Covers the big American cities at night: monuments, skylines, night buses and how to get back to the hotel.
Updated
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New York doesn't really go dark. It goes lit.
That makes it an odd city for night tours. Times Square is lit all night, the subway never stops, and you can see a lot of what a night bus shows you from the sidewalk for free. So the tours that score well here are the ones that put you somewhere you wouldn't get to alone: out on the harbor at sunset, inside an unmarked bar, on a Village side street with somebody who knows which house had the murder.
Our top tour only runs in December, more or less.
That's the Dyker Heights holiday lights trip to Brooklyn, and if you're here between late November and late December it's the one to book. The rest of the year, look at the speakeasy walk, the ghost walks and the cheap sunset cruise from Pier 79. We ranked ten on the Night Score, and the big-name buses and the Circle Line come in toward the bottom because their ratings are softer than their fame.
At a glance
Best overall (in season)
Dyker Heights holiday lights bus, late November to late December
Best year-round
Speakeasy and Prohibition walk, $40 (€36), 21+
Best for ghosts
Greenwich Village walks: Top Dog at 8:00 p.m. or Haunted Manhattan at 7:30 p.m.
Cheapest good one
NY Waterway Golden Hour Cruise, $38 (€34)
Skip
The open-top night bus if you want a live guide: many reviews report recorded audio
When it gets dark
6:44 p.m. in October, 5:00 p.m. in December
On this page
The 10 best night tours in New York City, ranked
Every tour we scored in New York City that cleared our bar (rated 4.4 or more from 50+ reviews), in Night Score order. Night Score = 30% rating, 10% review count, 20% price per hour, 40% how much the night is the point. How we score
Holiday season only (roughly late November to late December); the page lists no dates
Number one, with a big asterisk: holiday season only, roughly late November to late December, and the page lists no dates. The house displays in Dyker Heights only exist lit up at night, so it scores top marks on the after-dark factor, and $63 (€56) for four hours is good value. Its 4.6 from 2,449 reviews is decent rather than glowing. Buses can't enter the neighborhood, so plan on about an hour on foot on narrow streets. Leaves from 10th Avenue at 41st Street, with a Bryant Park stop.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%3.5
Review countData · 10%8.9
Price per hourData · 20%8.9
After darkEditors · 40%8.0
What it is: Scatto a New York's bus tour from Manhattan to Brooklyn's Dyker Heights, with a guided walk past the Christmas light displays and a stop at Bryant Park.
Good to know: Buses cannot enter Dyker Heights, so expect about an hour on foot on narrow streets; runs rain or shine. Children up to 3 ride free on a lap.
After dark: The over-the-top house displays only exist lit up after dark in the holiday season.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on GetYourGuide on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
NYC: Speakeasy Drinks and Prohibition History Tour
Pub crawls and bar tours
6.9/10Night Score
From $40 (€36)
3 hours
Starts: Evening (times shown at booking)
Large group, 21+
4.8 (580 reviews)
Tied on score with the top spot, and the best thing on this list you can do in March. Three Midtown speakeasies in three hours for $40 (€36), with preferred entry, which is the value factor at work. Rated 4.8 from 580. The catch is the bar tab: drinks aren't included and the page quotes $10 to $14 (€8.90 to €12.50) for beer and $18 to $25 (€16.10 to €22) for wine or cocktails. 21+ with photo ID (passport if you're not American), and no sandals or sleeveless shirts.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%6.2
Review countData · 10%6.7
Price per hourData · 20%9.6
After darkEditors · 40%6.0
What it is: NiteTables Experiences' three-hour walk to three Midtown speakeasies with Prohibition storytelling and preferred entry.
Good to know: 21+ with photo ID (passport for non-US visitors). Drinks are not included: the page quotes about $10 to $14 for beer and $18 to $25 for wine or cocktails. Smart dress code, no sandals or sleeveless shirts.
After dark: Hidden bars are a night-time thing, and getting in with a guide beats queueing at a door with no sign.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on GetYourGuide on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
A 5.0 from 200 reviews, and at $35 (€31) one of the cheapest tours here. Empire Tours starts on Mulberry Street and walks two hours through Little Italy to Washington Square, mob history first and ghosts second. It scores lower on after-dark than the pure ghost walks because the gangster half works in daylight too. The real catch: the page lists no start times. One reviewer mentions 8:00 p.m. Confirm you've got an evening slot before paying. Groups can reach 25.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%7.0
Review countData · 10%5.1
Price per hourData · 20%8.5
After darkEditors · 40%6.0
What it is: Empire Tours' two-hour walk from Mulberry Street through Little Italy to Washington Square, mixing gangster history and hauntings.
Good to know: Up to 25; family friendly. Merchant's House Museum entry not included. The page does not list start times, so confirm an evening slot.
After dark: Mob history and ghost stories from Little Italy to the Village land better in the evening, when the old streets go quiet.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
The cheapest good boat in town. NY Waterway's two-hour sunset cruise past the Statue of Liberty costs $38 (€34), beats the Circle Line on price and rates 4.8 from 628 reviews. It's timed for golden hour into dusk, so it sits a notch lower on our after-dark factor than the full night cruises. There's a free bus to Pier 79. The boat won't wait, so board 20 minutes early. It doesn't land on Liberty Island.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%6.2
Review countData · 10%6.9
Price per hourData · 20%8.2
After darkEditors · 40%6.0
What it is: NY Waterway's two-hour sunset sightseeing cruise around the Statue of Liberty with live guides, from Pier 79.
Good to know: Free bus to and from the pier; food and drinks extra. The boat does not land on Liberty Island and will not wait for latecomers (board 20 minutes early). Cheaper than the Circle Line evening cruise.
After dark: Sailing through golden hour into dusk gives the harbor and skyline their best light of the day.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on GetYourGuide on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
A proper night walk: 8:00 p.m. from the Waverly Restaurant on Sixth Avenue, two hours of hauntings ending at the Hess Triangle. Top Dog Tours includes the tip in the $39 (€35) price. The 4.7 rating from 512 reviews is what keeps it fifth. Groups go up to 25. Under-18s need an adult over 21, and anyone drunk gets removed without a refund, which tells you something about Village nights. Rain or shine.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%4.6
Review countData · 10%6.6
Price per hourData · 20%8.1
After darkEditors · 40%7.0
What it is: Top Dog Tours' late-night ghost walk through Greenwich Village, from Sixth Avenue and Waverly Place to the Hess Triangle.
Good to know: Up to 25; gratuities included. Under-18s need an adult aged 21+; anyone intoxicated is removed without refund. Starts on time and runs rain or shine.
After dark: The Village's side streets and old houses feel very different after 8 p.m., which suits two hours of ghost stories.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
The small-group version. Haunted Manhattan caps it at 13 and starts at 7:30 p.m. at the corner of MacDougal and West 4th in Washington Square Park. Rated 5.0, but only from 100 reviews, so the review-count factor pulls it down to sixth. It's 1 hour 40 minutes for $35 (€31), guide only. If you can't do 90 minutes on your feet, skip it. The same company runs East Village and West Village versions.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%5.5
Review countData · 10%4.1
Price per hourData · 20%7.9
After darkEditors · 40%7.0
What it is: Haunted Manhattan's small-group ghost walk around Washington Square Park and Greenwich Village.
Good to know: Maximum 13; guide only, no other inclusions. Not advised if walking 90 minutes is hard. The same operator runs East Village and West Village versions.
After dark: Washington Square and the old Village lanes are at their spookiest after dark.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
NYC at Night: 3-Hour Luxury Bus Tour of Top Highlights
Night bus tours
6.2/10Night Score
From $48 (€43) sale
3 hours
Starts: Evening (times shown at booking)
Large group
4.5 (794 reviews)
The route is good: Times Square, downtown, and a DUMBO stop for the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline at night. The 4.5 rating from 794 reviews is the weak part, and that's why it's seventh despite a sale price of $48 (€43), down from $60 (€54) today. ExperienceNYC uses a closed-top bus with a live guide. The Empire State Building is a photo backdrop, not an entry. Leaves from Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th. Three steps to board.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%1.8
Review countData · 10%7.2
Price per hourData · 20%8.9
After darkEditors · 40%8.0
What it is: ExperienceNYC's three-hour closed-top night bus tour with a live guide, through Midtown, downtown and across to a DUMBO photo stop.
Good to know: Shown at a sale price of $48 against $60 today. Water included; the Empire State Building is a photo backdrop only, with no entry. Guests must manage three steps to board.
After dark: A route chosen for the lit city, from Times Square to the DUMBO photo stop with the Brooklyn Bridge and skyline at night.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on GetYourGuide on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
The view of Manhattan everyone wants is from New Jersey, and this tour goes there: Liberty State Park, the Empty Sky 9/11 memorial, Jersey City and Hoboken. Royal City Tours keeps it to 13 in a minivan. Four hours for $89 (€80). A 4.6 from 225 reviews holds it at eighth. Bring a jacket, as the Hudson waterfront is cold and windy. Every traveler needs a seat, and you bring your own child seats.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%2.9
Review countData · 10%5.3
Price per hourData · 20%7.6
After darkEditors · 40%8.0
What it is: Royal City Tours' small-group minivan tour to Liberty State Park, the Empty Sky 9/11 memorial, Jersey City and Hoboken for night views of Manhattan.
Good to know: Maximum 13; round trip from Midtown included, Carlo's Bakery snacks at your own cost. Every traveler needs a seat and you must bring child seats. The windy Hudson waterfront is cold, so bring a jacket.
After dark: The New Jersey waterfront is where the Manhattan skyline is best seen lit up, and this tour is built around those viewpoints.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Circle Line: 2hr - New York City Harbor Lights Cruise
Night cruises
5.7/10Night Score
From $45 (€40)
2 hours
Starts: Early evening, timed for sunset
Shared boat
4.4 (3,052 reviews)
The famous one. You leave Pier 83 at sunset and come back under the lit skyline and bridges, which earns full after-dark marks. But the Viator listing we recorded rates 4.4 from 3,052, the lowest rating on the page, and that sinks it to ninth. The GetYourGuide version shows 4.6 from 9,043, but its page wouldn't load for us. $45 (€40). Seating is first come, first served on a boat for up to 600, so arrive 30 minutes early.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%0.1
Review countData · 10%9.3
Price per hourData · 20%7.5
After darkEditors · 40%8.0
What it is: Circle Line's narrated two-hour evening cruise around Lower Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty and back, from Pier 83.
Good to know: Food and drinks extra; arrive 30 minutes early as seating is first come, first served on a boat of up to 600. Also on GetYourGuide (t108082, 4.6 from 9,043 reviews, $45), but that page would not load for us today, so we record the Viator listing.
After dark: You leave at sunset and come back under the lit skyline, the Statue of Liberty and the bridges, which is the whole point of the cruise.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Last, and the most expensive per hour on the list: $69 (€62) for 90 minutes with no stops. TopView's open top deck is the right idea at night, with Times Square and the Manhattan Bridge overhead, but it rates 4.4 from 3,138, and the page promises a live guide while many reviewers report recorded audio only. Departures at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. In summer take the 8:00, because 6:00 is still daylight. Up to 65 riders.
How the score breaks down, and the fine print
Rated by travelersData · 30%0.1
Review countData · 10%9.3
Price per hourData · 20%4.7
After darkEditors · 40%8.0
What it is: TopView's 90-minute open-top double-decker night loop from Midtown to Brooklyn's waterfront and back, with no stops.
Good to know: Up to 65 riders; seats first come, first served. The page promises a live guide but many reviews report recorded audio only. In summer take the 8 p.m. departure, as 6 p.m. is still daylight.
After dark: The open top deck is what you want at night: Times Square, the Manhattan Bridge and the lit skyline overhead.
Rating, review count and from-price as shown on Viator on October 26, 2026. The price changes with the date.
Reserve links go to GetYourGuide or Viator. Booking through them can earn us a commission at no cost to you; it never changes a score or a rank. How we make money
What New York nights are actually like
Loud and bright in Midtown, quiet two blocks from it.
The Empire State Building's observatory was listed as open until 11 p.m. on its own site today, and the tower lights, the building says, shine from sunset to 2 a.m. Times Square never dims. Downtown and the Financial District empty out fast after office hours, which is when the old streets feel their age.
The Village is where night tours make most sense. Washington Square in the evening has music and chess players. A few blocks away on a side street of brownstones there's nobody, and that's where the ghost guides take you.
And the harbor. The skyline is best seen from the water or from New Jersey, not from inside it. Three tours on this page exist for that view.
Cruise, bus, ghost walk or speakeasy
Cruise if it's your first trip. Leave at sunset, come back in the dark. The NY Waterway cruise is cheaper than Circle Line and rated higher.
Ghost walk if you've seen the skyline. Greenwich Village has three on this page, and the small Haunted Manhattan group is my pick of them.
Speakeasy if you're over 21 and want a night out more than a tour. Budget for drinks on top.
Bus if walking is hard. Otherwise, skip the bus. You can take the subway to DUMBO, walk to the water and see the same Brooklyn Bridge view yourself.
December is its own category: Dyker Heights.
The free versions
The Staten Island Ferry. It's free, the City of New York runs it, and it sails 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Whitehall Terminal at the bottom of Manhattan. After the evening rush it goes every 30 minutes. You pass the Statue of Liberty and get the lit downtown skyline on the way back. Honestly, the free version is better than some of the paid cruises if all you want is the view.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge after dark from the Manhattan side and keep going into DUMBO. Then wander Greenwich Village on your own from Washington Square, though you won't get the stories.
Getting back late
Easy here. The MTA says the subway operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and a ride costs $3 (€2.70) for most adults. Some lines change their routes overnight, so check the MTA's late-night map if you're heading to Brooklyn or Queens after midnight.
Yellow cabs start at $3 (€2.70) on the meter, plus a $1 (€0.90) overnight surcharge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., per the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission. Trips touching Manhattan south of 96th Street add a $2.50 (€2.20) state congestion surcharge, and below 60th Street there's a $0.75 (€0.70) congestion pricing toll.
The Skyline at Night tour includes the ride back to Midtown. The Golden Hour cruise has a free bus to and from Pier 79.
Seasons: dark times, cold and holiday lights
In December it's dark by 5:00 p.m. In June, not until 9:01 p.m. That's a big swing. A 6:00 p.m. bus in July is a daylight bus, and a sunset cruise in December leaves in late afternoon.
Winter nights are properly cold: lows around 27°F (-3°C) in January and 31°F (-1°C) in December, and colder on the water or the New Jersey waterfront. Summer nights stay near 70°F (21°C) in July.
Holiday season, roughly late November to late December, is when the top-ranked Dyker Heights tour runs. Other Dyker Heights products exist, at least five by our researcher's count, but the one ranked here has the most reviews.
What to skip
The open-top night loop if you're paying for the guide. Reviews keep saying the commentary is recorded.
Empire State Building tickets bought as a night tour. They're the ordinary timed ticket with an evening slot; our Empire State Building at night page explains when to go and what it costs.
We also left out the night-lights helicopter flights from New Jersey, at about $330 (€295). They rate well, but they aren't a tour in the sense this site means.
When it gets dark in New York City
Times are for the 15th of each month in 2027, local time with daylight saving, computed with NOAA’s solar equations for New York City. Dark is the end of civil twilight, when streetlights and floodlights take over; fully dark is the end of nautical twilight. Night lows are 2016–2025 averages from the Open-Meteo historical archive. Every city side by side
Month
Sunset
Dark
Fully dark
Night low
January
4:51 p.m.
5:22 p.m.
5:55 p.m.
27°F (-3°C)
February
5:29 p.m.
5:57 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
28°F (-2°C)
March
7:02 p.m.
7:29 p.m.
8:01 p.m.
34°F (1°C)
April
7:34 p.m.
8:02 p.m.
8:36 p.m.
43°F (6°C)
May
8:05 p.m.
8:36 p.m.
9:14 p.m.
53°F (12°C)
June
8:28 p.m.
9:01 p.m.
9:44 p.m.
63°F (17°C)
July
8:26 p.m.
8:58 p.m.
9:39 p.m.
70°F (21°C)
August
7:55 p.m.
8:24 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
68°F (20°C)
September
7:06 p.m.
7:33 p.m.
8:06 p.m.
62°F (17°C)
October
6:16 p.m.
6:44 p.m.
7:16 p.m.
52°F (11°C)
November
4:39 p.m.
5:08 p.m.
5:41 p.m.
39°F (4°C)
December
4:29 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:35 p.m.
31°F (-1°C)
Also scored in New York City
These cleared our bar too, but scored below the ten above. Same score, same data, no write-up.
In December, the Dyker Heights holiday lights tour. The rest of the year, the speakeasy and Prohibition walk ranks highest, tied on Night Score, with the Village ghost walks and the NY Waterway sunset cruise right behind.
Is the Circle Line night cruise worth it?
It's fine. The route is great, but the Viator listing we recorded rates 4.4, the lowest on this page. The NY Waterway Golden Hour Cruise costs less, $38 (€34) against $45 (€40), and rates 4.8.
Does the New York subway run all night?
Yes. The MTA says the subway runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Some lines run different routes late at night.
When are the Dyker Heights Christmas lights?
Roughly late November to late December. The tour page we ranked lists no exact dates, so check availability for your night before you plan around it.
Are New York ghost tours good for kids?
Most are open to families. The Top Dog Greenwich Village walk requires under-18s to be with an adult aged 21 or over. The speakeasy tour is 21+ only.
