New York: Madame Tussauds and Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour

Madame Tussauds puts you beside Lady Gaga, Audrey Hepburn, Whitney Houston, and Marvel heroes, while the Big Bus Downtown Loop gives you an easy way to cover a wide slice of Manhattan. I like the pairing because one half is playful and indoors, and the other gets you out onto the streets.

I also like the freedom to hop off near Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, Battery Park, or the Empire State Building instead of paying for several rides. The main drawback is time: the bus covers many sights, but a 90-minute loop and a five-floor museum can make this feel rushed if you have only one day.

Key points to know

• Madame Tussauds fills five floors and 85,000 square feet, with figures from music, film, sports, politics, television, and fashion.
• The Downtown Loop runs for about 90 minutes, with 13 stops and buses scheduled every 10 to 15 minutes.
• The bus does not replace attraction tickets, so the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and 9/11 Memorial are sights along the route, not included admissions.
• The Marvel Superheroes 4D Experience is included with Madame Tussauds general admission.
• Activate the Big Bus ticket before visiting the museum, using the app or Big Bus staff near M&M’s World.
• The $99 bundle makes most sense if you plan to use several bus stops, not just ride once between Times Square and downtown.

Madame Tussauds: five floors of famous faces

Start at Madame Tussauds in Times Square, where the experience is built around photo opportunities rather than a quiet museum visit. The figures are arranged in themed rooms, and you are encouraged to stand beside them, pose with them, and step into scenes modeled on television, film, Broadway, fashion, and public life.

The scale matters here. With about 85,000 square feet spread across more than five floors, this is much larger than a quick collection of wax figures in a single gallery. You can spend a little over an hour taking a brisk look, or longer if you stop for photos and try the interactive scenes.

The music section includes Lady Gaga and Whitney Houston, along with other performers. Audrey Hepburn gives the film displays a classic touch, while Lionel Messi brings a sports angle. The Kardashians are part of the celebrity mix, so the collection aims for broad popular appeal rather than a narrow focus on one period or art form.

I would not plan on a solemn museum atmosphere. The fun comes from the staged encounters. You are there to create pictures and play along with the settings, which works especially well for families, groups of friends, and anyone who enjoys pop culture.

Broadway, Marvel, and the Glow Gala runway

Some of the best parts are the scenes that let you do more than stand beside a figure. You can step into Broadway-inspired sets, sit beside Jimmy Fallon in The Tonight Show setting, and enter an Oval Office display.

The Marvel Universe section adds a more action-oriented change of pace. The included Marvel Superheroes 4D Experience gives you a motion-based attraction alongside the wax figures. Since it is included in general admission, you do not need to decide at the door if the extra experience is worth another charge.

The Glow Gala runway brings a fashion element. You can walk the catwalk during a New York Fashion Week-style display, which turns the museum into a small stage rather than a series of display rooms. It is a good reminder that this attraction is designed for participation.

One practical point: photo stops can take longer than expected. If you want polished pictures at several displays, allow more time than you would for a simple walk-through. The museum may be your main activity for the first half of the day, not a quick add-on before the bus.

Using the Big Bus Downtown Loop

The included Big Bus ticket is valid for 24 hours from first activation, but the activity itself is presented as a one-day combination. The route covered here is the Downtown Loop, a roughly 90-minute circuit with 13 stops.

Buses arrive about every 10 to 15 minutes. That frequency gives you room to hop off without being tied to one long sightseeing ride, though actual waiting time can vary with New York traffic. The open-top double-decker design gives you a higher view over the street, with better sightlines than a standard city bus when weather and traffic cooperate.

The audio commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. The driver speaks English, and the digital commentary provides the background while you look out at the streets and buildings.

I like this format for a first day in New York because it helps you understand how the main parts of Manhattan fit together. You can ride the full loop to get oriented, then use the same ticket to return to one or two places that deserve more time.

The Big Bus app adds route information and real-time bus tracking. Downloading it before you set out is sensible. You can also show your activated ticket to the driver at any stop, so you do not have to return to one central meeting point each time you want to board.

Times Square and the starting point

The practical starting point for ticket help is at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World. This is close to Madame Tussauds, so it fits naturally into a Times Square visit.

You can redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff there, or activate it through the app by selecting Add Booking, entering your booking reference, and pressing Activate on the day of use. A driver can also activate or accept the ticket at a stop.

Do not skip the activation step. The instructions require you to redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff before visiting Madame Tussauds. Handle that first, then go to the museum. This is the one piece of scheduling that can otherwise catch you off guard.

Times Square itself is convenient but crowded and loud. The attraction’s location saves you a separate cross-town journey, yet it also means you should allow extra time to move through the area, especially if you are meeting a group.

Empire State Building and Midtown views

The route includes the Empire State Building, one of New York’s most recognizable landmarks. The bus gives you an exterior view and a way to place the building within Midtown, but the observation deck is not included in this package.

That distinction matters when you plan your day. If you want to go inside the Empire State Building, you need a separate ticket and enough time for that visit. The Big Bus ride works well as an overview, helping you decide which major attractions deserve a dedicated stop.

You can also use the route to connect Midtown with lower Manhattan without paying for multiple rides. That practical benefit was important to one customer who used several stops instead of taking separate rideshares. At $99, the bundle offers better value when you use the bus as transportation and sightseeing at the same time.

SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown

The Downtown Loop moves through SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown. These neighborhoods give you a change from the tower blocks and commercial lights of Midtown.

SoHo is useful for seeing a different street pattern and the cast-iron architecture associated with the area. Little Italy and Chinatown bring food, shops, and street scenes into the day, though the bus ride only gives you a short introduction unless you hop off.

This is where the flexible ticket earns its keep. You can get off, walk around, and board again later. The tradeoff is that a 10 to 15 minute service interval is not a promise of instant boarding, and city traffic can affect the schedule. I would choose one or two neighborhoods rather than trying to explore all three in detail.

Wall Street, the Charging Bull, and Battery Park

The Financial District is one of the most useful parts of the route for a short visit. You can walk around Wall Street, see the Charging Bull, and continue toward Battery Park.

The Charging Bull is a quick photo stop, while Wall Street rewards a little more time if you want to see the surrounding streets. Battery Park offers a different kind of city view and is the place to look toward the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty is not an included boat visit or island admission. The bus helps you reach the downtown area and gives you context, but you need separate arrangements if you want to go to the statue itself.

This is also a good point to avoid overloading your schedule. The route may mention several major sights in one circuit, but each has a different time requirement. A quick photo at the Charging Bull is not the same as visiting the Statue of Liberty or touring the 9/11 Memorial.

One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial

The bus also passes One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial. These are among the most significant stops on the route, and they deserve a slower pace than a passing view from the upper deck.

The memorial is a place for quiet reflection, so I recommend hopping off rather than treating it as another quick photograph. One World Trade Center gives the area a strong visual landmark, but the observatory is not part of this ticket.

The bus is particularly useful here because it removes some of the guesswork involved in moving between Midtown and the Financial District. You can build a route around the memorial, Battery Park, and Wall Street, then return toward Times Square without arranging separate transport.

How to fit both activities into one day

The best order depends on your priorities. I would usually activate the bus ticket near M&M’s World, visit Madame Tussauds while you are already in Times Square, and then use the bus for downtown sightseeing.

That plan has two advantages. First, you complete the required voucher redemption before entering the museum. Second, you avoid using the bus only for a short transfer when you could take the full route later.

A practical one-day outline could look like this:

• Activate your ticket near West 48th Street.
• Allow at least an hour for Madame Tussauds, and more if you want photos at many displays.
• Ride the Downtown Loop or head toward a chosen downtown stop.
• Get off at the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street, Battery Park, or another stop that interests you.
• Reboard using the app and live tracking.
• Finish with a second bus segment or return to Midtown.

You cannot thoroughly visit every named landmark in one day. The bundle works best when you choose a few priorities instead of treating the route as a checklist.

What the $99 price really buys you

At $99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see New York if you only want Madame Tussauds and one bus ride. The value improves when you use the hop-on hop-off ticket for several sections of the city and make at least a few stops.

The bundle includes Madame Tussauds general admission, the Marvel 4D attraction, and a 24-hour Downtown Loop pass. It also offers a 10 percent saving compared with buying the bundled activities at regular retail pricing, according to the package details.

I would think of the bus ticket as both transport and an orientation tool. New York rides can add up if you are moving between Times Square and lower Manhattan several times. One customer specifically liked being able to hop off at several places rather than paying for multiple rideshares.

Still, the value depends on your pace. If you prefer walking, use the subway, or plan to spend most of the day inside other paid attractions, you may not get full use from the bus. If you want a simple overview with fewer navigation decisions, the price is easier to justify.

Who will enjoy this combination most

This experience suits first-time New York visitors, families, pop culture fans, and small groups who want a mix of photographs and city sightseeing. Madame Tussauds gives you a weather-protected activity, while the open-top bus adds a broad view of Manhattan.

It is also useful for people who want to shape their day as they go. You can take the full 90-minute loop, then decide which areas deserve a closer look. The app helps with route planning and bus locations.

I would be more cautious if you want in-depth guided visits to the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, or 9/11 Memorial. Those places are included as route sights, not full tours. The same applies if you dislike staged celebrity attractions. The wax museum is built around posing and entertainment, not traditional art displays.

The bus is wheelchair accessible, and the audio guide is offered in six languages. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach Times Square or another route stop on your own.

Booking advice and final verdict

I would book this package if I wanted one flexible day with Madame Tussauds plus several downtown stops. Activate the ticket before entering the museum, download the Big Bus app, and decide in advance which two or three neighborhoods matter most to you.

I would skip it if you only want a single ride or if your main goal is to tour the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building from inside. For the right schedule, though, this is a convenient way to combine a playful Times Square attraction with a practical introduction to lower Manhattan.

FAQ

How long is the Big Bus Downtown Loop?

The Downtown Loop takes about 90 minutes when completed as a full circuit.

How often do Big Bus vehicles arrive?

Buses are scheduled to arrive every 10 to 15 minutes along the Downtown Loop.

Which attractions are included?

The package includes Madame Tussauds general admission, the Marvel Superheroes 4D Experience, and a 24-hour Big Bus Downtown Loop ticket.

Are tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building included?

No. The route visits or passes sights such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and the 9/11 Memorial, but admission to those attractions is not included.

How do I activate the ticket?

You can add your booking to the Big Bus app, activate it on the day of use, and show it to a driver. You can also redeem the voucher with Big Bus staff at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, outside M&M’s World, or activate it with a driver at a route stop.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. The bus commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian, while the driver speaks English.