Booking choice: The City Lights night flight, from $330 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Every night helicopter tour of New York leaves from New Jersey. The Downtown Manhattan Heliport closes to sightseeing flights at 5 PM, so after dark the tours fly from Linden Airport and Essex County Airport across the river, and approach the skyline head-on.
Below: which night flights you can book, what you see, when to go, the sunset alternative, and how to get there and back.
The quick answer
Yes, New York night helicopter tours run, but only from New Jersey: the City Lights flight from Linden Airport ($330, 25 to 30 minutes, 4.7 from 664 reviews) and Charm Aviation's night flight from Essex County Airport ($334). Allow about two hours from Midtown to take-off, including the 50-minute check-in.
Can you take a helicopter tour of New York at night?
Yes, but not from Manhattan: tourist flights at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport are allowed only from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Saturday, so every night tour flies from New Jersey.
The rule dates from a 2016 agreement between the city and the tour operators that halved sightseeing flights at the heliport and ended them on Sundays. The heliport, run as Downtown Skyport since April 2025, still lists tourist flights as 10:00 to 17:00 only.
Which night helicopter tours can you book?
Two shared night flights: HeliNY's City Lights Skyline Experience from Linden and Charm Aviation's night tour from Essex County Airport in Fairfield.
| City Lights (HeliNY) | Night flight (Charm) | Sunset Flight (HeliNY) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departs | Linden Airport, NJ | Essex County Airport, Fairfield NJ | Linden Airport, NJ |
| Airtime | 25-30 min | 30 min | 40 min |
| From | $330 | $334 | $444 |
| Rating | 4.7 (664) | 4.9 (20) | 4.9 (12) |
| Getting there | NJ Transit to Linden + free shuttle | About 45 min by taxi | NJ Transit to Linden + free shuttle |
Linden sold out on your date? The Essex County night flight includes its landing and fuel fees.
Explore the Essex County night flightWhat do you see on a night helicopter tour of NYC?
The floodlit Statue of Liberty, the Financial District, the Midtown towers around the Empire State Building, Times Square's glow and, on the longer routes, the George Washington Bridge.
The City Lights flight crosses the harbor to Lady Liberty, then runs up the Hudson past One World Trade Center and Midtown toward the George Washington Bridge, with live pilot narration. Charm's route lists Ellis Island, the Chrysler Building, the Intrepid Museum and Central Park.
What time do night helicopter tours leave?
After dark, which means from about 5 PM in December and after 8:30 PM in late June.
The first slot after sunset gives a deep blue sky with the lights already on, the best light for photos. Later slots are pure black with the lights at full contrast. You choose your departure time when you book.
Want blue hour? Pick the first slot after sunset.
Check dates for the City Lights night flightIs a sunset or a night flight better?
A sunset flight gives you both: it leaves at golden hour and comes back in city lights, and at 40 minutes it is the longest shared flight listed from Linden.
The Sunset Flight costs $444 with gratuities included, against $330 for the night flight. It has far fewer reviews (12) but rates 4.9. For the full day versus night trade-off, see is a helicopter tour worth it.
How long is a night helicopter tour really?
Listed at 25 to 30 minutes, but guests report about 20 minutes in the air on some flights, since the listed time includes taxiing and the approach.
Treat it as a short, intense experience rather than a long cruise. Reviewers still call the views the best of their trip; the ones who were disappointed had expected 30 full minutes over Manhattan.
Short but unforgettable: fees are included, so the price you see is the price you pay.
Check dates for the City Lights night flightHow do you take photos from a helicopter at night?
Wear dark clothes, press the lens close to the glass, use night mode and shoot in bursts.
- Dark clothing stops you reflecting in the window.
- Lens close to the glass kills cabin reflections.
- Night mode and bursts: the helicopter moves, so take several.
- Only a phone, camera and sunglasses go aboard; use a wrist strap.
- Then put the phone down for a minute and just look.
How do you get to a night flight from Manhattan?
Take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Linden (about 30 minutes), then HeliNY's free shuttle on request; leave Midtown about two hours before take-off.
Check-in is 50 minutes before your flight, with photo ID. For Essex County, allow about 45 minutes by taxi from Midtown or take the Lakeland bus from Port Authority. Step by step in the Linden Airport guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do helicopter tours fly at night from Manhattan?
No. The Downtown Manhattan Heliport allows tourist flights only from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Saturday. Night tours leave from Linden or Essex County Airport in New Jersey.
How much is a night helicopter tour in NYC?
From about $330 per person for the City Lights flight and $334 for Charm's night flight, both with fees included. The Sunset Flight is $444.
Do night helicopter tours fly on Sundays?
Yes. The Sunday ban applies only to the Manhattan heliport; the New Jersey operators fly seven days a week.
What happens if the weather is bad on my night?
Operators cancel for low cloud, fog, storms or strong wind and rebook or refund; on Viator you can also cancel free up to 24 hours before.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
City Lights Skyline Experience
- Shared flight with floor-to-ceiling windows
- Live pilot narration, climate-controlled cabin
- Heliport landing, facility and fuel fees included
NYC by Night from Essex County, NJ
A second night operator to compare dates
