There is no single best New York helicopter tour; there is a best one for how you want to fly. Several operators run sightseeing flights over the city, and they differ most on safety accreditation, where they take off, and how far the route reaches. The tour we feature, NY Helicopter Tour's Manhattan sightseeing flight, wins on a specific combination: two independent safety accreditations, a Manhattan departure, the classic harbor-and-skyline route, and free cancellation. Compare on your terms below.
Sightseeing helicopters in New York are all flown by FAA Part 135 operators, so the federal floor is the same. What separates them is above that floor. Four things are worth checking on any operator's own site before you book, and here is how the featured flight measures up on each.
What to compare
Why it matters
The featured flight (NY Helicopter Tour)
Safety accreditation
TOPS and WYVERN Wingman are independent audits above the FAA minimum. Few operators hold both.
Holds both TOPS and WYVERN Wingman; noted as the only New York operator currently carrying both
Departure point
A Manhattan heliport is faster to reach than a New Jersey pad, and there are no Manhattan departures on Sundays.
Most options leave the Downtown Manhattan Heliport; some depart New Jersey, so check your option
Route reach
Shorter flights may not reach uptown. Confirm the landmarks you want are on the route.
Statue of Liberty, the skyline, Empire State and Chrysler buildings, Central Park and the bridges
Booking flexibility
Free cancellation lets you book early and change plans if the weather turns.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, through GetYourGuide
The featured operator sits above the legal floor on two independent audits.
The other operators
Other companies fly sightseeing tours over New York, sold on their own sites and on booking platforms like GetYourGuide. Zip Aviation is one of the better-known names. Rather than reprint figures we have not verified, we point you to each operator's own listing for its route, length, price and safety credentials, since those are the pages that stay current. The one figure worth carrying into any comparison: NY Helicopter Tour is noted as the only New York operator that currently holds both TOPS and WYVERN Wingman accreditation, so on safety it sets a high bar to match.
Our pick, and why
We send readers to NY Helicopter Tour's Manhattan sightseeing flight because its strengths match how most visitors book: from another country, online, wanting the classic view and a low-risk booking. It carries two independent safety accreditations, leaves from Manhattan on most options, runs the harbor-and-skyline route, and offers free cancellation to 24 hours. It also holds a 4.8 across 7,252 GetYourGuide reviews.
If another operator fits you better, book it and enjoy the flight. This page exists to route you well, not to crown our own link. The full detail on our pick, including the route, the weigh-in and where you take off, is on the tour page, with more on how we verify facts on the about page and quick answers in the FAQ.
GetYourGuide Top Rated
Best for first-timers, couples and anyone seeing NYC from above
NYC: Manhattan Sightseeing Helicopter Tour
4.8across 7,252 GetYourGuide reviews, operated by NY Helicopter Tour
Fly past the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge with live pilot narration
Noise-canceling Bose headsets, lockers and all heliport fees included; most flights leave the Downtown Manhattan Heliport
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and NY Helicopter Tour holds both TOPS and WYVERN Wingman safety accreditation
Live price on GetYourGuide shown for your date, option and currency at booking
