Is the New York CityPASS Worth It? Here’s What You Get

I’ll share my first-hand experience using the CityPASS, breaking down what’s included, how much you can really save, tips to maximize its value, and how it stacks up against other NYC tourist passes.

Grab a bagel and settle in for a frank, friendly guide to conquering the Big Apple on a budget.

What Is the New York CityPASS?

New York CityPASS is a sightseeing ticket package that covers entry to 5 major attractions in NYC for one bundled price. In 2025, the pass costs $154 for adults (18+) and $129 for youths (ages 6–17), plus a $2 processing fee.

Once activated, it’s valid for 9 consecutive days, giving you just over a week to use it at your own pace. Here’s what you get:

• Empire State Building – 86th Floor Observatory plus admission to the 2nd-floor museum with a bonus same-night revisit. (Yes, CityPASS lets you go twice in one day – a daytime visit and a same-night view from the Observatory are included!)
• American Museum of Natural History – General admission plus one special exhibit or show (e.g. planetarium show or giant-screen film).
• Plus your choice of 3 of the following 6 options (no need to decide upfront, you can choose as you go):
  • Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center Observation Deck) – General admission.
  • Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island – Ferry access to both islands, including the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island Immigration Museum (note: pedestal and crown access are not included).
  • 9/11 Memorial & Museum – General admission to the 9/11 Museum.
  • Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise – One regular cruise of your choice (e.g. a Landmark Cruise, Liberty Midtown, or Sunset cruise).
  • Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – General admission (with Space Shuttle pavilion, submarine Growler, and all exhibitions).
  • Guggenheim Museum – General admission to the famous art museum on Fifth Avenue.

In total, CityPASS covers 8 attractions (2 fixed + 6 choice options), of which you’ll visit 5 using the pass. You’ll receive digital tickets (via email and the handy CityPASS mobile app) that you scan at each attraction – no paper booklets these days.

I found the app useful for making reservations and keeping all my tickets organized in one place, as some popular sites do require you to reserve a time slot in advance.

Validity & Flexibility: You have one year from purchase to start using CityPASS, and once you visit your first attraction, the 9-day clock begins. The 9-day window was plenty for my one-week trip; it allowed a couple of rest or free-exploration days in between sightseeing.

You can visit multiple CityPASS attractions in a single day or spread them out – it’s up to you. Just note that each attraction can be visited once (no re-entry on separate days) and the pass is personal (one entry per attraction per pass).

2025 Price Check: At $156 total (after the processing fee), the CityPASS wasn’t an impulsive purchase for my tight budget – so I wanted to be sure it was worth it. Let’s crunch the numbers on individual ticket costs to see how much you really save.

Does CityPASS Really Save You Money?

CityPASS advertises “Save up to 41%” compared to buying tickets separately. As a skeptical traveler, I verified these claims by checking official ticket prices at each included attraction.

Here’s a breakdown of the current adult prices (2025) for CityPASS attractions bought individually, versus the CityPASS cost:

Prices above include tax as of 2025. Many attractions use dynamic pricing. For instance, Top of the Rock can range $43–66 depending on day/time.

As you can see, if you fully use the CityPASS for the priciest attractions, the savings are real – on the order of $100+ off normal admission.

In my case, I visited the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Museum, and took a Circle Line cruise.

Had I paid à la carte, I’d have spent roughly $260+. With CityPASS, I paid $156 all-in. That’s about $104 saved, which felt like a big win for my budget.

However, the value you get from CityPASS depends on your travel style and priorities. A few realistic considerations:

• Using All 5 Tickets: To maximize savings, you need to use all five admissions. If you only manage 3 or 4 of the attractions (due to time constraints or fatigue), the pass delivers less value. For example, doing only 3 big attractions with CityPASS (say ESB, AMNH, and one observation deck) would not save you money versus buying individual tickets – you’d essentially break even or even lose a bit. Plan to use all 5 admissions if you buy the pass.

• Interest Alignment: CityPASS focuses on classic tourist highlights. If you’re not interested in something like the Intrepid Museum or Guggenheim, for instance, you might end up choosing a less expensive option just to use the pass – which dilutes the savings. In my case I’m a museum nerd, so I was happy to use the pass on museums and observatories. But if your personal must-see list doesn’t align with CityPASS’s options, you might be paying for an inclusion you don’t truly want.

• Child/Youth Savings: If you’re a family traveling, note that the youth CityPASS (age 6–17) is $129. The regular gate prices for many attractions drop for kids (often around $5–$10 cheaper than adult rates). Even so, CityPASS still calculated up to 50% savings for youth when used to the max. For example, the Empire State’s youth ticket (ages 6–12) can be ~$66 on peak days, and many museums charge ~$20–$30 for kids. Add those up and the pass is still a deal for teens and older kids who pay near-adult prices. (Children under 6 are mostly free or very cheap at attractions, so little ones wouldn’t need a pass at all.)

CityPASS can indeed save you a significant chunk of cash – if you were already planning to hit these blockbuster sights. In pure dollars, it offers a solid discount on NYC’s notoriously pricey admissions.

But extracting that value requires a bit of planning. Here’s how to make sure you get every penny’s worth.

Tips to Maximize Your CityPASS Value

Using the CityPASS effectively on a budget trip is all about smart planning and timing.

From my experience, here are some tips to help you make the most of the pass (and avoid common pitfalls):

• Plan (and Reserve) Ahead: Some CityPASS attractions require advance reservations – for instance, the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty ferry, 9/11 Museum, Circle Line cruises, and Intrepid Museum all needed me to book a time slot. As soon as you buy the pass (even before you land in NYC), use the CityPASS app or website to reserve your spots. Popular times (like sunset at observatories, or morning ferry slots for Liberty Island) can fill up days or weeks ahead. Early planning ensures you won’t be left standing outside a fully booked venue.

• Group Attractions by Location: New York is huge, and zig-zagging from Midtown to Downtown in one day wastes time and subway fare. To save money on transport (and your sanity), cluster your CityPASS visits geographically. For example, I combined the Statue of Liberty ferry and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on the same day – both are downtown, so I only had to travel to the Financial District once. Another day, I paired the Intrepid Museum with a Circle Line cruise, since the Intrepid’s pier and Circle Line docks are adjacent on the Hudson River. By contrast, the Empire State Building (34th Street) and Top of the Rock (50th Street) are in Midtown – not too far apart – so doing one in the morning and the other in the evening worked well. Smart clustering will help you see more while spending less time and money on transit.

• Start Early to Beat Crowds: “Time is money” is especially true when you’ve pre-paid for an attraction pass. To avoid wasting hours in line (and potentially missing something on a busy day), arrive early at popular sights. I showed up at the Empire State Building right at opening – the security line was much shorter than later in the day. Similarly, catching the first ferry to Liberty Island saved me from the massive lines that formed mid-morning. CityPASS doesn’t let you skip security lines, but it often lets you skip the ticket purchase line. Even with a pass, you’ll still queue for airport-style security at places like the Statue or Empire State, so beating the rush can save you a lot of time.

• Use the “Bonus” Features: Make sure to capitalize on any extra perks CityPASS offers. Not everyone knows this, but the CityPASS entry for the Empire State Building includes a same-night re-entry bonus. I timed my initial visit for late afternoon to view the city in daylight, then returned later that night (after dinner) to see the skyline sparkling in the dark – all on the same ticket. Getting two different experiences out of one attraction added huge value (and normally would cost extra). Likewise, the Natural History Museum ticket included with CityPASS let me see a special Hayden Planetarium space show at no extra charge – something I’d have paid for separately otherwise. Read the fine print on your CityPASS inclusions (the app lists what’s included for each attraction) so you don’t miss out on these valuable extras.

• Don’t Rush if You Don’t Have To: With 9 days of validity, you don’t need to cram all 5 attractions into a 2-day spree (unlike some unlimited passes that push you to do as much as possible per day). As a budget traveler, I balanced my days with free or low-cost activities: one day I spent just wandering Central Park and only used the pass in the evening for Top of the Rock. Spreading out the CityPASS attractions prevented burnout and let me enjoy each site more thoroughly. Remember, unused days on the pass cost you nothing extra – so feel free to take a break or explore NYC’s many free attractions in between your CityPASS sights.

• Mind the Schedule and Season: Some attractions (especially the Circle Line cruises) have specific departure times or reduced schedules in winter. Check the timings and plan accordingly so you don’t miss the boat – literally. Also consider the day of the week: for instance, many museums close on Wednesdays or Mondays. The Guggenheim, for example, is closed on Thursdays, and the 9/11 Museum is closed on Tuesdays – little details that could throw off your plan if you’re not aware. The CityPASS app’s info section was helpful for checking hours and closures. A bit of homework can save you from showing up to a locked door.

• Use a Subway Pass: While not part of CityPASS, an unlimited weekly MetroCard (if you’re in NYC for a week) was a lifesaver for me and very much in the budget traveler spirit. For ~$34, I had 7 days of unlimited subway/bus rides. Since CityPASS had me bouncing between different neighborhoods (from Battery Park to Uptown), the MetroCard more than paid for itself compared to buying single rides. It’s not included in any tourist pass, but it’s the best friend of a traveler trying to see a lot on the cheap. Factor in transportation costs when planning your days – a little investment in a transit pass can maximize the value of your CityPASS by making it easier (and cheaper) to get to every attraction.

But how does the CityPASS compare to the other sightseeing passes out there? Let’s see what alternatives budget-conscious travelers should consider.

CityPASS vs Other NYC Tourist Passes

New York City is a giant playground of attractions, and several companies offer their own multi-attraction passes.

The CityPASS is just one flavor. As a thrifty traveler, I researched them all before deciding – because the best choice for you might depend on your itinerary.

Here’s an overview of how CityPASS stacks up against two popular alternatives: the Go City New York “Explorer Pass” and all-inclusive passes like The New York Pass. (I’ll also mention a few others, like CityPASS’s little sibling “C3” and the Sightseeing Pass, for completeness.)

Go City New York Explorer Pass (Pick 2–10 Attractions)

Instead of a fixed package, the Explorer Pass by Go City lets you choose a set number of attractions (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10) from a huge list of options. It covers over 90 NYC sights and tours, from the major landmarks to more niche experiences.

The appeal here is flexibility: you’re not limited to CityPASS’s 8 predefined attractions. Want to visit the Edge at Hudson Yards or One World Observatory (neither of which are in CityPASS)?

The Explorer Pass has you covered. Want to do a bike rental in Central Park, a Broadway walking tour, or check out the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)? It’s on the list.

How it works: You purchase an Explorer Pass for a certain number of attractions (let’s say 5 attractions for example). Prices scale with the number – roughly, a 3-choice pass costs around $100, 5 choices around $140–$150, and 10 choices about $200+ (prices can vary with promotions).

Once activated, it’s valid for 30 days, so you have more time to use it than CityPASS’s 9-day window. Like CityPASS, it’s a scan-and-go digital pass and you can decide your attractions on the fly (no need to pre-select when buying).

Pros: The flexibility to pick any from 90+ attractions is the biggest draw. The Explorer Pass includes all the CityPASS attractions and then some. For example, I was tempted by the Edge observation deck, which I ended up visiting separately – an Explorer Pass would have allowed me to include Edge in my bundle, potentially saving more.

Also, if you’re a repeat visitor or have specific interests (say you’ve done the “big 5” before and want to try different sights), the broad selection is great. The 30-day validity is friendly for longer trips or if you’re doing a workation in NYC and sightseeing on weekends.

Cons: The cost per attraction can be a bit higher if you choose a smaller bundle. For instance, a 3-attraction Explorer Pass might run around $95–$100 (so $33 per attraction on average), which only saves you money if those 3 are fairly expensive entries.

The more attractions you bundle, the better the per-ticket deal – a 7 or 10-attraction pass brings the average cost down significantly. Another downside: it doesn’t incentivize doing more than your chosen number – once you use your 5 slots, that’s it. If you spontaneously decide you want to see a 6th attraction, you’d have to pay separately (or buy an upgrade).

In contrast, an all-inclusive pass (below) would cover additional stops within its time limit. Also, analysis paralysis can be real – with 90 options, it might overwhelm planners who aren’t sure what they want to do.

But for most budget travelers, the Explorer Pass is a flexible alternative especially if CityPASS’s limited list doesn’t match your wish list.

CityPASS vs Explorer: If your goal is to hit NYC’s top 5 iconic attractions in one trip, CityPASS’s curated list is hard to beat on price – it specifically bundles the heavy-hitters at a lower cost. However, if you want a different mix of attractions or a specific number (more or fewer than 5), the Explorer Pass is attractive.

For example, let’s say you only really want to pay for 3 attractions on your visit – you could opt for the CityPASS C3 Pass (CityPASS’s own 3-choice mini version, priced about $114) or get a Go City 3-choice pass (around $100). The Go City version might offer more choice of which three (Edge vs. Guggenheim vs. others), whereas CityPASS C3 has a smaller pool but includes things like the Empire State and Top of the Rock by default.

On the higher end, if you want to do 7–10 attractions, the Explorer Pass will accommodate that in one purchase, whereas CityPASS would max out at 5 (and you’d be on your own for any extra sights).

For a budget traveler focused on the classic must-sees, CityPASS is a straightforward money-saver. For a traveler who wants flexibility or more variety – perhaps including newer observatories or unique tours – an Explorer Pass might give more bang for your buck, even if the total cost is higher. It really depends on your itinerary.

All-Inclusive Passes (The New York Pass & Others)

Another category is the unlimited all-inclusive passes, such as The New York Pass® (by Go City) and the NYC Sightseeing Pass.

These work on a day-based model: you buy a pass for a certain number of consecutive days (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days are common options) and during that time you can visit as many included attractions as you want.

It’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet of sightseeing – great for power tourists, but potentially overkill for slow-paced budget travelers.

The New York Pass (by Go City): This well-known pass covers 100+ attractions, tours, and experiences across the city. It includes everything from the major sights (all the observatories – Empire, Top of the Rock, Edge, One World – plus Statue ferry, museums, etc.) to bus tours, walking tours, bike rentals, and more. You purchase it for a set duration.

For example, a 3-day New York Pass was listed around $274 (adult) in 2025. In that 3-day span, you could theoretically squeeze in dozens of activities. The pass promises savings up to ~50% if you manage to do a lot.

In one of their sample itineraries, they tallied $526 worth of admissions done in 3 days (Empire State, a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus, Edge, Statue ferry, 9/11 Museum, One World Observatory, Top of the Rock, Madame Tussauds, and a specialty ride) – which indeed would be half-price at the pass rate.

Pros: If you’re an energizer bunny traveler determined to see everything, an all-inclusive pass can offer tremendous value. You’re essentially prepaying a flat rate and then the more you do, the more you save.

On my busiest day using CityPASS, I did 2 attractions; but I met another traveler using a 2-day New York Pass who did 4–5 attractions per day to maximize it – an exhausting pace, but it worked for them.

All-inclusive passes also include some experiences CityPASS doesn’t (like the Big Bus tours, many smaller museums, guided tours, etc.), which could eliminate other out-of-pocket costs.

Cons: The big one is price and pace. A multi-day pass is expensive upfront – often more than CityPASS. For example, a 5-day New York Pass might cost around $300+ per adult. That only saves you money if you actually use it enough.

There’s a bit of pressure to “get your money’s worth” which can lead to rushing from attraction to attraction. If you have only 1 or 2 days in NYC, I honestly wouldn’t recommend trying to do an unlimited pass – you’ll be running ragged and not enjoying the vibe of the city.

Additionally, these passes run on consecutive calendar days, not 24-hour periods. So if you activate a 3-day pass at 4pm on Monday, that counts as day 1 (Monday), then Tuesday is day 2, Wednesday day 3, expiring at midnight Wednesday. You’d lose out on half of Monday.

To maximize them, you always start first thing in the morning. Finally, unused potential is wasted money: if you slow down or skip things, the pass’s value diminishes quickly. For budget travelers who prefer a flexible schedule or need a rest day, the all-inclusive model can be tricky.

CityPASS vs All-Inclusive: These serve different travel styles. CityPASS is great for a medium-paced, highlights-only itinerary – you have over a week to do 5 things and you’re not stressing about squeezing in attraction #6 or #7 to make it pay off.

All-inclusive passes are for “see it all” sprinters – perhaps those spending a long vacation in NYC and wanting to visit 10–15 attractions intensively. They can actually save more money in total if you have the stamina and interest to hit a long list of sights that would cost hundreds more individually.

As a budget traveler, I was tempted by the New York Pass but ultimately realized I didn’t want to shell out $250+ and then feel forced to adhere to a tight sightseeing schedule. For me, CityPASS struck a nice balance: a solid discount on the biggies without the frenzy.

Other Options: CityPASS C3 and Sightseeing Flex Pass

Lest we forget, there are a couple more options on the market that cater well to budget-conscious visitors:

• CityPASS C3: This is CityPASS’s own mini version – you get to pick any 3 attractions from a list of about 11 (which interestingly includes some not in the main CityPASS, like Edge at Hudson Yards and MoMA). The C3 pass costs around $114 (adult) in 2025. If you’re on a short trip or only want to pay for three major sights, C3 is a good option. It has the same 9-day validity and works via the CityPASS app. In fact, I met a backpacker at my hostel who chose C3 because she had just a long weekend in NYC – she did Empire State, the Statue ferry, and the Met (Metropolitan Museum was available on C3 through a partner offer). Her cost was lower, and she didn’t feel the need to do more just because a pass had capacity. Tip: If 5 attractions (and $154) feels too high for your budget or schedule, consider if C3 might be a fit.

• Sightseeing Pass / FlexPass: Another company offers the Sightseeing Day Pass (all-inclusive like New York Pass) and Sightseeing Flex Pass (similar to Explorer, choose a fixed number of attractions). The pricing and inclusions are akin to Go City’s offerings, with slight differences in which smaller attractions are included. One thing to note: the Sightseeing passes often include One World Observatory and some Broadway/entertainment discounts that CityPASS doesn’t. I won’t dive deep here, but it’s worth comparing prices if, say, the Sightseeing Flex 5-attraction pass is on sale – sometimes you can snag deals. The concept, however, is the same as the Go City passes.

Important: No matter which pass you choose, Summit One Vanderbilt (the shiny new mirrored observation deck) is not included in any of them as of 2025.

I had to buy a separate ticket to Summit, which hurt the wallet a bit, but it was a unique experience I didn’t want to miss. So if Summit is on your list, budget for that separately – no pass will save you there.

Is CityPASS Worth It for Budget Travelers?

After experiencing New York City with a CityPASS in hand, here’s my honest take: CityPASS is worth it for many budget travelers, but not all. It ultimately comes down to your itinerary and travel style.

Who Will Love CityPASS: If you’re a first-time visitor to NYC and your goal is to see the big iconic attractions in an efficient, cost-saving way, CityPASS is almost a no-brainer.

It bundles exactly those must-see sites (Empire State, Statue of Liberty, major museums, etc.) that likely top your list, and it delivers them at around 40% off normal prices.

For a week-long trip, it nicely fills 4–5 days of sightseeing at a relaxed pace, leaving you other free days for roaming neighborhoods or enjoying free activities.

I’d especially recommend it to travelers who wouldn’t otherwise skip these attractions – if you know you were going to pay for the Empire State Building and a couple of museums anyway, the pass simply makes financial sense.

Families can benefit too: you get a lot of “edu-tainment” value between the Natural History Museum, Intrepid, etc., and the savings multiply with each family member’s ticket.

Who Might Skip It: If you’re an ultra-frugal traveler or on a super short visit, think twice. For a 2-3 day trip, you might not have time to use all 5 admissions, and a smaller pass or individual tickets might be better.

Also, if your interests skew away from the typical tourist circuit – for example, maybe you’re more into neighborhoods, local food, and free parks than museums and observatories – you might not get $154 worth of value from CityPASS.

NYC has a ton of free or pay-what-you-wish attractions (Central Park, Times Square, many galleries, even the Met Museum has suggested donation for locals).

A savvy budgeteer could craft a great experience doing mostly free things and just paying out-of-pocket for one or two must-do attractions. In that case, a pass isn’t necessary.

My advice: Make a rough list of what you want to do in New York and compare the costs. If at least three or four of the CityPASS attractions are on your list, it’s very likely worth buying.

If not, maybe look into a different pass or just pay as you go for those one or two special experiences.