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

New York’s big sights are spread across a city that can wear out your feet quickly. This package joins a 48-hour hop-on hop-off pass with the Empire State Building and a ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands, giving you a useful first look at Manhattan without planning every street and subway ride yourself.

I like the freedom to split the attractions across two days, and I like having both Downtown and Uptown bus routes at hand. The main caution is timing: the ferry runs only from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the Empire State Building requires an advance time reservation. If those pieces are not booked early, the bundle can lose much of its value.

Key points before you book

• Two days of bus access: Your 48-hour pass begins when you first activate it, not necessarily when you book.
• Two different routes: Downtown and Uptown routes let you cover major sights in separate parts of Manhattan.
• Empire State Building reservation required: You must choose a date and time before boarding the bus.
• Liberty Island ferry included only with the selected option: The ferry also serves Ellis Island, but entry to the Statue of Liberty monument is not included.
• Battery Park departure window: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry operates from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Stop 9.
• Useful app features: Big Bus provides digital commentary, live bus tracking, route information, and multilingual audio.

What this New York package actually gives you

At $135 per person, this is not simply a bus ride. You are paying for three separate parts: the 48-hour Big Bus sightseeing pass, entry to the Empire State Building, and, if selected, a round-trip ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

That combination can be good value if you plan to visit all three attractions. Buying the bundle saves 25 percent off the stated full retail price, and the two-day validity gives you room to spread things out. You are less likely to spend one frantic day racing from Midtown to Lower Manhattan and back.

The pass begins at first activation. You can activate it through the Big Bus app or with staff or a driver. Once activated, it remains valid during operating hours for 48 hours. That makes your first decision important. Activate early on a morning when you can use the bus, rather than late in the day after most sightseeing time has already gone.

The package gives you flexibility, but it does not remove the need for planning. The bus, Empire State Building, and ferry all operate on different schedules. Think of this as a framework for a New York visit, not as one continuous tour with a guide leading you from stop to stop.

Riding the Downtown route from Times Square to Battery Park

The open-top bus is most useful when you want a broad introduction to Manhattan or need to cover ground between major areas. You can board at any designated stop after activating your ticket, then get off when a sight catches your attention.

Times Square is one of the obvious starting points. It is loud, bright, crowded, and hard to ignore. Getting off near Times Square puts you close to Broadway theaters, major shops, and the central Midtown area. It is also near the recommended voucher redemption point outside M&M’s World at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street.

From Midtown, the Downtown route takes you toward some of New York’s best-known sights. The Brooklyn Bridge area is worth your time, even if you do not cross the bridge on foot. You can see the bridge’s great stone towers and get a different view of the city from the Brooklyn side or the waterfront, depending on where you leave the bus.

The route also helps connect Midtown with Lower Manhattan, where the ferry leaves from Battery Park. That connection is practical, but traffic is a real factor. The buses move through dense city streets, and a short distance on the map can take much longer than you expect. Build in spare time before any timed attraction.

At each stop, the bus may pause for several minutes while passengers get on and off. That is normal for a hop-on hop-off service, but it means the bus is not a fast taxi. If you already know exactly where you want to go, the bus may feel slow. If you want an overview and occasional commentary, it can be a pleasant way to get your bearings.

Using the Uptown route for a different side of Manhattan

The Uptown route gives the pass a wider reach. Instead of repeating the Downtown sights, you can use it to see another part of Manhattan and divide your sightseeing by area.

This matters because New York is not one compact sightseeing district. Midtown attractions, Upper Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, and the waterfront each have a different feel and require time to connect. The two routes let you organize your days around geography instead of zigzagging across the island.

The digital commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. English is the driver language. Earbuds are provided, and the Big Bus app adds route information and real-time bus tracking.

The audio system is one area where expectations should stay modest. On a crowded, noisy open-top bus, sound quality can vary. Bring patience, and use the commentary as background rather than the sole reason to take the bus. The value here is the combination of transport, views, and orientation.

You should also expect some buses to fill up at popular stops. If one is full, you may need to wait for the next bus. That can be frustrating when you are working toward a timed Empire State Building entry or a limited ferry window.

Going up the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is the easiest major attraction in this package to fit into a wider Manhattan plan because it sits in Midtown and is close to several bus stops. From the top, you get broad views across the city and can pick out familiar landmarks from above.

The experience is less about a guided visit and more about the view. You ascend the iconic skyscraper, look across Manhattan, and take photographs from above. It is a strong choice early in your visit because it helps you understand how the city is arranged.

You must pre-book a date and time through the Big Bus booking management link on your voucher, or with Big Bus staff at departure locations. Do not treat the Empire State ticket as an open admission. Without a reserved time, you risk having the ticket but no practical way to use it when you want.

I would schedule this on the first or second day, depending on the weather and your other plans. The package permits the attractions to be taken on separate days, so you do not need to force the building and ferry into one exhausting itinerary.

The Empire State Building received mixed enthusiasm in the available feedback. That is fair. The views are the attraction, and the experience may feel less remarkable if you have already visited other tall observation decks. Still, the building’s place in New York’s story and its central location make it a sensible inclusion for a first visit.

Taking the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island

The ferry is the most schedule-sensitive part of the package. It operates from Stop 9 at Battery Park between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. You need to reach Lower Manhattan in time, and you should not assume that a late afternoon bus ride will connect with a ferry departure.

The round-trip boat ride takes you to Liberty Island, where you can see the Statue of Liberty up close and walk around the grounds. You also have access to Ellis Island as part of the ferry route. The trip gives you water views back toward Manhattan, which is one of the best ways to see the city’s skyline from outside the island.

The ferry ticket does not include entry to the Statue of Liberty monument. That distinction matters. You can visit the island and see Lady Liberty at close range, but access inside the monument is a separate matter and is not part of this package.

Ellis Island adds historical weight to the day, but you need enough time to use it properly. If you spend too long on Liberty Island and arrive at Ellis Island late, the schedule can become tight. You may also face a wait for the return ferry, particularly when the island is crowded. Allow extra time rather than planning a precise return to a restaurant or show.

The ferry day can be tiring. You have the ride to Battery Park, security and boarding procedures, time on the islands, and the return trip. I would make this the main event of the day and avoid pairing it with several timed Midtown attractions.

A practical two-day plan

The simplest way to use the pass is to separate the ferry from the Empire State Building.

Day one: Midtown and the Empire State Building

Activate the ticket in the morning, then use the bus for a broad introduction to the city. Spend time around Times Square, ride part of the Uptown route, and return to Midtown for your reserved Empire State Building time.

This day keeps you mostly in the center of Manhattan. You can get off at Times Square and the Empire State Building, then use the bus to connect with other stops instead of walking every block.

Day two: Downtown, Brooklyn Bridge, and the islands

Start early and take the Downtown route toward Battery Park. Board the ferry within its operating window, visit Liberty Island, and continue to Ellis Island if time and energy allow.

After returning to Manhattan, you can walk around Lower Manhattan or use the remaining bus validity to reach the Brooklyn Bridge area. Keep the afternoon flexible. Ferry lines and city traffic make a tightly packed schedule a poor idea.

You can reverse the order, since the package lets you choose which attraction comes first. The important point is to protect the ferry window and reserve the Empire State Building in advance.

Activation, vouchers, and the Big Bus app

You have two ways to activate the pass. The first is through the Big Bus app. Add your booking by entering the booking reference, open the ticket on the day of use, and press Activate before showing it to the driver.

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 any bus stop. The recommended redemption point is the M&M’s World location, but the instructions also allow activation at other stops.

I would use the app if your phone is charged and your booking details are easy to access. The app includes live bus tracking and route information, which can help when traffic changes the timing. If you prefer printed confirmation or need help, use the staff location before boarding.

Be careful with dates and ticket details. An incorrect activation date or printed date can create a serious problem because the attraction providers may direct you back to Big Bus. Check the voucher before setting out, and confirm that the Empire State reservation and ferry option match what you purchased.

Where the $135 price makes sense

The price works best for someone who intends to use every major part of the package. The bus pass gives you two days of sightseeing transport, the Empire State Building adds a paid observation experience, and the ferry covers the basic boat trip to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

The 25 percent bundle saving helps, but value depends on behavior. If you ride the bus only once, skip the ferry, or cannot secure the Empire State time you want, the calculation changes quickly. The pass is not automatically a bargain simply because several products are placed together.

It is also worth counting the value of saved planning time. You do not need to arrange separate transport between the principal sights, and the app can help you follow routes. For a first visit, that convenience may be worth more than it would be for someone who already knows the subway system and prefers to walk.

The package includes a bike rental discount: rent for one hour and receive one hour free. That is a useful extra if you want to add a short ride, but I would treat it as a bonus rather than a reason to book.

The main drawbacks you should plan around

The biggest concern is availability. The Statue of Liberty ferry can become unavailable for the time you need, and the Empire State Building requires pre-booking. Confirm both before you rely on the package.

The bus can also be slow in heavy traffic. It may stop for five to ten minutes at some locations, and a full bus may require you to wait for the next one. That is part of the tradeoff for an open-top sightseeing service.

Audio quality may not be perfect, especially with road noise and a crowded upper deck. The staff and drivers have received positive comments for being friendly, but good service cannot overcome a poor schedule or a missing attraction slot.

The ferry can be crowded, and the return line may take about an hour at busy times. If your main goal is a calm, unhurried island visit, you should plan generously and accept that the day may take longer than the basic route suggests.

The overall rating is 3.7 from 163 ratings, which fits the package’s character: useful when carefully organized, but vulnerable to booking and timing problems.

Who should book this experience

I would consider this package if you are visiting New York for the first time, want the city’s most famous sights, and prefer a ready-made transport option. It also suits families or mixed-age groups who may appreciate the chance to rest between stops rather than walk across Manhattan all day.

It is a good fit for you if you will visit the Empire State Building, want the standard ferry trip, and can commit to using the bus across two days. The multilingual audio and wheelchair-accessible service add practical value.

I would be more cautious if you dislike waiting, want a highly detailed guided tour, or plan to move around mainly by subway and on foot. You may see more at street level that way, and the bus can be slower than expected.

Should you book the Statue of Liberty, Empire State, and bus package?

Book it if you want a simple two-day structure and will reserve the Empire State Building time immediately. Confirm that your chosen package includes the Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, then protect a full morning or afternoon for the island trip.

Skip it if the ferry schedule is already full, if you only have a few hours for sightseeing, or if you prefer complete control over transport. At $135, the bundle earns its keep only when you use the bus, skyscraper, and ferry together.

For the best result, activate early, use the app for live bus tracking, allow extra time for traffic, and do not squeeze Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and several Midtown stops into one narrow schedule.

FAQ

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

The pass is valid for 48 hours during operating hours after you first activate it.

Can I take the attractions on separate days?

Yes. The bus tour, Empire State Building visit, and ferry trip may be taken on separate days.

Is the Statue of Liberty monument entry included?

No. The package includes the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island if that option is selected, but entry to the Statue of Liberty monument is not included.

What time does the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry operate?

The ferry operates from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM from Big Bus 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 Big Bus staff at a departure location.

Where can I activate the ticket?

You can activate it in the Big Bus app, redeem it with staff outside M&M’s World at 7th Avenue and West 48th Street, or redeem it with a driver at any designated stop.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

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

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The hop-on hop-off bus service is wheelchair accessible.