Manhattan Helicopter Tour: 12-15 Min NYC Skyline Flight

Twelve Minutes Above Manhattan, Every Landmark in One Flight

You board at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and fly 12–15 minutes over the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, Central Park, and the Empire State Building without leaving the city to reach an airport. The flight includes all taxes and the heliport fee, and you're back on the ground in under two hours from check-in. Bring your passport or government ID.

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter tour and city views

• Arrive at Downtown Manhattan Heliport
• Watch safety video and meet team
• Board Bell 407 helicopter
• Fly over Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• View Ground Zero and Wall Street
• See Empire State Building and Central Park
• Enjoy panoramic Manhattan skyline views

The experience

The helicopter lifts off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport: no drive to an airport two hours away, no waiting in traffic. You're already in the city, and within minutes you're above it. The Bell 407 climbs over the Hudson, and the Statue of Liberty appears first, smaller than you'd think from the ground but unmistakable. Ellis Island sits just beyond, the processing center where over 20 million immigrants arrived in the decades before you were born, and from the air you see the scale of it: the buildings, the docks, the harbor they crossed.

The flight sweeps past Ground Zero and down the spine of Lower Manhattan, where the financial district rises in a cluster of glass and steel. Wall Street moves beneath you without traffic or crowds. Then comes the turn toward Central Park: a rectangle of green that looks almost unreal when you're floating above the grid of streets, and you understand why the city needed it. The Empire State Building passes on one side, the Intrepid Museum on the other, and the whole Manhattan skyline spreads out in a way no street-level view can match. The whole thing takes 12 to 15 minutes. Check-in is 45 minutes before your assigned flight time, which means you're on the ground and back in the city within a couple of hours.

All taxes and the $40 heliport fee are built into the price, so there's no surprise at the desk. You'll need a government-issued ID or passport. That's a hard requirement, not a suggestion. The headsets have audio commentary, though which language you get depends on how many people are on your flight and what they speak. Weather can shift the timing, and operational needs might move your actual departure around within your window, but the route stays the same: harbor, liberty, downtown, park, skyline, back.

What’s included

• 12–15 minute helicopter tour in a Bell 407 aircraft.
• views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Wall Street, Empire State Building, Central Park, and the Manhattan skyline.
• all taxes and fees.
• $40 per person heliport fee.
• audio commentary headsets (language subject to availability).

Options for this experience

2 options

12-15 Minute Flight14 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:30Includes all taxes and fees. A focused route past NYC's most iconic harbor landmarks.

18-20 Minute Flight14 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:30Includes all taxes and fees. Expansive skyline views and more northbound landmarks than a harbor-only route.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday14 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (2 and older) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 6

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Zip Aviation

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see Manhattan's major landmarks from above without spending a day traveling to an airport outside the city. The Downtown Manhattan departure is what makes a full sightseeing flight possible in under two hours.

Traveler reviews

4.41★★★★★★★★★★

1,465 verified traveler reviews

5 ★991

4 ★265

3 ★83

2 ★64

1 ★62

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I have to go to an airport outside the city?

No. The tour departs from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, which is in lower Manhattan. You don't travel to an out-of-state airport.

How long is the actual flight?

12 to 15 minutes in the air. Plan for about 45 minutes before your scheduled flight time for check-in.

What landmarks do I see?

The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, Central Park, and the Manhattan skyline.

Is the heliport fee included?

Yes. The $40 per person heliport fee is included in the tour price for bookings made after March 2, 2026. Older bookings may owe this fee at check-in.

What ID do I need?

All passengers, including children, must have a government-issued ID or passport. You may be denied your flight without one.

Can I choose the language of the audio commentary?

Audio language is based on availability. If more than two languages are requested on the same flight, the commentary defaults to English.

What if the weather is bad?

Flight times are subject to change due to weather conditions. The tour operator will reschedule or refund if conditions prevent safe flight.

Is there a weight limit?

Passengers over 250 lbs (113 kg) must purchase an additional seat, payable to the operator on the day of the tour. The maximum weight per passenger is 300 lbs (136 kg).