New York City Pass Discounts
...
New York Pass, New York City Explorer Pass and New York CityPass Compared
In MOST cases, the New York City Pass discounts can offer a savings. Below is a brief overview of the three main New York City Passes, New York Pass, New York City Explorer Pass and New York CityPass (kind of confusing, huh?). You can also download the New York City Pass Discounts Comparison and see the distance between all the major attractions.
 |
|
 |
50 attractions in 3 days |
Customize your Pass |
Just the Basics |
Please read tips comparing the New York City Pass Discounts to help evaluate the right New York City Attractions Passes for you and your family. "Hidden" marketing behind the each discount pass is revealed and please read the Full Disclosure below.
New York Pass
|
|||
|
The New York Pass is a Pass Discount good for a set number of days (1, 2, 3 or 7 Days) with access to 50 attractions and tours. Adult Prices are $75 (1 Day), $110 (2 Day), $140 (3 Day), $180 (7 Day). Using an average of less than $20 per attraction and 3 attractions per day, it is difficult to see the value in a 1-day pass, or even the 2-day. However, the 3 and 7 day New York City pass discounts are a good value if you take advantage of the Tours offered, such as the Food on Foot Tour, On Location Tour and NBC Studio Tour. Use the 15% discount on a Helicopter Tour (about $100 per person for 8 minutes). For additional fees, you can purchase packages that include the New York Pass and choices of CitySights or GrayLine Bus Tours. For example, a 3 day pass ($140) and 3 days of CitySights NY Uptown, Downtown and Night tours is $175. Save big on our New York Pass and Double-Decker Bus Tour combo! |
||
New York City Explorer Pass
|
|||
|
The New York City Explorer Pass lets you make your own custom pass from 45 attractions. The more attractions you choose, the higher the discount on each. The pass is good for 30 days. They also offer 3-attraction to 10-attraction passes for a fixed cost. 3 for $70 ($23 each), 5 for $99 ($20 each), 7 for $131 ($19 each), 10 for $189 ($19 each). These New York City Pass discounts give you access to some tours worth far more than $20. Examples include all the Bicycle Tours, CitySights Bus Tours, Sex and the City, TV and Movie Tours. Key attractions that always cost $20 and over include Empire State Building ($20), Intrepid Museum and Ground Zero Museum Workshop ($25). Most other attractions cost less than $20 or have discounted days and times. Current Discount: Take 5% off with coupon code TAKEFIVE at check-out. Limit 1 Coupon/Order. Must be redeemed online. |
||
New York CityPass (NEW-includes Top of the Rock) |
|||
 |
The New York City Pass is a ticket booklet with Admission to six attractions over 9 days. $79 Adult. $59 Kids 6-17. 1. Empire State Building ($20) Extra Value included: |
||
Retail Value for #1, 2 and 3(TOTR) New York City pass discounts above is always $65. Assuming you are not going during Pay-As-You-Wish days and times, MOMA is $20, Guggenheim is $18. The Met is always suggested donation of $20. The CitySights stop for each CityPass attraction is noted on the tickets. |
|||
How to Compare New York City Pass Discounts
I would suggest using at least 2 hours per attraction as an average time and 3 as the average number of top attractions you will see per day. Four big attractions is aggressive, and that kind of schedule will leave you almost no time to wander, eat, window shop or see the "Insider" New York City.
The real financial value in the first two New York City Pass Discounts is most relevant if you are planning on doing a lot of NYC tours, such as CitySights Hop On and Off Bus Tour, Bicycle Tours, Boat or Cruise Tours, NBC Studio Tour, Movie and TV Tours or the Sex and the City Tour.
As for shortcutting lines, there is no guarantee, but there may be an advantage. However, you can never shortcut a security line, such as the one at the Statue of Liberty.
Empire State Building - all three of the New York City Discount Passes include admission to the 86th Floor Observatory (indoor and outdoor Observatory). It is an additional $15 for the 102nd floor (indoor only). $20 Adult Admission.
Museum of Natural History - Planetarium Space Show is included in CityPass, but not The New York Pass or Explorer Pass. Museum access is a $16 suggested donation or admission to the Museum and Space Show is $24 at all times. Add $20 to the New York Pass or New York City Explorer Pass (the first two) for the Space Show. The Planetarium is a must-see for kids, and frankly, I think for all adults as well.
The Met is always a suggested donation of $20, never an admission price. MOMA and Guggenheim both have Pay-As-You-Wish days and times. However, you absolutely should donate something to the museums at all times, if it's within your budget, and each New York City Discount Pass donates a portion of their proceeds to the Museums accordingly.
Statue of Liberty monument access is always free, it is the Ferry ride to get there that costs $12. Complimentary Monument Access passes must be reserved in advance and they are timed to minimize security risks. None of these passes include access or a reservation to go INTO the Statue of Liberty Museum. Climbing to the Top of Lady Liberty's Crown will cost an additional $3.00 and must also be reserved. Check all the details of your discount pass before you go.
All New York City Pass Discount comparisons are for Adult passes only, assume no specials or discounts, which these companies very often have, and the dollar figures are rounded for simplicity.
Ultimately, you have to decide how much you want to take on while you're here, and how much room you want to leave for our New York City hidden secrets. The New York City Pass Discounts only offer you entrance to a small part of what makes New York City so special. Remember, some of us live exhilarating lives here and go years without seeing any attractions at all. There are plenty more things to do in NYC than just sightseeing, so let's move on to them.
Tell us about your Sightseeing Pass experience!
Help others with their NYC trip and tell us if the passes worked for you.
Tell us about your Sightseeing Pass and help others choose the best pass for their NYC vacation.
Ready for More Things to do in NYC?
Return from New York City Pass Discounts to New York City Vacation
Return to New York City Travel Guide Home Page
Additional New York City Pass Discount Advantages
Budgeting - know what you're going to spend and potential exchange rate bonus
Lines - unpredictable, but they may gain you an advantage, they certainly can't hurt
All come with mini guide books and coupons to different things
Full Disclosure
The NYC Insider Guide does make a small commission if you purchase some of the New York City Pass Discounts through our links. After all, this is one of the ways I am able to provide you all the free content on this website. However, the information provided on this page is unbiased and accurate to the best of my ability. Read more on Advertising Policies.
Broadway Shows Secrets to half price tickets
Find out why there are only 39 Broadway Shows and how to get half price tickets, cheap tickets and access to last minute specials.
New York City Hotel Deals - Why the Locals go
New York City hotel deals can be hard to find - but they are out there! Find the best way to search for hotels and see which hotels offer something cool and different, such as a nightclub, great skyline view, roof top, lobby and excellent dining.
New York City Sports Teams
Information about New York City Sports Teams, Giants, Jets, Yankees, Mets, Insider Ways to Get Tickets, Citifield, Yankee Stadium, Giants Stadium.
New York City Shopping and Sample Sales
New York City Shopping and Sales. A real New Yorker's top picks to the best events, sample sales, discounts in New York City. Discounts, coupons and secret sales.
Thank you for visiting the NYC Insider Guide ...welcome to our city and I hope you love it as much as I do!
- 
Welcome to New York City!
