Booking choice: The downtown helicopter tour, from $160 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Nashville's helicopter tours are sold per person and priced mainly by one thing: how long you are in the air. That sounds simple, but it hides the question that matters, which is whether the flight actually reaches downtown from the helipad at John C. Tune Airport, eight miles to the west.
Prices below are the Viator from-prices in September 2026. They move with the date and the time slot, so the checkout price is the one that counts.
The quick answer
On Viator the short private flight is from $90 per person (7 to 10 minutes), the Downtown Nashville Helicopter Tour from $160 (12 to 15 minutes) and the sunset, evening or night flight from $250 (20 to 25 minutes). The downtown tour is the best value for close views of the landmarks; the $90 flight is cheapest but mostly shows the city from a distance.
How much is a helicopter tour in Nashville in 2026?
From $90 to $250 per person on Viator, depending on how long you fly and when.
All three tours take off from John C. Tune Airport and carry up to three passengers with the pilot.
| Flight | In the air | Route | From | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short private flight | 7-10 min | Cumberland River, Tennessee State University | $90 | 1-3, private |
| Downtown helicopter tour | 12-15 min | Broadway, Ryman, Capitol, stadium, Parthenon | $160 | 2-3 |
| Sunset, evening or night | 20-25 min | Downtown loop at golden hour or after dark | $250 | 1-3, private |
Want the landmarks up close? The downtown tour loops over Broadway and the Ryman in 12 to 15 minutes.
Check dates for the downtown helicopter tourWhat do you get for $160 on the downtown tour?
12 to 15 minutes in the air on a route over Lower Broadway, the Ryman Auditorium, the State Capitol, Nissan Stadium, Vanderbilt and the Parthenon, with pilot commentary on headsets.
It is the most booked helicopter tour in Nashville, rated 4.8 from 882 reviews. The whole visit, including check-in, the briefing and the walk to the helicopter, takes about 30 minutes. The booking needs at least two passengers.
Is the $90 flight a good deal?
Only if you want the cheapest possible flight: it is 7 to 10 minutes long, and the listed route follows the river past Tennessee State University rather than looping over Broadway.
Its rating is 4.2 from 76 reviews, well below the other two, and the low scores tell the same story: guests enjoyed the pilot and the ride, but expected a downtown tour and saw the skyline from a distance. Some report even shorter times in the air. For a first taste of flying it is fine; for sightseeing, the extra $70 for the downtown tour buys you the city itself. The full picture is in does it fly over downtown?.
Why does the sunset flight cost $250?
It is the longest flight (20 to 25 minutes), it is private for your party, and golden-hour slots are the most in demand.
It is also the best rated tour of the three, at 4.9 from 242 reviews. You choose an evening, sunset or night time slot. See the sunset and night guide for how to pick the slot.
Want the golden hour? The sunset flight gives you 20 to 25 private minutes over the city.
Explore the sunset or night flightAre the prices per person or per helicopter?
Per person. Viator lists all three flights as a price per passenger, with no separate child prices.
A couple on the downtown tour therefore pays about twice the from-price, and three people about three times. The helicopter holds three passengers, so a family of four or five books two flights.
Is it cheaper to book direct with the operator?
Sometimes: operators at Tune Airport also sell seats on their own websites, with web prices from about $90 to $280 per seat when we checked in September 2026.
Direct prices change often and routes are named differently, so compare minutes in the air and the route rather than the headline price. Viator's prices include its fees, and in return you get free cancellation up to 24 hours before, one place for the booking and thousands of reviews to read. Either way, the pilot and the helicopter are the same kind of flight.
Prefer the flexible option? Viator bookings cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the downtown helicopter tourWhat costs extra?
Getting to Tune Airport and any tip for the pilot; nothing else is sold on the day.
No tour includes hotel pickup, so budget for a car or rideshare to West Nashville and back, about 15 to 20 minutes each way from downtown. Parking at the check-in building is free. Some guests tip their pilot; it is optional. A few guests mention a crew member taking photos by the helicopter, but there is no photo package in the Viator listings.
Which flight is the best value?
The downtown tour for most people; the sunset flight if it is a special occasion; the $90 flight only if price is everything.
- First visit, want to see the sights: the downtown tour.
- Birthday, anniversary or proposal: the sunset or night flight.
- Just want to try a helicopter: the short private flight.
- Want hours, not minutes: the hop-on hop-off trolley ($54).
Ready to pick a date? The downtown tour cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the downtown helicopter tourFrequently asked questions
How much is a 15 minute helicopter ride in Nashville?
The Downtown Nashville Helicopter Tour, 12 to 15 minutes in the air, is from $160 per person on Viator in 2026.
Do children pay less?
No. The Nashville helicopter tours on Viator have one price per passenger, whatever the age.
Is there a group discount?
Not on Viator. Each helicopter carries three passengers, so larger groups book several flights.
Can I cancel and get my money back?
Yes. All three helicopter tours cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before on Viator.
Ready to book
Choose your flight
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Downtown Nashville Helicopter Tour
- 12 to 15 minutes in the air, about 30 minutes in all with the briefing and walk to the helicopter
- Route over Broadway, the Ryman, Nissan Stadium, the Capitol, the Parthenon and Vanderbilt
- Pilot commentary through headsets
Sunset, Evening or Night Helicopter Tour
- 20 to 25 minutes in the air (listed duration)
- Private: only your party (1 to 3 passengers)
- Choose an evening, sunset or night time slot
Short Private Helicopter Flight over Music City
- 7 to 10 minutes in the air, about 20 minutes in all
- Private: only your party (1 to 3 passengers)
- Listed route: Cumberland River, Tennessee State University and back
