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

Five icons, one phone ticket. New York CityPASS® is a simple way to pack in major sights without the constant ticket-hunting, and it works especially well if you like a plan but not a rigid schedule. You buy once, then present your mobile tickets at each stop for quick scanning entry.

I love the CityPASS app because your tickets are delivered instantly and they sit right on your phone, ready to use at the door. I also like that the pass locks in two big essentials, the Empire State Building Observatory and the American Museum of Natural History, so you can build the rest of your days around places you already want.

One consideration: it is a set bundle of 5 attractions. If you end up skipping one of the included options, the savings may feel smaller, and you should budget extra time at the museum counter in at least some cases.

Key things to know before you buy

• Instant mobile ticketing that you scan at each attraction, usually without messing with paper tickets
• Empire State Building AM/PM bonus lets you do a day visit and a same-night general admission visit
• AMNH includes a choice of one ticketed upgrade (based on availability) like Hayden Planetarium or a butterfly vivarium
• You pick 3 flexible attractions from a strong lineup, so you can match your interests and your pace
• A full 9-day window starting from the first activation gives you real breathing room

How the CityPASS App Makes NYC Sightseeing Easier

The whole point of New York CityPASS is friction reduction. In New York, the difference between a smooth day and a stressful day is often just one thing: getting in the door on time. With CityPASS, you use your phone ticket at each attraction, and that matters because you avoid the buy-in-line chaos that can eat your afternoon.

Price-wise, the pass is listed at $154 per person and is advertised as saving up to 41% compared with buying each attraction separately. That only holds if you actually use all 5. So I treat it like a commitment to your top priorities: if you are confident you want the headline sights, the value tends to show up quickly.

A practical tip from real-world use: I recommend downloading the actual New York CityPASS app and checking it before your first attraction. Some people get confused when they only look at a voucher-type page. Once the right app is set up, tickets typically appear as QR codes you can scan at entry.

Also, take five minutes to plan your days with geography in mind. The pass does not provide transportation, so you still need to think about subways, walking, and the time cost of crossing town. But once your first two anchor attractions are chosen, the remaining 3 picks can be slotted where your days naturally want to go.

Finally, the experience is wheelchair accessible, so if that matters for your group, you can plan without guessing about access at these major venues.

Empire State Building AM/PM Experience, Plus the 2nd Floor Museum

The CityPASS experience that makes people feel like they really did something is the Empire State Building. The pass includes the 86th Floor Observatory and entry to the 2nd Floor Museum, and it comes with an AM/PM plan plus a bonus same-night general admission.

What that means for your schedule is great. You can do one go-up during the day, then come back the same night without having to buy a second standalone ticket. It is one of the few ways to turn the Empire State Building into two different photos and two different moods: daylight city logic and night city glow.

Here is how I would structure it. Do your daytime visit when you want clearer views and easier lines, then save your second visit for when the city lights are on. If weather rolls in and visibility becomes questionable, the flexibility of having a second go-up helps you salvage the day.

A small planning note: the pass includes one-time entry to attractions unless otherwise noted. The Empire State Building benefit is specifically called out as bonus same-night general admission, so that is the exception you get to use.

American Museum of Natural History: Permanent Halls and One Big Upgrade

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is the other anchor that makes CityPASS feel worthwhile. Your admission includes the permanent museum halls, including over 40 galleries. That is important because AMNH can be a whole-day place by itself.

CityPASS also adds a smart choice: you get one ticketed exhibition option, based on availability. The listed options include the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show. You do not have to pre-know exactly which one you want forever, but you should treat it like a decision you will finalize once you see what is available.

Time is the one place you should be cautious. Even when the pass is accepted, some people experience a bit of extra friction to convert the CityPASS to museum entry materials at the counter. In plain terms: I would build in buffer time the first time you use your AMNH admission.

What to expect on-site: AMNH is huge and offers lots of ways to move through it without feeling stuck in one track. If you are touring with kids, it is also the kind of place where you can pause, browse, then pivot without feeling like you missed the only thing.

If you have limited time and want maximum payoff, I suggest deciding what you care about most before you arrive. The permanent halls are the foundation, but the one ticketed upgrade can shape the emotional peak of your visit.

Choosing Your Other 3: Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial, Liberty Ferry, and More

Your CityPASS includes the first two attractions automatically, then you choose 3 more from a list. This is where the pass becomes personal, because you can match your selection to your interests: skyline, history, art, or behind-the-scenes city icons.

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Top of the Rock® gives you general admission to an observation deck experience with panoramic views. If you want a skyline that feels different from the Empire State Building angle, this is often the easiest win. It also pairs well with a day-to-night pattern if you plan your second Empire State visit later.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is included with general admission. This is one of those stops you should treat with respect and time, not speed. If your group tends to rush, push back against that instinct here, because the experience is designed to be read, considered, and revisited in small chunks.

Statue City Cruises Ferry to Liberty and Ellis Island

This is a strong pick if you want a classic NYC story arc. The pass includes ferry access to and from Liberty Island and Ellis Island using Statue City Cruises, plus audio guides. It also includes admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Two practical cautions. First, Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access are not included, so if those are your must-do items, you will need separate tickets for that. Second, you should dress for the water and wind. One person noted skipping a boat trip because it was too cold, so weather matters.

If you want onboard narration, keep an eye out for it. One verified experience specifically called out a guide named David, which is the kind of detail that can turn a ride into more than just transportation.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

CityPASS includes one regularly scheduled Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise, depending on what you choose. The schedule is listed as checkable through circleline.com/schedule, so you can match the cruise to your day and daylight.

This is a good choice when you want to see more of the city without turning it into another museum day. Since it is time-based, pick the option that fits your stamina, not just the one that sounds best on paper.

Intrepid Museum

The Intrepid Museum is included with general admission. The specific highlights listed are the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the submarine Growler, the immersive Kamikaze experience, and all temporary exhibitions.

This is a great match for people who like hands-on scale. A museum with ships and aircraft tends to move faster in a good way because you are constantly seeing something new. Wear comfortable shoes. You will likely do more walking than you expect.

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum is included with general admission to the collection and special exhibits. It also lists access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide with content in multiple languages delivered via your personal mobile device.

If you like architecture and design, this pick can feel like a bonus. Also, the digital guide detail matters because it encourages you to use your own phone instead of waiting for a printed plan. Just remember to keep your phone charged.

A 9-Day Plan That Does Not Feel Like a Sprint

You get 9 consecutive days, starting the first day you activate and use your tickets. That is valuable because it lets you smooth out the weather and the timing that New York constantly throws at you.

Here is a practical way to plan the flow without micromanaging every hour:

Start with your anchor: do Empire State Building and AMNH early in the trip. That reduces the risk of leaving a big-ticket item until the last day. It also helps you build the rest of your itinerary around where you are already situated on the map.

Then choose your 3 extras based on the day you want. If you want a skyline moment, consider Top of the Rock. If you want a historic and reflective experience, include the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. If you want the classic harbor duo, pick the ferry to Liberty and Ellis. If you want a “how did NYC get built and moved” feel, consider Intrepid or a cruise.

If you are aiming for a skyline-and-water rhythm, one pattern that often works is: skyline viewpoint one day, ferry or cruise the next. It changes the pace and reduces decision fatigue.

One more real-world tip: if your trip gets hectic, the pass structure can still help. People have used it to adjust timing through the app, including changes close to the trip date. That flexibility matters because NYC days rarely go exactly as planned.

Finally, build in meal breaks and walking time. CityPASS does not include food and drink, and the included attractions can involve a lot of standing. Comfortable shoes, water, and a daypack are not optional advice in a practical city like this.

Price and Value: When CityPASS Is a Smart Buy

At $154 per person, CityPASS is not a small purchase. The value comes from stacking multiple major attractions that you would pay for anyway. If you are definitely doing both Empire State Building and AMNH, and you choose 3 more from the included lineup based on genuine interest, the savings can feel very real.

Where the value gets weaker is when your tastes narrow. One person expressed wishing some venues were optional because they would not repeat one attraction. That is the tradeoff of a bundle. If you think there is a good chance you will skip one of the included stops, you need to weigh how much you care about each one.

Also, keep your expectations realistic about lines and time. CityPASS is designed to speed entry once you have the right ticket on your phone, but large museums still involve movement, check-in, and sometimes a counter exchange. You get convenience, not instant teleportation.

Who I think CityPASS suits best:

• First-time visitors who want a curated set of top sights
• People who prefer less ticket planning and more time walking and wandering
• Families who can handle multiple museums and viewpoint stops
• Anyone who wants a predictable “paid and planned” structure for 9 days

Who might consider alternatives:

• People who only want one or two of these major venues
• Anyone who has deep interest in a specific optional add-on not included (like Crown or Pedestal access)
• Groups with very limited mobility or timing constraints that depend heavily on exact entry windows (even though the pass is wheelchair accessible, the day still needs scheduling)

Should You Book New York CityPASS?

If your goal is to hit the big NYC highlights without spending time hunting tickets at each venue, CityPASS is one of the most practical ways to do it. I especially like it when you want both the Empire State Building skyline experience and AMNH as your two anchors, then you tailor the remaining 3 picks to your interests.

If you are the type who will use all 5 attractions, this pass can turn planning from a nagging task into a simple checklist. If you might skip something, decide upfront which sights are non-negotiable, because the bundle works best when your preferences match the lineup.

If that sounds like you, go for it, download the app before your first attraction, and keep your phone charged. In a city where timing is everything, that small prep step can make the whole trip feel easier.

FAQ

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

Your tickets are valid for 9 consecutive days starting from the first day you activate and use your pass.

How do I enter each attraction with CityPASS?

Present your CityPASS mobile ticket at each attraction to be scanned for entry.

Which attractions are included with the pass?

The pass includes admission to the Empire State Building Observatory (AM/PM Experience, including 86th Floor Observatory admission and entry to the 2nd Floor Museum) and admission to the American Museum of Natural History, plus you choose 3 additional attractions from the included list.

Can I choose between different options at the American Museum of Natural History?

Yes. In addition to permanent museum halls, AMNH admission includes a choice of one ticketed exhibition option such as the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show (based on availability).

Does the ferry to the Statue of Liberty include Crown or Pedestal access?

No. Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access are not included.

Does CityPASS include transportation or food?

No. Transportation and food and drink are not included.

What should I bring for the included attractions?

Bring comfortable shoes, water, comfortable clothes, a packed lunch, and a daypack.