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Which New York Attraction Pass is Best?

BOOK MY TOUR!
Updated: November 16, 2023

This post reviews and explains the various options for NYC tourist discount passes that are available to you and to help you decide which (if any) are right for you. (en español) (auf Deutsch)

There are so many tourist discount passes available in NYC that it can be difficult to decide which, if any, are good options for you.

Therefore, we recommend first deciding on what you want to do and will have the time for, before choosing which pass you would like. 

In other words, don’t necessarily let any tourist pass decide for you where to go, but certainly, get ideas from what is offered. 


OVERVIEW

As local walking tour guides, we know first-hand the confusion that confronts visitors to New York who are looking to save some money on attractions and tours.

And, in addition to our experiences, we also incorporated some of the tips from members of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group to craft this post.

There are several different passes to choose from, and we have broken them down by type. 

Each pass has its own benefits and is slightly different from the others.

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 these are places you want to visit, then one of the tourist passes below is probably a no-brainer.

And remember, there are many more attractions and tours included in each pass.

Lastly, we have special discount codes for several of these passes giving you anywhere from 10-20% off the full price of these passes, so look out for those below.


An all-inclusive pass allows you to enjoy as many attractions, tours, and experiences as you can within a set number of days for one set price (think of an all-you-can-eat buffet). 

New York Pass vs. Sightseeing Pass

These are the most expensive types, but you could potentially save the most amount of money with these passes.

NOTE: both passes offer our guests 20% or more on most of their options.

Then there are passes that allow you to choose a set # of attractions and tours.

These passes usually give you the option to choose, 3, 5, or more options from a large pool of options. 

Explorer Pass vs Sightseeing Flex Pass

These are a bit cheaper than all-inclusive and allow for flexibility, but your savings potential is lower. 

Another option is prepackaged passes (think set menu).  These are the most certain of all of the passes. 

Lastly, there are numerous hop-on-hop-off bus tour companies that offer their own combo deals

Also, check out our section on how to save without a pass for more options and tips.


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.

If you have questions after reading this post, please email us your questions. We try to respond within 24 hours or less.


TIP: When considering the options below, you may find it useful to have a breakdown of where your money will be spent on your trip (hotel, food, transportation, attractions). Take a look at our post, How Much Does It Cost To Visit New York City? to put these discounts into context.


Listen to Lori and Katherine, both tour guides with Free Tours by Foot, discuss these passes on an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast.

This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC. You can get our podcasts on Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts.


ALL-INCLUSIVE PASSES

Currently, there are 2 all-inclusive passes available in New York City: the Sightseeing Pass and the New York Pass.

These passes are like an all-you-can-eat menu.

You pay one flat price for the pass which is sold in increments of  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 days.  

New York Pass vs. Sightseeing Pass

With your pass, you can visit as many attractions as you want in the number of days you select.

So, the more efficiently you are visiting attractions and taking tours, the less you will pay per ticket.

You also get discounts at a variety of shops, restaurants, and other attractions not included in the pass.

These passes come with skip-the-line privileges for many attractions. 

Both of these passes have a long list of attractions, tours, and museums included, though the lists are not identical.

Be sure to always look over the list of attractions carefully before choosing a pass to purchase. 

We've provided the average daily cost of each multiple attraction so that you can see how much of a deal you will get each day.

Both passes have sample itineraries to demonstrate how you could maximize your savings as well.  


THE SIGHTSEEING PASS

Sightseeing Pass NYC

The Sightseeing Pass is a credit card-like pass that you can use to visit over 100 attractions, walking tours, cruises, bus tours, and more.

You can choose 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 days.

A big highlight of this pass is that it is the only all-inclusive pass that includes One World Observatory as an attraction.

The New York Sightseeing Pass also includes admission to the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and the newest observation deck called Edge.

If you prefer a pass that is based on the number of attractions you can see instead of the number of days, they also offer a pass based on the # of attractions, not days.  

They also offer sample itineraries to help with your planning.

Another perk is that the pass includes a meal (lunch or dinner) and other discounts at popular NYC restaurants and shops.

For more information, click here.  

After you make your purchase, you will receive an email confirmation with a link to your voucher.

You can either print it out or, even more conveniently for those with a smartphone, take a screenshot of the QR code and use your mobile phone as your ticket!

 If you prefer to have your pass mailed to you, they can do this as well.


Prices 

Below are the prices you can get when you apply our exclusive promo code: FTBF. This code 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: $149/Adults | $119/Children
  • 2-Day Pass: $249/Adults | $139/Children
    • Price per Day: $124.50/Adults | $69.50/Children
  • 3-Day Pass: $329/Adults | $204/Children
    • Price per Day: $109.67/Adults | $68/Children
  • 4-Day Pass: $379/Adults | $239/Children
    • Price per Day: $94.75/Adults | $59.75/Children
  • 5-Day Pass: $419/Adults | $269/Children
    • Price per Day: $83.80/Adults | $53.80/Children
  • 6-Day Pass: $449/Adults | $299/Children
    • Price per Day: $74.83/Adults | $49.83/Children
  • 7-Day Pass: $484/Adults | $344/Children
    • Price per Day: $69.14/Adults | $49.14/Children
  • 10-Day Pass: $544/Adults | $374/Children
    • Price per Day: $54.40/Adults | $37.40/Children

Click here for more information or to purchase. Don't forget to enter our exclusive promo code FTBF for these amazing discounted prices.


Just some of the most popular attractions you can choose from

Click here for the complete list of attractions you can choose from.  They also offer sample itineraries to help with your planning.


Special Offers

In addition to offering admission to dozens of popular attractions, the New York Sightseeing Pass also includes discounts at a number of different 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
  • Greenwich Village Comedy Club | 20% off tickets
  • LOL Times Square Comedy Club | 10% off food and drink
  • Macy's - Herald Square | 15% off sale and clearance items
  • Spirit and Bateaux Dinner Cruises | 10% off
  • Nannybag Luggage Storage | 20% off
  • Bounce Luggage Storage | 10% off
  • Drunk Shakespeare | 35% off
  • FAO Schwarz | Free Gift Card
  • And more!

They also provide dozens of discounts for stores at Hudson Yards, which is of course right next to the Edge Observation Deck, one of the more popular attractions included with the pass.


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, 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.

New York Pass Reviews

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 discounts 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 code FTBFNY10 to get 10% off these prices.

  • 1 Day Pass is $147 for adults and $106 for children (4-12)
  • 2 Day Pass is $209 for adults and $127 for children
    • [$104.50/day/adult and $63.50/day/child]
  • 3 Day Pass is $299 for adults and $134 for children
    • [$99.67/day/adult and $44.67/day/child]
  • 4 Day Pass is $334 for adults and $191 for children
    • [$83.50/day/adult and $47.75/day/child]
  • 5 Day Pass is $374 for adults and $209 for children
    • [$74.80/day/adult and $41.80/day/child]
  • 7 Day Pass is $434 for adults and $224 for children
    • [$62/day/adult and $32/day/child]
  • 10 Day Pass is $499 for adults and $269 for children
    • [$49.90/day/adult and $26.90/day/child]
  • More information or to purchase.

Sample 5 of 80 Attractions + Tours

(TIP: See our post about which view is best: Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, or One World Trade Center Observatory?)


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 really 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 in order 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 really 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.

For more details or to purchase this pass, click here.

This pass is a good deal for avid museum-goers with several days in New York.

While the American Museum of Natural History is a suggested donation, private museums like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Guggenheim have fixed admissions that can really add up.

These museums are included with the New York Pass, as well as a wide variety of others.

If you only have one or two days in New York and think that you can reasonably 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.

While the New York Pass includes some walking tours, you can maximize your savings by using the pass for attractions (to which there are no pay-what-you-wish options available!) and then take one of our many walking tours (see our calendar for dates/times.)

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 discounts, 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 is another popular all-inclusive tourist pass in New York, and it works almost exactly the same way as all the other options we have listed.

Passes can be purchased for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days at a time.

Although a lot 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 that is 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

Purchase the New York Turbo Pass or learn more.


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 A NUMBER OF 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.

Explorer Pass vs Sightseeing Flex Pass

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.

We included the average price per attraction in red so that you could more easily calculate your potential savings over the retail price.  

Be careful - if the retail price of your choices totals less than the average, then you will lose money. 

So be sure to read our breakdown of pricing to see if it is worth buying a pass or not. 

Currently, there are 3 "pick" passes which we describe in detail below.

After we describe these passes below, we include a section with advice about which of these passes may be best for you.


THE SIGHTSEEING FLEXPASS 

Sightseeing Flex Pass NYC

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 promo code: FTBF.

Using this code you get 10% off the retail price of passes for 6, 7, 10, and 12 attractions.

Also, with the promo code, you get 50% off Child passes. Note that there is a maximum of one Child Pass per one Adult Pass.

To get the discounts on these passes, make sure to use our exclusive promo code: 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: $79/Adults | $69/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $39.50/Adults | $34.50/Children
  • 3 Attractions: $109/Adults | $85/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $36.33/Adults | $28.30/Children
  • 4 Attractions: $144/Adults | $109/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $36/Adults | $27.25/Children
  • 5 Attractions: $169/Adults | $124/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $33.80/Adults | $24.80/Children
  • 6 Attractions: $189/Adults | $139/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $31.50/Adults | $23.17/Children
  • 7 Attractions: $209/Adults | $155/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $29.86/Adults | $22.14/Children
  • 10 Attractions: $259/Adults | $200/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $25.90/Adults | $20.00/Children
  • 12 Attractions: $289/Adults | $220/Children
    • Price per Attraction: $24.08/Adults | $18.33/Children

Click here for more information or to purchase.

Don't forget to enter our exclusive promo code FTBF for discounted prices on the 4, 6, 10, and 12-Attraction Flex Passes and 50% off all child passes.

How to Purchase

  1. This pass can only be purchased online at their website.  
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. If you prefer to have your pass mailed to you, they can do this as well.
  5. 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 discounts 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!

For more breakdowns on this pass, read our post, Is the Sightseeing Flex Pass Worth It


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- $72 for adults and $57 for children
    • [$36/attraction/adult and $28.50/attraction/child]
  • 3 Attraction Pass- $99 for adults and $78 for children
    • [$33/attraction/adult and $26/attraction/child]
  • 4 Attraction Pass- $135 for adults and $99 for children
    • [$33.75/attraction/adult and $24.75/attraction/child]
  • 5 Attraction Pass- $154 for adults and $120 for children
    • [$30.80/attraction/adult and $24/attraction/child]
  • 6 Attraction Pass- $177 for adults and $135 for children
    • [$29.50/attraction/adult and $22.50/attraction/child]
  • 7 Attraction Pass- $198 for adults and $151 for children
    • [$28.28/attraction/adult and $21.57/attraction/child]
  • 10 Attraction Pass- $235 for adults and $193 for children
    • [$23.50/attraction/adult and $19.30/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 different attractions’ individual prices, like with the Go Select Pass, you should look at the actual prices of the things you are most interested in seeing.  

For example, if you buy a 3 Attraction Pass for $79.99 and then choose to go to the Empire State Building ($38), the Statue of Liberty Ferry ($18), and the Museum of the City of New York ($18), 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. 

For more breakdowns on this pass, read our post on the Go City New York Explorer Pass.


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 actually 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!


PREPACKAGED PASSES

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.

The CityPASS has been modernized as of 2022 and is now available on every major smartphone. Image Source: CityPASS.

CityPASS prices and features:

  • $129 for adults and $109 for children (ages 6-17)
  • Good for 9 consecutive days (from the first day of use).
  • Purchase online or in-person at any attraction included.
  • 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:

The projected savings with an adult CityPASS is $87 (if you paid full price for all 5 attractions).


Benefits of the CityPASS

The CityPASS is relatively flexible - you have 9 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.  

This pass would grant you entry into many NYC “highlights,” which you could then supplement with our walking tours (see our calendar for dates/times).  

If the price of the pass works for your budget and you have several days in New York it could be a good option for you.

To purchase, click New York CityPASS.


Things to Consider Before Buying

The American Museum of Natural History actually does not have a fixed admission.  

The prices listed are suggested donations, so you can actually pay anything you like that works in your budget.  

Also, the Museum of Modern Art offers “Free Fridays” from 5:30 p.m. to 9 pm, so if your trip includes a Friday, you could take advantage of that.  

This means that half of the attractions included with CityPASS could be free or very low cost.

For more breakdowns on this pass, read our post on the NYC CityPASS.


Big Apple Pass

The Big Apple Pass pass is a very basic pass but if used wisely can save you time and money.

This pass is best for people who are planning to visit a few attractions and like the convenience of having your pass before you even arrive in New York City. 

Unlike the CityPass booklet, this pass includes airport transfers.


Big Apple Pass prices and features:

  • Adult/Teen (17+): $79
  • Senior (62+): $77
  • Youth (12-16): $68
  • Child (6-11): $54
  • Child (2-5): $21

Attractions and Deals Included:

  • Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • Empire State Building
  • City Tour of New York
  • 10% discount on many other of New York's top attractions (click here for the list)

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 code to receive a 20% discount on “skip the line” tickets you purchase online.

For a list of which attractions accept this 20% discount code, click here.


Benefits of buying this pass:

First off, if you compare the total regular cost of all the items included in the price of the pass, you will be saving over 30%!

The pass includes two attractions that are likely on your list of “must-sees” -- the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

Also, if you take advantage of the 10% discount code 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.


BUS TOUR COMBO PACKAGES

Many companies offer discounted rates on bus tours if they are purchased in combination with a boat or helicopter tour.

For more information on all the combo packages available, check out our post on New York bus tours. 


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.

As a matter of fact, you could save even more by picking the package that best fits your interest rather than paying upfront for a plethora of different 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
  • Intrepid, Sea, Air, and Space Museum
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • Guggenheim Museum
  • Circle Line Cruise
  • Fotografiska NY
  • Top of the Rock
  • The Edge
  • Spyscape
  • Rise NY
  • St. Patrick's Cathedral
  • Central Park Bike Rental

UPDATE: As of September 2022, 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 to downtown loops.

Here are the new prices:


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.  

We explain below.


Inflated Prices

Keep in mind that the retail prices for each attraction or tour are usually inflated in order to cover the commissions that 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 discounts 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 calculate 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 Free Tours by Foot, you don't need to consider tours available in passes.   


To show you what we mean, 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 a duration of 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 just 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.

For more details on how to save money on tickets, check our post on Top of the Rock discounts.

Therefore, ignore the stated retail prices and calculate the best prices from discounts.


Example #2 - Statue of Liberty

This attraction is one of the worst choices to pick on a tourist pass.

First of all, it takes at least 4 hours (we suggest 5 hours) to get through security, visit both the Statue and Ellis Island, and return.  

Secondly, the 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.   

And much, much more

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