8 Best Bike Tours in NYC

If you want to get to know New York on a bike and with the best itineraries, stay and read this guide with everything you need to know.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

8 min read

8 Best Bike Tours in NYC

Cycling in New York | ©Sharon Mollerus

A guided bike tour of New York is a great way to get to know the city if you're short on time or looking for a more entertaining experience than walking the streets. You'll see much more on a bike than on foot, so it's an ideal option if you don't have much time for sightseeing in New York.

You can choose the route you want depending on the sites you're interested in seeing and your physical abilities, although all tours are friendly in terms of pace and distances covered. If you want to discover what to see and do in New York, book your bike tour before you travel and secure your place.

1. Central Park Bike Tour

Central Park Bike Tour| ©Colin Mayo
Central Park Bike Tour| ©Colin Mayo

A bike tour of Central Park is the best way to get to know this iconic New York City park.

Due to its large size and different areas, it's common that organising a visit to this iconic site in the heart of the city can be a bit confusing and you may not be able to find a way to optimise your time.

Booking a 2-hour bike tour of Central Park will allow you to discover its most popular destinations with a professional, licensed tour guide.

Your guide will make sure you get to see the most precious treasures of one of New York's best parks, such as the historic monuments, the most famous and beautiful sights, and the lush greenery.

There are usually 4 daily departure times so you can choose the one that's most convenient for you. You can usually choose between 09:00hs, 10:00hs, 13:00hs and 16:00hs.

The tour usually includes all the necessary equipment to enjoy a day's cycling and ensure your safety, such as a map, helmet, lock and basket on the bike.

The distance covered is 8 kilometres and the route is suitable for all ages and does not make great physical demands. In addition, you can make many stops to take photos, ask questions about the park or New York in general, and learn more about the history of New York's Central Park.

Please note that the tours are conducted in small groups, so you will ensure your comfort throughout the duration of the tour.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can tour Central Park in the comfort of a bicycle taxi, a transport that consists of a bicycle driven by your guide, where you just sit back and enjoy the ride.

These tours are ideal for people who don't feel comfortable riding a bike, but still want an open-air ride through the beautiful areas of this iconic park.

Useful information

  • Price: from 30 €
  • Duration: From 1 to 12 hours

Rent your bike in New York City's Central Park

2. Half-day bike tour of Manhattan

Manhattan Bike Tour| ©Jeff Friedkin
Manhattan Bike Tour| ©Jeff Friedkin

A half-day tour of Manhattan will allow you to learn about the history of the shipping industry, visit iconic parks and enjoy breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Long Island.

This 5-hour tour typically takes you from under the Manhattan Bridge, then follows the East River Esplanade to the Southport Seaport.

Discover the sights of New York City by bike on an epic itinerary, which you can choose to do either in the morning or afternoon. While the ride is at a medium speed and comfortable for everyone on the tour, keep in mind that it is a 15 kilometre ride .

It also usually includes a 30-minute stop for a bite to eat at the Time Warnero buildingat one of the many street vendors in the area, where some of the best places to eat in New York are located.

Useful facts

  • Price: from €85
  • Duration: 3-4 hours

Book an electric bike tour of Manhattan

3. 3-hour guided bike tour of New York City highlights

Touring New York City by Bike| ©lu noboa
Touring New York City by Bike| ©lu noboa

New York is a city where you have something to see around every corner, and probably more than any other city in the world. That's why a walking tour can be a bit exhausting.

This 3-hour tour is a good alternative to cover the most important and essential sites on your visit to New York, cycling around the city like a local.

The itinerary of this tour is devised by a professional local guide, who will take you on an unforgettable bike tour and provide you with a unique perspective. It usually starts in Midtown Manhattan and ends downtown at the South Street Seaport, the historic neighbourhood that stretches under the Brooklyn Bridge.

The tour is designed to be leisurely p aced to allow you to enjoy the city and admire the sights, so you don't have to worry about the physical demands of the tour.

Facts & Figures

  • Price: from 23 €
  • Duration: From 1 to 12 hours

Rent a bike by the hour in New York

4. Full day bike tour of New York

Biking over the Brooklyn Bridge| ©James Stave
Biking over the Brooklyn Bridge| ©James Stave

This tour of New York is an exciting bike ride from the lively and artistic Greenwich Village to the bustling streets of the Financial District. The tour lasts 4 hours, where you'll get a taste of New York's atmosphere and see the city's most important sites.

Strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge, you will enjoy the beautiful architecture in Brooklyn Heights and New York's famous Chinatown.

This neighbourhood is full of stories of Chinese dynasties and gang eras that you will learn about from your professional guide, and there are great places to eat in Chinatown. He or she will also tell you all about the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, a historical landmark in this part of the city.

On Wall Street, you will experience the daily hustle and bustle where bankers, tourists and brokers share the same streets.

Finally, you'll be transported to Italian lands on the streets of Little Italy as waiters serve pasta in outdoor cafes.

The tour is done on a hybrid bike, so you can manage your energy. You'll also have a helmet and basket on your bike, for all the comfort and safety this New York City tour requires.

Useful information

  • Price: from €8
  • Duration: 4 hours

Rent a bike in New York's Financial District

5. Electric bike tour of New York City through Midtown, Central Park and Times Square

Times Square Bike Tour| ©André Pipa
Times Square Bike Tour| ©André Pipa

If pedalling isn't your thing, there's no problem or excuse for cycling around New York. This tour takes place in the comfort of an electric bike, allowing you to concentrate solely on this adventure through the streets of the city.

This tour runs from Central Park to the Hudson Greenway, a 4-hour itinerary that will allow you to enjoy many sights and interesting information about the city.

You'll see everything you can't miss on a New York City holiday on this tour, such as the Broadway district, known for the best musicals and shows, and Harlem, famous for New York's Gospel masses.

If you want to explore some of the city's most iconic sites, don't hesitate to book your place on this tour, one of the best Spanish tours of New York.

The price of this tour usually includes unlimited water so you can stay hydrated throughout the tour and a helmet for the safety of the participants.

Useful information

  • Price: from 9€
  • Duration: 1 day

6. Bike Tour and Big Bus Uptown Loop Tour

New York Sightseeing Bus Tour| ©CarDun78
New York Sightseeing Bus Tour| ©CarDun78

This tour is a combination of a bike rental and a Big Bus Uptown pass, a unique package that allows you to visit the city and get some exercise, but also enjoy the comfort of one of New York's best sightseeing buses.

This itinerary is designed for those who want to visit New York's most famous landmarks and attractions, as well as get breathtaking views on this full day experience.

In addition, you'll learn about the sights and history of the sites with pre-recorded commentary on the bus tour.

The bus pass is normally available from 10:00 am until the last bus at 4:00 pm. It usually leaves every 60 minutes and you will be able to visit the whole circuit and all the stops in 75 minutes.

Bike rental is also available during the entire bus pass timetable, so make sure you organise your activities to make the most of it.

I recommend starting the day with a stroll through the city's largest park. There is a lot to see and do in Central Park, and then continue with the bus tour, but of course you can do it according to your preferences and the time you have available.

Facts and figures

  • Price: from 70€
  • Duration: full day

7. Guided bike tour of Harlem

Getting to know Harlem| ©Quench Your Eyes
Getting to know Harlem| ©Quench Your Eyes

If you want to explore all there is to see and do in the Harlem neighbourhood, book a place on this tour of one of New York's most historically rich neighbourhoods.

On this 2-hour guided bike tour, you'll visit iconic churches to see a Gospel Mass, the Columbia campus, Strivers Row and other famous landmarks and landmarks of this area of the city

The tour price normally includes everything you need to ride, including a map of the neighbourhood with all the important landmarks, a chain lock, a helmet and a basket on your bike, for your comfort and safety throughout this tour.

This itinerary is a great opportunity for those who want to get to know this culturally rich neighbourhood, where you can visit one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and many of Harlem's historic buildings.

This neighbourhood has been home to great artists and important figures in different fields such as Eubie Blake inthe world of jazz, boxer Harry Willsand actor and singer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, among others. All of them have left architectural gems that are worth visiting.

Useful information

  • Price: from 55€
  • Duration: 2 hours

8. Bicycle tour of the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Tour| ©Gwenael Piaser
Brooklyn Bridge Tour| ©Gwenael Piaser

This option is ideal for those who want to explore the best of Manhattan by bike on a guided tour. On this Brooklyn Bridge tour, you will cycle along the new path along the Hudson River.

This tour is designed to take you to the most popular and iconic places in Manhattan, and enjoy a unique ride over the Brooklyn Bridge.

In addition to this amazing experience on the world's largest suspension bridge and learning about its history, you will see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Seaport District, Wall Street, SeaGlass Carousel, Dumbo and Hudson River Park, among others.

So now you know! If you want to get to know New York by bike and be amazed by Manhattan's best attractions, book a place on this kind of tour over the Brooklyn Bridge and take the best pictures of the city with you.

Facts & Figures

  • Price: from 37€
  • Duration: 2 hours