NYC: Empire State & Statue of Liberty with 48-Hour Bus Tour

Ride the open-top bus through Manhattan, then climb to the Empire State Building's observation deck

You get 48 hours of hop-on hop-off bus access across two Manhattan routes, entry to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observation deck with a pre-booked time slot, and round-trip ferry passage to Liberty and Ellis Islands. The audio guide covers multiple languages, and a bike rental discount is included. You choose the order of stops, set your own pace, and return to the bus whenever you're ready to move on.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Downtown and Statue of Liberty

• Board hop-on hop-off bus Downtown route
• Visit Times Square and Midtown
• Explore Brooklyn Bridge area
• Stop at Wall Street and Trinity Church
• Take round-trip ferry to Liberty Island
• Visit Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• Visit Empire State Building observation deck

Day 2 — Explore Uptown and Central Park

• Board hop-on hop-off bus Uptown route
• Visit Times Square and Bryant Park
• Explore Grand Central Terminal
• Visit The Met and Frick Collection
• Walk in Central Park and Central Park Zoo
• Stop at Columbus Circle and Carnegie Hall

The Experience

You board the Big Bus at any of thirteen stops along the Downtown route — Times Square, the Flatiron District, Wall Street, or wherever you land — and the city unfolds from the open top. The bus moves through Midtown and down toward Battery Park, and you're not locked into a schedule; you step off at a stop that catches your eye, spend an hour or three exploring, then catch the next bus when you're ready to move. The 48-hour pass covers both the Downtown and Uptown loops, so you can ride the red route one day and the blue route the next, hitting Central Park, the Met, Rockefeller Center, and Brooklyn Bridge without having to plan a single transfer or figure out the subway.

The Empire State Building entry is already in your ticket. You'll need to book your time slot in advance through the voucher link or with staff at the first stop, but once you do, you head straight to the 86th-floor observation deck — no separate line, no extra fee. The views from up there are the kind that make you understand why people talk about New York the way they do. Downtown stretches south toward the harbor, the bridges thread between boroughs, and on a clear day you see all the way out.

The ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands leaves from Battery Park between 9am and 3pm, and it's included in your ticket. You get round-trip passage to both islands, though interior access to the monument or the Ellis Island museum costs extra if you want it. Most people ride out for the Statue itself — standing at the base or on the grounds, depending on what you've booked — and then spend time on Ellis Island walking the grounds and reading the stories of the people who arrived there. The ferry ride back gives you Manhattan's skyline from the water, which is its own thing entirely.

The audio guide works in multiple languages and plays through your phone or a device you rent, so you're not following a group or waiting for a guide to finish a speech. You move at your own pace, get off when something interests you, and come back to the bus when you're done. If you want to rent a bike, the ticket includes a discount — one hour free with every hour you pay for — which opens up neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and SoHo that are easier to see on two wheels than on foot.

What’s included

• 48-hour hop-on hop-off Big Bus pass covering Downtown and Uptown routes.
• admission to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observation deck with pre-booked time slot.
• round-trip ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island from Battery Park.
• digital audio guide in multiple languages.
• bike rental discount (one hour free per hour rented).

Good to know

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

Operated by Big Bus Tours - USA

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to see New York's major landmarks without arranging separate tickets, ferries, and transport — the single pass and flexible timing let you build your own itinerary instead of following a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Do I have to book the Empire State Building time in advance?

Yes. You'll book your preferred date and time through the link on your voucher or with Big Bus staff at Stop #1 (7th Ave & W 48th St). This reserves your entry slot so you don't wait in the general line.

What time does the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands operate?

Ferries run from 9am to 3pm with regular departures from Battery Park. You'll redeem your ferry ticket with Big Bus staff before heading to the terminal.

Can I get off the bus and rejoin it later?

Yes. That's the whole point of the hop-on hop-off format. You can stay at any stop as long as you want and catch the next bus on the same route when you're ready to move.

Does the ferry ticket include entry inside the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island museum?

No. Your ticket covers round-trip ferry passage and access to the grounds of both islands. Interior monument or museum access is not included and costs extra.

How many routes does the 48-hour pass cover?

Two: the Downtown route (13 stops including Times Square, Wall Street, and Chinatown) and the Uptown route (stops at Central Park, the Met, Rockefeller Center, and other landmarks).

Is the audio guide included?

Yes. Digital audio commentary is included and available in multiple languages. You can use your own phone or rent a device.

What's included in the bike rental discount?

Rent one hour and get one hour free. This applies to any bike rental partner participating in the program.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The buses are wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed.