The New York CityPASS bundles 5 top New York attractions into a single ticket: two fixed, the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History, plus 3 of your choice from 6. It costs $164 for adults and saves you up to 42% versus buying single tickets. It is one of the tourist passes for New York and other US cities most loved by first-time visitors, with 9 days to use it.
New York CityPASS at a glance
- Price: adult $164, child 6-17 $136, under 6 free
- Attractions: 5 in total, 2 fixed (Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History) plus 3 of your choice from 6
- Savings: up to 42% versus single tickets (value $283)
- Validity: 9 consecutive days from first use
- Activation: within 1 year of purchase
- Reservations: timed entry required for Empire State Building and Top of the Rock
- Cancellation: free while the pass is not yet activated
- Support: real assistance before and after purchase, with an office near Times Square
Below you will find everything you need before booking: how much it costs, what the 5 attractions are and which ones you can choose, how much you really save, how it works, which pass suits you and what to know before you activate it.
How Much the New York CityPASS Costs and How Much You Save
The price of the New York CityPASS is fixed and already includes the saving: $164 for adults and $136 for children aged 6 to 17, while under 6 go free at most attractions.
Here are the official New York CityPASS prices, with the full value of the included attractions.
| Ticket | Price | Attractions value |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $164 | $283 |
| Child 6-17 | $136 | $275 |
| Under 6 | free* | n/a |
*Free entry at most attractions. Official prices in US dollars, updated July 2026. Check the current amount on the product page.
The saving reaches up to 42% because buying the same attractions separately would cost far more. How much you actually save depends on the 3 attractions you choose: the pricier options, such as the Circle Line cruise or the Intrepid, increase the benefit.
Book the Smart Way
Buying the pass online pays off: you get your digital voucher within 24 hours of booking, with a QR code for each participant. With Il Mio Viaggio a New York you also get real assistance before and after your purchase and an office near Times Square you can drop by if in doubt.
The 5 Attractions of the New York CityPASS
The pass always includes two fixed attractions and lets you choose the other 3 from 6 options. Here are all the possibilities.
- Empire State Building (fixed): the 86th-floor observatory and the interactive museum on the 2nd floor.
- American Museum of Natural History (fixed): general admission plus one exhibition or experience of your choice.
- Top of the Rock (choice): the panoramic terrace atop Rockefeller Center.
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum (choice): the memorial and museum at Ground Zero.
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (choice): the official ferry to both islands, crown and pedestal not included.
- Circle Line Cruises (choice): a sightseeing cruise around Manhattan.
- Intrepid Museum (choice): the aircraft carrier with the Space Shuttle and the submarine Growler.
- Guggenheim (choice): the Frank Lloyd Wright museum on Fifth Avenue.
If you are after the view from above, the choices include two of the best New York observation deck tickets, Top of the Rock and, among the fixed ones, the Empire State Building.
For art and science, the pass gives you two of the main New York museum tickets, the Guggenheim and the American Museum of Natural History.
The CityPASS covers admission to the attractions; to explore neighborhoods and stories with a guide who speaks your language, consider a guided tour of New York too.
How the New York CityPASS Works
You buy online and pick nothing up on site. You receive a digital voucher with a QR code for each participant by email, show it at the entrance and go in. The 9-day count starts only at your first visit, not at the purchase date, so you can buy it in advance.
Some attractions require you to book a timed slot in the My CityPASS app, in particular the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. For museums and the cruise you usually enter directly with the QR code, but booking is still recommended so you do not find everything full.
CityPASS, C3, Go City or New York Pass: Which One Suits You
Our site has three other New York passes and the right choice depends on how long you stay and how many attractions you want to see.
Here is a quick comparison of the four passes, with attractions, validity and starting price.
| Pass | Attractions | Validity | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York CityPASS | 5 (2 fixed + 3 of 6) | 9 days | from $164 | the icons with the biggest saving |
| New York C3 | 3 freely chosen (wide list with MoMA and Edge) | 30 days | from $114 | short stays and more freedom |
| Go City Explorer Pass | 2 to 7 of your choice | 30 days | from $89 | choosing how many attractions to pay for |
| The New York Pass | 100+ included | 1-10 days | from $164 | packed itineraries, seeing the most |
Indicative starting prices, subject to change.
The New York C3 is the leaner version, 3 freely chosen attractions from a wide list that includes MoMA and Edge, valid 30 days.
The Go City Explorer Pass lets you decide how many attractions to pay for, from 2 to 7, again with 30 days to use them.
The The New York Pass is all-inclusive: 100+ attractions covered, the right choice if you want to see the most over a few intense days.
What to Know Before Activating the Pass
Before you book, keep in mind a few practical details that make a difference on the ground.
- Validity: 9 consecutive days from first use; you have 1 year from purchase to activate it.
- Reservations: Empire State Building and Top of the Rock require a timed slot in the app, so do not leave them to your last day.
- Excluded attractions: the MET is not included in any version of the CityPASS; the Statue of Liberty crown and pedestal are excluded.
- American Museum of Natural History: the pass includes general admission plus one exhibition; the pay-what-you-wish admission at the door applies only to New York State residents, not to visitors.
- Name on ticket: each ticket must be booked with the name of the participant it is for.
- Refund: the pass is refundable only if unused and not expired; after activation, a penalty applies if you do not use it.
With a little planning you get the most out of every day of the pass and leave nothing to chance.
Our tip
As soon as you get the pass, book the timed slots for the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock right away: evening slots sell out fast. And among the 3 attractions you choose, go for the ones with the highest single-ticket price, like the Circle Line cruise or the Intrepid, to push the saving as far as it goes.
Please Note
After booking you receive an automatic confirmation and, in a separate email, your digital pass: check your spam folder too. Included attractions and opening times can change, so always check the up-to-date details in the My CityPASS app before your visit.
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