It may not be the cheapest way to get a skyline view of the city (trips start at about $60 per person), but a helicopter tour of Manhattan is fun and gives a good sense of the city's layout. The helicopters take off from both of Manhattan’s heliports—downtown (pier six at the East River—Helicopter Flight Services only) and on the west side (West 30th Street & 12th Avenue).
Tours last 5 to 17 minutes and, on a clear day, offer staggering views. Try to get one of the two seats at the front next to the pilot, and prepare yourself for some stomach-churning U-turns and dips. The best flights are those which skim across the New York Harbor and fly close to the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. Flights are limited to Manhattan's water boundaries, and do not pass directly over the city.