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 CityPASS and New York City Explorer Pass (kind of confusing, right?).

You can also download the New York City Pass Discounts Comparison for a side by side comparison with attraction prices. Please read the tips below on 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.

The New York Pass

The New York Pass is a Pass Discount Card good for a set number of days (1, 2, 3 or 7 Days) with full access to over 70 attractions and tours.

Adult Prices are $85 (1 Day), $130 (2 Day), $180 (3 Day), $230 (7 Day). NOTE: The passes are on sale very often, so please check the website for current prices. Using an average of $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, especially if you take advantage of some of the more expensive tours and attractions or use the 15% discount on a Helicopter Tour (about $100 per person for 8 minutes).

NYC Insider Guide Top Value Picks:

1) Food on Foot Tour ($49)
2) Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises ($36)
3) Top of the Rock and/or MoMA (each $25)
3) New York Pass and Double-Decker Bus Tour Combo Savings Pass!

Read more about the New York Pass

Buy The New York Pass Up to 12 Months in Advance

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New York City Explorer Pass or Go Select Card

	New York City Go Select Card New!! The New York City Go Select Card allows you to pick the exact attractions you want to see, print your tickets and go. This pass is great for those who know exactly what they want to do in NYC. You pay only for the attractions you want to see and the more you choose, the more you save!
	New York City Explorer Pass The New York City Explorer Pass lets you choose the number of attractions you want to see, but decide which ones as you go, once you are in New York City. The physical credit-card size pass offers 3-attraction to 10-attraction passes for a fixed cost. You’ll save up to 45% compared to buying separate tickets.

 Each Pass lets you choose from over 40 attractions and tours and is good for 30 days. The more attractions you choose, the higher the discount.

New York City Go Select Card offers some great pre-made NYC itineraries or you can choose your own custom attractions. Print all of your tickets at home, or just display them on your smartphone and save on both shipping and your vacation time.

New York City Explorer Pass offers 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). Not sure if you want to see the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock? This is the pass for you – decide while you’re in NYC. 

NYC Insider Guide Top Value Picks:

1. CitySights Downtown Tour OR NY Night Tour ($39)
2. Top of the Rock and Museum of Modern Art (“Rock MoMA” $30 value) OR Top of the Rock and NBC Studios Tour (“Rock Pass” $35 value)
3. Ground Zero Museum Workshop ($25) or National 9/11 Memorial and Museum with Hop on Hop off Water Taxi ($25)

Unactivated cards are good through the end of next year (2013), so definitely make sure to buy your pass on sale before the holiday season! Once activated, you have 30 days to use the card, except when extended.

Current Specials:

• Save 25% off Go Select Packages – Choose from 6 great New York City packages and use over 30 days!
• Romantic New York – save 33% on the Empire State Building, Twilight Cruise, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Top of the Rock
• New York City Family Fun Pass - Save 35% on Madame Tussuads, Empire State Building, NY Skyride, and Statue of Liberty Ferry
• FREE full-color guidebook with purchase of NYC Explorer Pass
• Purchase a New York City Explorer Pass and receive 20% savings on a Manhattan Helicopter Tour!
• Questions? Call NY Explorer Pass Toll Free: 888-365-5417

Each pass offers you access to tours worth far more than $20. Examples include the Bicycle Tours, CitySights Bus Tours, Sex and the City, TV and Movie Tours. Each order comes with a free downloable NYC Guidebook, which includes information on all of the attractions and details on dining & shopping discounts, maps of the area, local info and insider advice.

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New York CityPASS

The New York City Pass is a ticket booklet with Admission to six attractions over 9 days. $89 Adult. $64 Kids 6-17.

1. Empire State Building and Audio Tour ($30)
2. American Museum of Natural History and Space Show ($25)
3. Guggenheim Museum ($22) OR Top of the Rock ($25)
4. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA $25)
5. The Met ($0-$25)
6. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise ($32) OR Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Cruise ($13).

Extra Value included:

- $5 coupon for CitySights Bus Tour
- 15% Bloomingdales certificate
- 15% off plus priority seating at Patina Group Restaurants

The combined retail value for Empire State Building with Audio Tour, AMNH, and Top of the Rock is always $80. Outside of Pay-As-You-Wish days and times, MOMA is $25, Guggenheim is $22. The Met is always suggested donation of $25, and the CityPASS includes a suggested donation. The CitySights stop number for each CityPASS attraction is conveniently noted on the tickets along with other attraction contact info and helpful info. Your booklet also includes a map.

CityPass Was a Great Introduction to New York (Customer Review)
The first thing I recommend is to check the long range weather forecast and, if raining decide to do the museums and things that do not require good photographs …

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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, currently Journey to the Stars narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, is included in the CityPASS, but not The New York Pass or Explorer Pass. Museum access is a $19 suggested donation or admission to the Museum and Space Show is $25 at all times. The Planetarium and Space Show is a must-see for kids, and frankly, I think for all adults as well.

CityPass

• Includes free general admission to the Museum, Rose Center for Earth and Space and Space Show
• Additional discounted rate to all other special exhibits or films not included.
• Special Exhibit or IMAX  Adult $9.50, Child $8

New York Pass and Explorer Pass

• Includes free general admission to the Museum and Rose Center for Earth and Space
• Discounted rates to any of the special exhibits or films that are not included with general admission.
• Space show add Adult $12.50, Child $9.50, Special Exhibit or IMAX add Adult $8.50, Child $6.50

The Met is always a suggested donation of $25, 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.

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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.

Sightseeing Pass Reviews

CityPass Was a Great Introduction to New York

The first thing I recommend is to check the long range weather forecast and, if raining decide to do the museums and things that do not require good photographs …

Tell us about your Sightseeing Pass and help others choose the best pass for their NYC vacation.

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News and Specials for New York City Passes

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Ready for More Things to do in NYC?

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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. More importantly, being a partner in these programs allows me to offer you special sales and discounts, so often, you will receive a better price than going direct to their website, and you will never pay more. Please know the information provided on this page is unbiased and accurate to the best of my ability. Read more on Advertising Policies.

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