4 Best Toronto Helicopter Tours For Aerial City Views

Last Updated on December 1, 2023

Soaring above Toronto in a helicopter (or small plane) is an exhilarating way to gain a new perspective of the city. Read this list of the best Toronto helicopter tours, written by a local, to find the right tour for you!

Editors Pick: 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto

Don’t have time to read this whole article? The 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto is the best helicopter tour in Toronto, with 300+ stellar reviews!

Most Toronto helicopter tours (and plane tours!) operate out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is a regional airport located on the Toronto Islands, very accessible from downtown Toronto. 

Billy Bishop airport is convenient to get to from downtown Toronto, it’s only 15 minutes away. It’s located on an island on Lake Ontario, just across a small channel from the mainland – Toronto’s waterfront. It’s a small, quiet airport, which makes it very easy to find your tour operator. 

Living in Toronto, I’m always looking for exciting activities to do in my own city. I planned a Toronto helicopter tour as a surprise date for my partner, and it did not disappoint.

Let’s dive into the best Toronto helicopter tours to take in 2023, plus, I’ll share the details of our helicopter tour experience!

the view of toronto's skyline at sunset, on one of the best toronto helicopter tours
The view of the city from a Toronto helicopter tour

Best Toronto Helicopter Tours

1. 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto 

  • RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars | FLIGHT TIME: 14 minutes

On this 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto you’ll get to fly above Toronto on a sightseeing tour of the downtown core. You’ll see the city skyline, the iconic CN Tower, Casa Loma, High Park and the beautiful waterfront. 

This flight covers about 35 km (22 miles) and includes one keepsake digital photo that’s delivered online, and one printed souvenir picture. There are a variety of departure times available throughout the day and evening.

The 14-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto includes:

  • 14 minute helicopter tour over Toronto 
  • Souvenir photo
  • Local taxes 
view of skyscrapers from above, taken from a helicopter ride above toronto
Seeing Toronto’s skyscrapers from above

2. 7-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto

  • RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars | FLIGHT TIME: 7 minutes

On this 7-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto you’ll get to fly above Toronto on a sightseeing tour of the downtown core. You’ll see the city skyline, the iconic CN Tower, the beautiful waterfront, the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and more.

This flight covers 14 kilometers (9 miles) and includes one keepsake digital photo that’s delivered online, and one printed souvenir picture. There are a variety of departure times available throughout the day and evening.

The 7-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto includes:

  • 14 minute helicopter tour over Toronto 
  • Souvenir photo
  • Local taxes
back of a woman's head wearing a cap and headset as she drives a helicopter above toronto
Inside the helicopter

3. Romantic Jewel Private Helicopter Tour for 2

  • RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars | FLIGHT TIME: 7 minutes

Take your love to new heights on the Romantic Jewel Private Helicopter Tour for 2! You’ll spend 7 minutes flying above Toronto on a sightseeing tour of the downtown core.

You’ll see the city skyline, the CN Tower, the beautiful waterfront, the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and more. Two framed photographs are included with this flight. 

You also have the option to upgrade to the “Interlude” flight, which includes romantic touches. With this upgrade, you and your loved one will enjoy wine and chocolates, wine, and a souvenir teddy bear. It’s a great idea for a honeymoon, marriage proposal, or any special occasion! 

The Romantic Jewel Private Helicopter Tour for 2 includes:

  • 7 minute helicopter tour over Toronto 
  • Two framed 5×7 souvenir prints
  • Local taxes
a helicopter taking off from billy bishop airport in toronto
A helicopter taking off from Billy Bishop City Airport

4. Private Twilight Helicopter Tour with Wine

  • RATING: 5 out of 5 stars | FLIGHT TIME: 12-14 minutes

This is another romantic flight for 2, but is longer! On this Private Twilight Helicopter Tour With Wine, you’ll spend 12 to 14 minutes flying above Toronto on a sightseeing tour of the downtown core. What makes this flight special is what time you fly! 

This helicopter tour goes only once a day, right as the sun is setting. On your sunset flight you’ll see the city skyline as it lights up, and the beautiful waterfront. You’ll be lifted 2,000 feet over the city and fly eye to eye with the pod of the CN Tower!

This romantic tour includes cute romantic touches. You’ll receive a gift basket of wine, chocolates, a teddy bear, and two framed prints of the two of you next to the helicopter.

The Private Twilight Helicopter Tour With Wine includes:

  • Two framed 5×7 souvenir prints
  • Gift basket with wine, chocolates, and a teddy bear
  • Private helicopter tour for 2 persons
  • Window seat for each passenger
  • Interactive headsets
view of CN tower and toronto skyscrapers from one of the best toronto  helicopter tours
City views from a helicopter ride above Toronto

Bonus: Best Toronto Plane Tours

These fly over tours bring you up above Toronto in a small plane. The planes range from 4-seater to 8-seater. Like a helicopter, these planes fly at a low altitude, giving you a unique perspective of the city. 

I haven’t gone on one of these Toronto plane tours, and so I can’t speak personally to how they compare to a helicopter flight. But it’s worth pointing out that these flights don’t operate out of downtown Toronto.

They operate out of Buttonville Airport, which is in a suburb of Toronto called Markham. This airport is a 30 minute drive from downtown Toronto, or 1 hour and 45 minutes on public transit.

Our Toronto Helicopter Tour Experience

I booked the 7-Minute Helicopter Tour Over Toronto as a surprise date for my partner and I, and it did not disappoint! I booked us in for a summer flight, right around sunset time so that we could see the colourful skies as the sun went down over the city.

We arrived at Billy Bishop Airport about 40 minutes ahead of our flight. We waited for about 15 minutes in a comfortable lobby (free tea and coffee!) before being called up to check in for the flight.

I recommend going early enough that you can spend some time in the lobby. From the lobby windows, you have a beautiful view of Toronto, and you can watch some of the helicopter tours take off and land – before heading out for your own tour!

When it was getting close to our tour time, we were called into a small office to show ID, were weighed, and provided an email for our complimentary photo to be sent to.

After check in, we went to a smaller waiting room, where we watched a quick safety video. And then it was time to go! A flight team brought us out onto the tarmac, took our photo in front of the helicopter, and then helped each of us get into the aircraft.

Once we were buckled in and had our headsets on, it’s was time to take off! This was our first helicopter ride, which made it extra exciting. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, we felt a bit of a rush.

We lifted up into the sky super quickly and in no time, we were zipping over the lake toward the CN Tower.

A 7-minute flight sounds short, but it actually felt very long when we were up there. We flew a big loop around the CN Tower, and were able to see the pod of the tower quite closely.

The views of the cityscape and lake were spectacular, and it was thrilling to see Toronto from this perspective.

This was a perfect, romantic date! The flight crew were all super friendly and made the experience smooth and fun, and the flight itself was an unforgettable experience.

Once we had safely landed back at Billy Bishop airport, we were escorted inside and given our complimentary photo to take home.

a smiling woman wearing a headset in a helicopter
Me on our sunset Toronto helicopter tour

How to Get To Billy Bishop Airport

Billy Bishop Airport can be accessed by Toronto’s public transit (the TTC), which drops you off just a short walk from the ferry terminal building. You can take the 511 Bathurst streetcar or the 509 Harbourfront.

When you get to the ferry terminal, you can take a free, short ferry ride from the terminal to the airport, or walk to the airport through an 853-foot underground pedestrian tunnel connecting the mainland and terminal in six minutes or less.

the front of a building with sign that reads "Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport"
Billy Bishop Airport’s ferry terminal

Toronto Helicopter Tours: Know Before You Go FAQ

Planning to go on a helicopter tour of Toronto? Here are answers to some of the most common questions.

How long are helicopter tours of Toronto?

Helicopter tours of Toronto vary in duration depending on what flight package you choose, and the sights included. Generally, helicopter tours range from around 7 minutes to 30 minutes in length.

With shorter tours, you’ll see key Toronto landmarks, and with longer flights, you’ll get a more comprehensive view of the city and its surrounding landscape. The price for helicopter tours increases depending on the length of your flight. 

Do helicopter tours in Toronto run year-round?

Helicopter tours in Toronto typically operate year-round, with availability subject to weather conditions. Tours can sometimes be affected by adverse weather, like heavy rain, fog, or strong winds.

In those cases, most tour operators will reschedule your flight. It’s best to check with specific helicopter tour providers in Toronto for their seasonal schedules and any potential weather-related restrictions before booking your flight.

Are there age restrictions for helicopter tours of Toronto?

For most Toronto helicopter tours, the minimum age is 3 years old. Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Specific rules and regulations vary by helicopter tour or charter company, and so it’s best to check in with your tour provider if you’re planning to bring a young child with you on a Toronto helicopter tour.  

Are there weight restrictions for helicopter tours of Toronto?

All aircrafts have weight restrictions. Although those restrictions vary according to the specific aircraft, most helicopters have a maximum weight 260 pounds per seat.

Most helicopter tour companies will weigh passengers at flight check-in to ensure that the combined weight of people inside the helicopter is safe. 

What are the best places for helicopter tours in Toronto?

The best place in Toronto for a helicopter tour is the Toronto waterfront. Helicopter tours run out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is a regional airport located on the Toronto Islands.

This airport is convenient to get to from downtown Toronto, and your flight from there will deliver incredible views of the cityscape, Lake Ontario, Toronto landmarks, and surrounding region. 

What do you see on a Toronto helicopter tour?

On a Toronto helicopter tour, you’ll see the city’s beautiful skyline, have an aerial view of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands.

You’ll get to spot iconic Toronto landmarks like the CN Tower, all from a different perspective. From a helicopter, you’ll see the city in a unique and breathtaking way!

What should you bring on a helicopter tour?

Essential items to bring on your helicopter tour include a valid photo ID (or passport) for security purposes, and any required tickets or reservations.

Depending on the weather, it’s recommended to wear comfortable clothing and possibly layers for temperature changes. Just note that typically, loose items (like a sweater, water bottle, or backpack) aren’t permitted on board.

If you bring loose items, you will be provided with a locker to leave them in. Most Toronto helicopter tours will permit you to bring your phone and/or camera with you on the flight. 

Is it safe to take a helicopter tour of Toronto?

Yes, helicopter tours of Toronto are safe. Just be sure to choose a reputable operator who has a good safety record, and listen carefully to the safety briefing before your flight.

Reputable operators ensure that the helicopters and other flight equipment are regularly inspected and maintained, and that the pilots are expertly trained and experienced.

Aerial helicopter views of the CN tower.

Are Toronto Helicopter Tours Worth It?

As a local Torontonian, flying over the city was super exciting because it gave me a new perspective about a city that I know so well. I think that whether you’re local, or visiting, a Toronto helicopter tour (especially at sunset!) will not disappoint.

Traveling onward from Toronto? Be sure to read about the Best Short Trips From Toronto.

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