Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: tour (33) experience (33) recommend (25) Ride (25) time (22) street (22) hosts (20) ride (17) performers (17) city (16)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Milan J. 1 year ago on Google
    Racist Host! The bus tour is fun but the racist host Julia (or Julie) spoiled our mood right in the beginning. We took the ride on Sunday at 2 PM and joined the queue waiting to board the bus. There is no seat reservation when you book the tickets - it is first come first basis. We were last in the queue and when boarded saw a number of empty seats in the front row. We were going there but the host didn’t allow us to sit there and asked us to sit in the last row. When asked why, she said four other people would come and sit there. My wife and I were the only two person seating in that last row - I guess we were not white enough to sit in the first two rows. Everybody took seat of their own choice but apparently we had to sit in the last row. After some time, when nobody came, she apologized and asked us to come and sit in the front seats. We didn’t want to spoil it for everyone else so we came back to the front seat. By that time, we had already lost our interest in the trip. Sad to see that such mentality is still alive!
    29 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Gabriella 5 months ago on Google • 607 reviews
    A fun and entertains way to see Midtown NYC. The hosts were very good and had a lot of jokes. We did have to wait about 30 minutes because our bus was full, even though we purchased tickets in advance. It is a little pricey- I went as part of a university group so it was less, but I wouldn’t recommend just going independently, as there are better things to do and ways to see the city.

  • 4/5 meena j. 5 months ago on Google • 240 reviews
    Two girls are the diamonds of this bus ride. They entertain you throughout with ease n laughter. Night tour with RIDE is cool. They have road performances like rapper n singer guitarist ballet etc. on the whole it’s cool. But not a must do like
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carolina Ríos T. 1 year ago on Google
    I was in The Tour powered by The Ride. I read bad comments about it so I was a little prepared to get disappointed but all the opposite! It was really good, the bus is very innovative and the woman that explained all about the spots we were passing through was fun, I learned some cool things as she was explaining. I definitely recommend it.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan Perry (. 5 months ago on Google • 146 reviews
    Did this tour as apart of long 4-day weekend trip to NYC from Portland for our Daughter's 19th b-day. Great fun, albeit a bit kitschy and lots of dad jokes, even my daughter laughed at them - it's kinda of a comedy club on wheels with interactive street performers while informational tour of the city.

  • 5/5 Pauline C. 5 months ago on Google • 122 reviews
    The organisation with staff was exceptional, very organised. From seating to staff doing the entertainment on board. What a fantastic time we had singing , laughing. Different variety of entertainment Different areas around manhattan. Superb would definitely recommend this trip , myself and Hubby booked a evening slot . With our Go New York City Pass .

  • 5/5 Fredy R. 2 months ago on Google • 80 reviews New
    The Ride was incredible! It is a very unique experience, hard to explain but it is a bus tour arranged like a theater so you sit looking at the street, the whole ride is a delight laughing from start to finish 2 comedian hosts perform all the time. There are occasional "random"(no random, they are part of the ride) street performers which make the experience even better. It is more a show than a tourist show and that is why it is incredible. There are a lot of sarcasm, improved jokes and audience interactions, a real theater on wheels. Note: Not recommended if you don't know English as it is the only language available so far(dec 2023)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Bethany C. 3 months ago on Google • 112 reviews New
    I'm not really sure how to feel about this. It was good but if it wasn't included in my go city pass I wouldn't of been overally happy to pay the full original ticket price. I feel this is more for families with children. It was quite cringey and little boring between the actors on the street mostly due to being stuck in traffic, especially if you do it nearer the end of your trip as you already saw or know about the sights they show or talk about. Overall it was good but not amazing but if you need an activity to fill your time I would recommend.

  • 5/5 Joseph G. 8 months ago on Google
    Just took the The Ride this past Friday. We had a blast! Scott and Jack were amazing! So much fun and such great laughs. The street performers were fantastic and are so talented. I highly recommend… go with it, relax and let yourself go! Try and go with fun family and friends.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ashlyn 2 years ago on Google
    Agreeably one of the most fun and entertaining tours my friends and I did while in NYC. The hostesses were funny and knowledgeable. The random encounters on the streets kept us laughing and on our toes. We decided to do this one last minute, as it came as one of the attractions offered with our site seeing pass. We would definitely do it again if we had the chance on a future trip. Definitely recommend!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jayden V. 1 year ago on Google
    This was so fun! The environment the hosts created was fun and energetic. I would highly recommend this to anyone traveling to NYC for the first time. I learned a little bit about the city while having a great time. There were a lot of "random" moments on the ride that made the experience ten times better! I am s glad I got to have this experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Greg H. 1 year ago on Google
    To The Ride NYC Both my wife, Kat and I highly enjoyed our guided tour experience on the Ride NYC!!! I brought and treated myself and my wife for a ride on the Ride NYC to celebrate our Happy Birthday Of 2018 and we had an absolute blast!!! Our bus tour ride was smooth and comfortable and our tour guides were over the top hilarious and entertaining!!! My wife and I also enjoyed the wonderful views of NYC and we took great pictures that captured the city’s nightlife!!! We highly recommend all avid sightseers take a tour on the Ride NYC!!! Respectfully, Greg Harris
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Christine M. 4 years ago on Google
    It depends which comedic hosts you get as to the quality of the experience. Also I felt that as if paid for front seats, yes I got them them but others who hadn’t paid but waited had better interaction with the hosts. I feel that if you’ve paid for front seats then the hosts should give you a much better experience. So in conclusion it’s not worth paying for front seats. Sit to the sides nearby the hosts and second row or back row in front of steps are excellent seats.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Daniel C. 1 year ago on Google
    I expected more for the price paid. The bus takes you around only three blocks and there are four performance areas, which are all short. The history and NYC facts were good but I just wanted more from the experience. The hosts were friendly and helpful but way too sarcastic and relying on jokes. You can just tell that they don't care about making small talk the whole the time. I would've preferred proper tour guides with information. Everything is a bit too cheesy but might be good for families. I would've paid $25 for this experience, not $80.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeremiah R. 3 months ago on Google • 81 reviews New
    This experience was great! It was very entertaining, interactive, and informative - Even if it was in a way that was funny, and maybe not accurate the whole ride. The two hosts we had were very kind, funny, and entertaining as well! Would HIGHLY recommend! Especially since it was an hour long activity that required you to sit the whole time. A nice break from the constant walking and standing around NYC! Would definitely recommend as well if you need that break like I did!

  • 5/5 Trudy M. 4 months ago on Google • 64 reviews
    This was hands down, the most fun thing we did in NYC. I would do this tour again in a heartbeat. Our hosts were Stewart and Julie. They were great, entertaining, talented, and funny. Also full of fun facts and trivia about NYC. They were able to engage the entire bus in activities. Everyone was having a great time. The reaction from the pedestrians is priceless. The performers were so talented and fun. The Ride is worth every penny. I'm not sharing all my videos as that would spoil the fun. :)

  • 5/5 Donald S. 3 weeks ago on Google • 55 reviews New
    I wanted to try out this experience for myself after reading the conflicting reviews. I’m so glad I did. I had such a great time. I do recommend The Ride. I found the street performers entertaining and the narrators on the bus informative and engaging. They will have you laughing from start to finish. Yes some of it’s a bit corny but, dad jokes aside, if you don’t have fun it’s because you decided not to have fun. It is interactive which is part of the experience. The street performers were amazing! The Ride is just over an hour long and you stay onboard the whole time. There are no restrooms or restroom breaks/stops. So, plan ahead. I purchased my ticket on the viator app but you can go to The Ride website or maybe save a few dollars on groupon. I had no trouble securing a reservation an hour or so prior to scheduled departure and had several options.

  • 5/5 Kim C. 3 months ago on Google • 12 reviews New
    Thank you #theridenyc for dedicating our Ride to our Mom! The Ride has been a tradition for our annual NYC trips since 2014. We lost our Mom in 2020 but y’all made us feel her presence on 11/30/23.. forever grateful, Always fun, always amazing!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dan D. 2 years ago on Google
    This is one of the most fun things you could do on a bus tour! The compares were hilarious, got everyone involved, even the passer's by on the street & the street performers are brilliant. Such a great experience that is worth every penny. All I would say is book early to avoid disappointment as tours sell out fast.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Diane H. 8 months ago on Google
    Well what an experience we had, booked it and had second thoughts after as we came on this holiday to celebrate our golden wedding anniversary, thought it was more for younger folk, how wrong we were. The street performer's were a brilliant surprise, not going to say too as don't want to spoil it for others. Our compares were amazing. Went on the 3pm on Friday afternoon. Loved every single minute and if we come again next year, (fingers crossed) this will be a definite trip to do again. Thank you for a fantastic tour. Can't wait to tell everyone when we get back to UK.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt S. 11 months ago on Google
    This was a fun and entertaining experience for both myself and my 10 year old kids. The whole tour was incredibly well choreographed and performed (street performers were top notch!). It was well worth the expense and also taught me a lot that I didn't already know about the city. Whether you leave in/near the city and are in town for the day (like myself), or visiting from elsewhere, I couldn't recommend it enough!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amy D. 6 months ago on Google
    We went on the 7.45 ride tonight with our teenagers. The bus was easy to find and punctual. All the staff/performers were brilliant and we’d recommend this attraction to anyone visiting the area. It’s engaging and even got our teenagers laughing, which is a challenge these days. 10/10. Well done guys.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Wendy M. 10 months ago on Google
    Great concept, execution could have been a little better. Fun though
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jody P. 1 year ago on Google
    Do not do this experience on a hot day. You will fry! The entire bus load of people used whatever item they had to fan themselves. Masks were required for everyone except the staff. The jokes don’t land as well when most people on the bus are fighting for air. It was very uncomfortable and the audience was very quite and docile. The best part was when it ended and we all got to step off the bus and the 89 degree heat outside felt like an air conditioner.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Matt T. 4 years ago on Google
    A fun experience to take part in around part of midtown. Hosts (Scott and Jackie) were really funny and engaging.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anouschka C. 1 year ago on Google
    Awesome hosts, very funny. The ride could have been a tad longer instead of going round times square twice but we had a really good time. It was included in our new York city pass and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to sit back and laugh a little.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gabe F. 2 years ago on Google
    Had so.much fun on The Ride! Sitting in a Stadium Seating set-up was a great way to see New York City in all its uniqueness. The talent along the route was timed perfectly with the bus arriving to entertain all of us. Break dancing on Madison Ave, ballet dancing in Lincoln Square and a jazzy sak player and vocalist in front of Carnegie Hall was perfect! It was like live theater at each stop! Would recommend and do it again!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Felicity Seraph C. 4 years ago on Google
    I was excited to experience The Ride and really wanted to like it. However the comedic part (the hosts) fell short and did not really add any value to my experience in NY. It was certainly more enjoyable going for the walking tours and learning about the history of NY.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Naseer F. 2 years ago on Google
    This was a very interesting tour. Lots of performances and great commentary. Like they improvs.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 P 6 years ago on Google
    This was the best deal I got out of the sightseeing pass! Our guides were awesome! Jacky was hilarious and Scott was great!! I love our tour and I’ll say that was 75 minutes well spent. This is not much of a “tour” but more of an entertainment thing. The street performers were doing great even when it was raining outside. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested. And personally, I don’t think you have to be fluent in English to have fun on The Ride. The atmosphere that the guides set up were fun and good for “most” ages. :)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kara B. 2 years ago on Google
    This is always on our must-do list when we have friends and family coming from out of town. Great staff, great ownership and a good time always had by all! Well worth the $!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Johnny L. 7 months ago on Google • 20 reviews
    This was one of the best days my son has ever had because of the staff from THE RIDE. Make sure to mention your special requests or birthdays and such when booking. They incorporated that information into clever ways and made the whole experience very personalized. The tour is the best way to see the big apple time square area and surrounding burrows. 100% recommend this experience.

  • 5/5 Shabana Y. 1 month ago on Google • 17 reviews New
    Now this tour was brilliant. The two hosts were absolutely fab and so entertaining. I would definitely recommend this tour. Very witty and well thought out. Wouldn't be good if they weren't hosting.

  • 5/5 James S. 8 months ago on Google
    We did the 3pm bus today through NYC. We all loved it and the kids got a special shout out from the hosts. The performers on the street were excellent, in particular, the rapper doing improv rap on the street was exceptional- highly recommend for entertainment in NYC!

  • 5/5 James S. 8 months ago on Google
    We did the 3pm bus today through NYC. We all loved it and the kids got a special shout out from the hosts. The performers on the street were excellent, in particular, the rapper doing improv rap on the street was exceptional- highly recommend for entertainment in NYC!

  • 3/5 gtabxembo 8 months ago on Google
    this was a different way to drive around the main area of New York. Some light entertainment. This was included in our New York Pass. I don’t think I would pay for this so thank you NY pass ! ​​ ​​My friend had RAVED about this so we were keen to give it a go . It has just started up again . I assume it closed due to Covid . It was slow to start. I was starting to think we were on a glorified New York advertising trip but then some roadside entertainment kicked in which was quite fun. My favourite was the ballet dancer ​💕

  • 5/5 Lisa R. 9 months ago on Google
    This was our last activity before flying back to England today. We loved it! Jackie and Scott were so funny and the performers were brilliant. This was a fantastic end to an amazing holiday in NYC.

  • 2/5 Clyde F. 9 months ago on Google
    I have been on The Ride a few times, but my last visit had only two performances and the second had to get onto bus, due to radio malfunction. I needed help with my Dad accessible issues and bought extra ticket, staff must have sold ticket as they did not allow for extra seat, put us on highest seat right behind AC. Would love to keep recommending this to all our friends.

  • 2/5 Boris M. 1 year ago on Google
    Disappointing! First: The check-in team was rude and not very supportive. We had like 36°C outside and you are not allowed to bring your own drinks. Instead you get the smallest bottle of water they could find and by the time it was our turn even that ran out. The tour itself had it´s pros and cons. You´re driving around in a human aquarium. If you like that - you'll have fun. The music inside is much too loud. The performances on the street are nice but in total that is just a few minutes.

  • 2/5 Zachary B. 7 months ago on Google
    We got on last minute with our NY Pass. The website directs you to walk up and get available seats but the guy loading the bus brushed us off at first since "they can't sell on the street." Then suddenly he figured out how to scan our NY Pass and magically we were on the bus. Our hosts were friendly and definitely giving it their all. Over the course of a little over an hour you cruise around a small chunk of midtown where you'll encounter a few paid performers who do a little show for you on the sidewalk. Most are mic'd up so you hear them in the bus. It's a cool, unique concept that I'd never heard of before. The entertainers also were clearly giving the best performance they could but with the exception of a brief ballet type performance I wasn't really into it. Nothing against them it just didn't click with me. I would've been a little disappointed had we paid full price.

  • 5/5 Mrs. J. 6 months ago on Google
    I've yet to even visit NYC or go on this excursion, but I have to say that in dealing with them thus far for booking my large group, Cheney has been EXTREMELY patient and helpful with the multiple back-and-forth conversations. If my experience with the staff prior to taking The Ride is any indication of what we will experience when we hop on that bus, I have no doubt that we will be very happy. 10/10 would recommend this group!

  • 5/5 Ted S. 4 months ago on Google • 11 reviews
    Broadway show on a bus!! May be the most fun bus tour you will ever take!! Such a unique way to tour a city with live performances by people standing on the street as you drive through the city! Definitely an unforgettable experience! Only negative is that it was $89 for a 1-hour experience (I recommend you make it a little more reasonable). If you can afford it, do it!

  • 5/5 Glenn A. 2 years ago on Google
    This was an absolute blast! Purchased the premium package and would highly recommend it. It was part of my girlfriend's birthday present...so you let The Ride know that it's an occasion plus a few things about her and they will incorporate her into the experience. She loved it, you can't go wrong with this.

  • 4/5 Sergi T. 4 years ago on Google
    Enjoyable ride and fun across Manhattan

  • 4/5 Christine B. 4 years ago on Google
    I was not interested in doing this attraction at all because I thought it cost too much money to ride around in a bus........ BUT I’m so glad we did!! Very entertaining, learned a little, laughed some, saw places we had not seen. I throughly enjoyed it. I would not pay for front row seats, all seats get the same view. I would pay to do it again.

  • 5/5 Josh R. 4 years ago on Google
    Love it. Great way to see some sites and be entertained

  • 5/5 rachel f. 4 years ago on Google
    The ride NYC is so worth it. Scott and Jackie were hilarious. We celebrated new years in times square on a bus in February 😂 we sung some songs. We done a tour of the city and met some people along the way. It's not like a usual tour. It's so much better. We got it as part of the New York city pass.

  • 5/5 B H. 4 years ago on Google
    We had an absolute blast on The Ride! Scott and Jack were our hosts and were so hype on the Ride, it was impossible not to get hype with them! Very humorous on board, and the "random encounters" were awesome. Thank you to everyone for giving us a great visit to your city!

  • 5/5 Ash P. 4 years ago on Google
    Very touristy at another level. This kind of ride can be made ONLY in NYC!! My mom , my brother and I enjoyed it too much! The MCs were too fun. Absolutely recommended!

  • 5/5 Iris K. 4 years ago on Google
    This is such a fun way to see NYC. You drive around the city and see interesting sights while being entertained by your guides. I won't say anymore because there is an element of surprise. Loved The Ride

  • 5/5 John W. 4 years ago on Google
    Amusing evening touring around the tourist sights of midtown Manhattan. Great hosts on board and street performers who added to the experience. Was suitable for our 9 year old as well.

  • 5/5 Saints G. 4 years ago on Google
    Awesome. So much fun. Laughed, sang, laughed some more. Julie and Stuart were the best. Must do when in NY. My 10 year old totally enjoyed it, too.

  • 5/5 Mel A. 4 years ago on Google
    Didn’t know what we were signing up for when we booked seats on “the ride” but we were pleasantly surprised! Filled with brilliant live actors, great hosts and interesting technology, this is a tour of New York I would recommend to everyone!

  • 5/5 Ashley G. 2 years ago on Google
    Such an underrated experience!! We had so much fun that we even considered going back a second time during our trip. Julie and Stuart were hilarious. I can’t recommend this experience enough!

  • 5/5 Jarno K. 9 months ago on Google
    Didn't expect much, but it was very nice trip. Laughing and The "random" actd was funny.

  • 1/5 Kevin S. 1 year ago on Google
    Even though New York City is now mask optional, for some reason this attraction requires you to show your Covid vaccination card. We spent three days in New York and no place we went even came close to requiring this. The tour operator told me it was on their website that you had to have a vaccination card, which I later found in the fine print on their website as you scroll down. Either change your policy or make it better know into the public before they waste their money!!!!! They told me several people had been turned away for the same thing.

  • 1/5 f s. 1 year ago on Google
    Proof of vaccination for kids? Even CDC doesn't require this. Business must be running smoothly.

  • 1/5 Jill 1 year ago on Google
    Not really sure how to describe the Ride. Guess it's a mix between the traditional big red bus tours as it gives a little bit of information, plus really cheesy armature jokes. Overall my review would be it seems a confused "experience" in that it's neither one thing or another and not entirely sure who the target audience would be, maybe young children between 6-12. Although the "street" performers were ok, they lasted about 30 seconds at a time.

  • 1/5 Danielle L. 2 years ago on Google
    Science denying and covid misinformation spreading employees.

  • 5/5 Lilian M. 1 year ago on Google
    The Ride is not your typical city bus tour. There are laughs, quizzes, fun facts, singing and surprises along the almost 90 minute ride. It is a unique experience and the tour guides are entertaining and great at getting everyone involved.Truly fun for a group of friends and for families. Also extremely comfortable!

  • 2/5 황지민 1 year ago on Google
    Loved it last time, so I took my dad there to a 7:45 ride yesterday. It was not a pleasent time at all. The jokes were boring, repetitive and often inappropriate. Like seriously they didn't need to make so many comments about strip clubs nor should they monk people walking on the streets. It was truely disappointng because I knew they can do better than this. Also they treated like we wasn't there probably cuz we were asian looking, so be warned of that. Still, an experience that you'll find nowhere else.

  • 5/5 Vickie W. 1 year ago on Google
    If you don't do anything else in NY you have to take The Ride! This was one of the most fun things we have ever done. Our 2 hosts were hilarious! Celebrating NY eve in Times Square in September was a blast. We didn't pay extra for front seats and our view was fine.

  • 5/5 Emily L. 1 year ago on Google
    Hands down one of the best tourist experiences we had on this trip! We laughed! We danced! We sang! The guides were phenomenal and kept everyone of all ages engaged and entertained. A definite must see and do!

  • 1/5 Mike C. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow, this was the most annoying and horrible excuse for a tour I have ever experienced. The hostesses could not read the audience were loud, annoying and provided no useful information or insight into the city, the joke of a tour was a few circles around time square while horrible staged street performers appeared and contributed absolute cringe worthy performances. On top of this they loop the worst digital music from the late 90s throughout the entire tour. This is an absolute scam if you’re looking for an actual tour of NYC…this is a NYC traffic experience in and around time square while testing your patients and cringe levels…you’ve been warned…honestly just don’t Was told to come back and it “could” be better at $85 a seat hahaha not a chance in hell

  • 3/5 Steve C. 9 months ago on Google
    The Concept Was Cool, But THE RIDE Lacked Something... Eh 🤷🏽‍♂️. It Was An OK Experience...Maybe Because The Air Condition On The Bus Wasn't Working 🤔. It Was OK, But I Wouldn't Pay $79 For It...2 Dancers, A Rapper, and A Saxophonist...Eh, Throw Something Else In The Mix...Like A Magician, Maybe Make The Bus More Interactive...I Don't Know. But Again, Not For $79 A Pop....The 2 MC's Were Indeed Funny & Charasmatic 👌 Rant Over.


Similar Sightseeing tour agencies nearby

Radio City Music Hall image
1
Radio City Music Hall
Concert hall
Circa-1932 art deco theater hosting the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes, concerts & more.
4.80 (23.4K reviews)
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts image
2
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Performing arts theater
Multi-venue complex home to many prominent groups like Metropolitan Opera & New York City Ballet.
$$$$
4.80 (18.8K reviews)
Apollo Theater image
3
Apollo Theater
Performing arts theater
Showbiz legends & amateurs alike take the stage at this longtime music hall.
4.60 (7.3K reviews)
Metropolitan Opera House image
4
Metropolitan Opera House
Opera house
Lincoln Center opera house featuring star-studded casts, lavish staging & crystal-clear acoustics.
4.80 (6.2K reviews)
Minskoff Theatre image
5
Minskoff Theatre
Performing arts theater
Multilevel, 1,600-seat Broadway stage venue showcasing major productions & dance since 1973.
4.80 (6.1K reviews)
Last updated:
()