
New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 13,881 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour worth booking?
New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour is a 6-hour experience in New York, United States, from $99 per person. It scores 92 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “90+ Club”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 13,881 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
- Outty Ranking
- 92 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (13,881)
- Duration
- 6 hours
- From
- $99 per person
Experience the best of New York City with a knowledgeable, licensed tour guide by your side. Our guides will make your journey unforgettable as they hop off the bus at each stop, giving you an exclusive and personalized sightseeing experience. Relax in the comfort of our climate-controlled tour buses, ensuring a cozy and enjoyable ride while staying protected from the unpredictable weather. Explore NYC's most iconic locations with our 15 to 20-minute guided walking tours. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Central Park, the vibrancy of Rockefeller Center, and the solemnity of the 9/11 Memorial, among other fascinating spots. For a truly unique perspective, don't miss the ferry ride, offering breathtaking views of the NYC skyline from the water. It's a must-see experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories!
What you get
About this experience
Experience the best of New York City with a knowledgeable, licensed tour guide by your side. Our guides will make your journey unforgettable as they hop off the bus at each stop, giving you an exclusive and personalized sightseeing experience. Relax in the comfort of our climate-controlled tour buses, ensuring a cozy and enjoyable ride while staying protected from the unpredictable weather. Explore NYC's most iconic locations with our 15 to 20-minute guided walking tours. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Central Park, the vibrancy of Rockefeller Center, and the solemnity of the 9/11 Memorial, among other fascinating spots. For a truly unique perspective, don't miss the ferry ride, offering breathtaking views of the NYC skyline from the water. It's a must-see experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories!
What's included
Included
- The Staten Island Ferry
- Expert Local Tour Guide Narrative
- Bottled Water on Buses
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Times Square
After a drive through the Times Square area, our first stop is at Central Park. The stop includes a short, guided walk into Central Park and a visit to Columbus Circle – one of NYC’s hottest neighborhoods and the official zero-mile point from which all official city distances are measured.
Pass by without stopping
Central Park
The first stop is a guided walk into Central Park and a visit to Columbus Circle.
20 minutes here
Rockefeller Center
The second stop on the tour is Rockefeller Center, for outside views of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the location of the ice skating rink and Christmas Tree (seasonal), and NBC's Today Show set.
20 minutes here
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Walk-by as part of the Rockefeller Center stop
Pass by without stopping
Flatiron Building
Seen from Madison Square Park (outside only)
Pass by without stopping
Fifth Avenue
The third stop is on Fifth Avenue for great views of the Empire State Building. This area provides spectacular views of dramatic architecture featured in numerous books and films: the Flatiron Building (Godzilla, Spider-Man), the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower (The Runaway Skyscraper, Futurama), and the Empire State Building (King Kong, Independence Day). We drive by Madison Square Park - the original location of Madison Square Garden Arena, and the tour continues with a drive through some of NYC's iconic neighborhoods, such as Greenwich Village, Soho, Chinatown, and the Financial District.
20 minutes here
Madison Square Park
Pass by without stopping
Pass by without stopping
New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Drive-by
Pass by without stopping
Trinity Church NYC
Walk-by
Pass by without stopping
Gansevoort Liberty Market
45-minute lunch stop at Gansevoort Liberty Market, located near the 9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center (not included in the tour price)
45 minutes here
The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
The fourth stop is the World Trade Center, as we visit the 9/11 Memorial. The tour does not include entry into the 9/11 Museum, but visitors can walk the grounds of the Memorial, visit the waterfalls of "Reflecting Absence," (the footprints of where the original twin towers stood), and see the Survivor Tree that stood through the destruction of 9/11.
20 minutes here
New York Harbor
The fifth stop is a ferry ride on the Staten Island Ferry to experience magnificent views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline!
60 minutes here
Statue of Liberty
Seen from the Staten Island Ferry
Pass by without stopping
Tour returns back to the original starting location
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
New York
Departure/End Point: 7th Avenue, between 50th & 51st Streets (middle of the block) in Manhattan. Please arrive 20 - 25 minutes before tour's departure time for a timely check in.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Departure/End Point: 7th Avenue, between 50th & 51st Streets (middle of the block) in Manhattan. Please arrive 20 - 25 minutes before tour's departure time for a timely check in.
Options you can book
Guided Day Bus Tour
Duration: 6 hours: 6hrs tour approx Closed-top bus: Fully guided tour in a closed-top climate-controlled bus
Guided Day Glass-Top Bus Tour
Duration: 6 hours: 6hrs tour approx Glass-top bus: Small-group tour, up to 16 passengers, in a glass-top mini bus
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- USA Guided Tours NY
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Seats are assigned on a first-come first-served basis so please arrive 20 - 30 minutes before tour's departure time for a timely check in
- If you're driving and need to park your vehicle - the closest garage parking is at 140 W 51st St, NY, NY 10020 and at 209 W 51st St, NY, NY 10019
- The tour will be an even amount of walking and riding on the bus. (approx.)
- Please note that we do NOT provide pick-up and drop-off service for this tour
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13,866 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
13,866 verified traveler reviews for New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
New York City
We had a good tour today around NYC. Our guide Susan was very knowledgeable and provided alot of history and I sight.
via Viator
Well-organized day tour, but not in the glass-top bus
For our first visit to New York City this tour was a great way to see and learn about highlights. It did require us to get on and off the bus quite a few times and follow the guide to the site. We were then given a short time to explore the area alone. There was a longer stop where we could buy lunch at a food court. The tour is planned with a tight schedule. We had a couple of slower participants who were not back on time and caused us to miss the planned ferry sailing. We had to wait 30 minutes for the next ferry but the guide Lyonel handled it well (sure it was not the first time!) and we completed the tour just that bit later than planned. The whole tour was well planned and the guide and driver were excellent. We really enjoyed the day. We had originally booked the Glass-Top Bus Tour but the operator messaged us 2 weeks in advance to say that the vehicle had been retired and gave us the option to do the tour on the regular bus. They are refunding the difference in cost.
via Viator
Kevin was an amazing guide!
Kevin was our guide and he did a wonderful job! Very knowledgeable and good at running the tour and keeping the group together. He explained all the stops thoroughly and had interesting facts and stories. Also just being in the bus, we saw so many things that I wasn’t even planning to see. An excellent tour! Our driver was amazing too!!
via Tripadvisor
New York in One Day
Good tour but if you’re older there is a lot of standing. Walter was our guide and enjoyed his commentary. Very informative.
via Tripadvisor
Great tour!
This was a great tour! Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly, with a great sense of humor. We hit all the major landmarks and the time given at each was more than enough. Crowds were manageable, its New York!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $99 to $139
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4,858
- Verdict
- 90+ Club
Who runs this experience
Operated by USA Guided Tours NY, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 74.6 and 1 in the 90+ Club.
See everything USA Guided Tours NY runsWhy this scores 92
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New York.
How much does New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour cost?
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Prices start at $99 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New York usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour take?
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Plan for about 6 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New York is not rushed.
Is New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 92 out of 100, which we label "90+ Club". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 13,881 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in New York, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.
Can I cancel or reschedule New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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Around 4,858 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New York can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New York and add a light layer if any part of the 6-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New York within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in New York?
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New York has more bookable experiences than any other city on Outty, and the quality spread is brutal. Observation decks are commoditised, so we score them on timed-entry reliability and sunset slots. Food tours and borough walks are where the ranking really separates operators, and the top scores in the city all come from small-group guides. On Outty we rank every New York experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports, Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights, SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour in New York. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit New York?
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September to early November, and late April through June. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in New York?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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Included: The Staten Island Ferry; Expert Local Tour Guide Narrative; and Bottled Water on Buses. Not included: Gratuities; Hotel pickup and drop-off not included; and Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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Departure/End Point: 7th Avenue, between 50th & 51st Streets (middle of the block) in Manhattan. Please arrive 20 - 25 minutes before tour's departure time for a timely check in. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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Across 13,881 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Guided Day Bus Tour, Guided Day Glass-Top Bus Tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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