The New York CityPASS was one of the first New York attraction passes and still belongs to the most popular ones. As a CityPASS holder, you can visit 5 major New York attractions for a discounted price. Once paid, all admissions are fully covered by the pass. Here’s everything you need to know about the New York CityPASS.
You'll also love this:
- New York Pass Comparison
- New York Pass Savings Calculator
Looking for a shortcut?
If you want to save yourself some time, skip to my personal opinion and read why I don’t think you should buy the CityPASS.
Table of Contents
What is the New York CityPASS?
The New York CityPASS allows you tosave money on admissions to New York’s main attractions. In fact, with the CityPASS, you can save up to 40% on entry tickets. The City Pass NYC is valid for 9 consecutive days following the first day of use, meaning you can visit the 5 attractions at your own leisure. You do not need to nail down your attraction choices beforehand. Instead, you can choose your next spot as you go!
The New York CityPASS one glance
- visit 5 out of 8 attractions
- includes museums, observation platforms, and cruises
- no bus tour included
- valid for 9 consecutive days after activation
- mobile, print or shipping ticket options
- available online
How does the New York CityPASS work?
Step 1: Purchase it
Once you purchase the City Pass for New York, it will instantly be emailed to you. You can then choose between printable or mobile ticket options. Please note that buying your City Pass online is much cheaper than buying it from a vendor in New York. Thanks to instant delivery, you can purchase your pass online even if you’re already in New York. Once you received your pass, you will have one year to activate it.
For an additional fee of approximately $13, you can have printed booklets shipped to your address. If you decide to order the printed booklet, you need to do so in advance as you have to consider the shipping time of 7-10 days. 2-day shipping would cost you an extra $25. We don’t recommend the printed booklet as you will be just fine using your phone or printing out your ticket. If you pay $25 for shipping alone, you reduce your savings significantly and may as well just purchase your tickets at the ticket counters.
Step 2: Activate it
Your NY City Pass will automatically be activated the first time you use it. Once you present your pass at your first attraction, it will be scanned and you will have 9 consecutive days to visit all remaining attractions. That gives you plenty of time to discover New York City at a relaxed pace.
Step 3: Use it
Simply present your pass at the ticket counter of your selected City Pass attraction. Upon scanning the QR code on your phone or printout, you will receive your standard admission ticket in return. Your CityPASS fully covers admissions and there won’t be any additional charges.
How much does the CityPASS cost?
The New York CityPASS costs $138 for adults, meaning that you pay an average of $28 per attraction. For kids from 6-17, the City Pass costs $118. A CityPASS is likely not worth it for kids younger than 6, as many attractions will be free for them anyway. Because the pass is already heavily discounted, there is no further New York City Pass promo.
Available Upgrades and Extras with the CityPASS
- Visit the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building for $35-38 +tax
- 15% discount at Showtime Pictures and The Official Empire State Building Store
- Jump the line at the Empire State Building with an Express Pass for $33
- Receive $5 off your Rockefeller Center Tour 20% off purchases of $20 or more at Top of the Rock Retail Shops if you present your CityPASS
- Upgrade to any Circle Line cruise of higher value for $5-25
- 10% discount on the purchase in the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space museum store
New York City Pass Attractions
The New York CityPASS includes a total of 8 attractions, of which you can visit 5. Two of the five tickets are pre-selected for you and can’t be changed. For the other three, you have a choice between six options. You do not need to make these choices when you purchase the City Pass NYC. The pass allows you to stay flexible and choose your attractions as you go.
FIXED ATTRACTIONS
The fixed attractions included in the New York City Pass are already selected for you. You cannot switch a fixed attraction for another one.
- 1. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building was renovated and includes a new museum, making a visit even more worth it. The City Pass offers includes two admissions to the Empire State Building. This means you can visit the Empire State Building twice on one day: during the day AND the night!
- 2. American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the most popular museums in the world and also a great pick if you are traveling with children. Standard admission also includes access to the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Yet, you don’t necessarily need a pass to save money.
You can visit the American Museum of Natural History for less – without a pass!
We are not here to advertise something that you don’t need. Our goal to help you find the best New York City Attraction Pass for you so that you can maximize your savings. The American Museum of Natural History is one of the museums that offer pay-what-you-wish admission, meaning you can choose the amount you pay. It does not mean that it is free per se, however, you can pay whatever you can afford. For a full list of museums that offer free admission or pay-what-you-wish admission, check out these free museums in NYC.
ATTRACTION CHOICES
As for your remaining three attractions, you have a choice of six given options. You can easily choose three of these six attractions spontaneously when you are in the city and you don’t have to decide yet when purchasing the CityPASS.
3. Top of The Rock
The Top of the Rock remains my favorite observation platform in NYC and is, therefore, my personal recommendation. From this observation deck you have the perfect view of the Empire State Building and Downtown Manhattan on the one side and over the Central Park on the other side. This view never gets boring!
4. Guggenheim Museum
If you love art, however, the Guggenheim Museum may be a great choice for you. This museum definitely belongs to the best museums in New York City and art lovers from all around the world come here every day.
5. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
Enjoy NYC from the water. Your choices with Circle Line include the Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise or Liberty Super Express Cruise. For me exploring the city from the water is always a highlight!
6. Ferry to Liberty Island & Ellis Island
The ferry to Liberty and Ellis Island gives you access to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Access to the pedestal or the crown is not included. A visit to New York is not complete without the Statue of Liberty, right?
7. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Explore one of New York’s most popular museums: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a great choice to visit with children. Among the exhibits are the Space Shuttle Enterprise, 28 airplanes and more exciting things to discover.
8. 9/11 Memorial Museum
My personal choice would be the 9/11 Memorial Museum because it is too important to miss during your trip to New York City. Visiting this museum gave me goosebumps and I can only recommend it to every New York visitor.
Is the New York CityPASS worth it?
To figure out whether the New York City Pass is the best pass for you, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the pass, followed by my honest opinion of the City Pass.
Pros of the NY CityPASS
- you can save up to 40% off regular ticket prices
- offers discount in some attraction stores
- it can be the cheapest pass if you’re completely happy with the offer
- it’s great for museum lovers
Cons of the NY CityPASS
- two attractions are preselected, whether you want to visit them or not
- you are limited in choosing your remaining three attractions
- you don’t need a pass to save at the American Museum of Natural History
- it’s not suited for repeat visitors
Who is the New York CityPASS for?
- The CityPASS for New York can be a good pass for first-time visitors, as in includes many top attractions, museums, and cruises.
New York City Pass
My personal opinion
Generally speaking, I do not recommend buying the CityPASS. Considering the fact that you are very limited in your choices and don’t even need a pass to visit the American Museum of Natural History, I think there are better providers out there that let you customize your pass while saving a considerable amount of money.
If you do want to visit the Empire State Building twice and/or are completely happy with all CityPASS attraction choices, then the pass can be worth it for you. The best way for you to find the best pass is by using our Savings Calculator. Simply select the attractions and tours you are interested in and the tool will automatically calculate which pass will yield you the largest savings. It can be as simple as that!
Compare the NY CityPASS with other passes
Are you not sure if the CityPass NYC is the best option for you? Head to our Ultimate New York Pass Comparison to see how the New York City Pass performs against other popular attraction passes out there.
