Helicopters are the ideal form of aircraft to see a bird’s-eye view of any city you’re visiting. A helicopter ride over Philadelphia is a great way to absorb as much of the city as possible in a short amount of time.
Philly or the City of Brotherly Love, as it’s often endearingly nicknamed, is full of historical landmarks. Of course, you’d want to get the most out of your sightseeing experience as possible, but researching the best helicopter tours can be time-consuming and tiring.
We’ve made it easy for you & gathered the best sights to see and helicopter tours in Philadelphia.
Table of Contents: (Jump to)
Why Do a Philadelphia Helicopter Tour?
What are the best parts of taking a helicopter tour in Philly? Here are just a few:
- Panoramic views of the City of Brotherly so you can take in all of the beauty the city offers.
- Customisable helicopter rides in Philadelphia are available with champagne and music for more romantic settings.
- A helicopter tour of Philly gives a fresh perspective of the city that even local tourists don’t often get to see. It is highly recommended for locals and tourists alike.
- Helicopters can go slower and lower than planes, making them perfect for sightseeing. They can also hover in the air if you need a longer time to take in all the scenery.
What You’ll See In a Helicopter Ride Over Philadelphia:
Philadelphia has a lot of historical landmarks along the Delaware River. A helicopter ride will show you a few of those landmarks.
Penn’s Landing
Penn’s Landing has a great pier along the Delaware River waterfront. It is a popular venue for concerts in the summer and ice skating rinks in the winter. At night, the waterfront is lit up with a sea of lights from restaurants nearby and cheerful decorations.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
This museum has a lush sculpture garden and historical buildings you’ll be able to see from above. The museum was also the location of the steps shown in the film Rocky III. A statue of Rocky Balboa himself guards the iconic steps.
Fairmount Park
With more than 2000 acres of land, Fairmount park offers a great nature break from the bustle of the city. Public art is scattered across the ground and fills the park. The Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in the park have a yearly cherry blossom festival in April.
Helicopter Tours in Philadelphia
Most helicopter tours are between 30-45 minutes long which is enough time to see a few notable landmarks. Each tour has a unique value they bring.
There are currently no helicopter rides in Philadelphia, here are a couple of helicopter rides nearby.
Adrenaline Private Helicopter Tour
See the city at a bird’s-eye view with this private helicopter tour of Philly. You can choose between a 30-minute or a 45-minute tour. These tours start at the North Philadelphia Jet Centre and pass architectural and natural landmarks like the Delaware River.
Flights need a minimum of two passengers and can have up to 3 passengers on board. Experienced pilots fly a Robinson R-44 helicopter 1500 feet over the ground where each passenger can receive a window seat.
Pricing:
$275 per person for a 30-minute flight
$325 per person for a 45-minute flight
Adrenaline Private Sunset Tour
A helicopter tour of Philadelphia at sunset is an ideal way to end off a day of sightseeing. It is a beautiful sight of the city from above, behind a backdrop of the fading sun. After sunset follows an even more picturesque view of the city lights.
Tours are available Monday to Sunday and fly over many landmarks of the city. Penn’s Landing and the Boathouse Row look especially beautiful lit up at night. A minimum of two passengers is needed for the flight and up to 3 passengers can board. A complimentary bottle of champagne comes with every tour.
Pricing:
$247 per person for a 30-minute flight
$335 per person for a 45-minute flight
Skyriver Philadelphia Experience Tour
If Northwest Philadelphia is a bit out of your range, you can book a helicopter in Philadelphia that will pick you up closer to the city centre and other well-known landmarks. Helicopters can pick you up at Penn’s Landing or the airport for convenient transport.
The flight offers a panoramic view of the City of Brotherly Love. Flights are a short 20-minutes and fly over the Delaware River, Philadelphia Art Museum and more.
Pricing:
$610 per couple for a 20-minute flight (an additional $50 for a third person)
More Fun Helicopter Rides in Philadelphia
If you enjoy being in the sky and want a longer or more exciting experience, we’ve compiled a few interesting tours for you.
Adrenaline Helicopter Flight Lesson
If you want a more hands-on experience, then a 30-minute helicopter lesson might be for you. No experience is needed as you’ll be guided by a certified professional instructor.
You’ll receive a ground briefing before your introductory flight begins. You’ll be flying a Robinson R-22 helicopter from the Northeast Jet Center. The only requirements are that you’re older than 15 and not under the influence of any substances.
Pricing:
$350 per person for a 30-minute lesson (R-22)
Skyriver Helicopter Flight Lesson
Skyriver offers 60-minute helicopter tours over Philadelphia with you flying for 30 minutes. You can choose between flying a Robinson R-22 or the slightly bigger R-44. All flights are under the watchful eye of a certified flight instructor who will guide you all the way.
The flight lesson includes a helicopter check before your flight and an informative discussion of your flight after.
Pricing:
$ 215 per person for a 60-minute tour and lesson (R-22)
$385 per person for a 60-minute tour and lesson (R-44)
Helicopter Rides in The Philadelphia Area
Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania (PA) which borders the state of New Jersey. This gives you an amazing opportunity to tour both states. The 70-minute flight tour starts your helicopter ride in PA at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The flight takes you across the New Jersey Pine Barrens and South Jersey. You’ll also enjoy the Atlantic City Skyline and the New Jersey shore.
Pricing:
$750 per couple (an additional $50 for the third person)
What’s The Best Helicopter Ride in Philly?
There are a few Philadelphia helicopter rides to choose from each with its fun qualities. A lovely sunset tour would be a great way to end off a day of sightseeing. A tour in the morning is a good way to sort of map out your trail of must-see landmarks and buildings in Philly.
Perhaps you prefer a longer trip sightseeing outside of Philadelphia too. Or maybe you prefer a flight lesson for a more hands-on tour.
Whichever Philadelphia helicopter tours you choose, we can assure you that the City of Brotherly Love will welcome you with open arms.
Jessika_R –
It was amazing and the view was phenomenal! The pilot was funny and gave great lil facts about the city. So glad I booked for the night time flight.
LONI –
The helicopter ride is great, at the breathtaking sunset! IMPORTANT INFO: if you come from NY and take the train to Linden (New Jersey) as the agency advises. You should know that once you get to Linden it is very complicated to find a taxi, impossible for us!!!! So we made the journey on foot without really knowing where we were going, we asked the locals for help… we really just arrived. It spoiled the activity a bit… the meeting point (Linden airport) and Linden train station are not very close, it's a long walk.
Dr_L –
The whole adventure was an amazing experience. The staff, Rachel, Snack Guy, Brandon and Angela our pilot, were just great all around people. There was nothing to worry about: parking food, pictures, it was just all around OUTSTANDING. You will not be disappointed.
GetYourGuide traveler –
I didn't book transportation, so I planned a day in New Jersey. In the end I was almost 1.5 hours early at the meeting point. I was immediately offered an earlier flight so I didn't have to wait that long. The crew members were all very friendly and the sightseeing flight was super nice. You could take a lot of pictures and videos. In my opinion, the flight could have gone all day. It was definitely worth it.