NY: Statue of Liberty, Empire State, and Hop-on Hop-off Tour

New York’s big three are packed into one $135 package: a 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus, the Empire State Building, and a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is a useful way to get your bearings fast, especially if this is your first visit and you want the classic skyline views without planning every subway ride.

I like the freedom to use the two bus routes over two days, and I like that the Empire State Building and ferry can be taken on separate days. The main catch is timing: the Statue of Liberty ferry runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and you must arrange an Empire State Building time in advance. Miss those slots and the bundle loses much of its value.

Key points to know before you book

• Two days of bus access: Your 48-hour ticket begins when you first activate it, not necessarily on the date of purchase.
• Two distinct routes: The Downtown and Uptown routes let you divide Manhattan sightseeing into more manageable sections.
• Ferry, not monument admission: The package covers the round-trip ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands, but not entry inside the Statue of Liberty monument.
• Empire State timing matters: You must pre-book a date and time through the Big Bus booking link or with staff before boarding.
• Traffic can slow everything down: Packed buses, long stops, and New York traffic may make the bus less efficient than walking or public transport for short trips.
• Best value comes from full use: You need to use the bus, Empire State Building, and ferry to make the $135 price work.

What this New York combo actually gives you

This is not one guided outing with a fixed departure. It is a package of three sightseeing pieces that you arrange yourself during a two-day window.

The Big Bus ticket gives you unlimited use during operating hours for 48 hours after first activation. You can ride the Downtown route, switch to the Uptown route, hop off at a major sight, and return later. That flexibility is the main reason to consider this package.

The Empire State Building ticket adds one of New York’s best high-level views. The ferry gives you access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, with fine views back toward Manhattan. You do not need to take all three parts on one day. In fact, splitting them is the sensible approach.

The package includes digital commentary in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian, with souvenir earbuds supplied. An app provides route details and live bus tracking. English is the language listed for the driver and general tour operation.

Riding the Downtown route to Battery Park

The Downtown route is the practical choice for the lower end of Manhattan, including the Brooklyn Bridge area and Battery Park. Battery Park is the departure point for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, identified as Stop 9.

The bus gives you a broad look at New York’s famous streets and landmarks without asking you to navigate every turn yourself. You can hop off near the Brooklyn Bridge, spend time there, and then continue when ready. You can also use the bus to reach the Empire State Building stop and combine that ride with your reserved observation time.

There is a tradeoff. New York traffic can turn a short ride into a slow one. The route may pause for five to ten minutes at stops, and a full circuit can take much longer than you expect. I would use the bus for orientation and for covering larger stretches of Manhattan, not as the fastest way to travel three or four blocks.

The open-top seating is the attraction, but it can also be the least comfortable part of the ride in poor weather or heavy traffic. Crowding has been a recurring problem, with some buses full enough that you may need to wait for the next one. Build spare time into your plan, especially if you have a fixed Empire State or ferry appointment.

Seeing Midtown and Times Square from the bus

Times Square is one of the obvious hop-off points. The bus gives you a simple way to reach this neon-heavy center of Midtown, where you can pause before continuing to another stop.

The package is particularly useful if you want a first look at several areas without committing to long walks. You can ride past major streets, get a sense of the city’s scale, and then choose where to spend more time. For a first day in New York, that orientation can be worth a lot.

Still, I would not treat the bus commentary as the main reason to buy the tour. Digital audio is included, but sound quality can vary. Some riders have found the earbuds and audio hard to hear, especially with street noise. Bring realistic expectations: this is sightseeing transportation with commentary, not a quiet private tour.

The app’s real-time bus tracking is more useful than the commentary if you are trying to plan your next move. Use it to see where buses are and avoid standing at a stop without knowing when the next one might arrive.

The Empire State Building: book your time first

The Empire State Building is the most important appointment in this package. Before boarding the bus, you must pre-book a date and time through the Big Bus Booking Management link supplied with your voucher, or arrange it with staff at a departure location.

Do not assume that having the combo ticket guarantees any time you want. Your ticket still needs a scheduled slot. This is especially important during busy periods, when a late booking could leave you with an inconvenient time or no suitable availability.

Once inside, you get panoramic views across Manhattan and the surrounding city. The attraction works well as a counterpoint to the bus: the bus shows you the streets at eye level, while the Empire State Building lets you understand the city from above.

The experience is not necessarily the whole day. I would pair it with Midtown stops rather than building an entire day around the building. The value comes from the view and the convenience of including admission in the package, not from expecting a long guided visit.

Give yourself enough time to reach the building if you are coming from another bus stop. Traffic delays, full buses, and long waits can turn a relaxed plan into a scramble. If your appointment is fixed, leave the bus early and walk the final stretch if needed.

Taking the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island

The ferry portion is a major reason people choose this package. It takes you to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, giving you close views of the Statue of Liberty and a chance to see Manhattan from the water.

The ferry operates from Battery Park between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. That narrow operating window should shape your schedule. I would not try to squeeze the ferry in after a late morning of shopping or a long Uptown bus ride. Start early, reach Battery Park with time to spare, and allow room for queues and the island visit.

Your ferry ticket covers the round trip and access to the islands, but entry to the Statue of Liberty monument is not included. That means you should think of this as an island and ferry visit, not a pedestal or crown admission package.

Ellis Island is also part of the plan, but the two-island visit can take more energy than the wording of the package suggests. The ride itself may be pleasant, yet queues for the return ferry can be long. One reported experience involved about an hour waiting to return, which left little appetite for spending more time on Ellis Island.

I would treat the islands as the day’s main activity. Do not schedule the Empire State Building immediately afterward unless you have a wide cushion. The ferry schedule, boarding lines, time on the islands, and return queue are all outside your complete control.

Is the $135 price good value?

At $135 per person, this is a convenience purchase rather than a bargain for casual use. The advertised bundle saves 25 percent off the full retail price, but you only feel that saving if you use all the included parts.

The value is strongest for you if:

• You want the Empire State Building
• You plan to visit Liberty and Ellis Islands
• You expect to use the bus on both days
• You like having one app and one package for several major sights
• You are comfortable planning around fixed times

The value is weaker if you mainly want transportation. New York traffic can make the bus slow, and walking or other city transport may be more practical for short hops. It is also weaker if you only want to see the Statue of Liberty from the water, since this package sends you to the island and does not include monument entry.

The included bike offer adds some extra flexibility: rent for one hour and receive one hour free. That is a useful bonus if you want to cover ground on two wheels, though it should not decide the purchase by itself.

There is also a reserve-now, pay-later option and free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity. Those terms help if your schedule is still shifting, but they do not remove the need to reserve the Empire State time and plan around the ferry hours.

How to activate the ticket without confusion

You have two activation choices. The cleanest option is to download the Big Bus app, choose Add Booking, enter your booking reference, and activate the ticket on the day you begin.

You can then show the activated ticket to the driver at any stop. The same app carries route information and live bus tracking.

The second option is to redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World, or with a driver at a route stop. The recommended staff location is useful if you want help before your first ride.

Take care with dates when redeeming or printing tickets. Incorrect dates can create serious problems at the attractions, and fixing them may not be simple. Check every printed or digital ticket before leaving the activation point, especially if staff have entered dates for you.

The ticket is valid for 48 hours from first use during operating hours. That is different from a calendar-based two-day ticket. Activate it early on your first sightseeing day if you want the full benefit of the second day.

A practical two-day plan

Day one: Downtown, the ferry, and Lower Manhattan

Start with the ferry. Reach the Battery Park stop early enough to handle ticket checks and queues before the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. operating window closes.

Allow time for Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty views, the ferry ride, and Ellis Island if you choose to continue there. Keep the afternoon open. The return line can be slow, so do not build a tight evening appointment around your ferry arrival.

After returning to Manhattan, use the Downtown route for Brooklyn Bridge or other listed stops. You can also simply walk around Lower Manhattan if the bus wait is long.

Day two: Empire State Building, Times Square, and Uptown

Reserve the Empire State Building for a time that gives you a comfortable travel margin. Use the bus to reach Midtown, hop off near Times Square, and continue along the route when it suits you.

Use the Uptown route as a broad sightseeing circuit rather than trying to stop everywhere. The two routes give you more reach than a single day ticket, but traffic and boarding delays still matter.

This split keeps the ferry and skyscraper from competing for the same few hours. It also lets you use the bus for orientation on one day and more relaxed sightseeing on the other.

Who will get the most from this package?

I would recommend it to a first-time New York visitor who wants the major icons in one purchase and does not want to plan every connection independently. Families and mixed-age groups may also like the ability to sit on the bus between stops, though crowding can make boarding less predictable.

It suits you if you enjoy flexible sightseeing and are willing to adjust your plan around traffic. The audio options in several languages are helpful, and the wheelchair-accessible service makes the package available to a wider range of visitors.

I would be more cautious if you are an efficient city walker, have only one day, or dislike fixed appointments. The bus can be slow, the ferry has a limited schedule, and the Empire State Building requires advance timing. A person who prefers to move quickly may see more by planning individual attractions and using direct transportation.

The limited praise available points most clearly to the overall convenience, the memorable views, and friendly staff. The biggest problems involve crowded buses, poor audio, scheduling, and ferry queues. Those are not small details in New York, where a lost hour can change your whole day.

Should you book the New York combo?

Book it if you want all three headline experiences and will use the bus for a full 48 hours. The package gives you a simple framework, good views from the Empire State Building, and a proper ferry visit to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

Skip it if you only want one attraction, need fast transport, or cannot reserve times early. For the best result, activate the pass carefully, book the Empire State Building before your first ride, start the ferry day early, and keep generous gaps between appointments.

FAQ

How long is the hop-on hop-off ticket valid?

It is valid for 48 hours from the time you first activate it, during operating hours.

Which bus routes are included?

The package includes the Downtown Route and the Uptown Route.

Can I take the attractions on separate days?

Yes. The bus ticket is valid for two days, and the tours may be taken on separate days.

Is the Statue of Liberty monument admission included?

No. The package includes the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but not entry to the Statue of Liberty monument.

What does the Statue of Liberty ferry ticket include?

It includes a round-trip ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

What are the ferry operating hours?

The ferry operates from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Stop 9 at Battery Park.

Do I need to reserve an Empire State Building time?

Yes. You must pre-book a date and time through the Big Bus Booking Management link on your voucher or with staff at a departure location.

How do I activate the ticket?

You can activate it in the Big Bus app after adding your booking, or redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street or with a driver at a route stop.

Is an audio guide included?

Yes. Digital commentary is provided in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. The driver language is English.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.