New York Attraction Passes Compared: Which One Saves You More

Which New York tourist pass is the best? What are these discount cards actually for? Are they really worth it? These are frequently asked questions we get every day, and I'll try to answer them here 😀.

The truth is that in big cities like New York these cards are worth it. They're serious, well-known products, they've been around for years, and thousands of travelers use them.

Which is the best New York tourist pass?

Deciding which New York tourist pass is best depends on the kind of trip you're taking. Below I compare the features and benefits of the 4 most popular discount passes so you can figure out which one is right for you:

1. What are tourist passes for?

City Pass: for visiting 5 major attractions, ideal if it's your first trip

GO City: for seeing the places you still haven't gotten to at your own pace, ideal for repeat visitors. It also has an «All-Inclusive» option for seeing as much as possible in just a few days.

Sightseeing Pass: you buy it by number of attractions (like GO City) or by number of days, all-inclusive. It's the only one that includes 4 observation decks (Empire State, Top of the Rock, One World and Edge).

New York Pass: for seeing as much as possible in a short time, it's an «all-inclusive» pass.

2. How much do New York tourist passes cost?

I'll compare adult prices (13 and up). Kids get reduced prices (you'll find all the details on each card's own page):

City Pass: a single price of $146

GO City: from $84 to $399, depending on how many attractions you choose.

Sightseeing Pass: from $84 to $549, depending on the type of pass.

New York Pass: from $154 to $399, depending on how many days you buy.

3. How much do you save versus buying tickets individually?

City Pass: you'll save up to 53% on the individual ticket prices

GO City: you'll save up to 50% on the individual ticket prices.

Sightseeing Pass: you can save up to 50% on ticket costs.

New York Pass: you'll save up to 50% on the individual ticket prices.

4. How many attractions do the discount passes include?

City Pass: you can visit 5 attractions from a list of 8.

GO City: includes more than 100 attractions.

Sightseeing Pass: includes around 150 attractions.

New York Pass: includes more than 100 attractions.

5. How many days do the tourist passes last?

City Pass: 9 days max.

GO City: up to 60 days, very flexible!

Sightseeing Pass: 1 to 10 days depending on the daily pass you buy (Day Pass), or up to 60 days if you buy the pass by number of attractions (Flex Pass).

New York Pass: between 1 and 10 days, depending on how many days you buy.

6. Where do you buy the passes and how do you use them?

All the passes are bought online. After purchase you'll get instructions for downloading them through the corresponding apps.

Using them is simple: just show the digital pass at the entrance of each place you visit.

You'll find all the details on how each card works on the pages where I review them:

• How the City Pass works
• How GO City works
• How the Sightseeing Pass works
• How the New York Pass works

So which tourist pass is the best?

The quick answer to which tourist pass is best is that it depends on the kind of trip you're planning.

If it's your first trip or you have limited time, the City Pass lets you see 5 major attractions over as many as 9 days while saving 40% on ticket prices.

If you're a repeat visitor (🙋‍♀️), I recommend GO City, since you buy a number of attractions and then, once you're in New York, you can take your time deciding which ones to visit from a huge list, and you have up to 60 days! On top of that, this card is always adding new options, so every time you travel there'll be something new to check out.

If you want to make the most of your time and see as much as possible in just a few days, the New York Pass works on the «all-inclusive» model. With this card, the more places you visit, the more you save.

The Sightseeing Pass, for its part, combines the best of the New York Pass and GO City at a more competitive price. It's also the only one that includes 4 observation decks.