Governors Island by Helicopter
Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, a former military base now run as a public park with car-free paths, hills built for harbor views, and a packed summer calendar of festivals and art installations. It sits a short ferry ride from both Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Seeing it by helicopter
Harbor-view routes pass directly over the island on the way to or from the Statue of Liberty, laying out its star-shaped Fort Jay fortifications, green lawns, and the historic houses along its edges in one clear view -- easy to miss from the ferry, where most of the island's shape isn't visible until you've already landed.
Helicopter tours that fly over Governors Island
New York City, New York
NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan & Brooklyn
Experience Manhattan from a breathtaking new perspective on a 25-30 minute NYC helicopter tour with HeliNY! Your helicopter ride will lift off from downtown Manhattan and fly past iconic New York City landmarks such as t
25 min to 30 min
From $449 USD
New York City, New York
NY Helicopter Tour: Ultimate NYC Sightseeing
Experience Manhattan from a breathtaking new perspective on a 17-20 minute NYC helicopter tour with HeliNY! Your helicopter ride will lift off from downtown Manhattan and fly past iconic New York City landmarks such as t
17 min to 20 min
From $309 USD
New York City, New York
NY Helicopter Tour: Manhattan Highlights
Experience Manhattan from a breathtaking new perspective on a 12-15 minute NYC helicopter tour with HeliNY! Your helicopter ride will lift off from downtown Manhattan and fly past iconic New York City landmarks such as t
12 min to 15 min
From $271 USD
Likely to sell outNew York City, New York
New York City Sunset Helicopter Tour from New Jersey
Experience New York City at its most breathtaking moments - from the sky at sunset. As the sun dips below the horizon, the city glows in a golden light, reflecting off the Hudson River and simmering glass towers of Manha
40 min
From $444 USD
Likely to sell outNew York City, New York
NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline from New Jersey
Enjoy an unforgettable 25–30 minute flight from Linden Airport, New Jersey, offering breathtaking aerial views of New York City’s world-famous skyline from BOTH sides of the helicopter as it goes up and down the Hudson R
25 min to 30 min
From $330 USD
Special offerNew York City, New York
New York Fall Foliage Helicopter Tour from New Jersey
This Fall Foliage flight allows you to take in the spectacular views of New York during the seasonal change in color from the bright greens of summer to the brilliant hues of autumn. As you fly towards the Manhattan skyl
45 min
From $374.45 USD
$440.53
Good to know
- •This island usually appears in the same stretch of flight as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, since all three sit close together in the harbor.
- •Governors Island is only open to visitors seasonally (spring through fall) -- outside that window, a flyover is one of the few ways to see it at all.
- •The old fort shapes (Fort Jay and Castle Williams) are the most recognizable features from above.
Is Governors Island worth seeing from a helicopter if I'm not visiting in person?
Yes, especially outside its spring-through-fall visiting season, when the island is closed to ferry traffic -- a flyover on a harbor-view route is one of the only ways to see its fort shapes and layout at any time of year.
See live availability for New York City helicopter tours on Viator.
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