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

New York CityPASS lets you bundle five major sights into one $154 pass, then spread them across nine days. The smartest feature is the mix of fixed inclusions and choice: you get the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, then select three more attractions that fit your trip.

I like the mobile tickets and the ability to reserve times in one app. I also like the Empire State Building bonus, which lets you return the same night for a second general-admission visit. The main catch is that the pass only works well if you choose enough included attractions, and Statue of Liberty crown or pedestal access is not included.

Key points to know before buying

• Nine consecutive days: Your validity begins with the first attraction you visit, so do not activate it too early.
• Two attractions are fixed: The Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History are included automatically.
• Choose three more: Pick from Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line, Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim.
• The app matters: Download the My CityPASS app to see your actual tickets, reserve time slots, and manage changes.
• The Empire State Building includes a return visit: Use the same-day daytime and nighttime general-admission bonus for two different views.
• Some fine print remains: Transportation, food, crown tickets, and pedestal access at the Statue of Liberty are not included.

How the New York CityPASS works

This is not a guided tour and it does not move you around town. It is a prepaid attraction pass delivered to your phone. At each stop, you present the mobile ticket for scanning, then follow that attraction’s entry process.

You pay $154 per person and receive entry to five attractions. The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day you use it. That gives you time to build a sensible New York schedule instead of racing from one sight to another in two or three days.

The first step is downloading the My CityPASS app or visiting the CityPASS website. The booking voucher alone is not always the ticket you need at the entrance. The app holds the active attraction tickets, reservation details, and attraction information, so I would install it before leaving home.

You may need to reserve times for certain attractions. The app is useful here, especially when weather changes your plans. A clear day matters at the observation decks, and the ability to move a reservation can save you from looking at a gray wall of cloud from 70 floors up. Changes are possible for some bookings, but not every time slot is equally flexible, so check the terms shown in the app.

The Empire State Building: start with New York’s classic tower

The Empire State Building is one of the two fixed attractions, and it gives the pass a strong starting point. Your admission includes the 86th Floor Observatory and the second-floor museum. The observatory delivers the familiar New York panorama, while the museum adds context about the building and its place in the city.

The unusual extra is the AM/PM Experience. You can visit once during the day and return the same night for bonus general admission, provided both visits happen on the same day. That makes this more than a quick photo stop. You can see the city in daylight, then return after dark for a very different view of the streets below.

I would plan this carefully. Use the daytime visit when you have good visibility, then schedule the evening return around sunset or after dark. The bonus is a same-day return, not a second visit on a later date.

The Empire State Building is also a good test of value. If you already know you do not want to visit it, the pass may be a poor match because this attraction is mandatory. One customer specifically wished the venues were more optional for that reason. CityPASS saves money by bundling popular sights, but bundling also means you cannot replace every attraction with your personal favorite.

American Museum of Natural History: allow time for the ticket desk

The American Museum of Natural History is the second fixed attraction. Admission covers the permanent museum halls, with more than 40 galleries, plus one available ticketed choice.

That choice may include a special exhibition, the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show. Availability matters, so do not assume every option will be open at the exact time you arrive.

This is the attraction most likely to require extra patience with the CityPASS process. The mobile pass may need to be exchanged or converted for an attraction ticket, and a separate line can form at the museum. Several people found that entry here was slower than at the other included sights because they had to collect museum tickets.

Plan a generous block of time and bring water, comfortable clothes, and a daypack. The museum is not a quick in-and-out stop if you want to see more than a few famous displays. If you are trying to squeeze it between two tightly timed reservations, you may spend more time watching the clock than looking at the exhibits.

There is also a value question. One customer pointed out that some museum admission options can be available directly at no charge, which can reduce the apparent saving. Check the museum’s current admission terms before buying, particularly if this is one of the main reasons you want the pass.

Pick three attractions that match your interests

After the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, you select three attractions from six choices. This is where the pass becomes personal.

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Top of the Rock gives you another major skyline view. It is especially useful if you want the Empire State Building in your photographs, since you cannot see that building from its own observation deck.

The pass includes general admission. You should reserve a time if the app requires it, and keep an eye on the weather. One visitor changed a Rockefeller reservation after poor visibility made the original time unattractive. That flexibility can matter more than a small price difference.

Choosing both Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building gives you two different viewpoints, but it also uses two of your three choices. That is sensible for a first New York visit if skyline views are high on your list.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers a serious, reflective experience rather than a light sightseeing stop. General admission is included, and the attraction can take emotional energy as well as time.

I would avoid placing it between two rushed activities. Give yourself room afterward, especially if you want to think about what you have seen. It is one of the strongest choices for visitors who want more than observation decks and boat rides.

Statue City Cruises to Liberty and Ellis islands

The Statue City Cruises option includes one 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.

This is not the same as a crown or pedestal package. Those are excluded, so book separate tickets if reaching the crown or pedestal is important to you. One customer did exactly that, because the CityPASS option did not cover those experiences.

The ferry option works well when you want to see the harbor and visit both islands. Keep weather and season in mind. One person skipped the boat trip because it was too cold, while another found a sunset cruise to be the highlight of the trip. Boat rides depend heavily on the day you get.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Instead of the Statue City Cruises ferry, you can choose one regularly scheduled Circle Line cruise. The listed choices are the Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise.

Schedules change, so check the current timetable before building your day. The sunset option can be especially appealing if the timing works, but do not treat it as a guaranteed replacement for a full Statue of Liberty visit. Circle Line and Statue City Cruises serve different purposes: one is a sightseeing cruise, while the other provides ferry access to the islands.

Intrepid Museum

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

This is a strong pick if aircraft, ships, military technology, or engineering interest you. It also gives your pass a different kind of stop, so your five attractions do not all become towers and museums in Midtown.

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim includes general admission to its collection and special exhibitions. You also receive access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide in several languages through your own phone.

Choose this if you want a museum visit with a distinct building and a more art-focused program. The free architecture tour is a useful extra, but check its daily timing so it fits your reservations.

Building a nine-day New York schedule

The nine-day validity is generous, but it does not mean you should leave everything until the last afternoon. Popular attractions can require time reservations, and a full day of sightseeing can be tiring.

I would group sights by area when possible, but do not sacrifice a good weather window for a perfect map. Put the observation decks on the clearest day. Schedule the 9/11 Museum when you have enough quiet time. Pair the American Museum of Natural History with nearby plans rather than crossing the city repeatedly.

A practical outline might look like this:

• Day one: Empire State Building during the day and again at night.
• Day two: American Museum of Natural History and your selected ticketed experience.
• Day three: Top of the Rock or the Guggenheim.
• Day four: 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
• Day five: Statue City Cruises, Circle Line, or Intrepid Museum.
• Remaining days: flexible time for neighborhoods, food, shopping, and weather changes.

That is only a framework. The pass does not include transportation, food, or drinks, so leave room in the budget for subway fares, taxis, meals, and snacks. You will also want comfortable shoes. These attractions involve plenty of walking, standing, and moving between timed appointments.

Is $154 a good deal?

The advertised saving is up to 41 percent, but your actual saving depends on the three optional attractions you choose and the admission price available when you visit. I would not buy the pass simply because the percentage sounds large.

The pass is usually a good fit if you plan to visit all five included attractions and want the convenience of one mobile system. It can also pay off for a short New York trip, when prebooking helps you fit several major sights into limited time.

The value is weaker if you only want two or three attractions, if you already have free or discounted access to the American Museum of Natural History, or if the Empire State Building does not interest you. The $154 price is not a bargain when you spend your trip skipping included stops.

The ability to use the Empire State Building twice on one day improves the calculation. So does the chance to change some reservation times. Still, compare the individual ticket prices for your dates before purchasing. CityPASS gives you convenience and a possible discount, not a guarantee of maximum savings for every itinerary.

Mobile tickets, reservations, and entry tips

Keep the app ready before you reach the entrance. The mobile ticket is scanned at each attraction, and the app is also where you reserve time slots and view details.

I would save screenshots of your QR codes as a backup in case your phone connection is poor. That does not replace following the official ticket instructions, but it can make entry less stressful.

Do not assume the pass skips every line. At several attractions, you can present the ticket and proceed, while the American Museum of Natural History may require a ticket exchange. Arrive early enough for that extra step.

The pass is wheelchair accessible, but specific access arrangements can differ by attraction. If you have mobility needs, contact CityPASS or the attraction before visiting.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now while paying later through the booking terms. That is useful when your weather plans are still uncertain, but read the reservation conditions for each attraction inside the app.

Who should buy the New York CityPASS?

I recommend it most strongly for a first New York visit built around major sights. Families can benefit from having admission and reservations in one place, and short-stay visitors can use the pass as a simple planning framework.

It also suits people who want both viewpoints, a museum, and either a boat trip or a cultural attraction. The app keeps the tickets together and can make a packed trip feel more organized.

I would hesitate if you prefer small museums, neighborhood wandering, or spontaneous plans. You may also want to skip it if you have already visited the Empire State Building, do not want a second observation deck, or specifically need Statue of Liberty crown and pedestal access.

Should you book the New York CityPASS?

Book it if you can name five included attractions you genuinely want to visit, including the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History. The nine-day window, mobile tickets, and reservation tools make it especially useful for a first visit or a tightly planned short stay.

Skip it if your list contains only two or three sights, or if the fixed attractions do not appeal to you. Before paying, compare the current individual ticket prices, check American Museum of Natural History admission rules, and confirm the boat or museum options you want are available. Used with a real plan, CityPASS can save money and reduce ticket-hunting. Used without one, it can push you toward attractions you never wanted.

FAQ

How much does the New York CityPASS cost?

The price provided is $154 per person.

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

It is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day you activate it by visiting an attraction.

Which attractions are automatically included?

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

How many attractions can I visit?

The pass provides admission to five attractions in total.

Which three 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.

Does the pass include the Statue of Liberty crown?

No. Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access are not included with the Statue City Cruises option.

Can I visit the Empire State Building twice?

Yes. The pass includes daytime admission and a bonus same-night general-admission visit on the same day.

Do I need to download an app?

You should download the My CityPASS app or use my.citypass.com to access tickets, make required reservations, and view attraction information.

Is transportation included?

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