New York City has a lot of free activities, and you can spend days or weeks in the city without spending a dollar on tickets. However, if you want to see the real New York, you’ll inevitably have to pay to visit places. For example, climbing a skyscraper or visiting a world-famous museum is a must. If you have at least 3-4 paid activities on your bucket list, it’s definitely worth buying a city pass.
Programs cost between $30 and $60, so the more paying attractions you want to visit, the faster your New York City Card will pay for itself. You can easily visit up to two or three attractions a day without any extra cost or stress.
My first step is to make two lists of the attractions you want to visit. The first list should include the ‘must-do’ attractions and the second list should include the ‘maybe’ attractions.
This guide is for you if you want to:
- Compare the best New York City passes
- Decide which pass is actually worth it
- Save money on top NYC attractions
- Understand how each pass works
- Choose the right option for your trip
Scroll down to find the best New York City pass for your trip.
Please note, this post may contain affiliate links.
Types of New York city Pass
Which card is best for you?
The price of the city card will be affected by the number of days or attractions, or how much earlier you buy it. If you think ahead, you can pick up some pretty good deals online. There are two types of city passes in New York.
One requires you to enter the number of days and the other the number of attractions. The daily city pass is quite expensive, so it’s worth it if you want to see a lot in a short time, i.e. you can squeeze up to 3-4 paid activities into a day.
Explore more New York travel tips on my blog – Check it Now
The advantage of choosing a card based on the number of attractions is that it is valid for up to two months, so you don’t have to rush and have plenty of time to see them.
You’ll get the biggest savings with a card by number of attractions if you have expensive attractions on your bucket list (e.g. Empire State Building or Hop on Hop off bus). Also, you should choose this if you want to see 4-5 attractions, but not in one day.
- If you’re visiting New York for the first time and are interested in the ‘must-sees’, choose the New York CityPASS® card. It is cheaper than other cards because you can choose from far fewer attractions, but they include the main programs.
- Choose a daily pass if you want to see as much as possible in 24 hours. However, remember that some attractions can take several hours to visit.
- If you are coming for a longer period and want to spread the attractions over the day, a card by number of attractions is a good choice.
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You can choose from the city Pass below
New York CityPASS®
- C3 – 3 attractions
- City PASS – 5 attractions
- C-All – 10 attractions
Website: New York CityPASS® homepage
Go City
- Essentials Pass – 3 attractions
- Explorer Pass – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 attractions
- All-Inclusive Pass – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 days
Website: Go City homepage
The New York Pass by go city
- Same card types and terms as with Go City
Website: The New York Pass homepage
Pro Tip – Free Tours In New York
Join a free walking tour with Freetour.com and explore like a local!
Looking for a fun, affordable, and authentic way to discover a new city? Freetour offers a wide range of free walking tours led by passionate local guides — many of whom are independent, freelance professionals. Tours are usually held in English or the guide’s native language, and they’re a fantastic way to meet people and get a deeper understanding of the city’s history, culture, and daily life.
There’s no fixed price — you simply tip the guide at the end based on what you can afford and how much you enjoyed the experience. It’s flexible, fair, and fun!
Browse all free walking tours in New York here: Freetour – New York
City Pass by number of days
Want to see it all? Or just a select few attractions?
In the case of the daily New York city pass, you can visit as many attractions as you want during the selected time frame. If you want to see a lot in a short time, choose a one-day pass! All cards that can be purchased for a given number of days (Go City All-Inclusive Pass and The New York Pass) have about the same price.
Passes by number of days:
- Go City – All-Inclusive Pass
- The New York Pass by Go City (Same card types and terms as with Go City)
There are always sales, so it’s worth checking the prices from time to time.
The number of programs varies between 100 and 150. It is important if you want to buy a card for more than 4 days. Day passes work based on calendar days, not 24-hour periods, which means that if you activate your pass at 7pm, you only have five hours left on the first day. The card is activated when you visit the first attraction.
Pros:
- You can visit as many attractions as you want within the specified time frame, which can be 1 – 10 days.
- It includes most attractions.
- Huge savings are available.
Cons:
- The days must be used consecutively.
- It’s relatively expensive, so it’s worth it if you have a lot of programs on your bucket list.
- In the case of a one-day card, the attractions must be compressed into 24 hours.
Tip
It may happen that some attractions are temporarily unavailable (e.g. ice skating in summer or boat trips in winter), they may operate with reduced opening hours or advance reservations are required. You can find more information about the process and method of booking in the confirmation.
New York skyscrapers – Which observation deck is best in NYC?
City Pass by number of attractions
Want to see it all? Or just a select few attractions?
If you want to see the attractions flexibly, spread over several days, this type of city card is the best choice for you. If you want to choose according to the number of attractions, New York CityPASS® have the best price. This is because there are only 10 programs to choose from. However, if this 10 includes what you are really interested in, then I think this is the best choice.
Passes by number of attractions:
- New York CityPASS® – C3 , City PASS and C-All
- Go City – Essentials Pass or Explorer Pass
- The New York City Pass – Essentials Pass or Explorer Pass (Same card types and terms as with Go City)
There are always deals, so it’s worth waiting if you’re not planning a last minute trip. With this pass, you can visit as many attractions as you selected at the time of purchase within its validity period (9 or 60 days, depending on the card).
Tickets entitle you to a single entry, unless the entry details of each attraction state otherwise. You can also decide which attractions you want to visit after the purchase, but it’s worth booking a spot there as soon as possible.
Pros:
- It is valid for 9 or 60 days depending on the type of pass.
- It only includes the attractions you need, so the price is more affordable.
- Significant savings can be achieved.
Cons:
- The number of attractions is limited (between 3-10). You can visit the amount of attractions you selected when you purchased your pass.
Tip
New York city passes allow you to visit each attraction only once. The only exception is the New York CityPASS®. With this pass, you can visit the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building twice in one day! The New York CityPASS® includes two general admission tickets to the skyscraper, one during the day and one on the same night.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do city cards work?
Each New York city pass is approx. works the same way. After you buy the pass, you have 12 months to activate it, which happens automatically when you visit the first attraction. You can use the city card with an application, but you can also save it on your phone, which you can print out if you want.
How long after purchase can the New York City Pass be used?
You have one year from the date of purchase to start using your tickets. However, remember that once you have activated it, you only have the specified period of time at your disposal.
Is the city card activated upon purchase?
No, none of the passes are activated upon purchase. The city card is activated when you visit the first attraction. After that, it will be valid for 1-30 days, depending on the type of pass.
How do I get my city card?
After you have purchased the city pass, you will receive a confirmation email with all the information.
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Which is the best New York city pass for families?
Planning with children is not so easy, so I would decide based on the number of attractions. That way, you don’t have to rush, you have plenty of time to watch the selected programs. I recommend the Go City Explorer card, because you can choose from more than 100 attractions. The list includes programs such as the NY Aquarium, Luna Park, Legoland or the Staten Island Zoo. Be sure to check the list before booking.
How can I book a spot for each attraction?
Some attractions require advance booking. You can find more information about the process and method of booking in the confirmation. Every company has an interface where you can book a spot. In some cases, however, you will be redirected to the attraction’s website. Of course they will tell you everything, but you can also find details on the website. Making a reservation will not activate your Pass.
Which hop-on hop-off buses are included in the city pass?
Some city passes include 1- or 2-day BIG BUS ticket. With the pass, you have free access to the Uptown and Downtown Hop-on Hop-off bus tours.
Do city passes include public transport?
In New York, city passes unfortunately do NOT include free public transportation.
Buy your city card now
Why do I recommend Get Your Guide website or app? Because it offers free cancellation. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund!
Need help planning your trip?
Here are my favourite sites to use when planning my trips:
Find your flight: Kiwi or use the airline’s direct website
Book your Hotel: Booking.com and Airbnb
Search for a rental car: Discovercars
Stay Connected Anywhere: Airalo eSIM
Book an unforgettable experiences: GetYourGuide website.
Source: Wandering Linda
Photos: Wandering Linda
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