A philadelphia helicopter tour from Northeast Philadelphia Airport puts the skyline, Delaware River bridges, and Schuylkill River below you at 100+ mph — three routes, professional pilot, small group of eight.
Updated 2026-06-20
Quick answer
Helicopter tours in Philadelphia leave from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, not from Center City, and are sold as three routes on one flight product from $78. The short hop follows the Delaware River and its bridges; the longer routes add the Center City skyline and the Schuylkill boathouses. Groups are capped at eight passengers, and every seat is a window seat.
Key takeaways
Philadelphia helicopter tours give you a birds eye view of one of America's oldest cities — the Delaware River, the downtown skyline, and the Schuylkill River laid out below on a scenic sightseeing flight at over 100 mph. MyFlight Tours Philadelphia operates three helicopter sightseeing Philadelphia routes departing from KPNE helicopter tours at Northeast Philadelphia Airport: the Quick Hop helicopter Philadelphia route (10 miles), the downtown helicopter tour Philadelphia (20 miles), and the full Philadelphia Skyline helicopter Tour (30 miles). Helicopter tours in Philadelphia PA are available daily with free cancellation — a helicopter tour of Philadelphia starts at $78 per person.
Philadelphia helicopter tours Pennsylvania visitors book most often cover the Delaware River helicopter crossing and the full city skyline. The small group helicopter cap of eight passengers keeps the flight intimate. Philadelphia aerial views from altitude reveal Philadelphia landmarks impossible to grasp from street level: the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Schuylkill River aerial over Fairmount Park, the Belmont Plateau view, and the Palmyra Cove Park aerial across the Delaware River.
A helicopter ride Philadelphia visitors describe as a bucket-list moment — a helicopter ride over Philadelphia on the scenic sightseeing flight shows the city of brotherly love as a complete whole. For helicopter tours near Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia Airport tours at KPNE are the closest and most convenient option in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania region. Fly over Philadelphia on a helicopter tour Philadelphia PA for a perspective impossible from any street-level viewpoint.
top-rated flight Philadelphia Helicopter Rides Over City & River — 3 Routes, One Operator
Soar above Philadelphia's skyline, Delaware River, and iconic landmarks with MyFlight Tours. Three routes available — from a 10-mile Quick Hop across the river to the 30-mile Skyline Tour over Schuylkill River and Belmont Plateau. Professional pilot, small group (max 8), free cancellation.
MyFlight Tours operates three helicopter routes over Philadelphia, all departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) at 9800 Ashton Rd. The Quick Hop covers 10 miles across the Delaware River and Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. The Downtown Tour extends to 20 miles over the city skyline. The Skyline Tour goes the full 30 miles over the Schuylkill River, Belmont Plateau, and Philadelphia's most iconic landmarks. Every flight is operated by a professional licensed pilot with full safety briefing and a maximum of 8 passengers. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Reserve now, pay nothing today.
The Quick Hop at $78 is designed for first-timers — 10 miles across the Delaware River to New Jersey and back. The Downtown Tour at 20 miles adds the city skyline. The Skyline Tour is the full Philadelphia helicopter tour experience: 30 miles, Schuylkill River, Belmont Plateau, and postcard views of the skyline from multiple angles. Choose by how much of Philadelphia you want to see.
MyFlight Tours caps every helicopter tour at 8 participants. That means direct views without tall passengers blocking your sightlines, and a pilot who has time for questions during the flight. This is not a commercial sightseeing bus — it is a genuine small-aircraft flight over a major city.
Every Philadelphia helicopter tour includes a comprehensive pre-flight safety briefing and is operated by a licensed professional pilot. Flight paths comply with FAA regulations and may adjust for weather or special events. If weather cancels your flight, the operator offers to reschedule or issues a full-value flight credit.
The Quick Hop is the entry-level philadelphia helicopter tour — 10 miles departing from KPNE and crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey before looping back. The route takes you directly over the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, one of the five Delaware River crossings that define the Philadelphia skyline from the east, and over Palmyra Cove Park on the New Jersey shore. The crossing itself — flying above the borderline between Pennsylvania and New Jersey at altitude — is the defining moment of the Quick Hop: you are physically above the state boundary as the two shores spread out beneath you.
This route is ideal for first-time helicopter passengers who want to experience the flight sensation without committing to a longer route. The Delaware River from altitude is wider and more dramatic than it looks from shore — the bridges look like models, the boat traffic is visible below, and the Philadelphia waterfront and Penn's Landing appear in full context for the first time.
The Downtown Tour doubles the distance to 20 miles and adds Philadelphia's most recognisable skyline elements to the route. From altitude, the density of Center City becomes visible in a way impossible from street level — the cluster of skyscrapers around Comcast Technology Center, One Liberty Place, and Two Liberty Place surrounded by the rowhouse grid of North Philadelphia stretching in every direction.
The route covers the Delaware River crossing from the Quick Hop and extends west to fly over the downtown skyline, giving you a view of the PA/NJ border that the Quick Hop offers plus the perspective on Philadelphia's urban scale that only comes from 1,000+ feet above Center City. North Philadelphia's neighbourhoods — Kensington, Fishtown, Frankford — spread visibly below as the helicopter tracks the grid before turning south toward the waterfront.
The Skyline Tour is the complete philadelphia helicopter tour — 30 miles that covers everything in the shorter routes and extends west to the Schuylkill River and Belmont Plateau. The Schuylkill from the air looks nothing like it does from Boathouse Row: at helicopter altitude, the river curves through Fairmount Park and the museum district in a way that explains the entire layout of West Philadelphia. The Boathouse Row buildings appear as a precise row of Victorian structures along the eastern bank.
Belmont Plateau, the highest public viewpoint in the city, looks small from a helicopter — which is the point. The 30-mile Skyline Tour gives you the postcard view of Philadelphia that no ground-level viewpoint can replicate: the skyline visible as a complete unit, the two rivers (Delaware and Schuylkill) visible simultaneously, the park system spreading west toward the suburbs, and the stadiums of South Philadelphia visible to the south. This is the route for special occasions.
It was the most fun I ever had. The staff was nice, the pilot was amazing. I finally have a helicopter ride off my bucket list — would definitely come back again.
This was an absolutely incredible bucket list experience! The staff was warm and welcoming. Our pilot was fantastic and experienced. I would strongly recommend for anyone celebrating a special occasion.
Professional, smooth, and unforgettable from start to finish. The pilot was incredibly skilled — the entire flight felt safe and effortless while still being exciting. The views were absolutely breathtaking.
The Delaware River is the most dramatic element of every philadelphia helicopter tour. At 1,000 feet, the five major crossings — the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Walt Whitman Bridge, Commodore Barry Bridge, Betsy Ross Bridge, and Tacony-Palmyra Bridge — are all visible in a single sweep. The bridges are in constant use below as the helicopter tracks the river, cargo ships visible at the port terminals downstream.
From the air, Penn's Landing appears as it was originally designed — a planned waterfront district on the Delaware, its relationship to Independence Hall and the historic district visible for the first time. The casino at Sugar House and the development along the Race Street Pier are visible markers of the ongoing waterfront transformation. The New Jersey shore at Camden — the aquarium, the BB&T Pavilion amphitheatre, and the USS New Jersey battleship permanently docked at the state aquarium — are clear on the opposite bank.
Philadelphia's skyline is bookmarked by City Hall's William Penn statue at street level — and from a helicopter, Penn appears as a small figure atop a stone tower surrounded by glass towers that were built only after the gentlemen's agreement not to exceed his height was abandoned in 1987. One Liberty Place, the first tower to break the agreement, and the Comcast Technology Center, the current tallest, appear in full context from the air: a 60-year gap in height compressed into a three-block radius.
The Philadelphia downtown helicopter tour shows the grid in a way that explains why William Penn designed it as he did. The original four-square design — with the five parks at the compass points and center square now occupied by City Hall — is still visible from altitude despite 340 years of infill development. The numbered street grid runs perfectly north-south, and the named streets (Market, Chestnut, Walnut, Locust, Spruce, Pine) are still the main east-west arteries they were in the 18th century.
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are 12 miles southwest of the KPNE departure point — a natural first or last stop on any philadelphia helicopter tour day trip.
12 miles from KPNEPhiladelphia's indoor public market since 1893, with over 80 vendors. Pre- or post-flight lunch.
11 miles from KPNEThe museum sits at the head of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — both are visible from the helicopter on the Skyline Tour route.
14 miles from KPNEOne of the largest urban park systems in the country. Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill is a landmark visible on the Skyline Tour.
13 miles from KPNEThe philadelphia helicopter tour starts at $78 per person for the Philadelphia Quick Hop (10-mile route). The Philadelphia Downtown Tour (20 miles) and Philadelphia Skyline Tour (30 miles) are priced higher. An evening surcharge of $25 per rider applies to evening flights. Our full price breakdown by route covers every tier and fee. Book online with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
All helicopter tours in philadelphia depart from Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) at 9800 Ashton Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19114. Parking is available on site. KPNE is located in the Northeast Philadelphia neighbourhood, approximately 12 miles northeast of Center City.
Flight duration varies by route. The Quick Hop covers 10 miles, the Downtown Tour covers 20 miles, and the Skyline Tour covers 30 miles at speeds over 100 mph. Plan for additional time at the departure point for the safety briefing and check-in procedures, our first-flight walkthrough covers the full timeline from check-in to exit.
The helicopter tour is not suitable for passengers over 300 lbs (136 kg). Groups of 3 riders may be split into separate flights based on weight distribution requirements. Children under 24 months fly on a parent's lap at no extra charge. See our guide to weight limits and who can fly for the full restriction rules.
Yes — free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before your scheduled flight. Weather cancellations on the day of the tour result in a free reschedule or full-value flight credit. You can also reserve now and pay later, so there is no upfront financial commitment.
The Quick Hop is designed specifically for first-timers — a 10-mile flight over the Delaware River and Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. If you want to include the downtown skyline, the Downtown Tour (20 miles) adds Center City without the full 30-mile commitment. The Skyline Tour is the recommended choice for special occasions and returning visitors. If you are weighing the decision, read whether the flight is worth it first.
If weather requires MyFlight Tours to cancel your philadelphia helicopter tour on the day, you will be offered a free reschedule to a new date and time, or a full-value flight credit usable at any time. You will not be left without options — the operator's weather policy prioritises flexibility. Our guide to the best time to fly and what weather cancels explains how the call gets made.
Everything you need to know before booking a helicopter tour in Philadelphia — the three routes explained, departure from KPNE, pricing, and what landmarks you'll see on each flight.
Read guide →What you actually see on each route tier, the honest downsides, and how the flight compares with an observation deck ticket.
Read guide →Route-by-route prices from $78, per-person vs whole-aircraft pricing, the evening surcharge, and every extra fee explained.
Read guide →Check-in at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, the safety briefing, headsets, seating, what takeoff feels like, and photo tips through the glass.
Read guide →Plan your flight
Short, honest answers to the questions people ask before booking a flight over Philadelphia, written by a local private pilot.