New York CityPASS®: Save up to 41% at 5 Top Attractions

New York CityPASS is most useful when you want the city’s big sights without buying five separate tickets. You get the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, then choose three more attractions, with nine days to spread everything out.

I like the simple phone-based system and the freedom to change some reservations. I also like the Empire State Building bonus, which lets you return the same day for a second general admission visit at night. The main catch is that two attractions are fixed, and the pass is only a good deal if you actually use most of your five admissions.

Key points to know before buying

• Five admissions over nine days: Your pass begins on the first day you use it and remains valid for nine consecutive days.
• Two attractions are required: The Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History are included automatically.
• Choose three more sights: Pick from Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line, Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim.
• The app handles tickets and reservations: Download the My CityPASS app to see your mobile tickets, book time slots, and check attraction details.
• The Empire State Building includes a night return: Visit during the day, then use the same-day bonus admission that night.
• Some planning is still needed: The pass does not include transport or food, and certain venues require reservations.

How the nine-day CityPASS works

The New York CityPASS costs $154 per person and covers five attractions. You do not choose all five from a blank list. The Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History are built in, then you select three attractions from the remaining group.

Your nine-day clock starts with your first admission. That gives you far more breathing room than a one-day sightseeing pass. You can visit one major sight in the morning, take a slower afternoon, and return to another part of Manhattan later without racing from one queue to the next.

You receive mobile tickets through the My CityPASS app. The original booking voucher is not always the ticket you show at the entrance, so download the app before you begin. Open the attraction in the app, view the QR code, and present it for scanning.

I would also save screenshots of your tickets. One user did this in case of a weak internet connection, and it is a sensible bit of preparation in a city where you may be underground, inside a large museum, or moving through a crowded entrance.

Some attractions need timed reservations. Book popular time slots early, especially if your New York visit is short. You may be able to alter a reservation, sometimes even close to the appointment, but not every booking has the same flexibility.

The Empire State Building, twice in one day

The Empire State Building is one of the fixed attractions, and the CityPASS includes the 86th Floor Observatory, the second-floor museum, and an AM/PM experience. The most useful extra is same-day evening admission for general entry.

That bonus lets you see Manhattan in two moods. Visit during the day for views of the street grid, bridges, rivers, and distant buildings. Return at night for the glow of the city. You need to make both visits on the same day, so plan your schedule around it rather than treating the evening entry as a separate visit later in your trip.

The second-floor museum gives the visit more context than an observation deck alone. It also means the attraction is not just a quick elevator ride to a view, then back down.

The drawback is simple: if you have visited the Empire State Building before, you may not want to pay for it again. One person wished the pass offered more flexibility because this attraction was not a repeat priority. If this is your first New York visit, however, it is usually easy to place among your five admissions.

American Museum of Natural History and the ticket line

The American Museum of Natural History includes the permanent halls and more than 40 galleries. You also receive a choice of one ticketed feature, based on availability. Options include the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, the Hayden Planetarium Space Show, or another listed exhibition.

This is a large museum, so do not treat it as a short stop between other appointments. Pick a few galleries that matter to you and allow enough time to enjoy them. Families can spend much longer here, while adults on a tight schedule should choose their sections before arriving.

The museum is the one place where the CityPASS process may feel less direct. Instead of simply scanning the pass and walking through, you may need to join a line to convert the CityPASS entry into museum tickets. That extra step can be frustrating, especially when other attractions accept the mobile code immediately.

You should also check the current ticketed options before building your day around a planetarium show or special exhibition. The included choice depends on availability. One practical value check is important here: if you would otherwise use a lower-cost or free admission option at the museum, your actual savings may be smaller than the headline discount.

Pick your three extra attractions carefully

The pass gives you six choices for the final three admissions. They are not interchangeable in character, location, or time commitment. I would decide based on the kind of New York day you want, not simply on which attraction has the highest individual ticket price.

Top of the Rock

Top of the Rock gives you another high viewpoint, with general admission to the observation deck. It is a strong choice if you want broad city views and a clear look toward the Empire State Building.

Using both observation decks can feel repetitive, but the views are different because you are looking from different points in Midtown. Weather matters. One person changed a Rockefeller Center booking when poor visibility made the original time unattractive. If clouds or rain settle over the city, use the app to check if your reservation can be moved.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the most reflective option in the group. The memorial offers a quiet change of pace from observation decks and cruises, while the museum presents a serious account of the events and their aftermath.

Give yourself time here rather than squeezing it into a rushed downtown circuit. If you choose the Statue of Liberty or Circle Line on the same day, watch your timing closely. The 9/11 Museum is not a quick photo stop.

Statue City Cruises to Liberty and Ellis islands

This option includes one Statue City Cruises ferry ride to and from Liberty Island and Ellis Island, audio guides, and entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

It is a full sightseeing outing, not just a boat ride past the statue. You can get off at both islands, use the audio material, and see the immigration museum as part of the same admission.

The pass does not include crown tickets or pedestal access. If climbing inside the Statue of Liberty is a priority, you will need to arrange that separately. One visitor did exactly that because the crown and pedestal experience mattered to them.

Weather also deserves attention. A boat outing is far more appealing on a clear day than in cold rain. One person skipped it during a winter visit because of the temperature. Keep a flexible day in your schedule if you want the best chance of enjoying the harbor.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Circle Line offers one regularly scheduled cruise from a selection of routes: Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise. Schedules can change, so check the current timetable before booking.

This is a good pick if you want to see New York from the water without committing to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry stop. The sunset option can be especially memorable when the sky cooperates. One visitor described a sunset cruise as the best part of the trip, helped by perfect evening light.

The tradeoff is timing. A cruise locks you into the schedule, and boats are more exposed to cold weather than museums or observation decks. Check the forecast and leave enough time to reach the pier.

Intrepid Museum

The Intrepid Museum includes general admission to the aircraft carrier, Space Shuttle Pavilion, submarine Growler, immersive Kamikaze experience, and temporary exhibitions.

This is the pass choice for visitors who like engineering, military history, aircraft, or hands-on exhibits. It also gives your itinerary a different setting from Midtown towers and traditional art museums.

Allow enough time for the ship and its separate exhibits. You will be walking through a large attraction, so comfortable shoes are a good idea. The pass includes admission, but food and transport are your responsibility.

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim includes general admission to its collection and special exhibitions. You also get access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide with content in several languages, accessed on your own phone.

This is the best choice for visitors who want modern art and an unusual building experience. The architecture tour adds value if you want more than a quick look at the famous interior.

The selection is not perfect for every art lover. Some people would prefer the Metropolitan Museum of Art or Museum of Modern Art, neither of which appears among the choices listed here. If those are your main goals, compare the CityPASS with buying separate admission.

What the savings are really worth

The advertised saving is up to 41 percent, but the exact value depends on your choices and how many included features you use. At $154, I would not buy the pass simply because the discount sounds large. I would list the five attractions you genuinely want, then compare their separate prices.

The pass tends to work best for a first New York visit. The Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, a high observation deck, one museum, and a harbor outing can quickly create a full sightseeing plan.

It is also helpful for a short trip. Several people used it to organize two and a half or three busy days, booking attractions in advance and keeping tickets in one place. That approach can save both money and decision-making time.

The value drops if you dislike the two required attractions, skip one because of weather, or prefer sights outside the listed group. It also drops if your trip is so packed that you cannot use all five admissions within nine days.

Planning your days without wearing yourself out

New York attractions are spread across different neighborhoods, so group nearby stops where possible. The Empire State Building and Top of the Rock both serve as Midtown anchors. The Guggenheim sits in a different part of Manhattan, while the 9/11 Memorial, Statue City Cruises, and Circle Line require their own timing.

Do not schedule five major attractions on five consecutive mornings unless you enjoy operating like a train timetable. A better plan is to mix one large indoor attraction with one view or cruise, leaving time for meals and subway rides.

For the Empire State Building, reserve the daytime visit early enough to make the evening return practical. For cruises, check the exact departure time before adding another timed attraction. For the American Museum of Natural History, allow for the ticket conversion line and the size of the building.

Pack water, comfortable clothes, comfortable shoes, and a small daypack. A packed lunch can also help on a full sightseeing day, although food is not included in the pass.

The CityPASS itself does not cover transportation. You will need to arrange your own subway, taxi, rideshare, or walking route between attractions. That is not a serious flaw, but it should be part of your daily plan.

Reservations, flexibility, and access

The app is the central tool for this pass. You can view attraction details, access QR tickets, and make reservations when required. Several users found it easy to change dates or times, but flexibility is not guaranteed for every attraction or appointment.

Book early for a short visit. A timed reservation can help you fit the Statue City Cruises ferry, Top of the Rock, or a Circle Line sailing into a realistic day. It also prevents the pass from becoming five unused promises on your phone.

The attractions accept the mobile ticket for scanning, and the pass is wheelchair accessible. For help with the tickets, CityPASS is the listed contact point.

Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if you are still finalizing your New York dates.

Who should buy the New York CityPASS?

I would recommend it most strongly for a first visit lasting several days, especially if you want at least three of the optional attractions. It is also a good fit for families and organized planners who like having reservations, tickets, and attraction details in one app.

You should think twice if you have already visited the Empire State Building and do not want a repeat. I would also compare individual prices if your main interests are the Met, MoMA, or Statue of Liberty crown and pedestal access, since those are not included in the listed choices.

Final verdict: a practical deal with fixed choices

Buy the New York CityPASS if your plan includes the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, and three of the optional sights. The nine-day validity, mobile tickets, reservation tools, and same-day Empire State Building return make it easy to use, and the pass can cut the cost of a classic New York itinerary.

Skip it if you want complete freedom, dislike timed bookings, or would rather choose museums and special Statue of Liberty access outside the package. For most first-time visitors who want the city’s major sights, it is a sensible purchase, provided you make a real plan before tapping Buy.

FAQ

How much does the New York CityPASS cost?

The listed price is $154 per person.

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

It is valid for nine consecutive days, starting with the first day you activate it at an attraction.

How many attractions does the pass include?

The pass includes admission to five attractions.

Which attractions are included automatically?

The Empire State Building Observatory and the American Museum of Natural History are included automatically.

Which three optional attractions can I choose?

You can choose three from Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Intrepid Museum, and the Guggenheim Museum.

Can I use the Empire State Building ticket twice?

Yes. The pass includes the AM/PM Experience, with daytime admission and bonus same-night general admission on the same day.

Does the Statue City Cruises option include the Statue of Liberty crown?

No. Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access are not included.

Do I need the CityPASS app?

You should download the My CityPASS app or use my.citypass.com to access tickets, make reservations when required, and view attraction information. The app provides the mobile tickets used for scanning.

Are transportation and food included?

No. Transportation, food, and drinks are not included.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.