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

New York CityPASS makes a busy first visit easier to shape: you get the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History, then pick three more sights from a useful mix of museums, observation decks, and boat trips. At $154 per person, it can save up to 41% if you choose attractions you would otherwise pay to visit.

I like two things in particular: the nine-day window gives you room to spread out major sights, and the app keeps tickets and any required reservations together. The Empire State Building ticket also includes a same-night return, so one visit can show you the city by day and again after dark.

The main catch is that two of your five choices are fixed. If you would skip the Empire State Building or Natural History Museum, or prefer the Met or MoMA, compare the pass with buying tickets separately before you commit.

Key points to know

• Five attractions are included: the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History are fixed, while you choose three of seven other options.
• The pass lasts nine consecutive days from the first day you use it, so you can plan a measured visit rather than cram everything into one weekend.
• The Empire State Building ticket has a bonus: visit the observatory during the day and return for general admission that same night.
• The Statue City Cruises option is not a crown or pedestal ticket: it covers the ferry, audio guides, and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island museums.
• The app helps with planning: use it to view ticket details and make reservations where required. Check each attraction’s instructions before setting off.
• At $154, the savings depend on your choices: the pass is strongest when you use all five admissions for sights you genuinely want to see.

Five admissions, with two choices already made

Think of CityPASS as a flexible bundle, not an all-purpose city card. You get admission to five attractions, but only three are yours to choose. The Empire State Building Observatory and American Museum of Natural History are built in, then you select three options from Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, the Intrepid Museum, and the Guggenheim.

That structure can be a help if this is your first New York visit. The fixed pair covers two major sights, while the remaining choices let you tilt the pass toward skyline views, museums, or time on the water. But the fixed admissions matter: if either is low on your list, the headline discount may not translate into good value for you.

The price is $154 per person, and the advertised saving is up to 41%. Treat that as a possible maximum, not a promise that every combination saves the same amount. Your actual value depends on which three options you choose, whether you would have paid for each admission anyway, and whether you use all five entries.

Empire State Building, twice in one day

The pass includes the Empire State Building Observatory’s AM/PM Experience. It covers the 86th Floor Observatory and the second-floor museum, plus bonus general admission later that same night. You can see the city in daylight, then return after dark to look out over a very different spread of lights.

That second visit makes the built-in admission more useful than a single observatory ticket. It also takes a bit of planning: the bonus is for the same night, so you need to arrange your day and evening around the two visits. If you would rather spend your evening elsewhere, you may not make full use of that extra entry.

The observatory is a classic New York stop, but it is not the only high view in the pass. Top of the Rock is one of the optional choices, so you can compare the two from your own vantage points. If you want both, note that the Empire State Building is already included, leaving Top of the Rock as one of your three selections.

American Museum of Natural History, with one extra experience

Your second fixed admission is the American Museum of Natural History. It covers the permanent museum halls, with more than 40 galleries, and a choice of one ticketed experience: a special exhibition, the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, or a Hayden Planetarium Space Show. Availability determines which choices you can take.

This is a substantial indoor stop, not a quick add-on between two nearby sights. Give yourself enough time to choose the galleries and ticketed feature that interest you most. The museum is a particularly useful option if you want a break from observation decks and outdoor sightseeing, though the pass does not decide which halls you visit for you.

Allow a little patience at the entrance. At times, you may need to wait to exchange or collect a museum ticket rather than simply show the mobile pass and walk straight in. That is worth knowing if you have booked another activity close behind it. Check the current instructions in the app and leave a buffer in your day.

Pick your three: skyline, remembrance, or museums

For a second observation deck, Top of the Rock offers general admission to its observation deck. Pairing it with the Empire State Building gives you two different city views, but it also uses one of your three choices. If skyline panoramas are a priority, that is a straightforward use of the pass. If you would rather spend your time inside a museum, choose another option.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is another included choice. The museum is a significant and moving visit, so give it time and avoid treating it as a rushed stop between appointments. It is a very different experience from the lighter, more scenic attractions, and it may be the most emotionally demanding choice on your list.

The Guggenheim provides general admission to its collection and special exhibitions. Admission also includes access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide in multiple languages, which you can use on your own phone. If you are drawn to art and architecture, this gives you more than a pass through the galleries. The Met and MoMA are not among the CityPASS options, so art lovers with those museums at the top of their list should compare alternatives.

Two ways to get out on the water

Choose the Statue City Cruises option if you want ferry access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The ticket includes one regularly scheduled ferry ride to and from both islands, audio guides, admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum, and admission to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Be clear about what it does not include: crown tickets and pedestal access are excluded. If getting into the statue itself is central to your plans, this pass option will not cover that extra access. It is still a practical way to visit both islands and their museums, but it is not a substitute for the more restricted statue-entry tickets.

The Circle Line choice is a separate way to see the city from the water. It covers one regularly scheduled Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise. Schedules can change, so check Circle Line’s current timetable before choosing your day.

You can select either boat option, or use two of your three choices for both. A cruise can be a welcome change of pace after walking through museums and city streets. Weather matters, though: in cold conditions, you may decide that an indoor attraction is a better use of your time. Pack water and comfortable clothes, and check the schedule rather than assuming a particular sailing is available.

Intrepid: aircraft, a submarine, and more

The Intrepid Museum is the most varied museum option in the lineup. General admission includes the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the submarine Growler, the immersive Kamikaze experience, and temporary exhibitions. It is a strong choice if you want a museum visit with several different exhibits rather than a day focused on paintings or natural history.

Because temporary exhibitions can change, check what is on before you go. The pass includes the museum’s general admission, but it does not make the visit shorter or remove the need to plan your day. If your group has mixed interests, the range of displays may make Intrepid a good shared choice.

Make the nine days work for you

Your pass is valid for nine consecutive days, starting with the first day you use it. That gives you flexibility to spread the five admissions over a longer stay, or to concentrate them if you have only a few days in New York. Either way, avoid building a schedule that depends on crossing the city repeatedly or rushing through every stop.

Download the My CityPASS app or visit my.citypass.com to access tickets, check attraction information, and make reservations where required. The mobile ticket is scanned at each attraction. Some admissions may need a reservation, so confirm the rules for each choice before you set a date. Keep your phone charged, and consider saving ticket images in case you have trouble connecting.

The app is useful as a planning tool, but it does not replace checking the details. Reservation availability and schedules vary by attraction, and the Circle Line sailings in particular should be checked against the current timetable. If your plans shift, check the app for the rules on changing a reservation rather than assuming every booking can be moved at any time.

The pass does not include transportation, food, or drinks. You will still need to plan how to get between sights and where to eat. Comfortable shoes, water, a daypack, and a packed lunch can help on long days, especially when you combine a museum visit with a ferry or observation deck.

Is $154 good value for your New York plans?

The most convincing reason to buy is that it brings five admissions into one purchase and gives you a longer window to use them. It can also make planning easier: you choose your three optional sights, book any required slots, and keep tickets in one place. For a first visit with several major attractions already on your wish list, that combination can be worth as much as the discount.

But the pass is not automatically the cheapest choice for every visitor. Start by writing down the five attractions you would actually pay to enter. Then compare their separate prices with $154. If you would not visit one of the two fixed attractions, or if you prefer museums that are not offered, the bundle may be less useful than its advertised maximum saving suggests.

Think about pace as well as price. Five attractions across nine days gives you room to take breaks, but a short trip can still feel busy if you try to fit several large sights into each day. The flexibility helps most when you plan a few priorities and leave space to adjust for weather, energy, or reservation times.

CityPASS is wheelchair accessible, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option, which may suit you if you want to keep plans flexible. Check the current terms when booking, especially if your dates or attraction choices are likely to change.

Should you book New York CityPASS?

I would consider CityPASS if this is your first New York visit and you want the Empire State Building, Natural History Museum, and at least three of the listed options. It is especially handy if you value having tickets and reservations in one app, and the nine-day validity lets you plan at a more comfortable pace.

I would pause if you are not interested in one of the fixed admissions, want the Met or MoMA, or need crown or pedestal access at the Statue of Liberty. Compare individual admission prices for your exact choices before paying. The pass is a good tool for a defined sightseeing plan, not a reason to visit places that do not appeal to you.

FAQ

How many attractions does New York CityPASS include?

It includes admission to five attractions. The Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History are included, and you choose three more from the listed options.

How long is the pass valid?

It is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day you use it. The validity period begins with first activation.

Which attractions are included automatically?

The fixed attractions are the Empire State Building Observatory AM/PM Experience and the American Museum of Natural History.

Which attractions can I choose from?

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

Does the Statue City Cruises option include crown or pedestal access?

No. It includes a ferry ride to and from Liberty Island and Ellis Island, audio guides, and admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Crown tickets and pedestal access are not included.

Can I visit the Empire State Building twice?

The Empire State Building ticket includes 86th Floor Observatory admission and entry to the second-floor museum, plus bonus same-night general admission. The daytime and night visits must be on the same day.

Do I need to make reservations?

Reservations are required for some attractions. Use the My CityPASS app or my.citypass.com to check attraction details and make reservations where required.

Are transportation, food, and drinks included?

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