In a nutshell
- A helicopter tour over New York is an unforgettable experience! But which tours are worth it, where do you book them, and what do you need to know? We’ve got you covered.
- We’ll show you the 4 best helicopter flights over New York – classic, doors off, at night, and a private tour for couples.
- We also share our personal experiences after having taken two different flights over New York.
- Our top pick and perfect for first-time visitors is the classic helicopter flight over New York. Outstanding value for the money!
- Looking for a thrill? Then you’ll love the doors-off helicopter flight.
New York Helicopter Flights at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of all the recommended helicopter tours in New York. We’ll go into more detail below.
| What? | Price | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Helicopter Flight Top Pick | from 268 € p.p. | 12–30 minutes | Book flight |
| Doors-Off Helicopter Flight | from 257 € p.p. | 30–35 minutes | Book flight |
| Helicopter Flight at Night | from 213 € p.p. | 15–30 minutes | Book flight |
| Private Helicopter Flight | from 440 € p.p. | 30–45 minutes | Book flight |
A helicopter tour is a big-ticket item in your travel budget. If you’d like to save money elsewhere, you can cut the cost of many other New York attractions with a New York Pass.
Classic Helicopter Flight over New York
- Price: from €270 per person
- Departure: Downtown Manhattan Heliport
- Flight time: 12 to 30 min. – depending on the option booked
- Capacity: max. 10 people
- Audio guide: German, English, etc.
Who is it for? Great for first-time visitors or anyone who wants to experience New York from a whole new angle. This is also the best helicopter flight for families with kids.
What can you see? You fly over the Hudson River and take in sights like: Central Park, Empire State Building, Broadway, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and more.
Personal experience: We loved it! The NYC helicopter tour is genuinely unforgettable. Even though the weather wasn’t ideal, we still had a breathtaking view of the city — and we felt completely at ease from start to finish. Our full experience report is below.
Book the classic helicopter flight over New York
New York Helicopter Flight Doors Off
- Price: from €515 for two people (from €257 per person)
- Departure: New Jersey Linden Airport – approx. 40 min. outside Manhattan
- Flight time: 30 to 35 min. total / 15 min. flight time over Manhattan
- Capacity: 2 to 3 people
- Audio guide: live English commentary
Who is it for? Ideal for adrenaline junkies, adventure seekers, and photographers. With the doors off, you can get the most incredible photos and videos.
What can you see? You fly over the rivers and the city, taking in highlights like: Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Central Park, Chrysler Building, Roosevelt Island, Hudson Yards, One World Trade Center, and more.
Personal experience: The doors-off helicopter ride over New York was our absolute favorite. Not only was the view breathtaking, but our photos turned out incredible! This probably won’t be our last time. Full experience report below.
Book the New York helicopter flight doors off
New York Helicopter Flight at Night
- Price: from €215 per person
- Departure: Essex County Airport – approx. 50 min. outside Manhattan
- Flight time: 15 to 30 minutes – depending on the option booked
- Capacity: max. 6 people
- Audio guide: live English commentary
Who is it for? Perfect for romantics and couples, and for anyone who wants to see New York’s sea of lights from the air. It’s also one of the most affordable helicopter tours in New York.
What can you see? You fly over the rivers and the city, taking in sights like: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, One World Trade Center, New York Edge, Empire State Building, Chelsea Piers, Times Square, and more.
Book the New York helicopter flight at night
Private Helicopter Flight over New York for Couples
- Price: from €880 for two people (from €440 per person)
- Departure: Westchester County Airport – approx. 60 min. outside Manhattan
- Flight time: 30 to 45 minutes
- Capacity: 2 people
- Audio guide: live English commentary
Who is it for? The right choice for couples, special occasions, or whenever you want the sky entirely to yourselves.
What can you see? You fly over the rivers and the city, taking in sights like: Manhattan skyline, Central Park, Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Yankee Stadium, Hudson River, East River bridges, and more.
Book the private helicopter flight over New York
New York Helicopter Flight: What You Need to Know
Now you know the best helicopter tours over New York. But before you take off, here are answers to a few important questions:
Who is a helicopter flight over New York right for?
A helicopter tour over New York City is a great fit for all kinds of people and occasions. For example:
- First-time visitors & tourists: for a unique perspective on New York
- Couples: for lasting memories, marriage proposals, or anniversaries
- Photo & videographers: for spectacular aerial shots
- Adventure seekers & adrenaline junkies: for an extra thrill
- Travelers short on time: for a quick yet impressive bird’s-eye view of the city
A New York helicopter ride is also great for kids. That said, age restrictions often apply and vary by operator. The minimum age is usually between two and five years.
Pregnant travelers are generally allowed to fly, as long as the pregnancy is normal and uncomplicated.
In the later months of pregnancy (from the third trimester onward), it’s often a good idea to check with your doctor first.
If you have any of the following conditions, speak with a doctor before booking:
- Balance disorders & dizziness
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Epilepsy
- Panic attacks & anxiety disorders
Many people with a fear of heights or an aversion to roller coasters find a helicopter flight far less daunting than expected — you’re in an enclosed cabin rather than on an open platform, and the ride itself is super smooth.
For couples or special occasions, the experience is truly unforgettable. For a memorable place to stay to match, check out our 7 special boutique hotels in New York.
How much does a helicopter flight over New York cost?
A helicopter tour over New York will set you back roughly €220 to €300 per person. Prices vary depending on the operator, flight duration, and type of flight.
Are helicopter flights in New York safe?
Yes, helicopter flights in New York are considered very safe — they’re subject to strict regulations and high safety standards.
All commercial helicopter flights in New York are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Pilots must hold special licenses and pass regular safety checks, and they typically have thousands of hours of flight experience.
Helicopters are also regularly maintained and inspected to ensure the highest safety standards. Before every flight, the aircraft undergoes a full technical inspection.
Where do helicopter flights in New York depart from?
New York has several heliports from which most tourist flights depart. The four main ones are:
- Downtown Manhattan Heliport (JRB)
- Westchester County Airport (HPN)
- New Jersey Linden Airport (LDJ)
- New Jersey Essex County Airport (CDW)
How long does a helicopter tour over New York take?
In general, a helicopter tour over New York lasts 15 to 45 minutes. It depends on which operator you fly with and what type of flight you’ve booked.
Is it cold on the helicopter flight?
Not particularly. The temperature depends heavily on the outside temperature and therefore the time of year.
That said, the cockpit can be cooled or heated as needed.
Can you bring bags into the helicopter?
No, bags must be stored in a locker beforehand.
Weight and weight distribution matter a great deal on a helicopter flight. You may be able to keep a very small bag with you.
What happens in bad weather?
If the weather is truly too bad for flying, you’ll usually have the choice between a replacement date or a full refund.
Do helicopter tours also run in winter?
Yes, helicopter flights over New York operate in winter too — as long as the weather cooperates.
New York Helicopter Flight: Our Experiences
We’ve taken two different helicopter tours over New York. Here’s what it was like:
Experience Report: Classic Helicopter Flight over New York
We booked the classic NYC helicopter tour through GetYourGuide five days before our trip — for a 2:00 PM slot. To be safe, we arrived at 1:00 PM, though 45 minutes ahead is the official recommendation. All the details were on the ticket, super straightforward.
On site, everything ran incredibly smoothly. There are restrooms, lockers for larger bags, and seating while you wait. Before boarding, tickets and passports are checked, and passengers’ weights are recorded to ensure proper seating distribution.
Everyone also pays a $40 boarding fee. This is standard for helicopter flights in New York. We paid by credit card.
Shortly before takeoff, we got a thorough safety briefing via monitor, had to put on life vests, and then headed toward the helicopter. Important: no photos are allowed on the airfield. Seats were assigned by weight — headphones on, buckled in, and off we went!
Is it worth it? Absolutely!
The flight was an absolute standout of our New York trip. The view of the skyline was simply incredible — from the Statue of Liberty to One World Trade Center to Central Park. You see the city from a completely different perspective.
And we can say from personal experience: helicopter rides are also great for people who hate roller coasters. The flight is seriously smooth.
Even with less-than-perfect weather, it was an unforgettable experience. The whole operation was professional and top-notch — we felt safe and comfortable the entire time. If you’re in New York and wondering whether a helicopter tour is worth it — do it! It’s worth every penny!
Get tickets for the classic helicopter flight over New York
Experience Report: New York Helicopter Flight Doors Off
Since time is usually pretty tight on a New York city trip — after all, you want to see as much as possible — we opted for a 7:00 AM departure for this flight.
At 5:30 AM, a private driver picked us up at our hotel in New York and we headed straight to Westchester. The airport is primarily used for private and charter flights by business travelers, as well as for helicopter tours over New York.
Our pilot arrived around 6:40 AM. A quick introduction, a clear safety briefing, small bags stowed under the seat, buckled in, headphones on — and we were ready to go.
The initial slight unease of flying without doors quickly gave way to pure excitement over the incredible view.
It took about ten minutes to reach the northern tip of Manhattan. Along the way we passed Yankee Stadium, and the first major highlight was Central Park. The view from above is just incredible.
Later, we got surprisingly close to the Empire State Building and had a great aerial view of Times Square and the Flatiron Building. One highlight followed another.
All told, we flew over Manhattan for about 40 minutes and between us took more than 1,000 photos — oops, hehe.
The return flight took another ten minutes or so, and shortly after 8:00 AM we landed safely back in Westchester.
Get tickets for the doors-off helicopter flight over New York
So which helicopter flight is better?
We had an absolute blast on both tours!
The classic tour is a great choice for first-time visitors and for anyone who may never have been in a helicopter before. You’ll feel safe and at ease while soaking up the view.
The doors-off helicopter flight over New York is more for adrenaline junkies and those with absolutely no fear of heights.
Both flights are worth every penny. If you want to offset the cost of the helicopter tour, we’ve got 13 budget hotels and money-saving tips for accommodation in New York for you.
