New York by Night Guided Bus Tour with Skyline Photo Stops

Midtown and Times Square at night

The tour begins in Midtown, a few blocks from Times Square, and heads to Columbus Circle before turning down Fifth Avenue. You pass Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral glowing in the evening light, then Times Square, where giant screens and billboards turn the night into daylight.

Times Square is named after the New York Times, whose offices once stood here, and it is best seen at night. Many visitors ask whether it is worth seeing New York at night on a bus, and this stretch is a good reason: you see the brightest part of the city from a comfortable seat without the crowds.

The Empire State Building, Greenwich Village, SoHo and Chinatown

Next comes the Empire State Building, which opened in 1931 and is lit in different colours on different nights. It makes an excellent backdrop for photos, especially when you see it glowing above the streets of Midtown. The bus then runs south through Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown, showing how each neighbourhood has its own character.

Your guide explains the history and the stories behind the districts and their buildings, from cast-iron warehouses to tenements. Because the bus is closed-top and comfortable, you can enjoy the lights in any weather and hear the guide clearly.

The Manhattan Bridge and DUMBO

The route crosses the Manhattan Bridge, with a stunning view of the skyline of Lower Manhattan, then stops in DUMBO, in Brooklyn, for a photo stop. DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and it is one of Brooklyn's most picturesque corners, with cobbled streets and views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline across the East River.

The photo stop is the highlight for many passengers, since you can step off the bus and take pictures of the bridge and the city lights. Bring a phone or camera that works well in low light, and stay warm, as the waterfront is windy.

Hudson Yards, the Vessel and the Edge

Back in Manhattan, the tour continues north along the west side of the island to Hudson Yards, the newest district of the city. You pass the Vessel, a honeycomb-shaped structure of stairways, and the Edge observation deck, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, both lit at night.

The tour ends where it began, on 8th Avenue in Midtown, completing a full circle around the lights of Manhattan. The route and stops can vary with traffic and events. All passengers must be able to climb three steps to board the bus, and smoking and flash photography are not allowed.