Best New York attraction passes: I Compared Them All

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New York is a city with thousands of activities, tours and attractions to visit. Many of its most visited places are totally free, but there are also many paid attractions with very expensive tickets. That is why there are several tourist cards that allow you to visit NY attractions for a lower price. In this post I will review the best New York attraction passes and help you find the one that fits your trip.

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.

*this article was updated on September 2026

Is it worth buying a tourist card in New York?

The different tourist or attraction passes allow you to save some money but their prices are high. That’s why it’s important to evaluate which card is the one for you according to what you want to visit and what your priorities are. In general, if you want to visit several attractions we can say that it is worth buying a tourist card.

If it’s your first time in New York, buying a tourist card is definitely worth it. There are many things to do in New York and it’s your first time in the city you’ll probably want to see everything.

In addition, some tourist cards allow you not only to save money but also time, since you get skip the ticket line entry to some of the attractions.

New York Tourist Passes at a Glance
In summary, there are several tourist passes for New York City, and they are divided into two types: by number of attractions and by number of days.

Passes by Number of Days

• New York Pass – 1–10 days, 110+ attractions

• Go City All-Inclusive – 1–10 days, 100+ attractions

Passes by Number of Attractions

• New York CityPASS – 5 attractions in 9 days

• New York C3 – 3 attractions in 9 days

• Go City Explorer Pass – 2 to 10 attractions in 30 days

• New York Pass Essentials – 3 attractions in 30 days

Comparison of the best New York attraction passes

Among all the New York tourist cards or passes, there are two broad categories: passes sold by the number of days (and unlimited attractions) and cards by the number of attractions. I will explain how each card works and what are the main differences between them.

CARDS BY NUMBER OF DAYS:

• New York Pass

The New York Pass is one of the most complete passes to see New York. This card allows you to entry more than 100 attractions in the city including tours, museums, buildings and more.

The New York Pass is available with durations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 days. The pass is valid for consecutive days. Within the duration of the pass you can visit all the attractions you want, without daily limit. You can visit each attraction just once.

I have already used the New York Pass on two visits to New York and it was totally worth it. For more information read my exclusive review of this pass: Is the New York Pass worth it?

They regularly offer big discounts on The New York Pass website so I strongly recommend to buy the pass online:

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• Go City All-Inclusive Pass

The Go City All-Inclusive pass is available for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days. You pay a fixed price and during those days you can enter all the included attractions as many times as you want. It includes the same attractions as the New York Pass, so there’s practically no difference between the two passes—in fact, they’re from the same company.

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New York Pass vs Go City All-Inclusive Pass

The New York Pass is now operated by Go City, but it continues to be sold under that name because it’s the more well-known brand. Both passes work the same way and include the same attractions. They even have the same prices, so they’re practically the same pass with a different name.

*Prices updated in 2026.

You can see the complete list of tours and attractions included in each card here: list of attractions included in the New York Pass or List of attractions included in the Go City All-Inclusive

CARDS BY NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS:

These type of cards allow you to see a certain number of attractions for a lower price, and the duration of the passes is longer, thus allowing you to explore the city at your own pace.

• New York CityPASS

The New York CityPASS is a good alternative for those who don’t plan to visit too many attractions. This pass includes only the entrance to 5 attractions and is valid for 9 consecutive days.

The attractions included in New York CityPASS are: Empire State, American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock Observatory, Guggenheim Museum, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Circle Line Cruise, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Edge Observatory and Whitney Museum of American Art.

Find more information about the pass here.

 

• New York C3 by CityPASS

The New York C3 card is from the same company as the CityPASS. It includes only 3 attractions (being able to choose between 11) and is valid for 9 consecutive days.

It is a good alternative for those who have previously visited New York and only want to see 3 of the main attractions.

• Go City Explorer Pass

The Explorer Pass is a sightseeing pass offered by Go City that adapts to your preferences and needs. You can choose to visit 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 attractions and it is valid for 30 days. There are more than 90 attractions and tours to choose from.

If you don’t plan on visiting too many attractions, this pass is ideal. With a 30 day duration, you can visit the places much more calmly.

Comparison of attraction based passes

These are all cards that are sold according to the amount of attractions instead of days. They vary slightly depending on the flexibility and attractions available. In the following table you can see the comparison:

*Prices updated in 2026.

These are just some attractions that I used to compare. To see exactly what each pass includes, I recommend entering the official website of each pass.

✅ Tips for buying a New York attraction pass:

• Before making a decision, make the list of attractions you want to visit.

• If it’s your first time in the city and you want to visit many paid attractions, in my opinion the best pass is the New York Pass, because it not only includes attractions but also tours and experiences.

• The New York CityPASS and C3 passes are convenient if you plan to visit just a few attractions, but they leave out many must-see spots like the MET or the One World Observatory. These passes are ideal if you’ve already visited the city before.

• Always buy your pass online and in advance: websites often offer temporary discounts you won’t find in person.

• Make sure to check whether the pass works by consecutive days or by number of attractions so it fits your travel style.

• Plan your itinerary by neighborhoods to avoid wasting time on transfers and get the most out of your pass.

• Keep in mind that each attraction can only be visited once—you can’t repeat them.

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Other posts about New York:

• Best things to do in New York City
• Is the New York Pass worth it?
• Best cheap hotels near Times Square
• New York winter packing list

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.