New York CityPASS®

New York sightseeing adds up fast. The nine-day CityPASS gives you entry to five major attractions for $154, with mobile tickets that are easy to carry and use. I like the freedom to choose three attractions after visiting the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History. I also like the chance to change many timed reservations in the app when city plans shift.

The main catch is simple: you need to use at least four attractions to make the price work well. Some places still require a reservation or a ticket exchange at the venue, so this is not always a pure skip-every-line pass.

Key points at a glance

• The pass lasts nine consecutive days: The clock starts when you first use it, not when you buy it.
• Two major attractions are fixed: Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History are included automatically.
• You choose three more: Pick from Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Circle Line cruises, Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim.
• The mobile app handles the details: You can view tickets, attraction information, and many reservations in one place.
• Empire State Building offers extra value: Your ticket includes the 86th Floor Observatory, museum entry, and bonus same-night general admission.
• Planning matters: Popular attractions can fill their time slots, and several choices are spread across Manhattan.

How the New York CityPASS works

Think of CityPASS as a five-attraction package, not an unlimited sightseeing card. You automatically receive admission to the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, then choose three attractions from the remaining six options.

The pass costs $154 per person. That price makes sense if you visit four or five included attractions, especially if your plans already include observation decks, the Statue of Liberty, or the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. If you only want to see two sights at a relaxed pace, paying separately may be cheaper and simpler.

Your ticket is delivered for mobile use, though printed tickets are also accepted. The pass remains valid for nine consecutive days from the first attraction you enter. An unused pass expires one year after purchase, and the experience is non-refundable, so I would wait until your New York dates are firm before buying.

The app is the practical heart of the pass. Use it to see your choices, access tickets, check attraction details, and make reservations where needed. It is especially useful for a family or group, since keeping several paper tickets and confirmation emails in order can become a small New York crisis of its own.

Empire State Building: start with the city’s classic view

Your fixed first attraction is the Empire State Building. CityPASS includes the 86th Floor Observatory and entry to the second-floor museum, followed by bonus same-night general admission.

Allow about three hours. That gives you time for the museum, the observatory, and a return visit later that evening if your schedule allows. The AM/PM format is a useful feature because you can see Manhattan in daylight and then return for the city lights on the same night.

The 86th Floor Observatory is the main event. From here, you get the familiar open-air New York view that has made the building a city symbol. The second-floor museum adds context before or after the elevator ride, so your visit is not just a quick trip upstairs for photographs.

The drawback is timing. The building is popular, and your day can become cramped if you place it between attractions in distant parts of Manhattan. I would pair it with nearby Midtown stops, such as Top of the Rock, the Intrepid Museum, or a Circle Line departure from Midtown, while checking exact reservation requirements first.

American Museum of Natural History: plan more than one quick hour

The American Museum of Natural History is the second fixed attraction. Admission covers the permanent museum halls, more than 40 galleries, and one ticketed choice, based on availability.

That extra choice may be the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, a Hayden Planetarium Space Show, or another listed exhibition option. Check what is available when you arrive, since the choice is not guaranteed in every format at every visit.

Set aside around four hours. This museum is large enough to reward a focused plan, but it is also easy to spend far longer if you stop at every gallery. The pass gives you access to a serious block of indoor sightseeing, which is useful on a rainy or very cold day.

There is one important practical warning. You may need to wait in a museum line to show your CityPASS and exchange it for the museum’s own tickets. That can feel frustrating when you have already paid and hold a mobile pass, so allow extra time rather than booking a tight appointment immediately afterward.

The museum sits near public transportation, but the attractions are not connected by a private shuttle. You are responsible for getting from one stop to the next.

Top of the Rock: compare two Manhattan viewpoints

Top of the Rock is one of the three optional choices. The pass provides general admission, and you should allow around three hours for the visit and its timed entry process.

Choosing Top of the Rock gives you a useful comparison with the Empire State Building. From the Empire State Building, you are looking out from one of the city’s most famous towers. From Top of the Rock, you can include the Empire State Building in your view, along with a broad look across Midtown.

That makes this a strong choice for visitors who want two observation decks, particularly on a first New York visit. It also fits naturally into a Midtown day with the Empire State Building, though I would not assume you can walk in at any time. Reserve a slot if the attraction requires one, and leave room for a late start or weather change.

If observation decks are not a priority, you may get more variety from the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Museum, or Intrepid instead. The pass is most useful when your chosen three complement the fixed attractions rather than repeat the same type of visit.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: a ferry day with two stops

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

Allow at least three hours, and think of this as a ferry outing rather than a single monument visit. You are seeing two islands, riding the boat in both directions, and deciding how much time to spend in each museum.

Crown Tickets and pedestal access are not included. If those higher-level visits matter to you, the CityPASS does not cover them, and any available upgrades must be handled directly with the attraction.

This option brings variety to your pass: water views, two islands, and museums rather than another skyscraper. It can also take more energy than the three-hour estimate suggests if you want to read the exhibits carefully. Check the ferry schedule and reserve ahead when possible, especially if your New York stay is short.

9/11 Memorial and Museum: allow time for the emotional weight

The National 9/11 Memorial and Museum is another optional choice, with general admission included. A three-hour visit is a sensible starting point, but the subject matter deserves more than a rushed stop between observation decks.

The memorial and museum present a difficult part of modern American history. I would schedule this when you have enough quiet time afterward, rather than immediately before a cheerful dinner or a packed activity. The experience can be emotionally heavy, and planning for that is part of being a considerate visitor.

Reservations may be required, and popular time slots can fill in advance. Booking two or three days ahead is wise when your schedule permits. The app makes it easier to select and adjust a time, but changing plans does not guarantee that every new slot will be available.

This is a strong choice for you if the museum is already high on your New York list. If you want a lighter day focused on views and entertainment, the Circle Line or Intrepid Museum may suit your group better.

Circle Line: give your feet a break on the water

The Circle Line option includes one regularly scheduled cruise. Depending on the current timetable, you may choose a Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise.

Schedules can change, so check the current choices before building your day. The cruise is a particularly smart addition for families and anyone trying to see a lot of Manhattan without walking every block.

One useful strategy is to place the boat trip between two land-based attractions. You get time off your feet while still seeing the city, then continue sightseeing with a little less fatigue. A three-hour estimate includes more than the time spent moving through the harbor, so leave room for boarding and the schedule itself.

This choice may be less suitable if you want museums and indoor exhibits. It is also dependent on the available departure times, so it works best when you build your day around the cruise rather than trying to squeeze it into a narrow gap.

Intrepid Museum: aircraft, a submarine, and space exploration

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

Allow around three hours. The collection gives you a change of pace from New York’s towers and art museums, with large military and aerospace displays that work well for families and visitors interested in engineering, aviation, or American military history.

Because the museum is on the west side of Manhattan, consider its location before making your three choices. It can pair well with a Circle Line cruise from Midtown or other west-side plans, but crossing the city several times in a day will eat into your sightseeing time.

The pass includes the listed general admission features, while some attractions may offer paid upgrades directly at the venue. Ask before paying for extras if you are trying to keep your total visit within the CityPASS budget.

Guggenheim Museum: choose it for architecture and modern art

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum offers general admission to its collection and special exhibitions. Your entry also includes access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide in several languages, accessed on your own phone.

Allow about three hours, though the ideal length depends on how closely you want to view the art. The building itself is a major reason to choose this option. The architecture tour adds value if you want more than a quick look at the galleries.

The Guggenheim is a good fit for visitors who want art after the large natural history museum. It is also a useful choice if you prefer a quieter cultural stop to another observation deck or boat ride.

As with other timed attractions, check the current entry arrangements before you go. The pass includes admission, but it does not remove the need to organize your day around opening times and available reservations.

Getting the best value from $154

The pass is not automatically a bargain. Its value depends on your choices, pace, and transport time.

I would use a simple test: list the five attractions you genuinely want, then compare their separate admission prices with $154. If you plan to visit only the Empire State Building, the Natural History Museum, and one optional site, the savings may be modest. If you add two more major attractions, the calculation becomes much stronger.

The pass also saves some time by giving you admission in one package. That does not mean every queue disappears. American Museum of Natural History may require a ticket exchange, and several attractions require timed reservations. Still, having tickets in the app can reduce the work of buying separate admissions throughout the week.

The nine-day validity period is the real advantage for a longer stay. You do not need to race through five sights in two days. You can spread them across a week, place indoor museums on poor-weather days, and save the harbor cruise or observation decks for suitable conditions.

The pass is less attractive for a very short visit if your group tires easily. One family using it over two and a half days found that children became tired from the walking and plans changed. That is a useful warning: buying five admissions does not mean you need to force five visits into your schedule.

Reservations, lines, and moving around Manhattan

Download or open the mobile pass before you set out, and keep your phone charged. You can also print the tickets, but the mobile format is easier for most people and avoids carrying a stack of separate vouchers.

Reserve popular attractions as early as you can. Two or three days ahead is a sensible target for places such as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, though availability depends on the dates and current schedules.

The app allows many reservations to be changed, which is one of the pass’s strongest practical features. If you arrive early, run late, or alter your day, you may be able to move the time. Do not treat this as a promise of unlimited flexibility, since new time slots can fill.

Transportation is not included. You will need to arrange your own subway, taxi, rideshare, or walking route. Group nearby attractions together: Midtown sights can share a day, while the Natural History Museum, Guggenheim, Statue of Liberty, and Intrepid Museum each deserve a little route planning.

Who should buy the CityPASS

I think CityPASS suits first-time New York visitors who want several headline attractions and prefer one app over separate ticket purchases. It is especially useful for families, couples, and friends who can agree on a short list before arriving.

It also suits you if your stay lasts five to nine days. The pass gives you room to spread out the big visits and leave time for neighborhoods, meals, parks, and unplanned discoveries.

I would be more cautious if you prefer slow museum days, have only two days in the city, or are not interested in the listed attractions. The choices are strong, but limited. You cannot swap in every New York sight, and the package does not include transportation or Statue of Liberty crown and pedestal access.

Should you book New York CityPASS?

Book it if you already want the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, and at least two or three of the optional attractions. At $154, five well-chosen visits can produce clear savings, along with the convenience of one mobile pass and a nine-day window.

Skip it if you want a very loose schedule or expect to visit only a couple of sights. For the best result, choose your three optional attractions before buying, reserve popular time slots early, and group stops by location. Used with that modest amount of planning, CityPASS is a practical way to see major New York sights without turning your entire visit into a queue.

FAQ

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of use. An unactivated pass expires one year from the purchase date.

Which attractions are automatically included?

Admission to the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History is included automatically.

How many additional attractions can I choose?

You can choose three additional attractions from Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry experience, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, the Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim Museum.

Can I use the pass on my phone?

Yes. You can present the pass on a mobile device for entry. Printed tickets are also accepted.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the attractions is not included.

Does the Statue of Liberty option include the crown or pedestal?

No. The pass includes the ferry, audio guides, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access are not included.