Guide · Heliports

Helicopter tour over Manhattan: the departure bases

The flight is the same for everyone, the journey to the base is not. A departure from Pier 6 is reachable by subway, while one from New Jersey or Westchester requires train and taxi. Here is every base, with addresses and travel times.

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Editorial team, giroinelicotteronewyork.comUpdated on October 17, 20267 min read20 sources

The tour of this guide Helicopter tour over Manhattan 4.8 (7,321 reviews) 15-30 minMaximum 6 passengersFrom Manhattan or from New Jersey from$273per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

In short

01To Manhattan: The Downtown Manhattan Heliport is at Pier 6, a 5-minute walk from South Ferry subway station.¹ ²
02In New Jersey: HeliNY also flies from Linden; other flights depart from Essex County Airport.³
03To the north: To Westchester you take Metro-North in 35 minutes plus 15 minutes by taxi.
04Open doors: FlyNYON departs from its terminal in Kearny, New Jersey.⁴
05Sunday: From Manhattan you do not fly on Sunday, from New Jersey you do.

One city, many bases

A helicopter tour over Manhattan can depart from very different locations, and the choice of base matters as much as the choice of flight for the day. In Manhattan there is the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, at the southern tip of the island. Outside the city there are New Jersey bases such as Linden, Kearny, and Essex County Airport, and to the north there is Westchester County Airport. Each one has its own flights, its own schedules, and a different journey to reach it.

This site's flight, the HeliNY Manhattan sightseeing tour, offers options departing from Manhattan and an option from New Jersey. HeliNY lists two bases: the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and Linden Municipal Airport in New Jersey.³ The listing warns that not all flights depart from Manhattan and that the departure point depends on the option you book. Before you pay, always check where the option you are choosing actually takes off.

Regardless of the base, the sightseeing flight follows the water. HeliNY explains that city rules do not allow flying over New York and that all its tours remain over the Hudson River and the harbor.⁵ Departing from New Jersey or Westchester does not change this rule: it only changes the first part of the flight and the perspective from which you approach the skyline. From Pier 6 you are right on the harbor right away, while from the outer bases you first cross a stretch of river or suburbs.

From Times Square to Pier 6

How to get to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport

Departure

Times Square

Allow about 30 minutes by subway or taxi, more after 4:00 PM.⁶
By subway

Line 1 to South Ferry

South Ferry is the terminal for Line 1 going south.²
On foot

To the heliport

It is only a 5-minute walk from the station to the heliport.²
At the desk

Check-in

30 minutes before, or 45 minutes for flights after 3:30 PM.
Before the flight

Safety video

The video is in English, French, German, and Spanish.

The Downtown Manhattan Heliport, at Pier 6

The Downtown Manhattan Heliport is at Pier 6 on the East River, at the southern tip of Manhattan.¹ It is the most convenient base for those sleeping in the city: South Ferry station, the terminal for the 1 subway line, is a 5-minute walk.² From Times Square, HeliNY calculates about 30 minutes by subway or taxi, longer after 4:00 PM due to rush-hour traffic.⁶ If you arrive early, the waterfront around the heliport offers a nice view of the harbor.

Several operators depart from here. The Statue of Liberty and skyline flight departs from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, with check-in starting 45 minutes before departure. Zip Aviation is based at the same heliport and offers its tours in nine languages, including Italian.⁷ On another flight from Pier 6 a photo ID is required and everyone goes through security before entering.

The heliport has its own rules. From September 1, 2025, it requires all operators to pass an annual third-party safety audit.¹ ⁸ HeliNY hours here are Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:30.⁹ On Sundays there are no flights from Manhattan, while departures do run from New Jersey. If your schedule only includes the weekend, check carefully which day the flight falls on before confirming.

The bases

The heliports compared

Base	Where	How you get there	Time from Manhattan
Downtown Manhattan Heliport	Pier 6, East River	Subway Line 1 to South Ferry	30 min from Times Square
Linden Airport	Linden, New Jersey	NJ Transit and van	Not indicated
FlyNYON Terminal	Kearny, New Jersey	PATH or NJ Transit and taxi	Not indicated
Essex County Airport	Fairfield, New Jersey	NJ Transit and taxi	35-60 min
Westchester County Airport	Harrison, New York	Metro-North and taxi	35 min by train plus 15 by taxi

Addresses and travel times from operators and GetYourGuide listings; where the source does not provide a time we do not indicate.¹ ² ⁶ ³ ¹⁰ ⁴

Three departures

Manhattan, New Jersey or Westchester

NYC: Manhattan Sightseeing Helicopter Tour

Easy by subway

From Pier 6

Downtown Manhattan Heliport

Price: from $273
In the air: 15-30 min
How you get there: subway line 1

See dates

Out of town

From New Jersey

Essex County Airport

Price: from $315
In the air: 25 min
From Manhattan: 35-60 min

See dates

More time in the air

From Westchester

Atlantic Aviation West

Price: from $395
In the air: 30-45 min
How you get there: Metro-North and taxi

See dates

Which base

Where to depart, based on your trip

Think about where you are staying, when you want to fly, and how much time you have.

I am staying in Manhattan and have little time I want to fly on Sunday I am looking for an evening flight I want open doors A private flight in peace and quiet

Downtown Manhattan Heliport

A 5-minute walk from South Ferry station.²

New Jersey

There are no Sunday flights from Manhattan, but there are from New Jersey.

Linden

HeliNY offers night flights from the Linden base.¹¹

Kearny

That is where the FlyNYON terminal is, at 78 John Miller Way.⁴

Westchester

The private flight for couples departs from here, lasting 30 to 45 minutes.

We are a 5-minute walk from South Ferry subway station, which is the last stop on line 1 heading Downtown.

HeliNYtranslation from the original English · Source 2

Linden, HeliNY's base in New Jersey

HeliNY's second base is Linden Municipal Airport in New Jersey.³ Night flights by the operator also depart from here.¹¹ Hours at Linden are Friday to Monday from 18:00 to 21:00, Sunday from 16:00 to 21:00.⁹ This makes it the base for those who want to fly in the evening or only have Sunday free, when there are no flights from Manhattan. For those staying in Manhattan it means a longer journey, but also more choice of times.

The skyline flight from Linden lasts 25 to 30 minutes, with views from the New York harbor to the northern tip of Manhattan, and check-in is 50 minutes before departure.¹² To get there, a shuttle van takes passengers from Linden NJ Transit station to the airport.¹⁰ On an autumn flight from the same base, the listing offers a free shuttle from the station on request. Also factor in the train time from Manhattan to Linden station before the shuttle.

The advantage of Linden is the perspective: you see the skyline approach from afar, like a wall of skyscrapers beyond the harbor. The trade-off is time: between train, shuttle, and check-in, the evening starts early. If you are sleeping in Manhattan, plan your return before you set out: by the end of the flight it is already evening, and it is worth knowing in advance which train to take. A good idea is to have dinner after the flight, either in New Jersey or once you are back in the city.

Map

Departure points and landmarks to recognize

Sightseeing flights follow the rivers and the harbor; the bases are one in Manhattan and the others outside the city, in New Jersey and to the north.

Map of Manhattan and the harbor with Downtown Manhattan Heliport, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, One World Trade Center, Empire State Building, Intrepid Museum, Central Park and George Washington Bridge — Manhattan and the harbor

Map of the New York area with Downtown Manhattan Heliport, Linden Airport, the FlyNYON terminal in Kearny, Essex County Airport and Westchester County Airport — Bases outside Manhattan

1
Downtown Manhattan Heliport
At Pier 6 on the East River, a 5-minute walk from the South Ferry subway station on Line 1.¹ ²
In Google Maps ↗
2
Statue of Liberty
Measures 92.99 m from the ground to the tip of the torch; HeliNY helicopters remain at least half a mile from Liberty Island.¹³ ¹⁴
In Google Maps ↗
3
Ellis Island
The island next to the Statue, among the places the tour listing names to see from the air.
In Google Maps ↗
4
One World Trade Center
The glass tower on the southern tip of Manhattan, a few blocks from the heliport.
In Google Maps ↗
5
Empire State Building
443 m high with spire and antenna; HeliNY flights show it while staying over the Hudson River.¹⁵ ⁵
In Google Maps ↗
6
Intrepid Museum
The museum aircraft carrier on the west side of Midtown, named in the tour listing.
In Google Maps ↗
7
Central Park
The green lung in the middle of Manhattan; the HeliNY New Yorker Tour goes as far as here.¹⁶
In Google Maps ↗
8
George Washington Bridge
The bridge over the Hudson at the top of the island, where the HeliNY Ultimate Tour arrives.¹⁷
In Google Maps ↗
9
Linden Airport
HeliNY base in New Jersey, from which night flights also depart.³ ¹¹
In Google Maps ↗
10
FlyNYON, Kearny
FlyNYON open-door terminal at 78 John Miller Way.⁴
In Google Maps ↗
11
Essex County Airport
In Fairfield, New Jersey: 35 to 60 minutes from Manhattan, depending on traffic.
In Google Maps ↗
12
Westchester County Airport
North of the city: Metro-North train 35 minutes from Grand Central to White Plains, then 15 minutes by taxi.
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Before you go

Getting to the base with ease

Things to check

The exact base address in the confirmation
The check-in time, which varies by base
That the Manhattan flight does not fall on a Sunday

To arrange

Subway, train or taxi, round trip
A photo ID
Margin for traffic and security checks

Calculator

The flight for the group, base by base

Compare the total for your group from three different bases.

From Pier 6 or Linden15-30 minfrom $273 From Essex County25 minfrom $315 From Westchester30-45 minfrom $395

People 2

Total from$545

per person from $273

Check availabilityfree cancellation

"From" prices according to GetYourGuide, converted at the reference ECB rate. The exact price is shown at the time of booking.

Video

Takeoffs and landings at Downtown Manhattan Heliport

The video loads only when you press play.

Kearny and Essex County Airport

In Kearny, New Jersey, there is the FlyNYON terminal, the operator of open-door flights, at 78 John Miller Way.⁴ By public transport you take the PATH train to Journal Square in Jersey City, or NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station, and then a taxi to the hangar.⁴ FlyNYON asks you to arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before the flight, so plan your time carefully.¹⁸ For that flight you need well-laced shoes or shoes with a strap: no sandals or slip-ons.¹⁹

Further west is Essex County Airport in Fairfield. A skyline flight departs from here, about 35 to 60 minutes from Manhattan depending on traffic, and costs from $315 for 25 minutes in the air. An evening flight also departs from this base: by public transport you take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Little Falls or Wayne Route 23, then a 10 to 15 minute taxi, about 60 to 75 minutes in total. Those with a rental car get there faster, but they have to contend with traffic leaving the city.

The New Jersey bases have a concrete advantage: on Sundays you can fly from New Jersey, but not from Manhattan. They also have a hidden cost, the journey. Before choosing a flight from here, add the train, taxi, and time to the ticket price: for a family the taxi alone can change the cost of the day. For a large group, a rental car or a shared taxi can make the bill lighter.

Westchester, the northern gateway

North of the city is Westchester County Airport. Flights depart from Atlantic Aviation West, at 67 Tower Road, in Harrison. From Grand Central the Metro-North train reaches White Plains in 35 minutes on the express, then just 15 minutes by taxi; those arriving by car find free parking. It is the base for private flights and those for small groups. The journey is long but straightforward, and by train you avoid highway traffic leaving New York.

From here depart the private flight for couples, from $995, and a shared flight from $395, both lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Watch out for the short option: from Westchester the 30-minute option does not reach Lower Manhattan or the Statue of Liberty. If the Statue is the reason for your flight, choose the long option or a departure from Manhattan. Read the option description calmly: it is the detail that decides what you will see from the window.

On private flights from Westchester you can add a round-trip transfer from any point in Manhattan, for an additional cost. For private charters there is also a special rule: they must depart from and arrive at different heliports, to be confirmed with the operator before the flight. Westchester is also the base for the piloting experience, which takes place outside New York airspace.

How to choose the right base

If you are staying in Manhattan and have little time, choose Pier 6: subway, check-in, flight, and you are back exploring the city in no time. The HeliNY flight on this site departs from $273 and has options from Manhattan of 12 to 15, 17 to 20, or 25 to 30 minutes. For a first time in New York it is the simplest choice. If it is your first flight, Pier 6 also leaves you most of the afternoon free for the rest of your itinerary.

If you want to fly in the evening or on Sunday, look to New Jersey. Linden is HeliNY's evening base, Essex County Airport has skyline flights, and Kearny is home to the open-door flights.¹¹ ⁴ Factor in the journey: for a flight from Essex County Airport by public transport it takes about 60 to 75 minutes between train and taxi. The journey is part of the experience: a sunset train ride along the river can be a beautiful preamble to the flight.

If you are looking for a private flight or a quiet day outside the city, Westchester is the right gateway. Whichever base you choose, check the exact address and check-in time in your confirmation: these are the two details that let you arrive relaxed. And remember HeliNY's advice: book the flight around your schedule, because the weather is unpredictable.²⁰ A well-chosen base lets you arrive rested and with a clear head to enjoy the view.

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Manhattan awaits you, seen from above

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You ask,we answer.

Where is the Downtown Manhattan Heliport?

At Pier 6 on the East River. It is at the southern tip of Manhattan, a 5-minute walk from South Ferry station on the 1 line.¹ ²

Where does HeliNY's flight depart from?

From Manhattan or from New Jersey. HeliNY flies from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and Linden; the departure point depends on the option booked.³

How long does it take from Times Square to the heliport?

About 30 minutes. By subway or taxi; after 4:00 PM rush-hour traffic adds time.⁶

Do flights depart from Manhattan on Sunday?

No, only from New Jersey. There are no flights from Manhattan on Sundays, while flights do run from New Jersey.

How do I get to Westchester?

Metro-North and taxi. From Grand Central to White Plains 35 minutes on the express, then 15 minutes by taxi to Atlantic Aviation West.

Where do the open-door flights depart from?

From Kearny, New Jersey. The FlyNYON terminal is at 78 John Miller Way; you get there by PATH or NJ Transit and then a taxi.⁴

How early do I need to arrive at the base?

It depends on the base and the time. On the HeliNY flight from New York 30 minutes before, 45 after 3:30 PM; from Linden 50 minutes.¹²

Sources