Though I live in New York City, I actually have used an NYC tourist pass, as odd as that may seem!
My friend from overseas visited and since I was going to accompany him to some attractions and museums, I looked into how much we could save by using passes.
He wanted to see more than I could join him for, so we purchased different passes that had the attractions we planned to see together.
We saved a lot with our passes and went to every attraction we wanted. Read our strategy to maximize our savings below.
Having considered all the NYC passes before buying ours, I am very familiar with them.
Also, I have used passes in other cities from the major pass companies in this post. So I know well how these passes work.
I am not going to recommend any pass over the others. Instead, this post aims to help you decide which pass, if any, is right for you.
Below you’ll find in-depth information about the various NYC tourist passes, along with tips on how to save the most money when using one.
Now, onto the passes!
Before making a purchase, I strongly recommend you spend time thinking about your trip, your interests, and your time frame.
Here's what my friend and I did before we bought our passes, which ultimately allowed us to maximize our savings.
First, we made a list of what he wanted to see and which I would go to with him and compared the costs of retail prices compared to what we could save with a pass.
Then we plotted out an approximate schedule of days and times to see if it was even possible to do everything he wanted.
We ultimately picked passes that included as many of the attractions and activities on our list and that worked within our time frame.
If, unlike us, you aren't deadset on particular attractions, get ideas from what each pass offers.
The types of passes (and each company that offers that type of pass), will vary in its offerings.
One of the biggest differences is which attractions and tours are included, but all passes (except CityPass) usually include the following:
- a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- Top of the Rock or Empire State Building or One World Observatory
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- American Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Art
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Madame Tussauds
If you want to visit most or all of these places, then at least one of the tourist passes will likely make sense for you.
Remember, there are many more attractions and tours included in each pass than those listed just above.
Also in this post, you'll find special deals we offer you that get you anywhere from 10-20% off the full price of these passes, so you can save even more!
Now, let's go over the types of passes.
An all-inclusive pass allows you to enjoy as many of the included attractions, tours, and experiences as possible within a set number of days for one set price.
Think of it as an all-you-can-eat buffet. You pay a flat price and then can stuff yourself!
This is the most expensive type of pass. But they will save you at least 20% on the regular cost of admission to loads of attractions and activities, so they can potentially save a lot of money.
As I said above, my friend and I got different passes so that we could enjoy some attractions together and he could see many more on his own. So he chose to get an all-inclusive pass and save more than $300.
Then there are passes that allow you to pick a set number of attractions and activities (typically 2 to 12) from a long list.
These are a bit cheaper than the all-inclusive and are more flexible, but your savings potential is lower.
I purchased this type of pass but made sure that my pass had the attractions that his pass had that we wanted to see together. My savings were over $100.
Buying passes really paid off for us!
Another option is prepackaged passes (think of a set 'prix-fixe' menu). These passes have less flexibility in what you will see and do with them.
Lastly, several hop-on-hop-off bus tour companies offer combination deals.
Want to skip a pass altogether while still saving? Check out the section in this post on how to save without a pass.
IMPORTANT: Because each pass's offerings change regularly, be sure to confirm what is and is not offered before purchasing.
Remember Our Tours
Don’t forget about all of our name-your-own-price walking tours of the city!
You can save as much as you like with our tours. For a full list of our tours offered, check out our calendar.
ALL-INCLUSIVE PASSES
Currently, there are two all-inclusive passes available in New York City: the Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass.
As I explained above, these are the all-you-can-eat menu, except it's all you can see and do!
You save by paying a flat price for the pass instead of individual tickets for each attraction. These passes are available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 days.
With your pass, you can visit as many attractions included in the pass as you want in the number of days you select.
If you are efficient with your time, the less you will be paying for visiting attractions and taking tours than you would if you bought those tickets individually.
You also get discounts and coupons at a variety of shops, restaurants, and attractions not included in the pass.
Another great benefit is that this type of pass comes with skip-the-line privileges for many attractions.
Both the Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass have a long list of attractions, tours, and museums included, though the lists are not identical.
So be sure to look over the list of attractions carefully before choosing a pass to purchase.
For each of these passes, you'll find calculations for the average daily cost you'll pay based on the number of days you buy. The more days, the lower the average daily cost.
TIP: Both passes have sample itineraries on their websites to demonstrate just how much you can save.
THE SIGHTSEEING PASS
The Sightseeing Pass has over 100 attractions, walking tours, cruises, bus tours, and activities.
You can choose 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 days.
A major highlight of this pass is that it is the only all-inclusive pass that includes admission to One World Observatory.
This pass also includes admission to the Empire State Building, and Edge. So you can go to three of the five observation decks!
It’s also the only pass that includes an e-SIM with 10 GB of data, an airport transfer and visit-anytime privileges for It’s also the only pass that includes an e-SIM with 10 GB of data, an airport transfer and visit-anytime privileges for many attractions,
Another perk is that it comes with a free meal (lunch or dinner) as well as deals at popular NYC restaurants and shops, and a free printable map of the city. It just gets better and better!
To get an idea of how much you can save, the website has sample itineraries.
If this kind of pass doesn't sound like it will meet your needs, this company also sells a pass based on the number of attractions instead of days.
So let's say you decide to buy this all-inclusive pass. What happens next?
After you complete your purchase online, you’ll get an email confirmation with a link to your pass.
You can print it or add a digital version to your Apple/Android wallet.
When I've used attraction passes in other cities, I download them to my phone because I tend to lose pieces of paper in my bag.
However, if you aren’t a techie, the printed paper pass works just fine!
Another option is to download the Sightseeing Pass app and access the pass directly.
Create an account, log in and the pass will download to the app automatically.
Unfortunately at this time, you cannot have your pass mailed to you.
Prices
Below are the prices you can get when you apply our exclusive promo term: FTBF. This reduces the price by 15% or more.
Note: If you are traveling with children, there is a One Child Pass per Adult Pass rule. Additional child passes will cost the full retail price as listed on their website.
The prices underneath each multiple-day pass listing are the average costs per day. The longer the pass, the lower the daily cost.
- 1-Day Pass: $154/Adults | $109/Children
- 2-Day Pass: $214/Adults | $164/Children
- Price per Day: $107/Adults | $82/Children
- 3-Day Pass: $259/Adults | $194/Children
- Price per Day: $86.33/Adults | $64.66/Children
- 4-Day Pass: $299/Adults | $224/Children
- Price per Day: $74.75/Adults | $56/Children
- 5-Day Pass: $339/Adults | $259/Children
- Price per Day: $67.80/Adults | $51.80/Children
- 6-Day Pass: $359/Adults | $274/Children
- Price per Day: $59.83/Adults | $45.66/Children
- 7-Day Pass: $379/Adults | $284/Children
- Price per Day: $54.14/Adults | $40.57/Children
- 10-Day Pass: $399/Adults | $294/Children
- Price per Day: $39.90/Adults | $29.40/Children
Click here for more information or to purchase and don't forget to enter our exclusive term FTBF at checkout for these amazing low prices.
Here are a handful of the most popular attractions included with this pass:
- One World Observatory - Fast Track Entry
- Empire State Building - Pre-Reserved Entry
- Edge Sky Deck - NYC's newest observation deck!
- Madame Tussauds NYC - Fast Track Entry
- American Dream Round Trip Transportation - Free Entry
- Madison Square Garden Tour
- Radio City Music Hall Stage Tour
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- Bronx Zoo and Central Park Zoo
- Gray Line City Sightseeing Double Decker Tour
- Woodbury Commons Outlets Super Saver Ticket (includes FREE Coupon Book - $10 Value!)
Also included is a 10 GB e-SIM data package for compatible devices by Power Mobile.
This is an awesome money-saving feature for overseas travelers that you won't get with any other pass. It's easy to use. To learn more, click here.
Special Offers
In addition to offering admission to dozens of popular attractions, the New York Sightseeing Pass also includes deals at several locations throughout the city.
Here are a few of the more noteworthy deals you can get just by using this pass:
- Bloomingdale's - 59th Street | 15% off coupon
- Broadway Comedy Club | 20% off tickets
- Angry Birds Mini Golf at American Dream | 25% off admission
- Greenwich Village Comedy Club | 20% off tickets
- Macy's - Herald Square | 15% off sale and clearance items
- Nannybag Luggage Storage | 20% off
- Bounce Luggage Storage | 10% off
- Drunk Shakespeare Comedy | 35% off
- FAO Schwarz Toy Store| Free Gift Card
- Tilt Museum at American Dream | 25% off admission
- And more!
You'll also get discounts at stores at Hudson Yards, where Edge Observation Deck is located.
THE NEW YORK PASS
The New York Pass can be used at over 100 different New York City attractions and tours and can be purchased either a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10-day pass.
The Pass comes with a travel booklet in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Portuguese.
This service is now offered exclusively on the Go City app.
All you have to do is download it on your smartphone and show your pass at the entrance to the attractions.
Once you complete your purchase, you can use it immediately.
To purchase, click New York Pass.
Prices
Important: The prices below are full retail prices. Often lower prices are offered on their website, particularly in the off-peak tourist seasons.
The prices underneath each multiple-day pass listing are the average cost per day. The longer the pass, the lower the daily cost.
Use the promotional phrase FTBFNY10 to get 10% off these prices.
- 1 Day Pass is $164 for adults and $124 for children (4-12)
- 2 Day Pass is $259 for adults and $174 for children
- [$129.50/day/adult and $87/day/child]
- 3 Day Pass is $339 for adults and $239 for children
- [$113/day/adult and $79.67/day/child]
- 4 Day Pass is $389 for adults and $289 for children
- [$97.25/day/adult and $72.25/day/child]
- 5 Day Pass is $444 for adults and $339 for children
- [$88.80/day/adult and $67.80/day/child]
- 6 Day Pass is $474 for adults and $359 for children
- [$79/day/adult and $59.83/day/child]
- 7 Day Pass is $509 for adults and $389 for children
- [$72.71/day/adult and $55.57/day/child]
- 10 Day Pass is $569 for adults and $429 for children
- [$56.90/day/adult and $42.90/day/child]
- More information or to purchase.
Sample 5 of 80 Attractions + Tours
- Big Bus hop-on-hop-off
- National September 11th Museum
- Circle Line River Cruise
- Statue of Liberty
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
- Empire State Building or Top of the Rock
(TIP: See our post about which view is best: Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Trade Center Observatory, Edge or Summit?)
Some Things To Know About New York Pass
- The pass will be activated as soon as you use it at the first attraction
- The number of days that the pass is good for refers to calendar dates, not 24-hour periods. For example, if you use the 1-day pass for the first attraction at 1 p.m., it still expires at midnight that night.
- It can only be used once at each attraction, so it cannot be shared between two people.
- Line-jumping privileges at 15 of the offered attractions. For some attractions, such as Top of the Rock, this can save you quite a bit of time.
- The New York Pass includes over 100 attractions.
- Money-back guaranteed insurance is an extra 4.5% of the cost of the pass.
Benefits of the New York Pass
It is nice to have different options for time increments.
The New York Pass also includes a pretty staggering array of attractions that can be used in any order, including some more off-the-beaten-path options.
If your trip allows enough time for you to take advantage of the New York Pass it can save you quite a bit of money.
Is the New York Pass Worth the Money?
That depends on how long your trip is and what you are interested in seeing.
We included the average daily prices above, so you just have to add up the full retail prices of each attraction to see if you get your money's worth.
This pass includes so many attractions and tours, but you need to have the time to do a lot to make buying it worthwhile.
New York Pass provides sample itineraries to help plan out your days.
Generally speaking, the 3, 5, and 7-day passes are better deals. That gives you more time to take advantage of the offerings.
The one and two-day passes are a little pricey considering what you could realistically squeeze into your trip.
Also, for families traveling with children, the savings are significantly better for the 5 and 7-day child passes.
This pass is a good deal for avid museum-goers. Museums like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Guggenheim have steep prices. They are included with the New York Pass so the savings are substantial.
If you only have one or two days in New York and think you can see enough attractions to make the pass worthwhile, then, by all means, go for it!
Then select one or two attractions to pay admission for, like the Empire State Building. It will keep your cost lower than a 1-day New York Pass.
Likewise, GoCity offers you the opportunity to save 20% a la carte style with a free money-back guarantee.
Differences between the Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass
- The Sightseeing Pass offers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10-day passes. The New York Pass has only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10-day passes. They do not have a 6-day pass.
- The Sightseeing Pass includes 26 museums whereas the New York Pass includes 30.
- If you love shopping for the best deal, the Sightseeing Pass includes a Super Saver Ticket to Woodbury Common Outlets as one of its options. The New York Pass does not.
NEW YORK TURBO PASS
This pass is no longer available for purchase, as they have stopped offering the option in New York City.
This is another popular all-inclusive tourist pass in New York, and it works almost exactly like as all the other options listed.
Passes can be purchased for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days at a time.
Although many of the activities included are very similar to those offered by their competitors, there are a few differences worth noting.
Perhaps the most notable service exclusive to the Turbo Pass is a free airport transfer from LaGuardia, Newark, or JFK.
No other pass includes this, so if you need a transfer from the airport to your hotel, this is an excellent option.
Here are a few of the other notable activities and attractions included with this pass:
- Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour
- American Museum of Natural History
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Madison Square Garden Tour
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- St. Patrick's Cathedral Tour
- RIB New York Speed Boat
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
- One World Observatory
- Madame Tussauds
- Central Park Zoo
- Statue of Liberty
- Top of the Rock
- NY Aquarium
- Spyscape
- And more!
Here are the prices for each length of pass. We'll include a breakdown of prices per day as well.
- 1-Day Pass: $99/Adults | $89/Children (3-11)
- 2-Day Pass: $169/Adults | $134/Children
- Price per day: $84.50/Adults | $67/Children
- 3-Day Pass: $199/Adults | $134/Children
- Price per day: $66.33/Adults | $44.66/Children
- 5-Day Pass: $259/Adults | $134/Children
- Price per day: $51.80/Adults | $26.80/Children
- 7-Day Pass: $299/Adults | $134/Children
- Price per day: $42.71/Adults | $19.14/Children
Things to Note
As you may have noticed, the prices for children's passes stop increasing after the second day.
As such, this is arguably the most affordable all-inclusive pass in New York for families.
Prices per day are a bit more expensive for adults than you'll find with some of their competitors, but you won't beat the price of less than $20 a day for children!
Another nice thing about this pass is that it includes admission to attractions and services that aren't always provided by their competitors, such as the RIB New York Speed Boat and the free airport transfer.
These are just a few things you might want to consider when trying to decide which pass is right for your needs.
PICK YOUR ATTRACTIONS (from 2 to 12)
This kind of pass is good for someone who already knows (or has a good idea) what he or she wants to see and the number of days he or she will have in NYC.
Rather than being based on the number of days, these passes are based on the number of attractions you want to see.
By purchasing a pass rather than a ticket to each attraction individually, you can save up to 50% on the retail cost of each attraction.
Savings are dependent on the number of attractions you choose. The more you choose, the more you will save.
You are not obligated to choose which attractions you will go to in advance or what days you will visit them.
So these passes offer flexibility if you like to improvise. At many attractions, you will get fast-track entry and get to skip the line.
You'll see the average price per attraction in red so that you can more easily calculate your potential savings over the retail price.
I highly recommend that you do your calculations because if the retail prices of your choices total less than the average, you not only won't save money, you will lose money.
So be sure to read our breakdown of pricing to see if it is worth buying a pass.
Currently, there are 3 "pick" passes which are described in detail below.
After the description, there is a section with advice about which of these passes may be best for you.
THE SIGHTSEEING FLEXPASS
The FlexPass offers the option to purchase 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, or 12 attractions chosen from an extensive list of 100+ top NYC attractions, tours, and museums.
You can save up to 50% by using the FlexPass instead of buying entry to each attraction individually.
You also get fast-track entry to several attractions.
They also offer an all-inclusive pass, as well as sample itineraries to help with your planning.
Prices
Below are the prices that you will pay when you use our exclusive promotional phrase: FTBF.
Using this code, you get 10% off the retail price of passes for 6, 7, 10, and 12 attractions.
Also, with the promotion, you get 50% off Child passes. Note that there is a maximum of one Child Pass per one Adult Pass.
To get the lowest prices on these passes, make sure to use our exclusive promotional term: FTBF.
The prices in red underneath each multiple-attraction pass listing are the average cost per attraction. Generally, the more attractions in the pass, the lower the average cost per attraction.
- 2 Attractions: $84/Adults | $69/Children
- Price per Attraction: $41/Adults | $34.50/Children
- 3 Attractions: $109/Adults | $89/Children
- Price per Attraction: $36.33/Adults | $29.66/Children
- 4 Attractions: $144/Adults | $114/Children
- Price per Attraction: $36/Adults | $28.50/Children
- 5 Attractions: $169/Adults | $129/Children
- Price per Attraction: $33.80/Adults | $25.80/Children
- 6 Attractions: $194/Adults | $149/Children
- Price per Attraction: $32.33/Adults | $24.83/Children
- 7 Attractions: $219/Adults | $169/Children
- Price per Attraction: $31.28/Adults | $24.14/Children
- 10 Attractions: $289/Adults | $234/Children
- Price per Attraction: $28.90/Adults | $23.40/Children
- 12 Attractions: $329/Adults | $259/Children
- Price per Attraction: $27.41/Adults | $21.58/Children
Click here for more information or to purchase.
Don't forget to enter our exclusive promotional term FTBF for lower prices on the 4, 6, 10, and 12-Attraction Flex Passes and 50% off all child passes.
How to Purchase
- This pass can only be purchased online at their website.
- When you purchase, you will have to choose a date - but you will not be locked into starting your pass on that date. You have a year from the date of purchase to begin using your pass.
- After you make your purchase, you will receive an email confirmation with a link to your voucher. To redeem the voucher once in New York, bring a printed copy and valid identification at any one of their 11 Visitor Centers. If you can't print the voucher, you can also show the voucher on your mobile device.
- If you prefer to have your pass mailed to you, they can do this as well.
- Once you’ve redeemed your voucher, you are ready to go!
Good to know
• The pass is valid for 7 days from activation. Your pass is activated the moment it is scanned for admission at your first attraction, bus tour, or restaurant.
• Once you use the pass at any attraction choice you must wait one hour before you can visit another attraction.
• You'll have a full year from the day you purchase your passes to receive a full refund, as long as they are unused. However, the passes are non-refundable once they're activated.
NOTE: The same additional deals that are offered on their all-inclusive pass are also available on the Flex pass. Save up to an extra 35% on various attractions, activities, and services around NYC!
GO CITY NEW YORK EXPLORER PASS
This pass, like the New York Pass, is a mobile pass that can be used as a ticket for participating tours and attractions.
The Go City New York Explorer Pass does not charge per day.
Rather, you select a fixed number of attractions (3, 4, 5, 7, 10) that you want to visit during your time in NYC.
You have over 90 attractions and tours to choose from.
They provide sample itineraries to help you plan how to get the most out of your pass.
Go City offers a 100% money-back guarantee for unused passes up to 1 year after your intended travel date, no questions asked, and no insurance to purchase.
- 2 Attraction Pass- $94 for adults and $74 for children
- [$47/attraction/adult and $23.50/attraction/child]
- 3 Attraction Pass- $139 for adults and $104 for children
- [$46.33/attraction/adult and $34.66/attraction/child]
- 4 Attraction Pass- $179 for adults and $149 for children
- [$44.75/attraction/adult and $37.75/attraction/child]
- 5 Attraction Pass- $214 for adults and $179 for children
- [$42.80/attraction/adult and $35.80/attraction/child]
- 6 Attraction Pass- $259 for adults and $209 for children
- [$43.17/attraction/adult and $34.83/attraction/child]
- 7 Attraction Pass- $304 for adults and $249 for children
- [$43.43/attraction/adult and $35.57/attraction/child]
- 10 Attraction Pass- $414 for adults and $344 for children
- [$41.40/attraction/adult and $34.40/attraction/child]
- More information or to book.
You can choose from a list of 90 options. You do not need to decide in advance what you want to see in order to buy the Go City New York Explorer Pass.
They provide sample itineraries to help you plan how to get the most out of your pass.
- The pass will be activated with your first use.
- The Explorer Pass is valid for 30 days, so it is a nice option for those staying awhile.
- You can skip ticket lines at certain attractions with this pass.
- This pass is also well-reviewed.
Is the Explorer Pass Right For You?
Both of the passes offered by Go City are good for 30 days, so if you have a longer stay in NYC and want to see things at a leisurely pace, this could be a good option for you.
Because this pass offers a set number of attractions, it is probably better for those who have a pretty good idea of what they want to see already.
While you don’t run a big risk with this pass of paying for more things than you can see, you do want to be reasonably sure that your selected number of attractions will be enough.
Also, because you pay based on the number of things you do rather than the attractions’ individual prices, like with the Go Select Pass, you should look at the retail prices of the things you are most interested in seeing.
For example, if you buy a 3 Attraction Pass for $139 and then choose to go to the Empire State Building ($51), the Statue of Liberty Ferry ($25), and the Museum of the City of New York ($20), then you are actually paying more for the pass than you would to just purchase individual entry at each place.
So the Go City New York Explorer Pass can be a good deal for the right traveler, but it does require a little advanced research.
WHICH “PICK” PASS IS BETTER FOR ME?
All of these passes are pretty similar. Here are a few notable differences:
- The Flex Pass includes One World Observatory as an attraction but the Go City New York Explorer Pass does not.
- The Flex Pass includes admission to every major observation deck in New York City, including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and Edge.
- The Flex Pass has a much larger list of attractions to choose from (about 90) whereas the Go City New York Explorer Pass has around half that many.
As with all passes, make sure the attractions you want to see are included in the pass you purchase!
These types of packages save you money by bundling a certain number of attractions into one purchase with a set price.
However, you have less control over what attractions are included in your package.
Fortunately, these packages do include the attractions that most people want to see and in some cases, you are offered choices.
CityPASS New York
CityPASS is a digital pass that grants you admission into 5 top attractions in New York City.
There are two variations of this pass (the C3 Pass/choice of 3 top attractions and the C-all Pass/10 attractions). Read about these passes below.
CityPASS prices and features:
- $146 for adults (18+) and $124 for children (ages 6-17)
- Good for 9 consecutive days (from the first day of use).
- Purchase online (or in-person at some attractions).
- Most of the tickets will also allow you to jump the line at attractions (which can be helpful in crowded New York!)
Attractions included with CityPASS:
- Empire State Building Admission includes two visits, once during the day and again the same night.
- American Museum of Natural History
- Pick 3 of the following:
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- Guggenheim Museum
- Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry
- Circle Line Cruise (choose from Landmarks, Midtown, or Super Express cruises)
The projected savings with an adult CityPASS is $98 (if you paid full price for all 5 attractions).
C3 Pass and C-all Pass
These passes are variations of the CityPASS, but two more attractions are available with these passes: Edge Sky Deck and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
With the C3 Pass, you choose 3 out of the 10 attractions below and the C-ALL lets you visit all 10 attractions in this list.
You have 9 consecutive days to visit the attractions.
NOTE: If you are traveling with young adults and children, consider that the age bracket for Child Tickets is 6-12, not 6-17 as with the CityPass.
Attractions included with C3 Pass and C-all Pass:
- Empire State Building Observation Deck (86th Floor during non-sunset hours only
- Edge Sky Deck
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry
- Guggenheim Museum
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Circle Line Cruise (choose from Midtown or Super Express cruises)
- American Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Art
C3 Pass prices and features:
- $104 for adults (13+) and $82 for children (ages 6-12)
- Good for 9 consecutive days (from the first day of use).
- Purchase online (or in-person at some attractions)
- You can save up to 37% off the attraction prices if purchased individually.
C-ALL Pass prices and features:
- $229 for adults (13+) and $169 for children (ages 6-12)
- Good for 9 consecutive days (from the first day of use).
- Purchase online (or in-person at some attractions).
- You can save up to 41% off the attraction prices if purchased individually.
Benefits of these passes
The CityPASS, C3 Pass and C-ALL passes are relatively flexible - you have 9 consecutive days to visit the included attractions in whatever order and at whatever times you would like.
The line bypass privileges can save you quite a bit of time for other sightseeing.
If either of the pass prices work with your budget and you have several days in New York either of these passes might be a good option for you.
To purchase, click New York CityPASS.
For Museum Lovers: One Thing to Consider Before Buying
Some of the listed museums have free entry under very limited circumstances so you may not want to choose these attractions.
The 9/11 Memorial is free to visit and the 9/11 Museum is free to enter every Monday, from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. But it is not easy to get tickets.
The Guggenheim Museum has pay-what-you-wish hours on Mondays and Saturdays, 4 pm to 5:30 pm. You must pay a minimum of $1. You must reserve these tickets in advance.
The American Museum of Natural History has a suggested admission price every day but only for residents of NY, CT, and NJ.
For those from other states, you can enter the museum for free during the last time slot of the day (4:30 pm).
You must reserve a date and time slot online and the 4:30 pm time slot is often fully booked. So don't count on free entry.
The Museum of Modern Art (included with the C3 and the C-ALL passes has free entry from 5:30 pm to 9 pm on the first Friday of every month (though it is very crowded).
If you are here on a 'First Friday', you don't have to choose this museum as one of your attractions.
If you purchase a CityPASS or C3 pass and can take advantage of these free opportunities, you'll free up room to pick other attractions. This makes this pass even more worthwhile.
For a detailed breakdown of this pass, read our post on the NYC CityPASS.
Big Apple Pass
The Big Apple Pass pass is very basic but if used wisely it can save you time and money.
This pass is best for people planning to visit a few attractions and like the convenience of having your pass before you arrive in New York City.
Unlike the CityPass booklet, this pass includes airport transfers.
Big Apple Pass prices and features:
- Adult/Teen (17+): $78
- Senior (65+): $76
- Youth (13-16): $65
- Child (6-12): $54
- Child (3-5): $19
Attractions and Deals Included:
- Museum of Modern Art
- Top of the Rock
- Midtown Manhattan New York 1 Hour boat ride
- Audio Guide App for New York
- 10% off many other of New York's top attractions
How it works:
Because this pass includes a ride from your airport, you can purchase this pass only after you have booked your flight.
Once you have done that, go to the Big Apple Pass website.
During the purchase process, you will be asked to enter your arrival date, airport, and flight number.
After you complete your purchase, you will receive an email that serves as your pass (you can also use your smartphone as your pass).
You will also get the promotion to receive 20% off “skip the line” tickets you purchase online.
For a list of which attractions accept this 20% off deal, click here.
Benefits of buying this pass:
First, if you compare the total regular cost of all the items included in the pass price, you will save over 30%!
The pass includes two attractions likely on your list of “must-sees” -- the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.
Second, if you take advantage of the 10% off promotion for the attractions included, you can save even more.
For example, if you visit two top museums in NYC, the Guggenheim, and the Museum of Modern Art, (each a steep $25 entry) you will save $7.50 per person.
Before buying this pass:
Consider that you can’t buy this pass until you have booked your flight as you will need to provide your arrival information.
Also, keep in mind that a pass is not worth the money if it includes attractions you aren't interested in seeing.
Many companies offer lower rates on bus tours if they are purchased in combination with a boat or helicopter tour.
CITY SIGHTS COMBO PACKAGES
If you're not interested in all of the activities typically included with a tourist pass, take a look at some of these combo deals instead.
Whether you want to visit the Empire State Building or see the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, there are several opportunities to cut touring costs in New York City.
You could save even more by picking the package that best fits your interest rather than paying upfront for a plethora of attractions.
Here are the activities and sites included as options with these packages:
- American Museum of Natural History
- One World Observatory
- Empire State Building Observatory
- Museum of Modern Art
- Guggenheim Museum
- Fotografiska NY
- The Edge
- Spyscape
- Rise NY
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- The Whitney Museum of American Art NYC
- All Day Bike Rental - Bike Rent NYC
- Freedom Liberty Boat Tour
- NYC Big Bus Downtown Discover Tour
- Manhattan by Sail - Clipper City Daytime Sail
- NY Aquarium NYC
This combo package is available with either 1 or 3 attractions.
In other words, no matter how long your bus tour ticket is valid, you'll be able to choose up to 3 additional activities to enjoy in addition to the tour.
Each hop-on hop-off bus tour is valid for both the uptown and downtown loops.
Here are the new prices:
- 1 Day City Sightseeing Bus Tour
- With 1 Attraction: $79/Adults | $69/Children
- With 3 Attractions: $139/Adults | $129/Children
CREATE YOUR OWN TOURIST PASS
There are a couple of considerations that you should make before you purchase any tourist pass, considerations that may lead you to create your own pass.
Inflated Prices
Keep in mind that the retail prices for each attraction or tour are usually inflated to cover the commissions these attractions pay to the tourist pass companies.
With that said, you still stand to save money, and having everything you want in one place is also peace of mind.
There are almost always lower prices or packages available that lower the retail cost (we explain below).
Calculate Cost Per Hour
You need to calculate the cost per hour of each tour and attraction to make sure that you are getting the best value possible.
You should make your calculations based on the actual best price and not the retail price (we explain in the examples below).
Be Realistic
Likewise, the suggested amount of time for each attraction and tour is usually the best-case scenario.
You may very well find that you need more time than is indicated and you may experience fewer options than you planned.
You need to figure in travel time between attractions as well as time for lunch and dinner.
Remember Our Tours
When you have highly rated pay-what-you-wish tour options like Tours by Foot, you don't need to consider tours available in passes.
To show you what this looks like, here is a breakdown of the average time you can expect to spend at various popular attractions in New York City:
Example 1 - Top of the Rock
All passes suggest that you set aside 1-2 hours, but you should count on 2, even with skip-the-line privileges, particularly in high tourist season.
The retail price is $41/adult. Based on this, you appear to be getting $20/hr/adult value.
However, if you're only interested in the view, you could simply visit Bar 65 on the 65th floor (just 2 floors below Top of the Rock) and grab a drink there.
They have a dress code of business casual, but at $20 a drink, it could actually be cheaper than the observation deck.
There are also combo packages available such as the Rock Pass, which also has tickets to the Rockefeller Center Tour.
You might also want to consider a bus tour combo from City Sightseeing.
Therefore, ignore the stated retail prices and calculate the best prices from the deals currently available.
Example #2 - Statue of Liberty
This attraction is one of the worst choices to pick on a tourist pass.
Firstly, it takes at least 4 hours (we suggest 5 hours) to get through security, visit both the Statue and Ellis Island, and return.
Secondly, tourist passes only offer access to Liberty Island and not to the Statue's pedestal or crown.
At $23.50/adult, this is under $5/hr/adult. You are better off purchasing tickets on your own.
HOW MY FRIEND AND I SAVED USING TOURIST PASSES
As I said at the beginning of this post, a friend of mine came to visit me and it was his first time in NYC so he wanted to go to lots of attractions.
My friend and I got two different passes and our savings were great!
Before we made our purchases we devoted time to comparing all the passes that included the most attractions we wanted to go to and doing some calculations.
I cannot emphasize how helpful it was to compare and calculate prices to make a pass worthwhile. It doesn't take long and really pays off.
After doing our calculations, he got the 3-day Sightseeing Pass for $259 (more than 100 attractions in 3 days) and I got the C-ALL Pass for $229 (10 top attractions over 9 days).
We went to two observatories together, the Empire State Building (a $51.17 value) and Edge Sky Deck (a $43.55 value).
Here's one of my pictures from Edge. It was his favorite thing he did here in NYC! I loved it too. Read my review.
I had never been to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (a $25 value), and he was interested so we went together.
We took a Circle Line cruise (a $30 value). The Circle Line departed/returned to Pier 83, at West 42nd Street, so we made an impromptu visit to the Intrepid Museum (a $36 value), near to Pier 83.
As my friend was coming from overseas, he took advantage of the free e-SIM card with 10 GB of data (a $50 value)
He took advantage of the airport transfer to Manhattan (a $45.16 value).
The one-day bike rental (a $49.00 value) was perfect for him. He spent only two hours biking around early in the morning.
He went to the One World Observatory (a $46.50 value) on his own, as it wasn’t included in my pass.
He also went to a few more attractions and used some of the discounts included with the pass (an additional $100 value).
How much my friend saved: Had he paid retail prices for all the attractions he went to, e-SIM card and airport transfer he would have spent $476.
Since the pass cost $259, he saved about $217 with the Sightseeing Pass.
Granted it was a whirlwind 3 days since the pass was good for only 3 days. But we planned our time well and didn’t feel rushed.
How much I saved: My retail costs accompanying him would have totaled $211. My C-ALL Pass cost $229. You can see here that I lost $11.
But my pass was good for 9 days, so after my friend left, I went to four other museums.
I went to the Guggenheim Museum (a $30 value), the 9/11 Museum and Memorial (a $33 value), the American Museum of Natural History (a $28 value) and another observation deck, Top of the Rock (a $40 value).
I saved $117 with my C-ALL Pass!
My conclusion? Getting passes was so worth it!
TIPS FROM TRAVELERS
We hope this post provided enough information to help you decide if getting a tourist pass is right for you and, if so, narrow down which one to buy.
Here are opinions on the different passes from members of our New York Travel Tips group on Facebook.
Their comments and tips on how best to choose (and use) a pass should prove useful.
If you are considering an all-inclusive pass, here are suggestions to make your purchase worthwhile.
A good rule of thumb is to see as many attractions as possible -- of course, the ones you want to see.
If you have time left over, these passes include attractions you may not have considered but you might enjoy.
Here, Samantha came to NYC with a group of 5 people. Each purchased a 5-day New York Sightseeing Pass.
The group saw 12 top attractions over 5 days and the pass saved the group $1,000! That’s a savings of $200 per person.
Plus, she loved the fact that there were so many things to choose from.
She found the pass was easy to use and in some cases could skip the entry line.
Here, Hazel got the 3-day New York Sightseeing Pass and said the savings were substantial.
In addition, most attractions she chose didn't require an advanced booking.
Many group members shared tips on how to decide if an all-inclusive pass is best for your interests and budget, as well as how to best use your pass once you have selected one.
Michelle recommends seeing as much as possible and grouping the attractions by area.
You’ll save travel time between each.
Amanda suggests a process to help you save as much money as possible with the pass.
Make a list of attractions you want to see and look at what you would pay for those places if you bought individual tickets.
Then choose your attractions based on how much money you’ll save by using the pass. And then pack in as much as possible!
It’s important to note that there are some sites that you MUST reserve in advance, like the Empire State Building.
Here’s an example of someone doing the calculations and seeing how much they saved with the 3-day New York Pass.
The comments are based on 2022 prices of attractions and passes, but the process of figuring out your potential savings is the same.
Bonnie and her family saved nearly $700! If that doesnt convince you to consider a pass, then nothing will!
Other people found that the New York Pass saved them money and that the number of attractions included in this all-inclusive pass made this pass worthwhile.
Lesley liked that the New York Pass included attractions that were not necessarily the obvious ones that everyone sees.
She used the pass to give her suggestions of lesser-known places to see.
Anna planned wisely. On a week-long trip, she set aside days for free activities and then bought a New York Pass for activities she would otherwise have to pay for individually.
Getting the pass helped her save “loads of money”. That sounds pretty good!
Samantha chose a different pass, the C3 Pass, as she knew what attractions she wanted to see.
Remember, just because you have a pass doesn't mean you can’t book other activities separately.
It makes sense to see which of the included activities cost the most and use the pass for those. Then book another experience separately.
That’s exactly what Samantha did.
Depending on which attractions you choose, the amount you save will vary.
If with the C3 pass, you select the three most expensive attractions (Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and EDGE), you’ll save $61. That’s a lot of savings!
Ely also bought the C3 and saved a lot of money by choosing the most expensive attractions included in the pass.
She shares an important tip: be sure to check whether any attraction requires a reservation.
Trev got the CityPASS which will not only save you money, but with the app it is super easy to use.
Book your attractions in advance and show your phone at the entrance to walk right in.
Similarly, Pim had a great experience with the Go City New York Explorer Pass.
The app lets you know which attractions you must reserve in advance if you aren’t sure. Having your phone be your ticket was also a breeze.
Those who went with the NY Sightseeing Flex Pass were happy not to feel the pressure of an all-inclusive pass and rush to see as many sites as possible to get their money’s worth.
Rather, they took their time and found that this pass suited their needs. This is the case with any flex pass.
It’s as flexible as you need to be!
If you have more questions about NYC tourist passes (or anything else about NYC) that isn't covered here, check out our New York Travel Tips Facebook group!