Downtown Manhattan Heliport: A Guide for Helicopter Tours
The pad where most New York helicopter tours begin. Here is how to find it and what to expect.
Written with Michael Torres, New York helicopter tour specialist
Short answer
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport is at 6 East River Piers (Pier 6), on the water at the southern tip of Manhattan in the Financial District, near the Staten Island Ferry. Most New York sightseeing helicopter tours depart from here. The nearest subways are South Ferry, Whitehall Street and Bowling Green, all a short walk away, and it is an easy cab from anywhere in Lower Manhattan. Arrive ahead of your slot with a passport or ID, since check-in, a security screening and a weigh-in come before you board. Note that no tourist flights leave Manhattan on Sundays.
Almost every New York helicopter tour starts at the same small building on the water at the bottom of Manhattan. It is easy to reach and easy to miss, so here is everything you need to arrive relaxed and on time, plus a note on the other heliports the city's flights use.
Where is the Downtown Manhattan Heliport?
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport sits at 6 East River Piers, also called Pier 6, on the East River at the southern tip of Manhattan in the Financial District, right by the Staten Island Ferry terminal and Battery Park. It is the main departure point for New York sightseeing helicopter tours.
You are looking for a low building on the waterfront promenade, not an airport terminal. It is a working heliport, so it is businesslike rather than grand. Because it is at the very tip of the island, it is quick to reach from anywhere in Lower Manhattan and a natural pairing with a walk around Battery Park or the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty from the water another day.
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NYC: Manhattan Sightseeing Helicopter Tour
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Manhattan or New Jersey: how the departure point changes your morning.
How do you get to the heliport?
The nearest subway stations are South Ferry on the 1, Whitehall Street on the R and W, and Bowling Green on the 4 and 5, each a short walk. A cab or rideshare drops you close, and the Staten Island Ferry terminal is right beside it. Public transit is the easiest way in, since parking is limited at the tip of Manhattan.
Give yourself a buffer. Traffic in Lower Manhattan is unpredictable, and helicopter tours leave on schedule, so plan to arrive with time to spare rather than cutting it fine. If you are driving, factor in that nearby parking is scarce and pricey, which is another reason most people arrive by subway or cab. Staying nearby the night before removes the problem entirely, which we cover in the where to stay guide.
What happens when you arrive?
Check in ahead of your slot with a passport or photo ID, clear a security screening, step on the scale for the weigh-in, and watch a short safety briefing before boarding. The whole visit runs about an hour for 12 to 30 minutes in the air.
The weigh-in surprises first-timers, but it is standard: the pilot needs real weights to arrange seating for balance, and there is a 275 lb per-seat cap. Bags go in a locker rather than the cabin, and loose items like scarves are not allowed near the aircraft. Once you are briefed and fitted with a noise-canceling headset, a crew member walks you out to the pad. The full sequence is in the guide on what the flight involves.
What about the other New York heliports?
Two other heliports serve the city: the West 30th Street Heliport on the Hudson River, used mainly for charters, commuter flights and airport transfers rather than tours, and New Jersey pads at Kearny and Linden, which some sightseeing tours and most evening flights use. For a standard sightseeing tour, you almost always want the Downtown Manhattan Heliport.
Because New York City limits tourist flights after dusk and on Sundays, evening and Sunday tours often shift across the Hudson to New Jersey. If your booking is for a sunset or Sunday slot, check its meeting point carefully, since a New Jersey departure changes how you get there. The New Jersey departures guide explains when and why.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Downtown Manhattan Heliport?
At 6 East River Piers, also called Pier 6, on the East River at the southern tip of Manhattan in the Financial District, next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Most New York sightseeing helicopter tours depart from here.
How do I get to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport?
The nearest subways are South Ferry, Whitehall Street and Bowling Green, all a short walk. A cab or rideshare drops you close. Parking is limited, so most people arrive by subway or cab. Allow extra time for Lower Manhattan traffic.
Is there parking at the heliport?
Parking at the tip of Manhattan is scarce and expensive, so the heliport is easiest to reach by subway or cab. If you drive, budget time to find a garage nearby.
What time should I arrive?
Arrive ahead of your booked slot, since check-in, a security screening, the weigh-in and the safety briefing all happen before boarding. Budget about an hour at the heliport in total. Flights leave on schedule.
Do all helicopter tours leave from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport?
Most sightseeing tours do, but some options and most evening flights depart from New Jersey, because the city limits tourist flights after dusk and on Sundays. Always check your booking's meeting point.
Book a flight from the heliport
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