New York Passes and tourist cards: complete guide 2025

Want to save up to 50% on New York attractions?
New York City passes are the most effective way to see more while spending less. In this comprehensive guide, updated to 2025, you'll find out which pass to choose and when it really pays off.

New York City is a dream destination: a trip awaited by many, one that deserves to be experienced to the fullest. Millions of people visit it every year, attracted by its iconic sites, culture and entertainment.

Between museums, observatories, tours and excursions, there are so many things to do. And because of this, choosing a New York City pass is the best strategy for saving money and enjoying the city without stress.
There are several, each with specific logic and benefits, depending on the type of trip you are planning.

But which pass to New York City is really worthwhile?
In this guide you will find a detailed comparison of the major passes to New York City, with clear explanations, practical examples, and helpful tips for making an informed choice without making mistakes.

The goal is to help you understand when and why it pays to buy a pass, and which one best suits your trip.

What to see in New York City?

New York's appeal stems from the quantity and variety of experiences it offers: skyscrapers from which to view the city, some of the world's most famous museums, urban parks, multi-ethnic neighborhoods, and atmospheres that change from street to street. It embodies the concept of a great metropolis at its best.
It is difficult to explain in words the feeling that New York conveys to those who visit; the best way to capture this mood is to explore the city, through its tourist attractions and experiences.

It is a city that everyone usually likes. It has so many sides and facets that everyone finds their own key to the city, which will make them feel they are in an extraordinary place.

New York City is a nuanced metropolis with truly many things to do and see through its tourist attractions and experiences.

For those visiting New York City for the first time, there are many stops to include in the itinerary-many included in major tourist passes.
Let's look at the most famous and important ones:

• Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island-the symbol par excellence. Reached by boat, also stopping at Ellis Island, historic gateway for immigrants.
• Empire State Building - historic New York City skyscraper, the most famous. You can go up to the observatory for a unique panoramic view-it is only one of 5 panoramic observatories in the city.
• Top of the Rock - The perfect alternative for viewing the skyline. Panoramic observatory with the Empire State included in the view!
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - The must-see museum for lovers of modern and contemporary art, featuring iconic works by Van Gogh, Warhol, Picasso.
• American Museum of Natural History - Beloved by families and children, famous for dinosaurs and spectacular reconstructions.
• One World Observatory - Downtown, in the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere (with panoramic observatory), where the Twin Towers once stood.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) - Among the largest and most comprehensive museums in the world, also perfect for those who love classical art.
• The Edge - The most spectacular observatory, with a platform "suspended" over Manhattan.
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum - A must see, to understand the history of 9/11 up close.
• Tourist boat cruise - Beautiful, especially at sunset.
• Hop-on Hop-off sight seeing bus tour-the evergreen sightseeing stop bus service, ideal for those who want to move between major neighborhoods and attractions while enjoying the sights without stress.
• Tour of Harlem - in the Bronx, participating in a gospel r ite - beautiful experience, visiting one of the most authentic neighborhoods in Manhattan, with the possibility of attending a gospel rite (definitely try it!)

These are just a few of the experiences that deserve a place on your itinerary, especially if this is your first time in New York City.
But don't stop at the attractions: experience the city in its most authentic corners as well - parks, markets, rooftops, live performances, hidden sights and the unique atmosphere of each neighborhood.

With so much to see and often high ticket prices, choosing a tourist pass can really make a difference.
It helps you save on admissions (as much as 50 percent) and allows you to build a richer, more flexible and personalized itinerary.

Each pass has a different rationale: some people want to make the most of each day, while others prefer more leisurely pace.
In this comprehensive guide to New York City passes, we break them down one by one to help you figure out which one best suits your travel style.

Why it pays to buy a New York City pass

Visiting New York through its major attractions and experiences can be expensive if you buy individual tickets for each attraction.
Just the list of major sights seen just now (which is a fairly limited list to be honest), would cost you very much.

The best way to make real savings is to choose a tourist pass for New York City.
For a flat fee, you buy a card that gives you access to dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of attractions, avoiding the need to buy each admission separately, resulting in incredible savings compared to not using the pass.
Savings vary depending on the pass you choose and the number of activities you are able to do, but in a great many cases you can save more than 50 percent over full prices.

• What passes are available for New York City
• How they work and what they include
• Which pass is best for your trip
• How to get the best discounts

What are the passes to New York City?

If you are looking for a way to visit New York City while saving money on attractions, know that you have several options to choose from.
In fact, there are multiple types of passes, each with specific features designed to fit different travel styles and budgets.

To avoid confusion early on, here is a clear and up-to-date list of the major tourist passes available for New York City:

• New York Pass
• Go CIty Pass All Inclusive
• Go City Explorer Pass
• CityPASS New York

As you can see, there are different types of passes for New York City.
They all have the same goal: to give you access to major tourist attractions at a cheaper price than buying individual tickets.
But each does it differently.

The logic behind them varies: some passes allow you to visit an unlimited number of attractions in a defined time, others ask you to choose them in advance, with others you choose how much to see with the freedom to decide what at any given time.

That is why each pass fits a different style of travel.
If you're planning a packed itinerary, you'll do well to lean toward one formula; if you prefer to see less but take your time, there's another more suitable.

The starting point is to understand what kind of trip you are planning: how many attractions you want to visit, in how many days, and at what pace.
Only then can you choose the most suitable pass, the one that provides the best balance of savings, flexibility, and simplicity.

After a few useful clarifications, we will address the analysis of each available pass to New York City to arrive at a clear and comprehensive final comparison.

Do New York Cty Passes include public transportation?

No, none of the New York City passes analyzed in this guide includes public transportation.
Passes for public transportation (subway, bus) must be done separately, through the Metrocard and/or the use of the OMNY system..
Passes for public transportation that allow unlimited travel on New York City's transportation network on single trips or unlimited passes for a 7-day period.

I discuss this in detail toward the end of this guide, in the dedicated section, with all the necessary information.

New York Pass

The New York Pass is the name of the pass plus suit, rich and effective currently available to visit New York City saving.

Includes access to over 100 attractions, all included in the price of the pass: top attractions, sightseeing experiences, guided tours, services and utilities. Everything.
It is referred to as an all-inclusive pass, precisely because it includes virtually everything there is to do and see in New York City.

It is statistically the most frequently purchased pass by those who decide to visit the city with an exploratory approach, when they want to see the many things the city has to offer while keeping costs affordable.

It works like this: you choose the duration of the pass - in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 days validity, based on the length of your trip.
During its validity you can see all the attractions it includes. You can visit each attraction only once, and there is no limit of attractions to visit in one day.

How does the New York Pass work?

How the New York Pass works is very simple.
You have a catalog with over 100 attractions and experiences included.

Once you choose the duration of the pass, you can see as many attractions as you want, included in the catalog.

The pass is activated on your first visit to one of the included attractions, and from that point you have the consecutive days you choose to visit anything you want.
New York Pass considers validity based on the entire calendar day, not a 24-hour period. So if you visit the first attraction in the afternoon and activate the pass, the first day will expire at midnight of the same day, losing part of the first day.
Therefore, in case you arrive in the city in the afternoon or later, consider activating it on the next day to avoid wasting a day of validity.

During the validity, you can visit all included attractions, only once each.

Benefits of using the New York Pass

New York Pass not surprisingly is the statistically most chosen tourist card for New York City for those visiting the Big Apple.
The main benefits are:

• a very large catalog of included attractions, hard to want to do or see anything that is not included in New York Pass
• the savings: the more things you see, the greater the savings. As we will see in a moment, this pass saves huge amounts of money, compared to the same visit without the use of a pass.
• Reliability: it has been a best-selling pass for many years. Therefore reliable even if purchased in advance, and it is a card that will never give you any problems.

What to see with the New York Pass

The New York Pass includes about 100 tourist attractions in New York City.

When we talk about tourist attractions, we mean not only the TOP tourist attractions most relevant to the city (those listed in the list at the beginning of this guide), but also a rich array of tourist experiences and services (such as bicycle rentals in the city)-no less important-to complement the tourist opportunities.
Remember that a good itinerary should be able to combine the iconic attractions with more special experiences, to grasp the city in 360 degrees.

Included in the pass are virtually all of the main things to see in New York City, including the most famous and popular ones mentioned at the beginning of this guide.
But there are a number of other interesting experiences and tours to round out the card catalog, also included in the pass.

This great variety allows you to build an itinerary tailored to your (and the travel group's) tastes as much as possible, being able to really range in many ways.

At the following link you can browse all the attractions included, which will also help you discover new things to see (that you didn't know about and hadn't thought of) to squeeze into your itinerary.

>> Full list of New York Pass attractions

New York Pass Prices

New York Pass is valid on a daily basis, from 1 to 10 days (thus calibrated to the average length of a New York City vacation).
Let's look at the list prices of the New York Pass based on days:

* watch out, right after that we will see how to get them at widely discounted prices

• 1 DAY ➜ $174 Adult | $134 Child
• 2 DAYS ➜ $269 Adult | $184 Child
• 3 DAYS ➜ $359 Adult | $249 Child
• 4 DAYS ➜ $409 Adult | $299 Child
• 5 DAYS ➜$449 Adult | $344 Child
• 6 DAYS ➜ $494 Adult | $369 Child
• 7 DAYS ➜$529 Adult | $404 Child
• 10 DAYS ➜$589 Adult | $444 Child

A child is defined as 3 to 12 years old.

These are the list prices of the New York Pass, but they are practically always on offer on the official website, with discounts of as much as $175 on the largest denomination, and gradually scaled down in the smaller denominations.
Already with the list prices I assure you that the pass is worthwhile, given the prices of NYC attractions, but discounted is better and worth even more.

The discounts are already automatically applied on the official pass purchase page, which can be reached at the following link.

Discount code for New York Pass

👉 More good news!

On the already discounted pass prices-as seen in the previous point-you can save an additional 5% on your New York Pass purchase.
You can use the discount code PTCODE5 to be entered at the time of purchase, in the "Enter promo code" field provided.
Yes, you got it right, the 5% discount is applied on the already discounted prices, so the discount is in addition to the previous one, in all daily pass validity.

At certain times of the year, even more convenient discount codes may be active.
Always on the official site look carefully at the top, usually when there are particular discount codes they are always highlighted already on the site itself.

New York Pass: is it worth it? Cost analysis and savings

From an economic point of view, yes, it is very convenient.
To help you understand the magnitude of the savings, let's do a quick simulation account.

We start by considering the average price of New York tourist attractions to be about $40.
This is an average; the most expensive ones are around $60-$70, and the least expensive experiences around $20-$25.

Let's take as an example an average stay of 6 days, in which we will use the 6-day New York Pass.
With a packed but still leisurely itinerary, let's assume we enter 3 attractions per day, so 18 total attractions: without a pass I would spend on average $40*18 =$720.
By purchasing the 6-day New York Pass I spend-between offer prices and discount codes-about $350 (adult).
The savings are quickly calculated: $720-$350 = $370 savings per person, more than 50%.

The savings increase further if we choose the 7- or 10-day versions, and also in all cases where good planning, leads you to see more than 3 attractions per day (a very feasible case).

When is New York Pass indicated?

As explained in the introduction to this guide, in my opinion it is the New York Pass is always worthwhile for those who visit NYC and want to see as much as possible.

The convenience is not only economic, but also organizational and logistical.
With such a pass you can take the luxury of getting into some attractions quickly, to get a feel for it even without visiting it in depth, perhaps because you are only interested in one part of it (I'm thinking of a museum) or in general to be able to say you've seen it and been there.
It is included, you can do that. Without a pass that includes it at no extra cost, this approach would not be possible.

How is it purchased?

New York Pass is purchased online at the official pass site.
You will then be able to take advantage of the official site's discounted prices (which you will find already applied in the prices you find on the site), and I also remind you to add the discount code I listed above, reserved for readers of this site.

You pay by credit card or PayPal if you prefer, purchase is immediate, and shortly thereafter you will receive your passes in the e-mail box indicated during purchase.
The passes are NOT nominal, so you will not be asked for the names of those who will use them, only a purchase contact.
Be sure to enter your e-mail address correctly, double-check it several times as the passes will arrive there.

Once you receive them, you can also download the official New York Pass app, which is useful for storing passes inside, booking attractions, and getting up-to-date access information (addresses, times, modes) for each included attraction or experience.

Booking attractions with New York Pass

For about half of the catalog attractions included in the card, there is an advance reservation requirement.
These are the attractions with the highest tourist numbers, and all guided tours, which take place with a limited number of visitors, need reservations.

Go City-the provider of the pass-has provided a dedicated page (very clear) for you to book your entry without too much commitment.

>> Book admission to attractions with New York Pass

The advice to follow is: first try to arrive at a fairly definitive version of the itinerary, then reserve the attractions that require mandatory reservations.
For those, on the other hand, that are optional, in my opinion it is not advisable to reserve, because it would go to constrain your itinerary too much, taking away flexibility in case of unforeseen events (even simply weather conditions).
Consider the case well, but in general this can be a very good line to follow.

With New York Pass, do I skip the lines?

It depends. For booked attractions yes, you have your own entrance time, so at most some physiological slowdowns, but not major queues.
For the most popular free attractions, try to schedule them at the busiest times, such as early morning or around meal times, where there is usually less rush.

Several attractions have access lanes reserved for pass holders, regardless of reservation.
You can find this information in the app when you consult each attraction's information.

Validity and refunds

The New York Pass can be used within 1 year from the time of purchase. It is activated the moment you visit your first attraction.
Your consecutive days of validity start from that moment.

Any refund of the cost of the pass can be obtained up to 30 days after purchase, of course for passes that have not been activated.

GoCity All-Inclusive Pass New York

The New York All-Inclusive Pass of GoCity is a "somewhat unique" tourist card.

It is essentially an identical card to the New York Pass in every way.
In the attractions included, in the prices, in how to purchase and use it, in everything.
Even the discounts and active offers are usually of the same nature for both cards.

The commercial duplication between All-Inclusive Pass and New York Pass is not clear to me, since they are products distributed by the same supplier Go City.
In fact therefore they are to be considered equivalent passes, although in the market New York Pass has a much longer and more established history, which all other things being equal leads me to prefer it over the newer (and non-innovative) All-Inclusive Pass.

Therefore, I will not describe it in detail; it would not make sense, as exactly the information you just read about New York Pass applies.

When does it make sense to consider purchasing All-Inclusive Passes?

Generally speaking-being an identical pass to New York Pass-this All-Inclusive card is an excellent product, for all the reasons seen for New York Pass.
So absolutely it makes all the sense in the world to be valued and purchased.

In the comparison with the previous one, in my opinion we only need to check if there should be active cheaper offers for All-Inclusive than New York Pass.
In that case then there would be all the sense of buying All-Inclusive Pass to save more money due to a somewhat lower purchase price.

Discount code for New York Pass All Inclusive

👉 More good news!

On the already discounted prices of the All-Inclusive Pass you can save an additional 5% on the purchase of the card.
You can use the discount code PTCODE5 to be entered during purchase, in the "Enter promo code" field provided.
The 5% discount is applied on the already discounted prices, so the discount is in addition to the previous one, in all daily validity of the pass.

At certain times of the year, even more convenient discount codes may be active.
Always on the official site look carefully at the top, usually when there are particular discount codes they are always highlighted already on the site itself.

GoCity New York Explorer Pass

A first alternative to the New York Pass, also proposed by the same provider Go City, is the New York Explorer Pass.
The goal of this card is always savings: works differently than previous cards, however, and consequently the type of vacation where it is most suitable.

With Explorer Pass you have to decide how many attractions you want to visit.
So not the days of validity, but how many attractions I want to see.
The Explorer Pass is based on the amount of attractions you want to see: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10.

Because of this nature, it is suitable when you want to visit New York City with a more moderate itinerary (its largest cutoff is 10), for reasons of tourist approach or time.
The catalog of available attractions to choose from is about the same rich as New York Pass, except for marginal nuances and not affecting the top attractions.

How does Explorer Pass work?

You choose how many attractions you want to see: from 2 to 10.
Without already having to decide which ones, just how many. Then you can choose which ones even during the trip, from those included in the attractions catalog of the pass.
Although, for itinerary reasons, you will probably identify them before you leave, but with the option to change whenever you want.

Activation of the pass occurs the moment you access the first attraction you choose.
From there on, you have up to 30 days to visit the remaining attractions included in your pass.

You do not need to use it on consecutive days: you can arrange visits whenever you like, within the 30-day validity period.
Maximum flexibility, then, to adapt the pass to your travel pace.
This aspect is also useful when your stay in NYC is interspersed with excursions outside NYC (such as Niagara Falls, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, etc.), without losing days of card validity.

What attractions does Explorer Pass include?

The attractions catalog included in Explorer Pass--from which to choose your N attractions to visit--is the same catalog as the New York Pass (and All-Inclusive Pass), with a few very small, non-significant differences. So, basically, same catalog of top attractions in the city seen above.

New York Explorer Pass Prices

List prices for the New York Explorer Pass are as follows:

• 2 rides ➜ $99 Adult | $79 Child
• 3 rides ➜ $149 Adult | $109 Child

• 4 rides ➜ $189 Adult | $149 Child
• 5 attractions ➜ $224 Adult | $184 Child

• 6 attractions ➜ $269 Adult | $214 Child
• 7 attractions ➜ $314 Adult | $264 Child

• 10 attractions ➜ $434 Adult | $349 Child

A child is defined as 3 to 12 years old.

Again, the prices quoted are list prices, but active offers can almost always be found on the pass's official website.
Discounts applied can be as much as $130 less on the most extended versions of the pass.

👉 To find out the updated price and check for any current promotions, just click on the button below.

Discount codes for Explorer Pass

In addition, you can get an extra 5% discount on the already discounted price.
Simply enter the promotional code PTCODE5 - reserved for readers of this site - during purchase, in the "Enter promo code" field.

The discount will be applied immediately for additional savings on the total.

When is Explorer Pass worthwhile?

Let's start evaluating the convenience always from the economic side, where Explorer Pass is already worthwhile from its smallest denominations, with visiting 3 attractions.

A practical simulation is also useful here to highlight the savings.
The average cost of an attraction in NYC is always averaged at $40. Average value, with the range ranging from $60/$70 for the most expensive, to $15/$20 for the most affordable.
With three attractions visited, we would pay about $120 in entrance fees. Although, choosing the most famous and expensive ones, we would spend far more.

Explorer Pass from 3 attractions, given the actual price between discounts and discount code, averages about $113.
With a small savings yes, but present, of about $7 per pass.

If, however, we make the case with the 10 attractions, which for New York is undoubtedly the most likely and useful cutoff (7 or 10), without a pass I would pay 10*$40 = $400, while the 10-option Explorer Pass (discounted) costs me about $288, a good $112 or so in savings per person.
The rule is always the same: the more you see, the more you save. Thus, the Explorer Pass' ability to save is maximized on the larger 7-10 attraction denominations.

For whom is the Explorer Pass indicated?

Evaluating the operation of this pass, I believe it can be an advantageous choice in well-defined situations, such as these:

• When a light or selective itinerary is desired, with a maximum of 10 attractions, because of personal choice or limited time
• If you have visited New York before and want to focus only on what you miss, without repeating the main attractions
• In case the stay is very short (1, 2 or 3 full days) and there is no material time to see too many things and simultaneously grasp the essence of the city
• If you have already decided which attractions you want to visit (by 10 o'clock, anyway), and have calculated that you will be able to save significantly with this pass
• in general if you don't have a defined itinerary and no clear ideas about what to see, or conversely have well defined N number of attractions

📌 If, on the other hand, this is your first time in New York, and you have at least 4-5 full days to devote to visiting, with the intention of seeing as much as possible, the Explorer Pass is not the ideal choice.
In this case, it is much more convenient to opt for a New York Pass, which allows you to visit many more attractions, making the most of the available days.

Where to buy it

The NYC Explorer Pass is conveniently purchased online, prior to departure.
After purchase, you will receive the pass directly via email, in digital format with QR Code.

You'll be able to upload the pass to theofficial Go City app, so you'll always have it handy while traveling.
The app is not just for displaying the pass-it also includes all the useful information about each attraction, such as opening hours, reservation requirements, and meeting points for guided tours.

Booking attractions with Explorer Pass

As with the New York Pass, the Explorer Pass requires advance reservations for admission to about 50 attractions in the catalog.
These are mostly the most popular experiences-such as the scenic observatories, major museums, and especially all guided tours, for which you must reserve your spot.

To simplify the process, Go City provides a well-organized and easy-to-use reservation page where you can manage everything in just a few clicks after purchasing the pass.

>> Book admission to attractions with the New York Explorer Pass

Validity and refunds

Once purchased, Explorer Pass remains valid for 12 months-you can activate it at any time within one year from the date of purchase.
Activation occurs automatically the moment you access your first attraction. From then on, you will have 30 days to use the other attractions included in the pass, on days not necessarily consecutive.

Regarding reimbursement:

• Pass is refundable only if not activated, within 30 days of purchase
• After the 30 days have passed, you can no longer request a refund, but you can still use it within the 12 months or give it away or give it to someone else if you do not intend to use it yourself

CityPASS New York

CityPASS New York represents a special option compared to the other attraction passes for New York City analyzed so far.

It is designed for those planning a short stay in the city-a "hit and run" stop of 2 or 3 days-or for those who wish to focus on just a few essential attractions, regardless of the length of the trip.

With this pass you can visit 5 attractions:

• 2 fixed and mandatory (Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History)
• 3 to choose from a predefined list of options

This configuration, with a fixed number of (few) attractions that can be visited, confirms the minimalist vocation of CityPASS: it is suitable for those who are short on time and want a focused and concentrated tourist experience, while still having some customization on what to see.

Although the Explorer Pass, analyzed above, offers more flexibility and covers the same kind of need (with more freedom and more options), CityPASS can still be a viable alternative in specific situations, as we will see in its detailed analysis.

How does City Pass New York work?

CityPass New York is a 5-attraction tourist card, "built" in the following way: 2 fixed attractions + 3 attractions of my choice from a list of 6 (no need to choose which ones right away, I can do that on the spot).
From the time it activates, with the visit to the first attraction, I have 9 days to visit all the others included in the pass.

What CityPASS for New York includes

The 2 fixed attractions are as follows:

• Empire State Building Panorama Observatory (with 2nd free evening access)
• American Museum of Natural History

These are fixed and cannot be changed.

While the other 3 can be chosen from the following list of options:

• Top Of The Rock Panoramic Observatory
• September 11 museum and memorial
• Excursion to Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island
• A Circle Line boat cruise
• Intrepid Museum
• Guggenheim Museum

This choice allows the orientation of this tourist card to be flexed according to the characteristics and desires of the travel group.
Some are more oriented to those traveling with children and teens (Intrepid, observers, cruise), others to those who want to delve more deeply into the city's museums and history.

As you can see, from the many things you can do and see in NYC that we have learned in previous reviews, in each case CityPASS is an essential card, limited to a small selection of New York City tourist attractions.

How much does CityPASS New York cost?

CityPASS has the following list prices:

• $156 the adult pass
  calculated as $154 the price of the pass + $2 purchase fee
• $131 the pass per child (ages 6-17)
  calculated as $129 the price of the pass + $2 purchase fee

Typically, CityPASS is never discounted, and no discount codes are available.

When does it pay off?

Economically it is a pass that pays off and saves about 40% compared to seeing the same attractions without a pass.
Being table-composed, without too many possible combinations, the savings are quite linear, although it varies slightly depending on the choices you make on the 3 attractions at your discretion.
I will not repeat the calculation here as done for other tourist cards, as you can find the simulation on the official pass page at the following link:

When is it appropriate to purchase CityPASS New York?

Basically when you want no more than 5 attractions on your itinerary that you can visit, and the CityPASS catalog meets your requirements.
5 attractions-in the New York context-are very few, and we are usually in the cases of short stays, perhaps when New York is a stop on a larger trip, among the great cities of the United States of America.

Go City's Explorer Pass-always from 5 attractions- in my opinion fulfills this purpose much better, leaving you with much more choice, and without tying up 2 attractions.
The American Museum of Natural History is compulsorily included in CityPASS, but it is not among the most popular attractions in New York (despite being in absolute value highly visited).
Since Explorer Pass for its benefits costs a little more than CityPASS (less than $20), the latter still makes sense when it covers just the 5 attractions you planned to see.

Booking attractions with CityPASS

With CityPASS, it is mandatory to book some attractions (there are 5) and 2 others optionally.
It is conveniently done through the CityPASS app, once the card is purchased.

On the official website page, it is clearly stated how to do it and which attractions require reservations.
Look for the "Reservations and Scheduling" section at the bottom, after the prices.

Where to buy it

CityPASS New York is purchased exclusively online, on the official card website, at the following address.

Validity and refunds of CityPAss New York

Once activated, CityPASS New York is valid for 9 consecutive days, starting the day you visit the first attraction included in the pass.
From the time of purchase, you have up to 12 months to start using the pass.

CityPASS is redeemable within 1 year, provided it has not been activated and there are no active reservations tied to the pass.

Comparison of passes for New York City

We quickly compare the New York City passes reviewed in this guide in the following table:

Pass comparison for NEW YORK

Feature	NEW YORK PASS	EXPLORER PASS	CITYPASS NEW YORK
Operating logic	I choose the validity days, I see whatever I want.	I choose the number of attractions first (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10) During the vacation I choose which ones.	I see 5 of New York's most popular and diverse attractions.
Number of attractions included	About 110, including museums, attractions, tours, experiences and services.	About 110, including museums, attractions, tours, experiences and services.	Five, 2 fixed + 3 to be chosen from a list of 6 different options
Does it pay off economically?	Yes, pretty much all the time, and quite a lot	Yes, since the 3rd attraction seen. Biggest savings in the 7 and 10 attraction cuts.	Yes, absolutely worthwhile compared to visiting without a pass. To be evaluated against Explorer Pass as explained in the guidebook.
Type of vacation best suited to	Medium-long vacations Where you want to see a lot of things and have experiences	Short/medium vacations, and/or with an intentionally moderate itinerary (max. 10 attractions)	Hit and run vacations, with up to 5 attractions visited
Preference for typical vacation	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆
Direct link for purchase	Buy New York Pass Now	Buy the New York Explorer Pass Now	Buy CityPASS New York now

* I have not included the All-Inclusive Pass in this table, so as not to duplicate information. The considerations made for New York Pass apply to it, as they are identical.

Which New York City pass is worth choosing?

In this guide we have looked in detail at the major New York City tourist passes available, with the aim of helping you save money on New York attractions and experience the city at its best.

Each pass has different characteristics and is more or less suitable depending on the type of trip you are planning.
There isno absolute best pass, but there is one that is best suited to your needs-whether you are planning an intense vacation full of stops, or a short stay with just a few selected attractions.

To make the right choice, the advice is to start with yourself: think about how many days you have available, what kind of pace you want to keep, and what attractions you really want to see.

Even a simple outline itinerary-you don't need it to be perfect in detail-will help you figure out how many and what experiences you want to include.
At that point, it will be much easier to identify the pass that gives you the best balance of savings, flexibility, and convenience.

In general:

• Medium-long vacation (5-10 days), maybe first trip to NYC with a desire to see many things -> New York Pass
  It is objectively the best pass available, rich, comprehensive, with all attractions included in the price.
• Vacation with fewer things to want to see (max 10 attractions), or with clear ideas about targeted attractions -> New York Explorer Pass
  When I want to see fewer things, due to preference, time, or having seen NYC before, while maintaining an important ability to save money.
  
• "Hit and run" vacation (1-3 days) and desire to have just an essay of New York, through 5 attractions -> CityPASS New York
  Saves a lot of money but only on 5 attractions, with somewhat limited choice on which ones you can see.

This is a concise but concrete intepretation on choosing the best pass to New York, according to your type of vacation.
To understand the details, I recommend that you read this guide well, studying the mechanics of each individual pass.

Whichever pass you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy your New York City experience to the fullest.
With the information in this guide, you have everything you need to do so while saving money and without worries.

Buying a children's pass: does it really pay off?

Yes, in most cases it is worthwhile to purchase a pass for children as well, because many paid attractions in New York City have significant costs even for young children-though reduced from the adult price.
However, it is important to know that each pass sets a minimum age for the child fee, based on the terms of the attractions included:

- For the New York Pass, the child age starts at age 3.
👉 If your child is under 3 years old, you don't need to buy a pass: most attractions let them in for free or for a nominal fee, either way cheaper than the pass.

- For Go City passes (Explorer Pass e All-Inclusive), the child age always starts from 3 years old.
👉 As above, if you have children under the age of 3, he will enter the attractions for free or at very reduced rates, so much so that the convenience of the pass will be lost for him.

- For the CityPASS New York, the child range is from 6 to 17 years old.
👉 Under 6 years old, it is not worth buying it, because the included attractions have better conditions without a pass.

In summary: always assess the age of the child and compare it with the conditions of the attractions you want to see.
You should always find yourself in the situation where it is not worth taking the pass if the child is below the child age stipulated by the pass.

New York City public transportation passes and cards.

As mentioned earlier, none of the tourist passes for New York City reviewed in this guide-and generally no passes on the market-include a season ticket to the city's public transportation.
Some passes include the Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus, which is useful for moving between attractions in a sightseeing key, but is not a substitute for actual city transportation.

To use subways and buses, a season ticket must be made separately once you arrive in New York City.
Let's look at the main options below.

What means fall under public transportation?

We are talking about the network operated by MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority), which includes:

• The New York City subway (operating 24 hours a day)
• Regular buses serving Manhattan and the other boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx)

⚠️ Suburban trains (e.g., NJ Transit, LIRR, Metro-North) are not part of city transportation and require separate tickets.
You will use them only in special cases, such as out-of-town excursions or if you are staying very far from Manhattan (e.g., in some areas of New Jersey).

MetroCard: the classic subscription

The MetroCard is New York's traditional transportation card, still widely used today.
For tourists, the most advantageous option is the 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard, at a cost of about $34.
With this formula, you can travel unlimited on subways and buses for 7 consecutive days, regardless of the number of rides.

💡 The convenience is triggered by the 13th ride made within the 7-day period: with an average tourist itinerary, you will easily reach this number (and even beyond), achieving real savings.

OMNY: the contactless system

As an alternative to the MetroCard, you can use OMNY, the latest system that allows you to pay for every ride with a contactless card, including via smartphone or smartwatch.

The logic is simple:

• Each ride costs about $2.90 and is charged directly to the card
• Upon reaching the 12th run within 7 days, the OMNY Fare Cap is automatically triggered.
• From then on, you will pay nothing more until the end of the 7 days, calculated from the first run made

📌 This is the most convenient option if you do not want to purchase a physical card or prefer to pay directly with your phone.
Be careful though, if you are traveling in a group, each member must have their own card. Those who do not have their own card will have to do the Metrocard.

Where to activate MetroCard or OMNY

Both systems can be activated on the spot as soon as you arrive in New York:

• MetroCards are purchased and reloaded at the vending machines in each metro station
• OMNY is activated by simply swiping your card or smartphone to the reader at the station entrance-no app or operation to do

Do children have to take season tickets for public transportation?

In the subway, children shorter than 111cm in stature get in for free, in which case then no season ticket or anything else is needed for them.
In buses, on the other hand, up to 3 children can travel for each paying adult, again as long as they do not exceed 110cm in height.