Illustration.
Pier 6, Manhattan · Linden and Essex County, NJ · Westchester
New York Manhattan Helicopter Tour
Manhattan's sightseeing helicopters take off from Pier 6, at the heliport renamed Downtown Skyport in 2025. HeliNY's flight from there lasts 12-15, 17-20 or 25-30 minutes, Monday to Saturday; on Sundays it leaves from Linden Airport in New Jersey instead.
Pick a departure
Pier 6, New Jersey or Westchester?
The New York Manhattan helicopter tours on GetYourGuide that we read leave from four places, and for anyone staying in Manhattan the nearest is Pier 6: the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 6 East River Piers, called Downtown Skyport since 2025, a 410 m walk from South Ferry station. HeliNY’s flight from there runs 12-15, 17-20 or 25-30 minutes, Monday to Saturday, from US$272 on promotion, usually US$322 a person (checked November 2026). On a Sunday no tourist flight may leave the pier, and the same calendar offers HeliNY’s flight from Linden, New Jersey. Westchester is for a private flight for two.
NYC: Manhattan Sightseeing Helicopter Tour
HeliNY from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport: three lengths, the pilot narrating through headsets, heliport fees and taxes paid. A short walk from the subway and the ferries.
Check flight dates →From New Jersey: New York City Skyline Tour
HeliNY from Linden Airport: a 25-minute skyline flight, a free shuttle from Linden train station on request. The train or taxi from Manhattan is yours to arrange.
See the flight →From Westchester: NYC Private Helicopter Tour for Couples
Wings Air Helicopters from Westchester County Airport: a Robinson R44 for up to two people, 30 or 45 minutes, transfers from Manhattan as an option, US$35 a person airport fee extra.
See the flight →Ratings, reviews and from-prices from the GetYourGuide listings (checked November 2026). The date, the length and any promotion change what you pay: a snapshot, not a quote.
The four departure points
| Departure point | Flights from there | Days | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Manhattan Heliport (Downtown Skyport), Pier 6 | HeliNY, Charm Aviation, Zip Aviation | Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 17:00 | About 410 m on foot from South Ferry station |
| Linden Airport, New Jersey | HeliNY's skyline flight | Includes Sundays on HeliNY’s calendar | Free shuttle from Linden train station on request |
| Essex County Airport, Fairfield, New Jersey | Charm Aviation's skyline flight | On sale on a Sunday we read | Not included; free parking |
| Westchester County Airport, Harrison, NY | Wings Air Helicopters, private | Not stated | Metro-North to White Plains, then a taxi; or with transfers |
Departure points and days from the GetYourGuide listings and Downtown Skyport’s heliport page, checked November 2026; walking distance routed in November 2026.
New Jersey or Manhattan sets the four side by side with prices.
- 4.8 / 5 7943+ Reviews
- 410 m On foot from South Ferry station to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, routed in November 2026
- Mon-Sat The only days tourist flights may leave the heliport; on Sundays the flights go from New Jersey
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the HeliNY Flight Includes
Heliport fees and taxes, a headset and a locker come with the seat. Transport to the heliport, tips and the souvenir photo do not.
HeliNY's own highlights, inclusions and notes, as listed on GetYourGuide in November 2026.
Highlights
- Feel the unique thrill of helicopter travel as you take a ride over Manhattan
- Discover the best of New York City with narration from a highly-trained pilot
- Enjoy breathtaking views as you gaze down on the Big Apple from the sky
- Experience the beauty of Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Hudson River
- Marvel at the Statue of Liberty, the Intrepid Museum, and more
What's Included
- Helicopter flight
- All heliport fees and taxes
- Noise-canceling Bose headsets
- Lockers
- Live pilot narration
Good to know: Children aged 2 and over are required to have their own seat/pay full-price · Flights departing from NYC at/before 3:30PM require check-in 30 minutes before flight time · Flights departing from NYC after 3:30PM require check-in 45 minutes before flight time · Flight times are approximate and may change slightly · A safety video is available in English, French, German, and Spanish · Final seating is determined by the weights of all passengers in the flight · There are no helicopter flights out of Manhattan on Sundays, flights from New Jersey are available · Tours require a certain number of guests to operate · Not all flights depart from Manhattan, please double check where your flight departs based on the option you choose · HeliNY is Wingman/TOPS certified! · Not suitable for: People over 275 lbs (125 kg) · Not Included: Photos (available for purchase), Transportation, Gratuities
Getting On a Flight at Pier 6
Walk from the ferry or the subway to 6 East River Piers, check in with your ID, get through security, then fly over the rivers and land back at the pier.
Walk to Pier 6
The heliport is at 6 East River Piers: about 410 m on foot from South Ferry station and 460 m from the Staten Island Ferry terminal, routed in November 2026.
Check In with ID
For HeliNY's flight, be there half an hour early for flights up to 3:30 PM and three quarters of an hour early after that, with a passport or ID card. Lockers take what you cannot carry.
Fly Over the Rivers
Tours from this heliport stay over the water, so the city is seen from the Hudson, the East River and the harbor, for 12-15, 17-20 or 25-30 minutes.
Land Back at the Pier
The helicopter returns to the heliport you left from, a short walk from the subway and the ferries.
Photo Gallery
The Skyline from the Rivers
Lower Manhattan's towers from the harbor, the bridges of the East River, the Hudson and the statue in the bay.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
HeliNY's flight from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, Monday to Saturday; choose a Sunday and the calendar switches to its flight from Linden, New Jersey. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Where and When
Planning Where Your Flight Leaves From
The heliport on Pier 6, New Jersey against Manhattan, the private flight from Westchester, doors-off, the best time to fly, and what happens when the weather turns.
Prices are each page's featured tour: GetYourGuide checked November 2026. GetYourGuide and Viator prices are in US dollars; the airport fee on the Westchester flight is charged on top.
Pier 6 Against Three Airports
The Downtown Manhattan Heliport against Linden and Essex County in New Jersey and Westchester County Airport: who flies from each, for how long, on which days and at what price. GetYourGuide figures, with the month they were checked.
| Feature | THIS PAGE Pier 6, Manhattan (HeliNY) | Linden, NJ (HeliNY) | Essex County, NJ (Charm Aviation) | Westchester (Wings Air Helicopters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From US$272 per person (checked November 2026) (the shortest flight from Pier 6, which read US$322.12 for 20 January and 24 March 2027) | From US$355 per person (checked November 2026) | From US$317 per person (checked November 2026) (not seen on our dates: Sunday 29 November 2026 read US$351.94) | From US$995 per group up to 2 (checked November 2026) |
| Departure Point | Downtown Manhattan Heliport (Downtown Skyport), 6 East River Piers | Linden Airport, New Jersey | Essex County Airport, Fairfield, New Jersey | Atlantic Aviation West, 67 Tower Road, Harrison, NY |
| Flight Length | 12-15, 17-20 or 25-30 minutes | 25 minutes | 25-30 minutes | 30 or 45 minutes |
| Shared or Private | Limited to 6 | Limited to 6 | Shared, 6 at most; shared flights need 4 guests | Private, for up to two |
| Sundays | No Manhattan flights; the same listing sells a Linden flight | Not read for this listing | On sale on Sunday 29 November 2026; not on 20 January 2027 | Not stated |
| Getting There | About 410 m on foot from South Ferry station | Free shuttle from Linden train station on request; Manhattan to New Jersey not included | Not included; free parking at the airport | Metro-North to White Plains, then a taxi; or the option with transfers from Manhattan |
| Check-In | 30 minutes before (45 after 3:30 PM) | 50 minutes before | 30 minutes before (45 at 3:30 PM or later) | Not stated |
| Fees | All heliport fees and taxes included | All heliport fees and taxes included | All fees, taxes and fuel surcharges included | A US$35 per-person airport and fuel charge on top |
| Best For | The nearest start for a stay in Manhattan, Monday to Saturday | A 25-minute skyline flight from the Jersey side, with a shuttle from the station | Travellers with a car and free parking | A couple who want the cabin to themselves |
| Check flight dates | See the flight | See the flight | See the flight |
Other Departures and Operators
From Pier 6, New Jersey or Westchester
Other operators flying from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, the New Jersey flights from Linden and Essex County, and HeliNY's flights on Viator.
FROM PIER 6NYC: Sightseeing Helicopter Tour
Leaves from Pier 6 at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport: Charm Aviation's Manhattan, Big Apple and Empire flights of 12-15, 17-20 and 25-30 minutes, the pilot giving live commentary. Fees, taxes and fuel surcharges are paid in the price. Bring photo ID; large bags stay behind.
FROM PIER 6NYC Helicopter Tour: Statue of Liberty & Skyline
Leaves from the Downtown Heliport: Zip Aviation flies 15, 20 or 30 minutes with a recorded commentary in a choice of nine languages; the 30-minute flight goes only with four or more passengers. Lockers cost extra, and a window seat is not promised.
FROM ESSEX COUNTY, NJFrom New Jersey: NYC Skyline Helicopter Tour
Departs from Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey, with free parking: Charm Aviation's 25-30 minute flight towards the Manhattan skyline, live commentary, all fees and fuel surcharges paid in the price. Marked wheelchair accessible.
FROM LINDEN, NJNY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey
Departs from Linden Airport, New Jersey: HeliNY's 25-30 minute skyline flight on Viator, shared, with the heliport fees and fuel surcharge paid and a shuttle from Linden station by request.
PIER 6, ON VIATORNY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights
Departs from Pier 6: HeliNY's Manhattan Highlights flight on Viator, 12-15 minutes, shared, with commentary on board; landing, facility and fuel charges are paid. No hotel pickup.
PIER 6, ON VIATORThe Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York
Departs from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport: Charm Aviation NYC's 12-15 minute flight on Viator with on-board commentary; the US$40 heliport fee and US$5 fuel surcharge are paid in the price for bookings made from 2 March 2026.
Before you go to the pier
The Heliport, the Other Airports and the Days They Fly
Walking to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, the New Jersey and Westchester alternatives, the Sunday rule, the tourist-flight hours and what passengers report from check-in.
Walking to the heliport
The heliport is on the East River side of the island’s southern tip, and it is easiest to reach on foot. By the routes we worked out in November 2026, South Ferry station is about 410 m away and the Staten Island Ferry terminal about 460 m; the NYC Ferry landing at Pier 11 is about 520 m, Bowling Green station about 760 m and the Wall Street station on William Street about 790 m. The distances end at the terminal building, not at a check-in desk.
Transport to the pier is not part of any Manhattan flight carded here, so leave time for the walk on top of check-in: for HeliNY’s flight, half an hour ahead up to a 3:30 PM departure and three quarters of an hour after that, passport or ID card in hand. The Downtown Manhattan Heliport covers check-in, security and bags.
When the heliport is closed to tours
Downtown Skyport, which manages the heliport for the city, allows tourist departures only between 10:00 and 17:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, and none at all on Sundays (heliport information page, rate schedule effective 1 July 2025, checked November 2026). The rule is older than the new name: the city’s 2016 amendment to the heliport concession set no tourist flights on Sundays, and the City Council’s data team lists it still.
So a Sunday flight means New Jersey. On Sunday 29 November 2026, the only option on HeliNY’s calendar was its 25-30 minute flight from Linden Airport, at US$354.93 for one adult and 2:00 PM.
The New Jersey and Westchester airports
The three airports outside Manhattan are not interchangeable. Linden is HeliNY's New Jersey base, with a free shuttle from Linden train station on request. Essex County Airport, in Fairfield, is where Charm Aviation and Zip Aviation fly their New Jersey flights, and Charm Aviation’s comes with free parking. Westchester County Airport, north of the city, is the base for Wings Air Helicopters' private flight; its meeting point is Atlantic Aviation West, 67 Tower Road, Harrison, reached by Metro-North from Grand Central to White Plains and a taxi.
The city’s rules on tourist flights stop at the city line. The Sunday rule applies to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, and so will Local Law 64 of 2025, which from 1 December 2029 keeps helicopters above the FAA’s Stage 3 noise limits off non-essential flights at city-owned heliports (Int. No. 26-A, read November 2026). Neither reaches Linden, Essex County or Westchester.
Doors-off
No New York helicopter flight on GetYourGuide or Viator was sold as doors-off when we read both in November 2026, from Pier 6 or from New Jersey. Doors-off flights explains what the doors-on flights give you instead.
What passengers report from the pier
We read the 350 most recent reviews of HeliNY’s flight in November 2026, and 334 give four or five stars. Most complaints in the rest are about the hour and the seat, not the place. Two who had picked late-afternoon slots were moved, or pressed to move, to an earlier flight. Two sat facing backwards. A guest in a wheelchair, in late October 2026, was not able to board. The best time to fly explains why a booked time is not fixed.
Before you leave for the pier
- Check the day. A Manhattan flight is Monday to Saturday; on a Sunday the calendar shows Linden.
- ID. Bring a passport or photo ID for HeliNY’s flight.
- Time. Add the walk from the subway or ferry to the 30 or 45 minutes of check-in.
- Bags. HeliNY provides lockers; Charm Aviation's flight takes no luggage or large bags.
- Cancelling. Free up to 24 hours before on GetYourGuide; see cancellations and weather.
Fly from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport
HeliNY's sightseeing flight from Pier 6, 12-15 to 25-30 minutes, heliport fees and taxes included; on Sundays, its flight from Linden, New Jersey. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from US$272 per person (the shortest flight from Pier 6, which read US$322.12 for 20 January and 24 March 2027) on promotion, usually US$322, checked November 2026.
Check flight datesStill in New York
More New York Tours with Dates Open
Boat trips, viewing decks and walking tours with open dates; inclusions and cancellation terms show before you pay.
Departure Questions, Answered
Where the flights leave from, the heliport's address and how to walk there, New Jersey or Manhattan, Sundays, doors-off, the best hour and what bad weather does.
The flights we read on GetYourGuide use four: the Downtown Manhattan Heliport on Pier 6, Linden Airport and Essex County Airport in New Jersey, and Westchester County Airport. HeliNY, Charm Aviation and Zip Aviation fly their Manhattan flights from Pier 6; HeliNY's New Jersey flight uses Linden, Charm Aviation's uses Essex County, and Wings Air Helicopters' private flight uses Westchester. See New Jersey or Manhattan.
At 6 East River Piers, New York, NY 10004, on Pier 6 at the southern tip of Manhattan. Since April 2025 it carries the name Downtown Skyport, which is also the name of the joint venture that runs it for the city; flight bookings and maps often still use the old name. See the Downtown Manhattan Heliport.
On foot from the subway or a ferry: South Ferry station is about 410 m away, the Staten Island Ferry terminal about 460 m and the NYC Ferry landing at Pier 11 about 520 m (walking routes worked out in November 2026). Bowling Green and Wall Street stations are both under 800 m. Transport to the pier is not part of HeliNY's flight, so plan the walk into your check-in time.
Manhattan if you are staying in the city and flying Monday to Saturday; New Jersey if you are flying on a Sunday or have a car. HeliNY's Pier 6 flight starts a short walk from the subway, from US$272 (checked November 2026). Its Linden flight is 25 minutes, from US$355, with getting to New Jersey not included. See New Jersey or Manhattan.
No; Sunday flights leave from New Jersey. Downtown Skyport allows no tourist flights on a Sunday (read November 2026). On Sunday 29 November 2026 the only option on HeliNY's calendar was its 25-30 minute flight from Linden Airport, at US$354.93 for one adult.
Not on GetYourGuide or Viator. In the New York helicopter flights we read on both in November 2026, none was sold as doors-off, from Manhattan or from New Jersey. No flight carded on this site is described as doors-off. See doors-off flights.
Any time in the heliport's tourist window, which runs 10:00-17:00 on every day but Sunday (Downtown Skyport, checked November 2026). Charm Aviation runs no dedicated sunset tours, and booking near sunset guarantees neither the view nor the time. The night skyline flights we read all leave from New Jersey. See the best time to fly.
That depends on the booking, and not every one spells it out. Wings Air Helicopters offers another date or a full refund when weather or maintenance cancels a flight; on Charm Aviation's shared flights, too few passengers means an alternative flight or a full refund. Every GetYourGuide flight here can also be cancelled free up to 24 hours before. See cancellations and weather.
Still have questions? Email us at info@newyorkmanhattanhelicoptertour.com