TopView FAQ: Answers About Our Bus Tickets, Tour Packages, and More | See NYC for Less!

Frequently Asked Questions

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TopView Sightseeing Bus Tour Information icon
TopView Sightseeing Bus Tour Information
Clearly, the answer to this one is TopView tours! Let’s cruise NYC in style: Book with us today!
No. Smoking and drinking are not allowed for your safety and that of other passengers and staff.
Downtown tours run every 20-25 minutes daily 8:00am-6:00pm, and Uptown tours run every hour daily 10:00am-4:00pm. We also provide service announcements on our app in case of schedule changes.
There is not a generic schedule because all of the buses are tour-specific and subject to seasonal change. To see specific tour schedules, check out our different routes.
Yes! We’ll pass the most iconic NYC attractions: If you want to visit some of them, just hop off at the nearest stop during our hop-on hop-off bus tours.
A Downtown tour takes 2.5 hours on average, and an Uptown tour takes 2 hours on average, assuming that you stay on the bus throughout.
Hours of operation means the hours during which our buses run daily. Ticket duration is the time period in which you can use your ticket. Ticket duration ranges from same-day to up to 5 days.
For wheelchair accommodation, we strongly suggest contacting our office one day prior to your tour.
No. All of the buses run on a set schedule, which is adjusted seasonally.
If there are any service changes, we’ll inform our customers by posting service alerts on our Maps & Routes page.
When you take a hop-on hop-off tour, you’re in control of your touring experience: The tour length depends on how long you want to linger at a stop.
Our hop-on hop-off bus tours conveniently stop at the locations near the famous NYC attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Grand Central Station. Take a look at our route maps for full lists of stops.
On our the current schedule, our first tour (the Downtown Tour) starts at 8 am and our last hop-on hop-off bus stops at 6 pm. Our last tour of the day, the Night Tour, which is a nonstop tour, ends at 10 pm in winter and 12 am in summer. Please note that this schedule is subject to change; the latest information can always be found on our routes page.
Our double-decker buses run just fine in wet weather, and on rainy days, we offer complimentary ponchos as well as seating on the lower level. In winter, we cover our buses with a transparent cover, which keeps you away from the cold.
Not yet, but you will soon! Please follow us on social media to get the latest updates. Meanwhile, let’s cruise NYC together! We’d love for you to join on us on a tour of the Big Apple.
A pass for an individual double-decker tour gives you access to just that tour, but if you purchase our All City Pass NYC, a two-, three-, or five-day tour package, you’ll also get a Liberty Cruise, a two-hour bike rental (with purchase), and admission to the Museum of the City of New York.
Our Liberty Cruise doesn’t dock at Liberty Island, but we pass right in front of it at a distance that’s perfect for taking great pictures without being too close to actually take it all in.
Our buses are red and royal blue with the TopView Sightseeing logo. Though some of our buses might have advertisements from our partners on them, the front of the bus will always be red with the TopView logo.
No; we only stop at designated stops, which you can see on our routes page.
Our Downtown Tour and Uptown Tour are available in 11 languages: English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Hebrew. Our Brooklyn and Night tours are only available in English.
Each stop has a nearby landmark to help you find it, whether it’s an eye-catching storefront or a specific street corner.
Our New York tourist information center is open from 8 am to 7 pm, seven days a week, to assist you. Our double-decker buses run seven days a week on a tour-specific and seasonal schedule.
Nonstop tours will indicate where they start and stop on our map. For hop-on hop-off bus tours, you can start at any of the bus stops along the route.
It means you can hop off of our double-decker bus at any designated stop, take pictures, buy souvenirs, go inside nearby attractions, or even have a coffee, and then go back to the bus stop and hop on the next TopView bus that comes along.
No; currently, our Downtown and Uptown tours are hop-on hop-off tours. The Brooklyn, and Night tours are nonstop tours.
Liberty Cruise routes start at Pier 36 (299 South St, NY, NY). It’s easily accessible if you are also taking the Downtown Tour - simply hop off at the nearby bus stop and take a short walk.
We recommend you to board from Stop 17- Times Square North.
Yes. Strollers are allowed as long as they are folded and not blocking the walkway.
Yes. Our NYC bus tours conveniently stop at the location near the famous New York attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and One World Trade Center. Take a look at our route maps for full lists of stops. For Night and Brooklyn tours, our buses are a full length run along the route without any stops.
Yes. It's definitely possible to bring your baby along for the bus ride. We recommend you have your baby seated on your lap for safety reasons.
Yes. You can stay on the bus for the whole duration of a loop.
Yes. You are allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages on the bus.
Yes. We have a GPS narrated audio tour guide provided on every seat. Our Downtown tour and Uptown tour are available in 11 languages: English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Hebrew. Our Night and Brooklyn tours are only available in English.
How to Buy Bus Tickets in NYC: Purchase and Pickup icon
How to Buy Bus Tickets in NYC: Purchase and Pickup
Yes: Compared to buying the tickets offline, you can save up to 47% if you purchase online.
It is never too early to organize your trip; therefore, we recommend that you book as early as possible.
No. Reservation is required before boarding. Please present your reservation confirmation, digital or print, to board the cruise.
No, but your tickets can be used up to 12 months after the date of purchase.
You can select from 2 options at time of purchase:
1) Specific Start Date - the pass is activated on your selected start date or time of purchase (if selected start date is the same day as purchase).
2) Flexible Start Date - the pass is activated when your tickets are scanned by our staff.
No: The specified time range cannot be split over several days.
You will get to a confirmation page with your authorization number when you complete your purchase. If you don’t receive the confirmation email, just print the order confirmation page, or call our customer service number and we’ll find your order record by the last four digits of your credit card number. Then, you can exchange your online booking confirmation for tickets as normal.
For online bookings, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
No Printed tickets needed anymore! Search "TopView Sightseeing" on your app store to get our app. Download tickets onto your mobile device and you are good to go!
Children 3 and under are free. Child tickets are available for kids ages 4 to 12. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
No. To board TopView buses, please use our mobile app to download tickets onto your device.
Partnerships and Advertising icon
Partnerships and Advertising
Yes! Please contact our marketing department at marketing@topviewnyc.com.
Please contact our marketing department at marketing@topviewnyc.com.
Please contact our marketing department at marketing@topviewnyc.com.
Groups and Charters icon
Groups and Charters
A charter is a temporary lease of our vehicle and driver. When a group wants to have a customized trip with their own tour guide, a charter is a good option, as it is a very economical way to travel as a group. The pricing depends on the route, the group size, and the date and time requested. To get a quote for your charter, please submit a request using our Groups & Charters form, found in the footer of this page, for a free quote with no obligation.
Clean, modern, and carefully maintained double-decker buses are available for charter.
Our experienced and professional drivers! Every driver has been specially trained, and all of them satisfy safety criteria such as medical reviews, background checks, driving record checks, extensive training, and drug and alcohol testing.
For groups larger than 25 people, please contact us at (212) 664-0300 or use our Groups & Charters form (see the footer of this page) to request a free quote with no obligation.
Courtesy hotel pickups are available for charter groups of 25 or more. Please call us at (212) 664-0300 to prearrange pickup.
Unfortunately, student discounts are not available for individuals at the moment. For school groups, please inquire about our preferred rates by emailing groups@topviewnyc.com or submit a request using our Groups & Charters form (see the footer of this page).
Please contact us at customerservice@topviewnyc.com for more information.
TopView Sightseeing offers a 10% discount to groups of 10 or more. Please contact us at groups@topviewnyc.com to coordinate group services.
Planning Your Trip icon
Planning Your Trip
The clothing you pack should depend on the season: Definitely check the weather before you leave. NYC is very hot in summer and very cold in winter. In between, you’ll want to bring layers. It’s also a good idea to bring a reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, and a bag or wallet that deters pickpockets. Cellphone chargers and snacks are a good idea. Avoid large backpacks, ungainly umbrellas, and anything else that will get in the way on crowded streets.
The options are endless! TopView will make sure you visit all of the most iconic sights and attractions, but in your free time, you should definitely consider taking in a Broadway show, sampling the fine dining, exploring famous museums, and seeking out unique shopping.
You can find an NYC visitor information center at several locations throughout the city, including Times Square, Herald Square, Chinatown, and City Hall.
Yes. We recommend you to reserve your seat 2 days in advance.
Tea Around Town icon
Tea Around Town
The Tea Around Town is a unique afternoon tea NYC experience aboard a double-decker bus in New York. We have transformed a traditional afternoon tea in NYC complete with tables set for two and four people, pink-and-white striped seats, gilded place settings and floral garlands throughout. You will enjoy exquisite teas and three tiers of scones with the requisite clotted cream and jam with scones, finger sandwiches, and sweet treats, while exploring iconic NYC landmarks above the crowd, including the Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Central Park and much more. With a glass roof offering a wide field of view, and a bright, floral interior that puts Wonderland to shame, you’ll experience afternoon tea, NYC style, at its classiest.
Your tickets can be purchased on our website. Purchasing through our own website will allow you to get the best prices.
The whole experience is 90 minutes, please arrive 15 minutes early for boarding. Our double deck bus will take you on a 75-minute tour of midtown Manhattan, which includes all the iconic sights of New York City.
Tea Around Town NYC bus tours operate 7 days a week with multiple departures times per day. During periods of higher demand, our tours may run more frequently.
Unfortunately, no. Children must be 3 or older to join the Tea Around Town bus NYC tour.
Yes, tickets are required for children 3 and older. Children must be 3 or older to join the Tea Around Town.
Yes! The minimum purchase for Tea Around Town tickets is two.
For both admissions, you will be seated at a private table and served with a standard menu. For the premium admission, you will also get priority boarding, a premium enhanced menu and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.
Yes! Our staff works diligently about cleaning to make sure that the restroom is clean.
Yes! Strollers are allowed as long as they are folded and not blocking the walkway.

This page was edited by Steven Thomas