Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight
4.5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight
By Zip Aviation - Helicopter Tours & Charters
About
From downtown skyscrapers to the Statue of Liberty, New York City is larger than life, with an iconic skyline. This helicopter flight over the Hudson River gives you panoramic views of the city that you can’t get from street level. Spot One World Trade Center, Ellis Island, and the Empire State Building, and snap memorable photographs from above during this flight.
from per adult
$384.52
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 15m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: German, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, French, Spanish
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Highlights
- See New York City from the air for a new perspective on the city
- Fly above the skyline with views of skyscrapers and top landmarks
- Bring home unique photographs of New York
- Frequent departures make it easy to squeeze into a busy day of sightseeing
- 12-15-minute Helicopter tour
- Local taxes
- Entry/Admission - Zip Aviation - Helicopter Tours & Charters
What's not included- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- The listed price does not include a US$40 per person (including infants) heliport/security fee, payable at the time of tour check-in. The heliport/security fee is mandated by the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and is not within our control.
- Make your way to a heliport at Pier 6 and the East River in downtown Manhattan to meet the pilot and climb into a state-of-the-art helicopter. Lift off above Manhattan as the view opens up to include city parks, buildings, and landmarks. On your trip, you’ll spot Governor’s Island, Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, and New York Harbor, and get an amazing perspective on the skyline. When you reach the WWII-era USS Intrepid, bank back along the Hudson River, watching for the Chrysler Building, MetLife Building, and Empire State Building. Keep your camera ready, as the top-down photo opportunities are unmatched from beginning to end. When your flight concludes, touch down at the Manhattan heliport, close to public transit and top Manhattan attractions.
- Start:
- 6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004, USAGoogle Maps provides the correct navigation route, all other navigation options will take you to Chelsea Piers. Please ensure the end of route address matches the address above. Located on Pier 6 (2 Building North of Staten Island ferry and the East River). Look for Zip Aviation.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Infants must sit on laps
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5024MANSKY- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- Check-in is 45 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time. Failure to do so may result in extended wait times or forfeiture of flight.
- A $40 (USD) heliport fee per person (including infants) is due at check-in.
- Due to comfort and weight / balance of the aircraft, passengers weighing over 250lbs (113kgs) will be required to purchase an additional seat. This is payable directly to the tour operator on the day of the tour. 300-lb (136kg) maximum weight per passenger.
- All passengers including children must have a government-issued ID/Passport or you may be denied your flight.
- Please note, that audio language selection is not guaranteed and is based on availability. Should more than 2 languages be requested on the same flight, the audio commentary may default to English. Due to the unpredictable nature of technical difficulties, we cannot provide assurance for the audio functionality of the headsets.
- All flight times are approximate and subject to change due to weather conditions and weight restrictions.
- Infants 24 months and younger must sit on an adult's lap
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- What is the departure location for the Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight?
- The helicopter tour departs from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Pier 6 on the East River. The building is located just north of the Staten Island Ferry and just south of the Pier 11 South Street Seaport. (6 East River Piers, NY NY 10004)Answered Apr 2021
- Can I take public transportation to get to the Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight?
- Public transportation can be taken from anywhere in Manhattan using the MTA Subway. You want to take the R train to the Whitehall stop and walk north past the Staten Island Ferry to the gray two-story building on the right with the large clock on it.Answered Apr 2021
- Is there parking near the departure point for the Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight?
- Parking is not available at the heliport, but there is a cash municipal parking lot at the next exit just west of Pier 11.Answered Apr 2021
- How early should I arrive for the Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight?
- Please arrive one hour prior to your confirmed flight time.Answered Apr 2021
The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5024MANSKY
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Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You'll start at6 East River Piers6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004, USAGoogle Maps provides the correct navigation route, all other navigation options will take you to Chelsea Piers. Please ensure the end of route address matches the address above. Located on Pier 6 (2 Building North of Staten Island ferry and the East River). Look for Zip Aviation.See address & details
- 1Zip Aviation - Helicopter Tours & ChartersStop: 15 minutes - Admission includedZIP AVIATION offers helicopter tours of New York City and private charter services from NYC to the entire Northeast United States. Three different helicopter tours of NYC are available, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes in length. Visit our location where you will watch a safety video and meet our team.Read morePass byGovernors Island National MonumentStatue of LibertyNew York HarborManhattan SkylineLower ManhattanEmpire State BuildingEllis IslandIntrepid Museum
- You'll return to the starting point
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- martinofrombelgium0 contributionsYOLANDA, BEST CISTOMER SUPPORT IN AVIATIONOne of the best customer service in aviation I have ever experienced with so much knowledge and understanding of our needs. Yolanda got our expectations from ZIP aviation to another level! I certs recommend this company and will book all my future charters in NY through this company. Thank you Yolanda for the great service.Written 18 December 2023
- Winkler60 contributionsDon't leave Manhattan and regret not doing itForgot to leave a review at the time so here it is now. If I had to suggest just one must-do thing when visiting Manhattan this would be it. We were lucky to have a cloudless blue sky day for our 20 minute tour as well. The 20 minute option isn't cheap, but its certainly worth it - after all its not likely something that most of us would do again.Written 25 November 2023
- 210jakubv0 contributionsBest sightseeing everVery professional service and kind staff. Flight around the Manhattan is much better than flight from Prague to New York :-)Written 16 August 2023
- CMRontour0 contributionsFamtastic helicopter ride above ManhattanAbsolutely fantastic service my son loved it. We arrived and 15 minutes later her was on a 30 min tour of Manhattan while I relaxed in their comfortable waiting room. Thanks to Osualdo & the team for making this trip memorable.Written 20 July 2023
- bobd3190 contributionsUSD 40 additional per personAdditional 40usd/person makes comparison unfair. So 1 out of 5. The rest was good. Good staff. Organisation ok. And the famous picture for 37... difficult to avoid...Written 6 July 2023
- cherlynno0 contributionsClear skies, all smilesChecking in was very efficient! When you come in, they just scan your ticket and you head right in. They check for your ID and just ask how much you weigh, all of those check in things and then you sit in the waiting area. They take a photo of you in front of the helicopter, which you have the option of purchasing after the flight (either framed or digital (we got a digital copy!)) The flight started earlier than we expected so we were lucky. There are headsets for every seat so you can hear the tour guide, I'm not sure if this was just a personal problem, because I'm hard of hearing, but for some reason I could barely hear the guide, I mostly heard the sound of the chopper (and yes my head sets were on max volume). Other than that, it was truly a remarkable experience because the view was amazing, skies were clear for us and they really the delivered to the time we paid for! 10/10.Written 18 June 2023
- Lord-Vader-FL0 contributionsGreat experienceReally enjoyable experience! Would recommend to anyone visiting NYC. Can’t fault the experience and make sure you get there 45mins early.Written 30 May 2023
- 742rl0 contributionsZip Aviation TourFabulous way to see NYC. It's a must do! Zip Aviation pilot and crew were awesome. Highly recommend.Written 27 May 2023
- annoC896KA0 contributionsDo it ….It was all a great experience from beginning to the end. My partner had his Birthday and they let him sit at the front with the pilot. Would highly recommend.Written 14 May 2023
- brianbG8109ON0 contributionsRide of a lifetimeThis was one of the best trips on my visit to New York. I highly recommend this trip especially the views of NYC from above!!Written 5 May 2023
- Bengt L0 contributionsExcellent tourIt was just as good as I read in the reviews and the group of guys handling all the preparations and of course the pilot himself did an excellent job, making us feel safe snd on top of things throughout the entire tour. Highly recommended!Written 22 April 2023
- tomas_cid10 contributionsAmazingIt was amazing! The ride was extremely smooth and the pilots were so friendly. I would definitely recommend to anyone who want to see the city that never sleeps from above.Written 17 April 2023
- rnsweetman0 contributionsDisappointingVery efficient but we were a group of five in a six seater chopper and Zip put a solo flyer (stranger to us) in the front (best) seat so we were all in the back, which was a bit disappointing for the one in our group who’s treat it was. Also the rear facing seats are tight and the view is underwhelming compared to the forward seats. Finally, we had no audio commentary as advertised and were unable to let the pilot know as we were all in the rear compartment. All a bit disappointing really. ShameWritten 16 April 2023
- dadksmith0 contributionsGreat Experience with one exception!Everything from the the booking, information provided, updates, checking in and the flight worked really well and as a family of four we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The team were friendly and made sure we followed all safety information. The only exception on the day was that when we were talking afterwards one of our daughters said how helpful it was to have the commentary highlighting the various landmarks and providing information on them as we were flying - the other three of us were confused as we had been given the headphones, heard the intro from the pilot but then heard nothing else until the pilot gave us instructions on landing - definitely no commentary! No-one had mentioned a commentary would be provided and so we didn’t know what we were missing. If the pilot could do a quick check to make sure everyone’s head phones were working correctly then this might ensure future customers get the full experience. Having said that, we all enjoyed the flight.Written 14 April 2023
- U3309ULandyw0 contributionsSuch a worthwhile tour!They were great. Friendly, helpful, fun. A great day! Osvaldo was awesome, too... enjoyed the views, the storytelling, the music, the employees. Thanks so much!Written 13 April 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.5
160 reviews
Excellent
123
Very good
19
Average
4
Poor
4
Terrible
10
LuciaLuf2000
Andorra111 contributions
Nov 2022
Disappointing and overpriced.
A disappointing experience.
They just play a tape explaining what you see... we would explain the Pilot to do that, to interact, talk himself, maybe some music playing in the back ground. It was very boring this way.
Terribly overpriced... We were 5 and still had to add 200USD on site as heliport fee, which made the entire trip 20% more expensive in our case.
A disappointing experience.
They just play a tape explaining what you see... we would explain the Pilot to do that, to interact, talk himself, maybe some music playing in the back ground. It was very boring this way.
Terribly overpriced... We were 5 and still had to add 200USD on site as heliport fee, which made the entire trip 20% more expensive in our case.
Written 6 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello LuciaLuf2,
Whether you book on our website or with a Travel partners like Viator/Trip Advisor or Get-Your-Guide, the $40 Heliport Fee is disclosed front and center. Again, it is a Heliport Fee or a Facility Fee, it does not go to us, we just collect it. Some people decide it's worth it while some people decide it's too expensive.
Over a decade ago we made the decision to provide narrated pre-recorded audio tours on all our flights to minimize the interaction with customers and crew. This was never meant to create distance or disconnection with customers, it was solely to provide an extra layer of safety where pilots can focus on air traffic and radio calls within the busiest airspace in the country.
The Customer Service Team
Written 6 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lifespeachy16
Newcastle, Australia1 contribution
We booked a joy flight with this company 9 months in advance. It was gifted to our children as Christmas presents as were were traveling from Australia and had little room for presents. We had it scheduled for NYE and two days before the departure they cancelled. Apparently the company had exceeded the amount of flights they could take this year. This left us very frustrated as our experience was booked so far in advance and we thought we would be a priority. We were also given no explanation as to how this mix up occurred. The only option they offered was to reschedule after the 2nd January, which happens to be the day we fly out of New York. We how have three very disappointed children thanks to Zip. This company is not reliable and I would not recommend booking a flight with them.
Written 29 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello!
We apologize for the last minute Cancellation of your Tour and the inconvenience this has caused you. We feel bad that you couldn't reschedule once we were allowed to fly again.
Thank you.
Written 5 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma S
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Couples
This was without a doubt the highlight of our whole trip. My partner David was able to sit up front with our fantastic Pilot Irish Andrew. Andrew provided an excellent voiceover to our tour, pointing out all the major landmarks, and getting us so close to the Statue of Liberty of amazing photo opportunities. This is a tour that everyone visiting New York should do. It is well worth the money.
Thank you Zip Aviation and massive Thanks to Andrew, you made our holiday!
Thank you Zip Aviation and massive Thanks to Andrew, you made our holiday!
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avis B
1 contribution
I first visited New York in 2018 and with some trepidation took a helicopter flight. Our pilot was Captain Andrew Wood and he was so professional and knowledgeable putting us at ease throughout the whole experience. It was a truly amazing experience, so much so that on my return visit to New York in August 2022, I sought out Captain Wood to enable my family (including two 15 year old grandsons) to enjoy the amazing experience that I had previously had. To my delight Andrew (as I'm now allowed to call him!) was still doing the flights and we quickly booked him to be sure we would get the same fabulous experience. He talked us through all the sights and made it a very special day. We're home now but whenever anyone asks us what was our favourite part of the holiday the unanimous answer is the helicopter flight. If you're going to New York, make sure you take this opportunity to see the sights from the dizzying heights of a helicopter, they're fabulous!!!!!
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
billieboh
Kent, UK115 contributions
Our helicopter ride was absolutely amazing. We arrived 45 minutes ahead of our scheduled time and the booking in process was quick. The staff were very friendly. We got our photo taken and the helicopter was spacious and nice. We got window seats and the view was amazing. The flight itself was almost 20 minutes long, longer than advertised. We were lucky with the weather. Our pilot was a lady called Lauren who was just brilliant and very friendly. The audio recording was fab too. We booked through Get Your Guide and had good directions and information. Don’t forget that you’ll need to pay the $40 per person heliport fee on arrival.
Written 1 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello!
Thank you for your review. We are so happy to hear you an amazing experience. Our Pilot Laura is one of the best! We will let her know about your kind words.
Cheers!
Written 11 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brian C
2 contributions
What an experience!!!
I’d never been on a helicopter and was quite nervous, however we met our pilot Andrew and he chatted for a good 10/15 mins and i instantly felt at ease, so calm and reassuring, Andrew was simply brilliant.
We did the 15 min tour and I LOVED it. Andrew pointed out loads of buildings and the flight was so smooth…. I could’ve stayed up there all day!!
It was my wife’s 50th birthday that day , she absolutely loved it as well but I felt like it was my birthday sitting in front seat!
Would highly recommend this company, and although I’m sure all the pilots are great guys if you get Andrew your in for a treat!
We will definitely be doing more helicopter tours in future!….thanks to Andrew.
Only downside was we bought a USB which only had 5 pictures on it….. I thought it was a video of our flight, and at $35 for 5 pics I felt was a bit steep.
However, that didn’t detract from a fabulous experience with a fantastic pilot in Andrew.
Don’t miss out and decide not to book…. You won’t be disappointed!
I’d never been on a helicopter and was quite nervous, however we met our pilot Andrew and he chatted for a good 10/15 mins and i instantly felt at ease, so calm and reassuring, Andrew was simply brilliant.
We did the 15 min tour and I LOVED it. Andrew pointed out loads of buildings and the flight was so smooth…. I could’ve stayed up there all day!!
It was my wife’s 50th birthday that day , she absolutely loved it as well but I felt like it was my birthday sitting in front seat!
Would highly recommend this company, and although I’m sure all the pilots are great guys if you get Andrew your in for a treat!
We will definitely be doing more helicopter tours in future!….thanks to Andrew.
Only downside was we bought a USB which only had 5 pictures on it….. I thought it was a video of our flight, and at $35 for 5 pics I felt was a bit steep.
However, that didn’t detract from a fabulous experience with a fantastic pilot in Andrew.
Don’t miss out and decide not to book…. You won’t be disappointed!
Written 19 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim S
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
The flight was incredible, but soo short. Tip: sit on the right side, then you can see the central park (and city) longer and better. The pilot was really friendly and funny and did a great job :)
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark h
9 contributions
An incredible experience for the whole family. From the moment we arrived, we were truly looked after in their aircon building before taking to the Skies.
Andrew 'Irish' Woods, our pilot was so helpful, a really friendly character that put us all at ease and assured us of a memorable time. His unique tour guide ability made the whole adventure all the more special. Thank you so much Andrew.
The helicopter was cool, very tidy and spacious.
I would highly recommend Zip Aviation and the helicopter tours. It really is worth the money, and the most amazing way to see so much of New York.
Andrew 'Irish' Woods, our pilot was so helpful, a really friendly character that put us all at ease and assured us of a memorable time. His unique tour guide ability made the whole adventure all the more special. Thank you so much Andrew.
The helicopter was cool, very tidy and spacious.
I would highly recommend Zip Aviation and the helicopter tours. It really is worth the money, and the most amazing way to see so much of New York.
Written 23 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inge J
3 contributions
Amazing experience❣️Because off the price we took notion of the negative reviews almost all complaining about being on time and not finding the gathering spot. So we made sure that wouldn't be an issue for us. Being well prepared we arrived one and an half hours early. Ready to wait the rest of the afternoon because we were also warned that there could be a delay at the helicopters side. It's good to know that when youre in time you could be placed earlier also. So we only had to wait for about 15 minutes. The helicopter had windows for the whole sides so everybody had amazing views. It was an absolute incredible experience and I absolutely recommend it iff you ever have the opportunity! Zip aviation did an excellent job with this tour❤️
Written 6 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Inge,
What a nice and detailed review and your recommendation. We are so happy that you had an amazing experience!
Cheers!
Written 11 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pálína B
Reykjavik, Iceland1 contribution
Apr 2022
Very happy with our flight. Quick and professional service both before and after the flight. Everything ran smoothly. We couldn´t hear the tour guide tape for the first minutes of the flight - then it was fixed. Highly recommend.
Written 25 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pepe V
Andalucia, Spain
buenas peso 124 kilos cuanto mas me saldria el asiento extra por peso mido 191
Linda M
1 contribution
My husband can walk, he has MS, but we use a manual wheelchair tor speed basically, is there a place to store his wheelchair while we're in the air? Thanks
Ich habe die Tour gebucht und die Bestätigung / Tickets erhalten. Auf dem Ticket steht plötzlich "Ihr Platz kann nur garantiert werden, wenn Sie diesen telefonisch bestätigen". Muss ich jetzt trotz Ticket dort nochmal anrufen?
Cathy B
Saint-Etienne, France7 contributions
Bonjour. Je leur ai juste envoyé un mail afin qu'ils me confirme l'heure de mon vol.
Jeff S
Bonita, CA8 contributions
Is this a private tour? No strangers ?
Lizziehill
Edinburgh, UK42 contributions
There were two of us, others were strangers, but all sharing a wonderful experience together. I should imagine private tours would be way more expensive.
Fatimah H
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia9 contributions
Is the tour includes flying over the central park?
Kim Waters
2 contributions
Yes it does
Barbara H
Fordingbridge, UK15 contributions
Will there be a refund if flight cancelled due to bad weather
Lizziehill
Edinburgh, UK42 contributions
To be honest, no idea, sorry
Aiman1979
Paris, France6 contributions
Hello,
I wuld like to know if my child 2 years can enter into the helicopter and free or paid ?
thank you
electroglidekid
London, UK2 contributions
Seems Adult price is for 2-99 years.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.