If you are planning a trip to New York, it is very likely that you are wondering: is the New York pass worth it? You have probably heard about this card that allows you to access many of the city’s attractions and save money but it is worth the money? Should you buy other tourist pass instead? Read my honest New York Pass review to learn if this sightseeing card is a good fit for your NY travel plans.
POST UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 2026
In this post you will find:
What is the New York Pass?
New York Pass is a sightseeing card that gives you access to more than 100 city attractions, tours and museums in NYC. You can see the complete list of attractions included here.
Although it used to be a pass based only on the number of days, the New York Pass has recently launched some new options that can also be useful for your trip. The different passes available are:
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New York Pass: the classic pass, available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 days. During the validity of your pass, you can visit as many attractions as you want.
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New York Pass Essentials: a more basic version that includes access to just 3 attractions — 1 observation deck + 2 additional attractions of your choice from the list of the top 9. Learn more about the New York Pass Essentials here
How does the New York Pass work?
Once you buy the pass, you will receive a confirmation email with all the information. You can download your mobile pass on the New York Pass app for free.
You can buy the New York Pass with durations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days. The pass is valid for consecutive days. The pass is automatically activated when you visit the first attraction and stops working automatically at the end of the chosen duration. You can visit each attraction just once with the New York Pass and you can visit as many attractions as you want, there is no day limit.
Which New York Pass should you get?
On average you will visit 3 or 4 attractions per day, so choose the duration of the pass considering this and plan in advance your itinerary. In one day you can combine your visit to 2 museums + an observation deck. Other days you might visit fewer places, for example the day you choose to go to the Statue of Liberty, which takes quite a few hours.
For the pass to be worth it, it is important to plan your days and visit the attractions that are located in the same area on the same day.
New York Pass prices (updated on september 2026):
| Pass duration | Regular adult price | SALE adult price |
| 1 day | USD$179 | USD$169 |
| 2 days | USD$269 | USD$224 |
| 3 days | USD$359 | USD$274 |
| 4 days | USD$419 | USD$324 |
| 5 days | USD$459 | USD$354 |
| 7 days | USD$539 | USD$404 |
| 10 days | USD$599 | USD$424 |
As you see, there are two prices: the regular price for adults and the discounted price for the pass. I’ve included this second price because the New York Pass often goes on SALE, so I recommend you regularly check out the New York Pass website for great prices.
Are you looking for a place to stay in NYC? Check out my list of cheap hotels in New York with great location
New York Pass price comparison
Below you will see the price comparison between the New York Pass and without the NY Pass.
I have included only the main and most popular attractions, but keep in mind that I will be leaving out many places that are also worth visiting.
Click here to see the complete list of attractions included in the New York Pass.
| ATTRACTION | New York Pass | Full Price |
| Empire State | ✓ | USD$53.35 |
| Top of the Rock | ✓ | USD$58.79 |
| One World Observatory | ✓ | USD$62.6 |
| Edge | ✓ | USD$55.46 |
| 9/11 Memorial&Museum | ✓ | USD$36 |
| American Museum of Natural History | ✓ | USD$36 |
| MoMA | ✓ | USD$30 |
| Liberty Statue & Ellis Island | ✓ | USD$30 |
| Guggenheim Museum | ✓ | USD$30 |
| Big Bus | ✓ | USD$87 |
| TOTAL: | 👉 New York Pass 4 days: USD$324 | USD$479 |
Let’s suppose you decide to visit only the attractions on this list. In order to visit these 10 attractions you will need 4 days. The 4-day pass price is USD$324 (on sale) and USD$419 (regular price).
Savings: more than USD$155
The New York Pass is definitely worth it, specially if you’re planning on visiting many paid attractions like the ones listed above.
Other attractions included in the New York Pass:
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: $33
- Madison Square Garden, All Access Tour: $37
- Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour: $33
- Whitney Museum of American Art: $25
- Lincoln Center Tour: $25
- Central Park Sightseeing Bike Tours & Rentals $56
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises $49
New York CityPASS – The alternative to New York Pass
For those who are not planning on visiting many attractions, a great alternative is the New York CityPASS. This pass includes admission to 5 attractions and is valid for 9 consecutive days.
Attractions included on the New York CityPASS (choose 5):
- Empire State Building
- American Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock
- Guggenheim observatory
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Circle Line Cruise
- Memorial and Museum of the 9/11
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Edge Observatory
- Whitney Museum
CityPASS Price: $149
If you are planning on visiting only these attractions, the New York CityPASS is the best choice. Click here for more information about this pass.
There are other passes for New York attractions, if you want to know which is the best for you read: New York attraction passes comparison
Tips to Make the Most of the New York Pass
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Choose the 4 or 5-day pass — it’s the perfect balance.
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Group attractions by area so you don’t waste time traveling between them and can visit several included sites in one day. There’s no daily limit on the number of attractions.
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Use the hop-on hop-off bus as transportation between visits.
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Buy it online with a discount — in person it’s always more expensive.
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Keep in mind: each attraction can only be visited once.
Conclusion – Is the New York Pass worth it?
Yes, it’s worth it if it’s your first time in New York and you plan to visit several major attractions. It really pays off and helps you save money.
My recommendation: get the 4 or 5-day pass and plan your itinerary to cover as many attractions as possible. Then, use the days without an active pass to explore New York’s free sights.
Although the pass might seem expensive, discounts are frequently available on the official New York Pass website. It’s just a matter of keeping an eye out and buying when the offer appears.
Who shouldn’t buy the New York Pass?
If you’ve been to the city several times, or you’re thinking of visiting less attractions the best alternative is to get the New York CityPASS.
I hope my New York Pass review has been useful for deciding whether the pass suits your travel plans or not.
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means, if you click on certain links within this post and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read more about it here.
