New York City Passes Compared (2025): Which is Best for You?
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Planning a sightseeing trip to New York City and wondering how to see the best of the city without breaking the bank? With entry fees for major attractions quickly adding up, NYC city passes can be a smart way to save money, skip lines, and make your trip planning simpler.
Whether you are in NYC for a few days, a full week, or even longer, the right city pass could save you a fortune compared to buying individual tickets. But which NYC attraction pass to choose, how do they differ, what are the pros and cons, and which one is best for you?
In this guide, you’ll find a practical breakdown and comparison of the three best NYC attraction passes:
Important: No matter which New York City pass you get, you’ll need to reserve timed entry slots to some of the most popular attractions. To avoid disappointment, purchase your pass and make reservations well in advance (you’ll get all the details after booking). And don’t worry about validity – all the passes are only activated upon the first use. Oh, and all the passes/tickets are digital.
Good to know: None of the NYC passes include SUMMIT ONE Vanderbilt. If you want to visit this super popular viewing deck in Manhattan, you’ll have to get separate tickets (and be sure to book them well ahead!).
Now, let’s take a look at what each pass includes, how they compare, and the main pros and cons to help you choose the right New York City Pass for your trip.
What’s In This Guide – Overview:
1. New York CityPASS®
- Best for: First-time visitors who want to save money on the major highlights.
- Validity: 9 consecutive days from the first use.
What’s included:
Entry to 5 major attractions:
- 2 fixed:
- Empire State Building (day + bonus night visit).
- American Museum of Natural History.
- Plus 3 from the following options:
- Top of The Rock.
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island.
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise.
- Guggenheim Museum.
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
- Detailed info: New York CityPASS®.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Covers NYC’s biggest crowd-pullers. | Limited attraction list + fixed choices might not interest everyone. |
| Simple structure: 2 fixed + 3 of your choice. | Some experiences require advance reservations. |
| Valid long enough for relaxed sightseeing. | Less flexible than other passes if plans change. |
| Saves up to 41% if you visit all the included sights. | Not the best deal if you visit more than these 5 attractions. |
2. Go City New York Explorer Pass
- Best for: Flexible travelers who want all the best options without having to rush.
- Validity: 30 days from first activation.
What’s included:
Your choice of 2 to 10 attractions from a list of 90+ options, including:
- Top viewing platforms: Empire State Building, Edge, Top of The Rock, and One World Observatory.
- The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry and all kinds of sightseeing cruises.
- Best museums, such as MoMA, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, American Museum of Natural History, to mention just a few.
- Tours and experiences like Central Park bike rental, hop-on hop-off bus, various local neighborhoods walking tours, the Radio City Music Hall Tour, the Yankee Stadium Tour, and many more.
- Detailed info: Go City New York Explorer Pass.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Over 90+ options, including 4 major observation decks and most of the top attractions in NYC. | Can be overwhelming to choose if you’re not sure what you want to see. |
| Highly flexible – pick how many attractions you want upfront, and decide which attractions to visit as you go. | Some experiences require advance reservations (but that’s the same with all passes and direct bookings). |
| Long validity – no time pressure, and also good for longer trips. | You’re limited to the number of choices you buy. |
| Saves up to 50% (actual savings depend on your choices). | Savings can be lower if you only opt for the less popular sights. |
3. The New York Pass®
- Best for: Travelers planning full sightseeing days and packing in a lot in a short time. Great value if staying in NYC for 5-10 days.
- Validity: Valid for a chosen number of consecutive days (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10), starting from first use.
What’s included:
Entry to 105+ attractions, tours, and experiences including:
- Top observatories: Empire State Building, Top of The Rock, Edge, and One World Observatory.
- The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry, and a big choice of sightseeing cruises.
- Best museums, such as MoMA, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, American Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim, to mention just a few.
- Tours and experiences like Central Park bike rental, local neighborhoods tours, hop-on hop-off bus, the Radio City Music Hall, Madame Tussauds, the Yankee Stadium, and many more.
- Family-friendly experiences like LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, Staten Island Zoo, Marvel & DC Superheroes Walking Tour, etc.
- Hidden gems like the New York Botanical Garden, Harlem Jazz Series, Catacombs by Candlelight, etc.
- Detailed info: The New York Pass®.
Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Visit as many attractions as you can fit in. | Can feel rushed if you’re trying to “get your money’s worth”. |
| Huge variety of attractions covered, including 4 major observatories, dozens of museums, tours, and experiences. | Requires more planning to optimize your sightseeing time during the validity of the pass. |
| Ideal for first-time visitors who want to make the most of their trip with multiple attractions/tours per day. | Must be used on consecutive days, and validity is based on calendar days, not 24-hour periods. |
| Very flexible – you can decide which attractions to visit as you go, maximizing your sightseeing time. | Some experiences require advance reservations. |
| Great value if used efficiently (can save up to 50%). |
Comparison
| Pass | Best For | Included Attractions | Validity | Flexibility | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CityPASS® | First-timers and those short on time | 5 (2 fixed + 3 choice) | 9 days | Low | Up to 40% |
| Go City Explorer Pass | Flexible travelers and first-timers who want to explore deeper | 2–10 of your choice | 30 days | High | Up to 50% |
| New York Pass® | Power sightseers and visitors who have 5-10 days | Unlimited in 1–10 days | 1–10 days | Medium | Up to 50% |
So, Which NYC Attractions Pass Should You Get?
The best NYC pass for you depends on how much time you have in New York City, how much sightseeing you plan to do, and how flexible you want to be. Overall, all passes are worth it, but you’ll get the best value from multi-attraction and multi-day passes. Plus, the more top attractions you visit, the bigger the savings.
So if you want to make the most out of your NYC sightseeing pass, concentrate on the most expensive sights, like the viewing platforms or the most popular museums. But which pass should you get?
Here are my thoughts and recommendations based on my recent trip to NYC:
If you have several days in New York and want to explore deeper, my top pick overall is the Go City Explorer Pass – ideally for at least 6 attractions (the more, the better value). It includes a wider range of activities and gives you the flexibility to visit them at your own pace. For the best value, visit all the observation decks and the top museums included with this pass (if that’s what you are interested in, of course). In addition, I would book a few small-group guided tours separately – they offer a far better experience than tours included with the city passes.
If you only have a few days and are interested in visiting 5 of the city’s top landmarks included with the New York CityPASS®, this pass is a straightforward, high-value choice. In addition to the two included attractions, definitely opt for the Top of The Rock. If you are looking for the best value money-wise, opt for the Intrepid Museum and Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (both are also close to each other). Otherwise, the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Museum would be the top choices. That said, I highly recommend this 9/11 Memorial tour – it’s one of the best tours we’ve done in NYC, and it also includes the museum tickets (so you can use the pass on something else).
READ ALSO: Tips for the Statue of Liberty
On a longer visit and wanting to explore the city and its surroundings to the fullest, consider the New York Pass®. It offers the best value for fast-paced sightseeing over a longer time period. I wouldn’t get this pass for less than 3 days, or you’ll get exhausted trying to get your money’s worth. But if you are staying longer and are planning on sightseeing every day, this pass can save you a fortune.
Still not sure? Think about how many attractions you realistically want to visit and how much structure (or freedom) you like when exploring a city. That will guide you to the right pass. Still, remember that some of the top sights have to be booked in advance, so even with all-inclusive multi-day passes, you’ll have to plan ahead!
For some ideas on how to plan your time and what to see each day, take a look at our recommended sightseeing itinerary via the link below!
READ ALSO: NYC Itinerary for Up to 1 Week
More New York City Travel Inspiration:
- Best Observation Decks in NYC
- 1 Day in New York City
- 2-Days New York City Itinerary
- Tips & Info for Visiting the Statue of Liberty
- Central Park’s Most Iconic Locations
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