With so many different sightseeing passes out there, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This New York Pass comparison guide is here to help you easily spot the differences between all major New York attraction passes so that you can quickly determine the very best NYC pass for you.
I have visited New York more than twenty times and have tested every sightseeing pass multiple times on my many visits. None of the pass providers have paid me to write about them; my reviews of New York attraction passes and my experiences are 100% authentic. If you have any questions, always feel free to contact me at
steffen@loving-newyork.com!
In my New York pass comparison, I’ll show you which attraction pass is the best for you. With it you will not only save money, but also time!
Looking for a shortcut? Click here to 👉 compare the NYC attraction passes, 👉 see my personal recommendation or 👉 calculate your savings with the New York Attraction Passes.
Attention: Since end of March 2023 the 9/11 Memorial Museum is not part of the Sightseeing DAY and FLEX Pass – You will find my alternatives in this article!
1. Why should you buy a New York Attraction Pass?
Quite simply, they save you a ton of money! There are nine different New York Sightseeing Passes available which are all slightly different, meaning that you will be able to find one that suits your specific needs. As you will see here, they can make your NYC trip much easier and help you save money & time.
Before my many trips, I often found it hard to know beforehand how much I would save with each of the attraction passes for the city and whether they would be worth purchasing. Here I will share my knowledge and experience with you so that you don’t have the same issues I had.
2. How do New York Attraction Passes work?
All New York Attraction Passes function identically. After you purchase a pass, you have 12 to 24 months to activate it, which will automatically happen when you visit your first attraction.
You can visit each attraction only once when using a pass; the only exception to this is the New York CityPASS. With this pass, you can visit the Empire State Building twice within the same day!
Once you purchase an NYC pass, you will be able to select from several delivery options. The easiest way to obtain your pass is the mobile pass, as it will be emailed to you right away. To use your pass, simply present it at your selected attraction. Attendants will then scan the QR Code and give you your ticket!
3. How To Find The Best Sightseeing Pass
Finding the right New York attraction pass is not as hard as it looks. Due to the different makeup of each pass, each one serves a specific purpose!
It’s important to understand a key difference: some New York City sightseeing passes are attraction-based, meaning you choose the number of attractions you can visit beforehand, while others are day-based, meaning that you choose the number of days you can visit attractions beforehand. Besides the type and validity, other differences can be found when it comes to included attractions, advantages, pricing, and discounts.
Day-Based Passes
When purchasing NYC day passes, you will select the number of days you would like to go sightseeing in New York City. During the selected time frame, you can visit as many attractions as you want! You could also say that these types of passes are all-inclusive passes.
If you want to see a lot in a short period of time, you should go for a day-based pass!
Please note that day-based NYC passes work on calendar days, rather than 24-hour periods, meaning that if you activate your pass at 7:00 pm, you only have five hours left pn your first day. Your New York Attraction Pass will only be activated when you visit your first attraction.
Pros
- You can visit as many attractions as you want within the time frame you purchase, which may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days.
- All costs are covered
- Huge savings are possible
Cons
- The days must be used consecutively.
These are all day-based NYC Tourist Passes that are currently available. For each, I’ll show you which attractions you can visit with it, how much it costs, and if the pass is worth it!
- New York Pass
- Sightseeing Day Pass
- New York All-Inclusive Pass
Attraction-Based Passes
Attraction-based passes are sightseeing passes such as the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass, CityPASS, and the Go New York Explorer Pass. They allow you to visit up to twelve attractions and are very flexible in terms of time; from the first use, the passes are valid for up to 60 days.
If you want to be flexible and do your sightseeing spread out over several days, then this type of New York Attraction Pass is the way to go!
Pros
- Valid up to 60 days
- You do not commit to see any particular attraction, just the number of attractions you wish to see.
- Huge savings are possible
Cons
- Limited to the number of attractions you selected (3 to 12)
Here are all current attraction-based passes for New York City. For each, I’ll show you which attractions you can visit, how much it costs, and if the pass is worth purchasing!
- Sightseeing Flex Pass
- Go New York Explorer Pass
- CityPASS
- C3 Pass
- C All Pass
- Turbopass
4. Comparison: Which New York Attraction Pass should you choose?
So, what is the best attraction pass for visiting attractions in New York City? Let’s find out by comparing them:
Which Museums are included in the New York Sightseeing Passes?
The New York City tourist passes are the best way to save money on entry fees at the NYC attractions. Many museums and exhibitions in New York City like The Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the 9/11 Memorial and even the Fotografiska New York are included in the different sightseeing passes. But which are the best museum passes for New York City? Here is a quick overview:
How can I make reservations at attractions with my New York Pass?
It depends on the attractions and your sightseeing pass. At the Empire State Building, you ALWAYS need a separate ticket (it’s free) because you must commit to a specific time and date. For most attractions, you just go to its location and you will receive the next free time slot. You can also choose the time slot that suits you best. From my experience, I have found that this is always in periods of 15 minutes to 4 hours.
- How to reserve with your New York Pass
- How to reserve with your Go New York Explorer Pass
- How to reserve with your Sightseeing DAY Pass
- How to reserve with your Sightseeing FLEX Pass
- How to reserve with your All-Inclusive Pass
5. My recommendations
I have been to NYC more than twenty times and have tested every attraction pass multiple times, so you can be sure that these are real and honest reviews from me!
You’re still not quite sure? 🤔
Then our New York Pass Savings Calculator is the answer to all your questions! It calculates instantly which New York Pass is the best for you – individually tailored to your sightseeing. He will also show you if a NYC pass is not worth it.
Try NYC Attraction Pass Savings Calculator
Extra tickets are required here
For these attractions, you must book a separate ticket and present it TOGETHER with your respective New York Attraction Pass at the ticket counter:
6. What is the best attraction pass for New York City?
If you are looking for a shortcut to the best NYC attraction pass right away, here is my list of the best, including alternatives:
#1 The best New York City Tourist Pass for first-time visitors
Especially if you are in New York for the first time and want to see as many of the attractions and sights as possible, the day-based passes are a good idea. My favorites are the Sightseeing Pass NYC and the New York Pass.
They are quite similar, and you will not go wrong with either one. The good thing about these sightseeing passes is that you can see as many attractions as you want!
#2 The best New York Attractions Pass for selected attractions
If you already know exactly what you want to do in New York City, then I recommend the Sightseeing FLEX Pass, New York Explorer Pass (now called Go New York Explorer Pass) or the CityPASS New York.
All three sightseeing passes are attraction based and you can choose exactly how many attractions you wish to see.
#3 The best NYC Pass for families
In my opinion, the best sightseeing pass for families is the Sightseeing FLEX Pass, which I have used several times with my family. With it, you can be flexible with your time, and it offers a 50% discount on children’s passes.
Still not sure? Calculate your savings here.
7. What are the day-based sightseeing passes for New York?
For each of the passes, I’ll show you which attractions you can visit with, how much it costs, and if the pass is worth purchasing! At the end of the section, you can compare which is the better pass for you in the New York Pass vs. Sightseeing Pass comparison.
NOTE: The newest observation deck SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, is not yet included with any attraction pass for New York. Tickets for the One Vanderbilt observation deck can be purchased here.
New York Pass
The New York Pass gives you access to all included attractions during the duration that you select. You can select between 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days and choose from over 110 attractions while saving up to 50% compared to regular ticket prices.
What attractions are included in the New York Pass?
The New York Pass includes an extensive list of attractions, museums, walking tours, bus tours, and cruises. The Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, The Edge at Hudson Yards and the One World Observatory are included.
Here is a small selection of the 110+ attractions:
- Empire State Building
- One World Observatory
- Edge Hudson Yards
- Top of the Rock
- Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- Circle Line Cruises
- 1-Day Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (valid for 24 hours)
- 9/11 Memorial Museum
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- American Museum of Natural History
You can find the full list of included attractions here.
How much does the New York Pass cost?
New York Pass prices start at $142 for the 1-day pass and go as high as 369 for the 10-day pass. You save more, the larger your pass is and the more attractions you visit.
Is the New York Pass really worth it?
Yes! If you visit at least 2 attractions a day, the New York Pass will be worth the money. Compared to other passes, the New York Pass offers most fast lanes, including main attractions like the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, MoMA, and Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.
Just like the Sightseeing Pass, the New York Pass includes over 100 unique attractions and tours. The biggest advantage you’ll get when you buy the New York Pass is the access to fast lanes. It offers fast tracks for many of New York’s top attractions, such as the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock.
How to use the New York Pass?
The New York Pass is a great unlimited pass option, ideal for seeing a large number of attractions in a short period of time. Purchase the pass online to receive your mobile pass. You can then show this at the counter when entering the attraction in order to receive your entrance tickets – simple!
👇 Don’t forget to use my promo code “LNYOfferNYP” to get an extra 6% off! 👇
BUY NEW YORK PASS
New York Sightseeing DAY Pass
The New York Sightseeing DAY Pass gives you access to over 100 attractions during the number of days you purchase. You can choose between 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 days and save up to 50% compared to regular ticket prices.
On top of that, our promo code LNYOffer can save you up to an additional 40%!
What attractions are included in the New York Sightseeing DAY Pass?
This day-based pass also has a lot to offer; with it you can visit more than 100 of the most popular attractions. You can visit four observation decks, use the hop-on hop-off buses, and visit the American Museum of Modern Art or the Guggenheim Museum.
- One World Observatory
- The Edge Hudson Yards
- Top of the Rock
- Empire State Building
- Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
- Circle Line Cruises
- Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (1 Day Classic Ticket, valid for 24 hours)
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- American Museum of Natural History
Here you can find the list of all attractions included in the Sightseeing DAY Pass.
How much does the Sightseeing DAY Pass cost?
Is the New York Sightseeing Pass worth it?
Yes! The New York Sightseeing Pass can save you a ton of money, provides you with a lot of flexibility in terms of attractions, as well as removes a lot of the hassle from your NYC Sightseeing trip. As the pass with the best value for money of the lot, it is definitely worth it if you are planning on up to 10 days of consecutive NYC sightseeing.
In order to get the most out of your sightseeing pass, you should plan on visiting around 2-3 NYC attractions with your pass each day.
The longer you purchase the pass for the fewer attractions you need to visit per day to make sure the pass is worth the money. If you purchase a Sightseeing Pass for 6 days for example (~$284), you get unlimited sightseeing for ~$48 per day, which is below the price of many attractions tickets purchased on their own. This means that you only need to visit one attraction a day for 7 days to make this pass worth it! This is what makes this the best value for money pass of the bunch.
How to use the NYC Sightseeing Pass?
The NYC Sightseeing Pass is a piece of cake to use! After purchasing the pass online, you will receive an email with your pass. You can from here print the pass or save it to your phone. Once you are in NYC and ready to go sightseeing with your New York tourist pass, choose which attraction you want to visit on the go and head towards it with your Sightseeing Pass in hand. Choose as you go, simply show your Pass at each attraction for free admission; easy!
👇 Don’t forget using my exclusive discount code “LNYOffer”! 👇
Buy Sightseeing Day Pass
New York Pass vs. Sightseeing Pass
I often get the question whether the New York Pass or the New York Sightseeing Pass is better. While there are differences, both passes are worth the money and you won’t go wrong with either of them.
For both New York Day Passes, the attractions and included tours are almost identical. You can visit all the major attractions, except for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and The Met. Both include a 1 Day Classic Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket and many of the boat and walking tours!
So, what are the differences between the two? New York Pass is a little better in terms of boat tours because it’s the only one that includes the Circle Line Best-Of Cruise (which takes you all the way around the island of Manhattan). The Sightseeing Pass is better in two aspects: first, it is cheaper than the New York Pass with our exclusive discount code (as you can see in the table), and it’s also available in a 6-day version!
New York All-Inclusive Pass
The All-Inclusive Pass is managed by the same company as the New York Pass. It functions the same as the New York Pass in how it works, the available attractions and tours, and prices. Since it is quite new compared to the New York Pass, I would recommend the original.
8. What are the attraction-based sightseeing passes for New York?
Note: The newest observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, is not yet included with any NYC pass. Tickets for the One Vanderbilt observation deck can be purchased here.
New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass
The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass can be used as a pass to visit 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, or 12 attractions from a list of over 100. It is a great option for visitors to NYC who are looking to spend non-consecutive days sightseeing in NYC. The NYC Sightseeing FLEX Pass is a great option if you are interested in visiting major attractions, museums, or taking the hop-on hop-off buses.
It also gives you a large amount of flexibility since you do not need to decide on which attractions to visit beforehand. All that you have to do is show your Sightseeing Pass at the first attraction (included in your pass) that you wish to visit.
Attractions included in New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass
These are what I consider to be the top attractions and tours you can visit with the Sightseeing Pass FLEX (there are over 100 in total):
- One World Observatory
- The Edge Hudson Yards
- Top of the Rock
- Empire State Building
- Circle Line Cruises
- Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (1 Day Classic Ticket, valid for 24 hours)
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- American Museum of Natural History
Here you can find the list of all attractions included in the Sightseeing FLEX Pass.
How much does the Flex Pass cost?
👇 Don’t forget using my exclusive discount code “LNYOffer”! 👇
BUY NYC SIGHTSEEING FLEX PASS
Is the New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass worth it?
The NYC Sightseeing Flex Pass is most definitely worth it if you are looking to visit up to 12 NYC attractions on non-consecutive days, all while saving money and remaining flexible during your trip. If you visit all of the attractions you have purchased with your pass, it is definitely worth it alone for the amount of money you can save. It is however also extremely worth it because of the flexibility that the New York tourist pass gives you. Choose as you go, simply show your NYC Sightseeing Pass at each attraction for free admission, for as many attractions as you purchased!
Compared to the cost of tickets individually, you save over 40% with the Sightseeing Flex Pass for 10 attractions. This is quite relaxed possible, because you have 30 days to visit these attractions.
How to use the NYC Sightseeing FLEX Pass?
The NYC Sightseeing Flex Pass is super simple to use. Once you have purchased the pass you will receive an email with a QR code (that you can either print or save to your phone), which you can then scan at attractions to gain free entry.
Does the NY Sightseeing FLEX Pass include the NY Sightseeing Bus (Hop-On Hop-Off) Tours?
Yes! The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass includes the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours (Uptown & Downtown Bus Loops) which count as just one choice and are valid for 24 hours.
Go New York Explorer Pass
The Go New York Explorer Pass is a great option if you already know how many attractions you want to visit. Choosing between 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 attractions from the list of over 100, this NYC Pass offers you a 60-day window to visit the number of attractions you selected. The New York Go Explorer pass gives you the freedom to explore New York at your own pace, choosing from an extensive list of NYC attractions and tours.
Attractions included in Go New York Explorer Pass
With the Explorer Pass, you can visit many amazing attractions like the Empire State Building, the Top of the Rock, and the observation deck Edge Hudson Yards, as well as take walking tours, the hop-on hop-off bus tours, and boat tours.
Also included are major museums like MoMA, the Guggenheim, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History. Here is a selection of the most popular attractions and tours you can visit with the Explorer Pass (there are over 110 in total):
- Empire State Building
- Top of the Rock
- Edge Hudson Yards
- One World Observatory
- Circle Line Cruises
- 20+ Walking Tours
- Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (1 Day Classic-Ticket, valid for 24 hours)
- 9/11 Memorial Museum
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- American Museum of Natural History
Here you can find the list of all attractions included in the Go New York Explorer Pass.
How much does the Go New York Explorer Pass cost?
The prices depend on the number of attractions you want to visit with it:
Is the New York Explorer Pass worth it?
The Go New York Explorer Pass also pays off pretty quickly, in the example I spread 10 paid attractions over 3 days (and a few free ones too) – saving you $146 per person compared to the single tickets. You could also spread them over even more days, after all you have 60 days to use the Explorer Pass in New York.
How to use the New York Explorer Pass?
After deciding on how many attractions you would like to purchase the Explorer pass for, you can make the purchase online for your desired pass. You do not need to decide beforehand which attractions you would like to visit!
👇 Don’t forget to use my promo code “LNYOffer” to get an extra 6% off! 👇
GET EXPLORER PASS
New York CityPASS
The New York CityPASS allows you to save money on admissions to New York’s main attractions. In fact, with the CityPASS, you can save up to 44% on entry tickets. The New York CityPASS is valid for 9 consecutive days following the first day of use, meaning you can visit the 5 attractions at your own leisure.
Attractions included in Go New York Explorer Pass
You can choose 5 out of 8 attractions:
- Empire State Building
- American Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock OR Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island OR Circle Line Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
How much does the New York City Pass cost?
The New York CityPASS costs $129 for adults, meaning that you pay an average of $26 per attraction. For kids from 6 – 17 years, the CityPASS costs $109. 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.
Is the New York CityPASS worth it?
If you want to focus on museums, the New York CityPASS is an option for you. It is limited to the most important attractions and is also quite affordable. If you also want to do hop-on hop-off bus tours or more boat tours, then the New York Pass, Sightseeing Pass NYC and the Explorer Pass are better.
GET New York CityPASS
9. Other NYC attraction passes
In addition to the options mentioned so far, there are three other sightseeing passes that I’ll briefly name here for the purpose of being a comprehensive NYC Pass Guide. I can’t really recommend any of them, because they don’t offer you more than the New York Pass, DAY Pass, Explorer Pass, FLEX Pass and the CityPASS.
It is rather the other way around: with them you are less flexible, if you change your sightseeing program on the trip. The reasons can be manifold: maybe the weather is worse or better than planned or you spontaneously feel like visiting another sight!
C3 Pass by CityPASS
Recently, the company behind CityPASS New York has started offering two more options: the C3 Pass (limited to 3 attractions) and the C-All Pass, which lets you visit 10 attractions. The C3 Pass is – once activated in NYC – valid for 9 days. You can save up to 36% (depending on the attractions and tours you choose).
Attractions included in C3 Pass
You can choose 3 attractions from these 10:
- Empire State Building
- The Edge at Hudson Yards
- American Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- City Cruises
How much does the C 3 Pass cost?
The C 3 Pass costs $92 for adults (13+), the price for children (5-12 years) is $72.
Is the C 3 Pass worth it?
It depends! If you select the attractions whose regular ticket price is the highest with the C3 Pass, you can save up to 36% with it.
However, I personally recommend another NYC Pass – either the Sightseeing FLEX Pass or the Go New York Explorer Pass. Why? Both have a much larger selection of attractions and the popular hop-on hop-off buses are also included. Plus, both alternatives are at least as reasonably priced.
If you’re not sure whether the C3, Explorer Pass or Sightseeing FLEX Pass is right for you, just try my free New York Pass savings calculator! It will calculate in a few seconds which one will save you the most!
C-All Pass by CityPASS
The C-All pass is a bit of a cheat because its name is misleading. With this pass you can visit up to 10 attractions. You can choose from 11 attractions and boat tours, which are these:
Attractions included in C-All Pass
You can choose 10 attractions from these 11:
- Empire State Building
- The Edge at Hudson Yards
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck
- Guggenheim Museum
- Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- City Cruises
How much does the C-All-Pass cost?
The C-All Pass costs $189 for adults (13+), the price for children (5-12 years) is $139.
Are the New York City Attraction Passes worth purchasing?
I’ve put together two very common itineraries for a visit to New York City that will help you see if a New York sightseeing pass is worth purchasing, and which would be best.
New York City in Two Days
This itinerary includes seven attractions that I spread over two days.
Several of the sightseeing passes are worth purchasing – you can customize and recalculate here, and here is my itinerary for two days in New York City in full detail.
New York City in Three Days
This itinerary includes eight attractions that I spread out over three days.
With a three-day itinerary, several New York passes are worthwhile – you can customize and recalculate here, and here is my itinerary for three days New York City in full detail.
