Quick answer: New York has two serious passes. CityPASS ($164 adult, $136 ages 6–17) gives five attractions over nine days — the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History fixed, plus three from Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty ferry, the 9/11 Museum, Circle Line, the Guggenheim and the Intrepid — and saves about $50 against gate prices. Go City sells an Explorer (2–10 choices from ~$89 to ~$299, 60 days) and an All-Inclusive (1–10 days, $169 to $429) covering 100+ items including Edge, SUMMIT, One World Observatory, Big Bus and the Met. The Sightseeing Pass suspended operations in 2025. For a first visit with three to five big sights, CityPASS is the simplest good value; for a fast-paced 3-day sprint through six or more paid attractions, the Go City All-Inclusive wins; for a slow trip with two or three targets, buy individual tickets.
New York City Passes at a Glance
| Pass | Price (2026) | Validity | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York CityPASS | $164 adult / $136 child (6–17) | 9 consecutive days from first use | Empire State Building (day + bonus same-night visit) and AMNH fixed, plus 3 of: Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Circle Line cruise, Guggenheim, Intrepid | First-timers doing the five classics over a week |
| CityPASS C3 | $114 adult / $92 child | 9 days | Any 3 from the same list | Short trips with three targets |
| CityPASS C-All | $254 adult / $189 child | 9 days | All 8 attractions on the list | Long stays doing everything on the list |
| Go City New York Explorer | $89 (2) / $119 (3) / $149 (4) / $179 (5) / $204 (6) / $229 (7) / $299 (10 choices) | 60 days from first use | 100+ items: Empire State, Top of the Rock, Edge, SUMMIT, One World Observatory, 9/11 Museum, Met, MoMA, Intrepid, Big Bus, Circle Line, bike hire, food tours | Trips with 3–6 specific targets, spread over time |
| Go City New York All-Inclusive | $169 (1 day) / $219 (2) / $269 (3) / $359 (5) / $399 (7) / $429 (10 days) | Consecutive days | Same 100+ list, unlimited visits per day (one per attraction) | 2–3 day sprints of 3+ paid attractions per day |
| Individual tickets | Decks ~$44–58 each; museums ~$30–38; Statue ferry ~$25.50; 9/11 Museum ~$33 | — | Book decks online for timed slots | Slow trips and anyone with fewer than three paid targets |
Prices checked September 2026 — Go City in particular runs frequent 10–20% promotions, and observation-deck gate prices are dynamic (sunset slots and peak days cost more). Watch three details: CityPASS’s Empire State ticket is the 86th-floor main deck, not the 102nd; Go City’s Empire State inclusion may exclude sunset; and neither pass covers Broadway, the Sphere-style special exhibits or the Statue’s crown tickets.
Top-Rated New York City Tours & Skip-the-Line Tickets
What the Main Attractions Cost — and Whether the Pass Covers Them
| Attraction | Adult ticket (2026, approx.) | In the pass? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State Building (86th floor) | ~$48–58 (dynamic; 102nd floor ~$84+) | CityPASS (fixed) and Go City | Bonus same-night re-entry on CityPASS |
| Top of the Rock | ~$45–52 | CityPASS option, Go City | Sunset slots cost more and sell out |
| Edge at Hudson Yards | ~$44–47 | Go City only | Skydeck; the Climb is extra |
| SUMMIT One Vanderbilt | ~$44 | Go City only | Timed; mirrors are the point |
| One World Observatory | ~$47–57 | Go City only | Combine with the 9/11 Museum |
| 9/11 Memorial & Museum | ~$33 | CityPASS option, Go City | Memorial plaza is free |
| Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry | ~$25.50 | CityPASS option, Go City | Pedestal access is free but limited; crown is a separate booking |
| American Museum of Natural History | ~$30 (pay-what-you-wish for NY/NJ/CT residents) | CityPASS (fixed), Go City | Gilder Center included |
| The Met / MoMA / Guggenheim | ~$30 each | Met & MoMA on Go City; Guggenheim on both | Met is pay-what-you-wish for New Yorkers |
| Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum | ~$38 | Both | Space shuttle pavilion included |
| Circle Line (Best of NYC or Landmarks cruise) | ~$45 | Both | Landmarks 90-minute is the useful one |
| Big Bus hop-on hop-off (1 day) | ~$60 | Go City | Traffic makes it slow; use it for the commentary, not transport |
| Central Park, High Line, Brooklyn Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, Grand Central | Free | — | A third of any good itinerary is free |
New York’s pattern: three to four expensive observation decks (~$45–58 each), a tier of $30–38 museums, and a long tail of free icons. A pass makes sense only if you will do at least two decks and two or three paid museums — and CityPASS is built precisely around that combination.
The Break-Even Maths
| Itinerary | Individual tickets | Pass | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| CityPASS classic: ESB + AMNH + Top of the Rock + Statue ferry + 9/11 Museum | ~$215 | CityPASS $164 | CityPASS wins by ~$50 |
| Go City Explorer 3: Edge + SUMMIT + One World | ~$140 | Explorer 3-choice $119 | Pass wins by ~$20 — and lets you decide later |
| Go City All-Inclusive 2-day sprint: 6 attractions (ESB, TOTR, Edge, 9/11, Intrepid, Circle Line) | ~$265 | All-Inclusive 2-day $219 | Pass wins by ~$45 if you really do three a day |
| Go City All-Inclusive 3-day at a normal pace: 5 attractions | ~$210 | All-Inclusive 3-day $269 | Individual tickets win — the pass needs 6+ |
| Slow week: ESB + Met + Statue ferry | ~$110 | C3 $114 / Explorer 3 $119 | Buy individually; ESB with a timed slot online |
The honest rule: CityPASS pays if you will use all five (the fixed pair plus three), Go City Explorer pays at three or more of the expensive items, and the All-Inclusive only pays if you average three paid attractions per day — which is exhausting in New York. Anyone planning museums at a leisurely pace should skip all three.
| Tour | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| New York: Hop-On Hop-Off Tour by Open-top Bus with 19 Stops | $62 | ★ 3.5 (4,965 reviews) |
| Circle Line: 2hr – New York City Harbor Lights Cruise | $45 | ★ 4.4 (3,034 reviews) |
| Circle Line: New York City Statue of Liberty Super Express Cruise | $29 | ★ 4.6 (2,874 reviews) |
| New York City 90-Minute Cruise: Lady Liberty, Bridges and Skyline | $26 | ★ 4.5 (2,462 reviews) |
| Circle Line: 1.5hr – New York City Landmarks Cruise | $34 | ★ 4.5 (1,143 reviews) |
| Statue of Liberty and New York City Skyline Sightseeing Cruise | $79 | ★ 4.8 (906 reviews) |
Who Should Buy It
Buy CityPASS for a first visit with the classic list and nine days of flexibility; it removes the ticket-buying and books the Empire State slot for you. Buy the Go City Explorer if your list is deck-heavy (Edge, SUMMIT, One World are not on CityPASS) or includes the Met and MoMA. Buy the All-Inclusive only if you are a fast-moving visitor on a 2–3 day trip who will start at 9 am and do a deck, a museum and a cruise each day.
Who Should Skip It
Skip every pass if your New York is neighbourhoods, food, Broadway and parks with one deck and one museum — that is under $90 in tickets. Skip the All-Inclusive if you have children who will not manage three attractions a day, and skip CityPASS if you do not want AMNH or the Empire State Building, since both are fixed.
How to Get the Most Out of It
Reserve observation decks the day you activate — Empire State, Top of the Rock and SUMMIT all use timed entry. Pair One World Observatory with the 9/11 Museum, and the Statue ferry with a Battery Park morning (take the 8:30 or 9 am boat). For Go City, use the Big Bus once, early in the trip, and never as transport. Keep the Met and MoMA for rainy afternoons; both are on Go City but not on CityPASS.
Guided Alternatives
Guided walking tours — Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO, a Harlem gospel morning — cover what passes cannot, and a helicopter or sailing cruise is the splurge no pass includes. See private vs small-group tours in New York City for the format choice. For passes and tickets in general, see best sites for attraction tickets and timed-entry tickets explained. Everything else New York City: our New York City tours hub, what tours cost in New York City, 48 hours in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, New York CityPASS or Go City?
CityPASS ($164) is simpler and best for the five classics over nine days. Go City’s Explorer suits deck-heavy or museum-heavy lists (Edge, SUMMIT, Met, MoMA are Go City only), and the All-Inclusive only beats it if you do three or more paid attractions a day.
Is the New York Sightseeing Pass still available?
No — the Sightseeing Pass suspended operations in 2025. CityPASS and Go City are the two current options.
Does CityPASS include the Empire State Building?
Yes, it is one of the two fixed inclusions (86th-floor main deck, with a bonus same-night visit); the other is the American Museum of Natural History.
How much are New York observation decks in 2026?
Roughly $44–58 each for the main deck at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge, SUMMIT and One World Observatory, with sunset and peak slots costing more.
Is the Statue of Liberty included in NYC passes?
The ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands is a CityPASS option and is on Go City. Pedestal access is free but limited; crown tickets must be booked separately, months ahead.
Kratos Review is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on 28 September 2026 and can change.
Related: How Much Do Tours in New York City Cost? New York City Tour Prices (2026)
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