All New York Tourist Passes Compared: Which One Should You Buy?
New York has three popular tourist passes. CityPASS is the best value for most first-timers; the New York Go City Pass only wins if you pack your days.
Types of tourist pass
Day pass
Buy New York days and stack sights: the ferry and 9/11 Museum downtown in the morning, MoMA and Edge in Midtown later, plus a Big Bus tour.
In New York: New York Go City Pass
Pick-your-own pass
Buy a set number of New York picks, like Edge, MoMA and the 9/11 Museum, and use them over 30 days.
In New York: New York Go City Explorer Pass
Fixed bundle
Pick 5 of 10 big attractions. 9 days to use them.
In New York: New York CityPASS
Which pass for your trip?
New York CityPASS
- First trip, the classic sights over 4-9 days. Five big sights for $149.
New York Go City Pass
- 2-3 days, 4+ paid sights every day. Unlimited per day; the more you do, the more you save.
New York Go City Explorer Pass
- A week or more, a few sights not on CityPASS. Pick from a longer list, 30 days to use it.
No pass needed
- Mostly Central Park, the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge. They're free.
- Just one observation deck. Buy it directly.
The passes compared
New York CityPASS
- Attractions
- 5 of 10
- Price
- $149
- Time to use
- 9 days
- Best for
- First-timers, the classics
- Empire State, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Museum
- 5 classics for $149 (about $195-205 separately)
- Only 5 attractions
- No SUMMIT or MoMA
New York Go City Pass
- Attractions
- 100+
- Price
- From $169
- Time to use
- Your choice of days
- Best for
- Packed Manhattan sightseeing days
- Empire State, Edge, Top of the Rock and One World
- Big Bus 2-day tour included
- One packed day (about $138-141) doesn't cover $169
- No SUMMIT
New York Go City Explorer Pass
- Attractions
- Your pick
- Price
- From $89
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Best for
- One big sight a day on a long stay
- MoMA, which CityPASS lacks
- 30 days to use it
- Low-value picks like the ferry waste it
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | CityPASS | Go City | Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State Building | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot |
| Top of the Rock | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot |
| Edge | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Statue of Liberty ferry | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot |
| 9/11 Museum | Included, book a slot | Included | Included |
| MoMA | Not included | Included | Included |
Worth knowing before you buy
One deck is usually enough
The Empire State, Top of the Rock and Edge views are similar. Pick one, ideally at sunset.
CityPASS wins for most first-timers
Five classics usually cost about $195-205 separately, against $149.
Many top sights are free
Central Park, the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry cost nothing.
No pass includes SUMMIT
Buy SUMMIT One Vanderbilt directly if it's your deck.
Whichever pass you pick, queues at the decks and the ferry eat into your day. Check how busy each attraction is right now on beatthecrowd.co.
Check live crowds in New York →How pass companies make money
New York CityPASS, New York Go City Pass and New York Go City Explorer Pass all make money the same way. Knowing how helps you get your money's worth in New York.
Sellers buy entry to places like Empire State Building at a discount and resell it as a bundle.
Every New York pass day or slot left unused is profit for the seller.
Bigger versions of New York CityPASS look cheaper per attraction than they really are.
Other ways to save
- Go City New York Essentials
From $99: one of the Empire State Building, Edge, Top of the Rock or One World Observatory, plus 2 more from the top 9.
FAQs
Which New York pass is best?
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For most first-timers, New York CityPASS: five big sights for $149. For 4+ sights a day, the New York Go City Pass. For a few sights on a longer trip, the Explorer.
Does any New York pass include SUMMIT?
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No.
Which pass includes the Statue of Liberty?
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All three include the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry.
Which New York pass includes MoMA?
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The New York Go City Pass and the Explorer both include MoMA. New York CityPASS doesn't.