New York Harbor Tours and Tickets

Q: Which boat ride in NYC is free?

There are numerous cruises and boat tours of the New York Harbor—but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to explore, there’s no better bet than the Staten Island Ferry. Free to all riders, the ferry travels between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island and offers spectacular harbor views.

Q: How busy is the New York Harbor?

The New York Harbor is very busy. Not only is it filled with ferries and tour boats of all shapes and sizes, but the combined Port of New York and New Jersey is now the busiest maritime shipping hub in the nation. That means plenty of naval traffic to contend with.

Q: What is the New York Harbor known for?

The New York Harbor is known for being one of the largest natural harbors in the world, and its history has been inextricable from New York City’s since Henry Hudson first sailed here in 1609. Today, the harbor is home to world-famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Q: Which animals live in the New York Harbor?

The New York Harbor is home to oysters, mussels, starfish, and fish species, while migratory marine mammals like humpback whales and harbor seals have been spotted in the harbor. Several aquatic bird species call the New York Harbor home.

Q: Does New York City have a harbor?

Yes, New York City has a harbor. The New York Harbor is located at the point where the Hudson River empties into New York Bay and is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. No trip to the Big Apple is complete without exploring it by boat.

Q: Can you swim in the New York City Harbor?

Although the New York Harbor water is cleaner now than it’s been for 100 years, that still doesn’t mean swimming is recommended. Swimmers would still have to contend with potential pollutants or pathogens, not to mention the heavy maritime traffic. If you wish to swim, head to Queens’ Rockaway Peninsula.

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The Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York

4.3

(1,853)

The Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York

Free Cancellation
12 to 15 minutes

from $282

New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

4.8

(13,329)

New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

Free Cancellation
6 hours

from $99

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour Semi-Private 8ppl Max

5.0

(52)

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour Semi-Private 8ppl Max

Free Cancellation
3 hours

from $158

Price varies by group size

Likely to Sell Out

See It All New York City Walking and Boat Guided Tour

4.9

(138)

See It All New York City Walking and Boat Guided Tour

Free Cancellation
6 hours

from $80

Lower Manhattan Tour: The Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam!

4.9

(94)

Lower Manhattan Tour: The Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam!

Free Cancellation
3 hours 30 minutes

from $39

Statue of Liberty Ellis Island with Pre-Ferry Tour

Save time and avoid waiting in long ticket lines for two of New York City's top attractions—the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island—with this priority access small-group tour. Start your adventure with a guided tour through Battery Park, before you hop aboard the ferry with skip-the-line access. After the scenic cruise across New York Harbor, explore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with an audio guide or upgrade to add a guided tour.

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3.4

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Statue of Liberty Ellis Island with Pre-Ferry Tour

Free Cancellation
4 hours

from $50

New York Harbor Wine and Jazz Sail aboard Clipper City

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(21)

New York Harbor Wine and Jazz Sail aboard Clipper City

Free Cancellation
1 hour 45 minutes

from $151

NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey

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NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey

Free Cancellation
25 to 30 minutes

from $334

Likely to Sell Out

New York Sunset Schooner Cruise on the Hudson River

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New York Sunset Schooner Cruise on the Hudson River

Free Cancellation
2 hours

from $90

City Cruises New York Signature Lunch Cruise

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(206)

City Cruises New York Signature Lunch Cruise

Free Cancellation
2 hours

from $85

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New York City Sunset Sail to the Statue of Liberty

Enjoy New York City views that are only reachable from the water—at the most photogenic time of day— during this sunset sailing cruise aboard a classic schooner. Hop aboard the sailboat for your adventure, where you can admire the views of NYC's skyline, and the buildings of Lower Manhattan. Sail onward toward Ellis Island and Lady Liberty, sip a complimentary drink, and take in the views across the city.

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New York City Sunset Sail to the Statue of Liberty

Free Cancellation
2 hours

from $90

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New York City Sailboat Day Cruise to the Statue of Liberty

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New York City Sailboat Day Cruise to the Statue of Liberty

Free Cancellation
1 hour 45 minutes

from $60

NY Helicopter Tour: Ultimate NYC Sightseeing

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NY Helicopter Tour: Ultimate NYC Sightseeing

Free Cancellation
17 to 20 minutes

from $354

The Dyker Heights Christmas displays are a must-see attraction if you’re in New York City over the holidays. While many tours only focus on the Brooklyn neighborhood, this festive tour also covers holiday attractions in Manhattan, including the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Get into the holiday spirit, with a convenient combination of on-foot exploration and comfortable transportation by bus.

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(270)

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour

Free Cancellation
4 hours

from $95

NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights

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(1,272)

NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights

Free Cancellation
12 to 15 minutes

from $285

New York City Sunset Jazz Sail aboard Clipper City

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(104)

New York City Sunset Jazz Sail aboard Clipper City

Free Cancellation
1 hour 45 minutes

from $120

Statue of Liberty & Pre-Ferry Express Tour

Enjoy a seamless way to discover several of New York's top landmarks—and choose the sightseeing option that works best for you—on this two-in-one trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Enjoy a short pre-ferry tour in Battery Park before using priority ferry tickets to head across New York Harbor to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Once there, explore with an audio guide or a guide, depending on your selection at booking.

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Statue of Liberty & Pre-Ferry Express Tour

Free Cancellation
4 hours

from $50

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Lower Manhattan & 9/11 Memorial Exclusive Guided Walking Tour

Lower Manhattan is home to so many attractions that it can be hard to know where to start. See the neighborhood’s highlights efficiently while learning about its history on a private walking tour. Listen to your guide tell you all about the area’s history-making moments from Dutch colonial settlers to the birth of the New York Stock Exchange. Walk in the shadow of the modern skyscrapers and finish your tour at the 9/11 Memorial.

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Lower Manhattan & 9/11 Memorial Exclusive Guided Walking Tour

Free Cancellation
2 hours 30 minutes

from $52

Price varies by group size

NYC Statue of Liberty Tall Ship Sail aboard Clipper City

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(264)

NYC Statue of Liberty Tall Ship Sail aboard Clipper City

Free Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutes

from $73

Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Pre-Ferry tour

Explore Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty—without the trouble of planning or navigating on your own—with this half-day tour. Start your adventure at Battery Park then board a ferry for a scenic ride ride across New York Harbor. Take your time admiring the Statue of Liberty with an audio tour to fill in the details then take a deep dive into NYC's migration history on Ellis Island.

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3.5

(11)

Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Pre-Ferry tour

Free Cancellation
2 to 4 hours

from $110

Likely to Sell Out

New York Day Sail to the Statue of Liberty on Schooner America

4.8

(65)

New York Day Sail to the Statue of Liberty on Schooner America

Free Cancellation
1 hour 45 minutes

from $60

Likely to Sell Out

Lower Manhattan & 9/11 Memorial Walking Tour Semi-Private 12ppl

With so much to see in Lower Manhattan, travelers could easily spend their vacations buried in a guidebook. Let a private guide unpack this historic stretch of the Big Apple on this small-group walking tour. From Bowling Green to Trinity Church, you can hear the history of the city, learn about the Founding Fathers, and address the tragic events of 9/11—all with a guide to lead the way.

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Lower Manhattan & 9/11 Memorial Walking Tour Semi-Private 12ppl

Free Cancellation
2 hours 30 minutes

from $52

Price varies by group size

Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight

4.4

(1,459)

Manhattan Sky Tour: New York Helicopter Flight

Free Cancellation
12 to 15 minutes

from $299

NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan & Brooklyn

See New York City’s skyline and the many iconic sights of the city from a unique perspective on this shared helicopter flight. Soar over the Manhattan skyline and beyond, including the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and Central Park, to name just a few, plus Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Then continue to see Brooklyn, Staten Island, and more. A variety of departure times are available throughout the day.

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4.8

(359)

NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan & Brooklyn

Free Cancellation
25 to 30 minutes

from $461

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What are people saying about New York Harbor

Circle Line: New York City Statue of Liberty Super Express Cruise

michelle_l, Apr 2026

Clean and organized....

Clean and organized. Great tour guide. Wonderful close view of the statue. On board food and drinks are available.

The Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York

Richie_S, Feb 2026

Charm Aviation was great!...

Charm Aviation was great! low wait time and great flight. nice equipment and very courteous and safety oriented crew members

Circle Line: New York City Statue of Liberty Super Express Cruise

Chi_T, Jan 2026

A quick way to see the...

A quick way to see the statue of Liberty from the harbour and learn some US history along the way. Our guide, Debbie, was very pleasant, knowledgeable and professional. Crew was attentive and ensure safety for all guests. Water can be choppy at times but otherwise smooth ride

New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

Amanda_T, Dec 2025

Great Tour

John was a great Tour kind. He was very attentive and engaging with each person on our tour. He even kept our teenagers interested. The bus was warm and clean. We got to see many of the NYC sights in just a short period of time.

New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

Cari_S, Dec 2025

This was a great tour for...

This was a great tour for someone visiting the city for potentially their only time in life. We got to visit many of the spots we’d seen in movies, online, etc., and it was so nice not having to navigate all of that on our own. The guide, Don, was helpful and knowledgeable, and very much was concerned about the groups safety during our time. I purchased this tour for my mom as her Christmas present, and would highly recommend it to other people visiting the city.

Circle Line: New York City Statue of Liberty Super Express Cruise

Alma_G, Jan 2026

Must do, very friendly, family oriented

The staff were very nice and attentive, safety is a big plus and level of profesionalism from everyone most specially the tour guide , he was knowledgeable and very friendly and that's is something someone from mx/texas appreciates. Made of my trip to New York very memorable. Thank you all. God bless

New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

Laura_V, Dec 2025

Good to see key sites, probably cheaper options available.

A good way to see key places like Times Square and Rockefeller. The bus was convenient and clean and decorated for Christmas which was nice. Our guide was ok, not the greatest as couldn’t always hear her and she walked crazy fast and groups of us kept getting separated. I wouldn’t really say it’s worth the money we paid and there are probably other tours which are cheaper.

New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

Cheryl_F, Nov 2025

NYC taste of the city great tour

We wanted to see so many places in NYC that we haven't seen before. Traveling comfortably in a short bus with LYONEL ass our tour guidde was great. His knowledge and humor made the 6+ hours tour fly by. Detail to safety and continuous checking on everyone's status and comfort was constant. Highly recommend!

New York Harbor

5.0

(22,269)

New York City

Know before you go

People rowing boats through New York Harbor.

The Staten Island Ferry is free, and a 1-way trip lasts around 15 minutes.
Sightseeing cruises typically offer food and beverages for purchase.

New York Harbor Tours and Tickets

34 results

What are people saying about New York Harbor

New York Harbor

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