NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New York, United States
New York, United States

NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights

Outty Ranking 77 4.8 · 1,363 traveler reviews0.2 hoursFrom $271
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Outty Ranking

77/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.8/5

Based on 1,363 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights worth booking?

NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights is a 0.2-hour experience in New York, United States, from $271 per person. It scores 77 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 1,363 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
77 / 100
Rating
4.8/5 (1,363)
Duration
0.2 hours
From
$271 per person

Experience Manhattan from a breathtaking new perspective on a 12-15 minute NYC helicopter tour with HeliNY! Your helicopter ride will lift off from downtown Manhattan and fly past iconic New York City landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park complete with live pilot narration. HeliNY’s NYC helicopter tours are great for guests of all ages, making it the perfect addition to any New York City itinerary! Complete days worth of New York City sightseeing in just minutes, with the Manhattan skyline as your backdrop. Several departure times are available throughout the day to fit your schedule! *HeliNY is Wingman/TOPS certified!

What you get

    About this experience

    Experience Manhattan from a breathtaking new perspective on a 12-15 minute NYC helicopter tour with HeliNY! Your helicopter ride will lift off from downtown Manhattan and fly past iconic New York City landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park complete with live pilot narration. HeliNY’s NYC helicopter tours are great for guests of all ages, making it the perfect addition to any New York City itinerary! Complete days worth of New York City sightseeing in just minutes, with the Manhattan skyline as your backdrop. Several departure times are available throughout the day to fit your schedule! *HeliNY is Wingman/TOPS certified!

    What's included

    Included

    • Heliport Landing & Facility Fees (No unexpected fees upon arrival for a smooth & pleasant check-in!)
    • Shared Helicopter Flight (shared experience with other travelers)
    • Fuel surcharge
    • Live commentary on board, Floor to ceiling windows, Climate controlled cabin

    Not included

    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Souvenir photos (available for purchase!)

    What you'll see and do

    1. HeliNY

      Fly past Helicopter Flight Services.

      Pass by without stopping

    2. Brooklyn Bridge

      As you take off, you will see the famous Brooklyn Bridge!

      Pass by without stopping

    3. Brooklyn

      Fly past Brooklyn, NY!

      Pass by without stopping

    4. Governors Island

      Fly past the historic Governors Island with downtown Manhattan as your backdrop!

      Pass by without stopping

    5. New York Harbor

      Fly above New York Harbor!

      Pass by without stopping

    6. Statue of Liberty

      Wave hello to Lady Liberty as you glide past her, and get ready for a stunning photo op!

      Pass by without stopping

    7. Ellis Island

      Fly by Ellis Island.

      Pass by without stopping

    8. Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)

      Experience a breathtaking view of New York City’s iconic skyline without the crowds!

      Pass by without stopping

    9. One World Trade Center

      Experience incredible views of the One World Trade Center, the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere!

      Pass by without stopping

    10. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum

      See the National 9/11 Memorial Museum from the sky.

      Pass by without stopping

    11. Empire State Building

      Experience unforgettable aerial views of the Empire State Building.

      Pass by without stopping

    12. Chrysler Building

      Fly past the Chrysler building.

      Pass by without stopping

    13. Little Island

      Fly by Little Island.

      Pass by without stopping

    14. Intrepid Museum

      Enjoy aerial views of the Intrepid Museum.

      Pass by without stopping

    15. Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex

      Fly by Chelsea Piers.

      Pass by without stopping

    16. Rockefeller Center

      Fly past Rockefeller Center.

      Pass by without stopping

    17. The Vessel

      Fly past the Vessel.

      Pass by without stopping

    18. Hudson Yards

      Enjoy stunning views of Hudson Yards.

      Pass by without stopping

    19. Madison Square Garden

      Experience aerial views of the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

      Pass by without stopping

    20. One Vanderbilt

      Fly past One Vanderbilt.

      Pass by without stopping

    21. Times Square

      Fly by Times Square, the most famous intersection in the world.

      Pass by without stopping

    22. Central Park Tower

      Fly by Central Park Tower, the world's tallest residential building.

      Pass by without stopping

    23. Central Park

      Fly by Central Park and experience a stunning birds-eye view of the most filmed location in the world.

      Pass by without stopping

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    New York

    Check-in is 30 minutes before your flight time. We are located at 6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004. The heliport is a large gray cement building with a big clock on the front. Please let security know you are flying with Helicopter Flight Services and they will direct you to our staff.

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    Check-in is 30 minutes before your flight time. We are located at 6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004. The heliport is a large gray cement building with a big clock on the front. Please let security know you are flying with Helicopter Flight Services and they will direct you to our staff.

    Options you can book

    • Manhattan Highlights 12-15 min

      12-15 Minute Flight: All taxes and fees included.

    • Ultimate Tour 17-20 min

      17-20 Minute Flight : All Taxes and Fees included.

    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
    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
    Group size
    Up to 6 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    HeliNY

    Know before you go

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Due to comfort and weight / balance of the aircraft, passengers weighing more than 275 lbs (124 kg) may be unable to fly. If passengers require a seat belt extender they will not be able to attend.
    • A current, valid, government-issued photo ID is required on the day of travel.
    • All bags are subject to inspection. Complimentary lockers are available to hold belongings while flying.
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 2 must sit in an adults lap at no charge.
    • All passengers are required to sign a waiver prior to flying.

    Photos

    NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New York, photo 2NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New York, photo 3NYC Helicopter, NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New YorkNY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New York, photo 5NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New York, photo 6NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights in New York, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 1,354 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Photo opportunities

    4 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    3 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Organization

    2 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Good for families

    2 mentions

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Traveler reviews

    1,354 verified traveler reviews for NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    1,171
    4 star
    97
    3 star
    45
    2 star
    16
    1 star
    25
    Sort
    Kady_B · October 2026

    Out of this world!!

    Professional friendly and courteous assistance from start to finish. It was very informative, the staff was very informative, the views ....stunning from up high.

    via Viator

    C4161PKraymondh · October 2026

    Extremely disappointing — beware of booking in advance

    We booked and paid £528.18 for a Deluxe Manhattan Helicopter Tour for two. We arrived at the heliport 45 minutes early as instructed, only to be told the flight was cancelled because the helicopter wasn’t fully booked. When I challenged this, I was told that this was covered by the terms “on the board in the office.” Yet the booking confirmation we received contains extensive cancellation terms and makes no clear mention that they can cancel a confirmed tour simply because they haven’t sold enough seats. We were eventually refunded, but only several days later. Meanwhile, having travelled all the way from the UK and not wanting to lose the experience, we booked another helicopter tour with a different operator at the same heliport, costing us another £528 but only for the basic tour experience. What made matters worse was how rude, dismissive and completely unhelpful the staff were when we questioned the cancellation. If minimum passenger numbers can result in a confirmed booking being cancelled, that should be made crystal clear before taking someone’s money, not explained after they’ve turned up. Extremely disappointing experience and certainly not what we expected from a “Deluxe” tour operator. Won’t be using this company again when we return

    via Tripadvisor

    Nileshi_S · October 2026

    Terrible experience—do not waste your time or money.

    My family of four booked the NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights yesterday, and it was a massive disappointment. We paid an expensive $290 per person for a brief 15 minutes, only to have a completely awful experience from start to finish. First of all, they packed our family of four into a helicopter with two other people. Instead of keeping us together, they split us up just to fill every seat. The two strangers were given the window seats, while one of my family members was forced into a middle seat. Paying that much money to sit in the middle with absolutely no view of the Manhattan skyline is ridiculous. On top of that, another member of our family had to sit completely separated up front with the pilot. We booked this as a family trip but didn't even get to experience it together. The actual service was just as bad. The whole thing felt incredibly rushed and stressful. They gave us zero time to take our own pictures. They strictly ordered us to stay within the yellow lines and wouldn't even let us take a quick family photo next to the helicopter. Instead, they quickly took 3 or 4 bad pictures of us and then expected us to pay extra money to buy them at the end. The entire operation felt like a rushed assembly line that only cares about taking your money, not providing a good experience. It was a highly frustrating and overpriced 15 minutes. Save your money and go to an observation deck instead—you'll get a much better view and a far better experience

    Response from the operator: We are sorry to hear that your experience did not live up to expectations. Our team does their best to ensure every guest enjoys their experience from start to finish. We offer several private options for groups who do not wish to share the cabin, otherwise, the cabin will almost always be shared. Our booking process makes it clear to our guests that their helicopter flight is a shared experience. Photos are not allowed while being escorted to and from the helicopter for safety reasons. Our safety video is required to be watched by all guests before proceeding to the aircraft. In this video, it states that all guests need to stay within the yellow lines. These rules are in place for the safety of our passengers and crew as there are helicopters spinning, taking off, and landing.

    via Viator

    fobando78 · October 2026

    Create a great unforgettable memory!

    The experience was amazing, staff is friendly, directions are clear and helicopters are well maintained. Our pilot was kind and provided good and funny info along the ride. Would highly recommended it! We went as a family and created an unique memory

    via Tripadvisor

    Rudy_m · September 2026

    Friendly welcome

    It was cool, all people ready to help, aircraft well maintained, safety guidelines followed accurate

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your review, as well as the recognition of our team!

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    0.2 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
    Price range
    $271 to $289
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    477
    Verdict
    Strongly Recommended

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by HeliNY, who run 7 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.5.

    See everything HeliNY runs

    Why this scores 77

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)86
    Review evidence (18% weight)92
    Booking momentum (14% weight)91
    Value for money (12% weight)0
    Listing quality (10% weight)82
    Local standing (8% weight)69
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New York.

    How much does NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights cost?

    +

    Prices start at $271 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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights take?

    +

    Plan for about 0.2 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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 77 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 1,363 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.

    Can I cancel or reschedule NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 0.2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    Around 477 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?

    +

    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 0.2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights start and how do I get there?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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?

    +

    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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    Included: Heliport Landing & Facility Fees (No unexpected fees upon arrival for a smooth & pleasant; Shared Helicopter Flight (shared experience with other travelers); Fuel surcharge; and Live commentary on board, Floor to ceiling windows, Climate controlled cabin. Not included: Hotel pickup and drop-off; and Souvenir photos (available for purchase!). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    Check-in is 30 minutes before your flight time. We are located at 6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004. The heliport is a large gray cement building with a big clock on the front. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights offered in?

    +

    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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; Transportation options are wheelchair accessible; and All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights if the weather is bad?

    +

    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 NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    Across 1,363 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include photo opportunities, knowledge and storytelling, organization. The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    What booking options are available for NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights?

    +

    There are 2 options to choose from, including Manhattan Highlights 12-15 min, Ultimate Tour 17-20 min. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

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