Manhattan Skyline & Statue of Liberty Helicopter Tour New York

The Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor from the air

The Statue of Liberty is the most requested view on any New York helicopter tour. From above you see the copper figure on Liberty Island, the star-shaped walls of the old fort beneath it and the ferries crossing to Ellis Island. The statue was dedicated in 1886, and from the air you understand how the harbour opened into the Atlantic and why the site became a gateway.

The longer flight continues over New York Harbor towards the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Brooklyn and Staten Island. If you are wondering whether a Statue of Liberty helicopter flight is worth it, the answer depends on the length: the short flights give the highlights, and the full flight adds the harbour and the outer boroughs.

Midtown, Lower Manhattan and the Empire State Building

Every Manhattan flight covers the classic skyline. You pass the Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center and the towers of the financial district, then head up the island past the Empire State Building, which opened in 1931 and rises to about 1,450 feet with its antenna. Seeing the grid of streets and the narrow width of the island is a highlight in itself.

The tallest buildings look surprisingly close together from the air, and your headset commentary points out landmarks such as the Chrysler Building and the United Nations. Choose a morning or afternoon flight depending on the sun, since the light on the glass changes with the time of day.

Central Park, Upper Manhattan and the Palisades

Central Park is best appreciated from above. Its 843 acres of lawns, lakes and woods sit like a green rectangle between the buildings of the Upper East and Upper West sides. The 12 to 15-minute flight covers the lower end of the park, and the longer flights go further north, taking in the Manhattan skyline from a new angle.

On the full flight you also see northern Manhattan, the George Washington Bridge, Yankee Stadium and the cliffs of the Palisades on the New Jersey shore. If your question is which helicopter flight to choose in New York, the 25 to 30-minute tour is the one that includes all of these sights.

Choosing your flight and getting to the heliport

The Manhattan flights leave from a heliport on the edge of the island, and the exact location is shown in your voucher. The New Jersey option departs from Linden Airport, which is outside the city, and transport there is not included, so allow extra time if you choose it.

Flights depend on the weather and air-traffic conditions and can be rescheduled. Arrive early for check-in and a safety briefing, and note that passenger weight limits may apply. The option you choose in the booking panel sets the flight time, the departure point and the sights covered.