day.

A bundled way to see three sides of New York

At $135 per person, this is best understood as a convenience package, not simply a bus ride. It combines city transport with two major attractions, which can save time spent arranging separate tickets. The value depends on how much you use the bus and whether you visit both included attractions.

The bus is valid for 48 hours on the downtown and uptown loops. You can ride through a full circuit or get off to explore and catch another bus later. A full loop takes about 90 minutes when you stay aboard, though traffic can stretch the ride. The package summary gives an approximate duration of 1 hour 30 minutes, but that describes a loop, not the total time you have to use the inclusions.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You make your way to a listed stop and use the bus as one part of your city transport. The ticket is mobile, and the bus has digital audio commentary in multiple languages. Do not count on a live guide throughout the ride: the information is delivered through recorded commentary, though staff can help with ticket redemption and directions.

Downtown from Times Square to the harbor

The downtown route starts near M&M’s New York on Seventh Avenue, then passes Times Square and the Empire State Building. These early stops are useful if you want to connect Midtown’s bright commercial core with one of New York’s most recognizable buildings. The bus stop for the Empire State Building is listed near KoreaTown, outside a CVS Pharmacy.

From there, the route continues to the Flatiron District, SoHo, and Chinatown and Little Italy. These stops take you from the Flatiron Building’s distinctive shape to neighborhoods where walking is the point: look up at the architecture, browse the streets, and take a break to eat. The bus gets you into the area, but it cannot replace time on foot.

The Brooklyn Bridge stop is at Park Row and Beekman Street, followed by Wall Street and the World Trade Center area. These stops make it easy to combine Lower Manhattan’s financial district with the waterfront. The Statue of Liberty stop is listed near Trinity Church, not at the ferry terminal itself. That distinction matters: check the app or ask staff for the walk to Battery Park rather than assuming the bus drops you directly at the boat.

The ferry travels from Battery Park to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, with regular daytime departures. You must redeem your voucher with Big Bus staff before going to the terminal. Allow time for the walk, the queue, and security. A tight schedule is a poor match for this part of the day, especially if you also hope to ride a long stretch of the bus route.

On Liberty Island, the ferry gives you the chance to see the statue and the harbor from close range. It also continues to Ellis Island, where the immigration story gives the outing a second focus beyond the famous view. The ticket covers the ferry and island visits, not interior access to the Statue of Liberty monument or museum. If entering those spaces is important to you, this package does not include it.

The downtown route also serves Pier 57, Hudson Yards, and Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises at Midtown. Those stops cover very different experiences: a waterfront destination, a modern development, and another sightseeing option near Pier 81. They may be useful if you have extra time, but trying to fit every stop and the ferry into one day can turn a flexible pass into a race.

Uptown from Rockefeller Center to Central Park

The uptown loop includes stops at the Hope sculpture, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park Zoo, Columbus Circle, and Carnegie Hall. It adds a different rhythm to the day, taking you from Midtown’s famous plazas toward the museums and park.

Rockefeller Center and Times Square are convenient places to get on or off if you are staying in Midtown. The Metropolitan Museum of Art stop is on Fifth Avenue near 83rd Street, placing you at the edge of Central Park’s Museum Mile. If you plan to spend serious time inside the Met, check the current bus schedule first. A museum visit can easily absorb several hours, and the uptown bus may not be a quick shuttle back.

The Central Park Zoo stop sits near Fifth Avenue and East 66th Street. Columbus Circle gives you a southern entrance to the park, while Carnegie Hall is a natural stop for the West 57th Street area. These locations work well as anchors for a walking day, but remember that the route is not a private car service. You may need to walk to the exact stop, and missing one can mean waiting for the next bus or riding around the loop.

Use the free Big Bus app to check routes, stops, and times. The stop descriptions are specific, but several locations are close to busy intersections, and a stop can be easy to miss if you rely only on memory. The app’s stop-finding information can help you confirm where to wait. Keep an eye on the final bus time too, particularly if you have gone far uptown or plan to linger at a museum.

The Empire State Building needs its own time slot

Admission to the Empire State Building observation deck is included, but your visit is not simply a walk-in add-on. You need to pre-book a date and time through the booking management link on your voucher or arrange it with Big Bus staff at Stop 1. Treat this as a separate appointment in your day, not something to leave until the end.

A useful practical step is to sort out the Empire State Building and ferry details early, before you board or get absorbed in the sightseeing. Some people have found staff at Stop 1 helpful with booking and ticket questions. Wanda, for example, helped a family arrange both attraction dates, while Ibrahim assisted another group with printing tickets and explaining the ferry process. These are examples of staff support, not a guarantee that either person will be working when you visit.

Take care not to assume that a mobile voucher will scan at the attraction entrance. The package instructions say to arrange your time in advance, and the ferry voucher must be redeemed with staff. If something seems unclear, resolve it in person while you still have time to adjust your plan. Ticket mix-ups and missed time slots can be expensive and frustrating.

Is $135 good value?

The price is most appealing if you will use the bus over both days and visit both included attractions. You are paying for transport across two routes, a high observation deck, and a ferry outing that includes Liberty and Ellis Islands. Bundling these can be simpler than arranging each part separately, and the package advertises a 25 percent saving.

But convenience is not the same as guaranteed savings for every itinerary. If you only want to ride the bus once, or you plan to spend most of your time walking, the pass may be more than you need. Compare the current standalone prices for the attractions and transport before buying, and check that the advertised discount applies to the option and dates you want.

The bus is also subject to city conditions. Traffic can slow the route, while summer heat, rain, and wind can make an open-top ride uncomfortable. The buses do not offer air conditioning or heating, and the experience runs in varied weather. Dress for the forecast, carry water in a screw-top bottle, and do not schedule the ferry or Empire State Building appointment with no buffer.

Who will get the most from this pass?

I would choose this package for a first New York visit when I want help getting oriented and already expect to visit the Empire State Building and both islands. It is especially handy if you like being able to pause the bus tour for a neighborhood walk, then rejoin later.

It is less suited to a tightly packed day. The ferry, security, attraction time slots, museum visits, and city traffic all take time, and the bus is not a door-to-door service. Nor is this the best choice if you want inside access to the Statue of Liberty monument or museum, since those are excluded. Families should also consider the weather and the amount of standing and walking involved.

My best advice is to use the bus as a sightseeing route, not as a promise of fast transport. Choose a few stops that matter to you, settle your attraction times early, and leave room for delays. The best parts of the package are the range of views and the freedom to shape your day, but both depend on sensible planning.

FAQ

How long is the hop-on hop-off ticket valid?

The package includes a 48-hour Big Bus ticket for the downtown and uptown loops. A full ride around either loop takes about 90 minutes, though traffic and seasonal conditions can change the timing.

Is the Empire State Building admission included?

Yes. Admission to the Empire State Building observation deck is included, but you must pre-book a date and time through the link on your voucher or with Big Bus staff.

Does the ferry ticket include the Statue of Liberty monument?

No. The round-trip ferry includes visits to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but access to the Statue of Liberty’s interior monument, pedestal, crown, or museum is not included.

Do I need to redeem my ferry voucher before going to Battery Park?

Yes. You need to redeem the voucher with a Big Bus Tours staff member before heading to the ferry terminal.

What bus routes are included?

The ticket includes Big Bus’s downtown and uptown Manhattan loops. The downtown route serves places including SoHo, Chinatown, Wall Street, the World Trade Center, Hudson Yards, and Pier 57. The uptown route includes Rockefeller Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park Zoo, Columbus Circle, and Carnegie Hall.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to get to one of the listed bus stops yourself.

Can I bring luggage or food on the bus?

Luggage and food are not permitted on board. Non-alcoholic drinks in screw-top bottles are allowed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.