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

New York CityPASS turns a long list of famous sights into one manageable plan. For $154, you get the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, then choose three more attractions, with nine days to spread them out. I like the generous time window and the mobile app, which keeps tickets and reservations in one place. I also like the built-in flexibility: several users were able to change time slots when weather or plans shifted.

The main catch is that two attractions are fixed, and you must choose only three from the remaining options. If you have already visited the Empire State Building, want the Statue of Liberty crown, or prefer the Met and MoMA, this pass may not fit your plans as well. The American Museum of Natural History can also require a separate ticket collection line, even when the pass is on your phone.

Key points to know before you buy

• Nine consecutive days: Your pass lasts nine days from the first attraction you visit, giving you room to avoid an exhausting sightseeing sprint.
• Two attractions are included automatically: The Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History form the core of the pass.
• Choose three more sights: Pick from Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line cruises, the Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim.
• The Empire State Building includes a return visit: Use the bonus same-night general admission on the same day as your daytime visit.
• The CityPASS app matters: Download the app or use my.citypass.com to access tickets, attraction details, and required reservations.
• The best value depends on your choices: The pass can save up to 41 percent, but your actual savings depend on which five attractions you use.

How the New York CityPASS works

CityPASS is not a guided tour and does not include a vehicle, escort, meals, or a shared itinerary. You make your own way around New York and present the mobile ticket at each attraction for scanning.

The pass activates when you first use it. From that day, you have nine consecutive days, including the first day, to visit all five attractions. That is a useful setup for New York, where a sunny morning can turn into a wet afternoon and a museum visit can take far longer than planned.

I recommend downloading the My CityPASS app before your first attraction. The booking platform may initially give you a voucher, while the actual attraction tickets and reservation tools appear in the CityPASS app. Save the tickets to your phone, and consider taking screenshots in case your mobile connection is poor.

Some attractions require reservations or timed entry. Book the popular observation decks and cruises early, especially if you have only two or three days in the city. The app lets you view the available details and, in many cases, change a date or time. Do not assume every reservation can be changed at the last minute, though. A little planning still pays off.

Empire State Building: New York from the 86th floor

The Empire State Building is one of the fixed attractions, and it gives you the classic New York view from the open-air 86th Floor Observatory. Your admission also covers the second-floor museum, where you can learn about the building and its place in New York popular culture.

The CityPASS package has a particularly useful extra here: an AM/PM experience. You can visit during the day, then return for general admission the same night on the same day. That lets you see the city in daylight and again after the streets light up, without using another attraction choice.

I like this arrangement because the two visits feel different. Daylight helps you understand the scale of Manhattan, while the evening return gives the skyline a more dramatic look. Plan your day carefully if you want both visits, since the night admission is tied to the same date as the daytime visit.

The tradeoff is simple. If you have already been to the Empire State Building, you cannot swap this included attraction for another option. That makes CityPASS a stronger buy for a first New York visit than for someone returning to check off only a few missing sights.

American Museum of Natural History: allow extra time

The American Museum of Natural History is the other fixed attraction. Admission covers the permanent museum halls, with more than 40 galleries, plus one available ticketed add-on. Depending on availability, that extra choice can be a special exhibition, the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show.

This is not a quick stop. I would give it at least several hours if you want more than a fast look at the famous displays. The museum is large, and the permanent galleries alone can fill a substantial part of a day.

There is an important practical wrinkle. The mobile CityPASS ticket may not take you directly through the museum entrance. You may need to wait in a line to exchange or validate the pass for museum admission tickets. Several people found this slower than entry at the other attractions, so do not schedule a tight appointment immediately afterward.

One person also noted that the museum may offer free or pay-what-you-wish entry under certain arrangements, which can reduce the apparent savings. Check the museum’s current admission rules before buying if this is one of the main reasons you want the pass. The value remains better when you use the ticketed add-on and combine the museum with several higher-priced choices.

Top of the Rock: a different skyline view

Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center is one of the three optional selections. The observation deck gives you broad views across Manhattan, including a clear look toward the Empire State Building.

That distinction matters. From the Empire State Building, the building itself is missing from your view. From Top of the Rock, it becomes part of the skyline scene. Using both decks gives you two different angles rather than the same experience twice.

Weather should guide your booking. If clouds block the view, a reservation can feel like a poor use of a limited New York day. The CityPASS app may allow you to move the time, and one person successfully shifted a Rockefeller Center visit when visibility was poor. Still, reserve early and check the rules attached to your chosen time slot.

Top of the Rock is a strong pick for first-time visitors who want skyline views, especially if you value photographs that include the Empire State Building. If you are not interested in observation decks, choose one of the museums or cruises instead.

Statue City Cruises: Liberty Island and Ellis Island

The Statue City Cruises option includes one ferry ride to and from Liberty Island and Ellis Island. You also receive audio guides, admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum, and admission to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

This is an excellent use of a sightseeing day because the ferry itself gives you open views of the harbor and the Manhattan skyline. Liberty Island lets you see the Statue of Liberty at close range, while Ellis Island adds a more personal historical stop focused on immigration.

Read the inclusions closely. Crown Tickets and pedestal access are not included. If standing inside the statue or climbing to the pedestal is the key purpose of your visit, you will need a separate ticket, and availability may affect your plans.

The ferry can also be weather dependent. A cold winter day may make the boat less appealing, even though the included museums remain worthwhile. Pack water, dress comfortably, and bring a daypack. For a short trip, this option is often more rewarding than trying to fit in several indoor attractions on the same day.

Circle Line cruises: pick the sailing that fits

The Circle Line choice includes one regularly scheduled cruise. Available options listed for the pass include the Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise. Schedules can change, so check the current timetable before reserving.

A cruise is useful when your feet need a break but you still want to see major sights. It also gives you a wide city view that is hard to get from a sidewalk or museum gallery. The sunset sailing can be especially appealing if the timing works, but a clear evening is never guaranteed.

Cruises use a fixed schedule, so this option needs more planning than a museum. Check the departure time, allow room to reach the pier, and avoid pairing it with an attraction across town on a tight schedule. Transportation is not included in CityPASS, and getting between neighborhoods is your responsibility.

9/11 Memorial & Museum: a serious, moving visit

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers general admission and is one of the pass choices that requires a different frame of mind. This is not a light sightseeing stop. The memorial and museum present the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001, in a quiet and emotionally heavy setting.

I would not rush this visit between two observation decks. Give yourself time to move through the material at your own pace. Several people found it one of the most meaningful parts of their New York schedule, but its subject matter is intense and may not suit every member of a family.

This is a good CityPASS selection if you want context and reflection alongside the city’s famous views. It is less suitable if your goal is simply to maximize cheerful attractions during a packed weekend.

Intrepid Museum: ships, aircraft, and space history

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

The museum is built around large objects rather than conventional galleries. You can move from a historic aircraft carrier to a submarine and then into the space shuttle display. That variety makes it a practical choice for families and for anyone who finds traditional art museums less appealing.

Because it is on the west side of Manhattan, consider grouping it with a Circle Line cruise if the schedules and locations work for you. I would avoid trying to cross the city several times in one day. CityPASS saves money, but it cannot save the time spent in traffic or on the subway.

Guggenheim Museum: a compact art stop

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 with content in multiple languages, accessed on your own mobile device.

This is the most architecture-driven choice in the group. The building itself shapes the visit, with its distinctive interior ramp and changing exhibition spaces. The Guggenheim can be a good pick when you want an art museum without committing an entire day to a large institution.

The choice may feel limited if your New York art list centers on the Metropolitan Museum of Art or MoMA. Those museums are not part of this pass, and several people specifically wished for more museum choices. If you already know you want one of those institutions, compare the individual ticket prices before committing to CityPASS.

What $154 is really worth

The advertised maximum saving is up to 41 percent, but that figure is not automatic. Your real value comes from using all five attractions, choosing several expensive admission options, and taking advantage of the Empire State Building return visit.

For a first-time visitor, the math can work well. The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Statue City Cruises, a Circle Line sailing, and the Intrepid Museum can create a busy but valuable sightseeing plan. Add the American Museum of Natural History, and the pass gives you a broad mix of views, museums, water, and city history.

The pass is less attractive if you plan to use only three attractions, avoid the fixed Empire State Building visit, or qualify for a lower individual admission price at one of the museums. It is also less useful if your itinerary is built around attractions outside the package.

I like the pass most for a first visit lasting four to nine days. You have enough time to spread out the bookings and avoid turning every day into a race. On a two-and-a-half-day trip, it can still save money, but you will need a firm schedule and a willingness to move quickly.

A practical plan for using all five visits

On a nine-day stay, I would separate the attractions by neighborhood and energy level. Put the American Museum of Natural History on a day when you can give it several hours, then schedule a lighter activity later only if you still have the energy.

Use the Empire State Building during daylight and return the same night for the bonus visit. Schedule Top of the Rock on a day with a good weather forecast, while keeping an eye on the app in case the view is poor.

Place Statue City Cruises or Circle Line on a clear day. The Intrepid Museum and Guggenheim work well as indoor choices when the weather is less cooperative. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum deserves its own unhurried block rather than being squeezed between timed attractions.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, carry water, and bring a small packed lunch if you expect a full day out. Food and transportation are not included, so budget for both. Wheelchair access is available, though you should still check each attraction’s current arrangements when making reservations.

Who should buy CityPASS?

I would recommend it to a first-time New York visitor who wants the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, and at least three of the optional sights. The app makes it easier to keep reservations together, and the nine-day validity gives you room to adjust your pace.

It also suits families and short-break visitors who like having a ready-made structure. The pass does not force you into a group schedule, but it gives you a useful list of priorities and one mobile place to manage them.

I would pause before buying if you have already visited the Empire State Building, want crown or pedestal access at the Statue of Liberty, or mainly want museums not included here. Also check the exact admission rules at the American Museum of Natural History if you are counting on the largest possible saving.

Should you book the New York CityPASS?

Book it if you can name five included attractions that you genuinely want to visit. The strongest combination is usually the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock, one cruise or ferry, and either the 9/11 Museum or Intrepid Museum.

The pass is not magic, and it does not remove the need to reserve popular time slots or plan transportation. But at $154, it can cut costs, reduce ticket-line hassle, and give your New York days a useful shape. For a first visit with several major sights on your list, it is a sensible buy. For a repeat visit built around a few specific museums, individual tickets may be the better deal.

FAQ

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days from the first day you use it. The first day of use counts as day one.

How many attractions are included?

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

Which attractions are fixed?

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

Which attractions can I choose for the remaining three visits?

You can choose from Top of the Rock Observation Deck, 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 the Statue of Liberty crown?

No. Crown Tickets and pedestal access are not included. The option includes one Statue City Cruises ferry ride, audio guides, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Do I need to download an app?

You should download the My CityPASS app or use my.citypass.com. The app gives you access to your tickets, attraction information, and reservations where required.

Can I visit the Empire State Building twice?

Yes. The pass includes daytime admission and bonus same-night general admission on the same day. The evening visit must take place on the date of your daytime visit.

Are transportation and food included?

No. You are responsible for transportation between attractions, as well as food and drinks. Comfortable shoes, water, comfortable clothing, a daypack, and a packed lunch are recommended.

Is the pass wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. You should still check current access details and reservation requirements for each attraction.