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

New York CityPASS turns a long New York wish list into five booked-in attractions, with the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History locked in and three more choices up to you. I like the nine-day validity and the app, which keeps tickets and reservation times together. I also like the Empire State Building bonus night visit, a rare chance to compare the city by day and after dark.

The main catch is that two attractions are fixed, so the pass works best if you actually want both. The Statue of Liberty option does not include crown or pedestal access, and the Natural History Museum may require a ticket exchange line.

Key points to know before you buy

• Nine consecutive days: Your pass starts on the first day you use it, giving you room to spread five visits across a normal New York stay.
• Two attractions are included automatically: Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History form the pass’s core.
• Choose three more: Pick from six options, including Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line cruises, Intrepid Museum, and the Guggenheim.
• The Empire State Building ticket has extra value: You receive daytime admission plus a same-night general admission visit on the same day.
• The CityPASS app does the practical work: Use it to access mobile tickets, reserve time slots, and adjust eligible bookings.
• Some attractions need planning: Reservations may be required, and the American Museum of Natural History can involve a line to convert the pass into museum tickets.

How the New York CityPASS works

You pay $154 per person and receive admission to five New York attractions. Two are set: the Empire State Building Observatory and the American Museum of Natural History. You then select three attractions from the remaining group.

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of use. That wording matters. It is not nine separate visits spread across a year, and each attraction is generally valid for one entry unless the ticket specifically says otherwise.

You receive mobile access through the My CityPASS app or the CityPASS website. The app is more useful for a real trip because it brings together your attraction tickets, reservation details, and venue information. At each stop, present the mobile ticket for scanning.

The plan is simple, but you still need to make choices. New York is not a city where you want to cross town repeatedly for one short visit, so group attractions by area and reserve popular time slots early.

Empire State Building: the fixed attraction worth planning around

The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the pass’s strongest inclusions. Your ticket covers the 86th Floor Observatory and the second-floor museum. You also receive bonus same-night general admission, provided you visit once during the day and again that same night.

That second visit gives the pass more value than a standard single observation-deck ticket. In daylight, you can pick out the city’s shape and major buildings. At night, the same view changes completely. The ticket is not an all-day open visit, though. The bonus evening entry must be used on the same day as your daytime visit.

Reservations and timing matter here. Give yourself enough time to get through the attraction without squeezing it between two appointments. Clear weather is especially useful for an observation deck, so keep an eye on the forecast and check the app for any allowed booking changes.

The second-floor museum adds context before or after the view. It helps turn the visit from a quick elevator ride into a fuller look at the building and its place in New York.

American Museum of Natural History: allow extra time

The American Museum of Natural History includes the permanent museum halls, more than 40 galleries, and a choice of one ticketed feature. Depending on availability, that choice may be the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, the Hayden Planetarium Space Show, or another listed exhibition.

This is a substantial stop, not a quick add-on. You can spend much of a day here, especially if your party includes children or anyone who enjoys science, animals, space, and natural history. The pass gives you a broad base of museum access, but the extra ticketed choice depends on availability when you visit.

There is one practical wrinkle. The museum may require you to wait in a line to exchange or convert the CityPASS admission into museum tickets. That can be different from the experience at other attractions, where you may simply show the QR code and proceed.

Do not schedule this visit too tightly. Bring comfortable shoes, water, and a daypack. Food is not included, and the pass does not cover meals or drinks, so a packed lunch can help if you plan a long museum day.

Choose three from six very different New York experiences

The flexible part of the pass is where the value becomes personal. You do not need to choose attractions that look similar. Pick the three that match your interests and the weather.

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Top of the Rock gives you another high-level view of New York. General admission is included as one of your three choices.

The key planning question is how much you want two observation decks. The Empire State Building is fixed, while Top of the Rock is optional. Many people will want both because the views are different, but if you are not interested in repeating the observation-deck format, use this choice on a museum, cruise, or memorial instead.

9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers general admission and is one of the more reflective choices in the pass. It is not a quick photo stop. Give yourself enough time to move through it at your own pace.

This is a strong pick if you want historical context alongside skyline views and cruises. It also fits well into a lower-energy day because you are not spending the whole visit outdoors or moving between several distant sights.

Statue City Cruises to Liberty and Ellis islands

The ferry option includes one Statue City Cruises ride to and from Liberty Island and Ellis Island. It also includes audio guides, admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum, and admission to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

The pass does not include crown tickets or pedestal access. That is an important limit. If reaching the crown or pedestal is central to your plans, you will need to arrange those tickets separately.

The ferry can take a good part of your day once boarding and island visits are included. It is also weather-sensitive. One practical choice is to schedule it for a day when conditions look favorable rather than placing it at the end of a packed itinerary.

Circle Line sightseeing cruises

Circle Line gives you a choice of one regularly scheduled cruise: Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise. Schedules can change, so check the current timetable before committing to a time.

This may be the best choice if you want to see New York from the water without making a full island visit. A sunset cruise can be especially appealing, but daylight, temperature, and visibility all affect the experience. One cruise guide, David, was singled out for clear explanations during a Statue of Liberty trip, though CityPASS itself is not a guided tour with a named guide.

Remember that a cruise is not transportation between sightseeing stops. You must still get yourself to the departure point, and transportation is not included in the pass.

Intrepid Museum

The Intrepid Museum includes general admission, the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the submarine Growler, the immersive Kamikaze experience, and temporary exhibitions.

This is a good choice if you prefer large objects and hands-on exhibits to traditional galleries. It also gives the pass a different rhythm after two tall-building or museum visits.

Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim includes general admission to its collection and special exhibitions. You also get access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide with content in several languages, accessed on your own mobile device.

The Guggenheim is a sensible choice if modern and contemporary art interests you. It may be less useful for you if your main goal is classic New York sightseeing, but the architecture tour adds another reason to include it.

Building a sensible nine-day plan

You do not need to use all five admissions in two days. The nine-day window is one of the pass’s best features, especially if you are staying in New York for several nights or want to keep afternoons free.

A practical plan might place the Empire State Building on a clear day, using the evening bonus later that same day. Put the American Museum of Natural History on a separate day because it can absorb several hours.

Then choose your three flexible attractions based on location and weather. Pair Top of the Rock with other Midtown plans. Save a cruise for a day with good visibility. Place the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on a downtown day with the Statue City Cruises option, if you select both.

Do not assume every reservation can be changed at the last minute. The app often allows date or time changes within its rules, and some bookings can be moved when weather affects visibility. Still, some appointments may be fixed once confirmed. Reserve early, then check the app before setting out.

What the $154 price really buys you

The pass advertises savings of up to 41 percent, but your actual saving depends on the three flexible attractions you choose and the admission prices in effect when you visit. The best value comes when you use all five entries, especially for high-priced observation decks, cruises, and major museums.

The pass is less compelling if you only want two or three attractions, or if you would not otherwise visit the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History. You are paying for those two fixed entries whether or not they are your top choices.

There is also a small value question with the Natural History Museum. Some visitors may be able to enter the museum through other admission arrangements, so compare current individual prices if that museum is your main reason for buying the pass.

For a first New York visit, the pass can save both money and planning time. It gives you a useful framework without forcing every hour of the trip into a tour group. It also removes repeated ticket purchases, which is helpful when you are already managing subway directions, meal plans, and changing weather.

The app, QR codes, and arrival process

Download the actual CityPASS app rather than relying only on the booking voucher. The voucher is not always the same thing as the attraction ticket. The app is where you access the QR codes, reservation times, and ticket details.

At each attraction, show the mobile pass for scanning. Take screenshots of your QR codes if you are concerned about poor mobile service, but keep the live app available for changes and current information.

The app also helps you see what still remains unused. That matters on a short trip, when a missed reservation can throw off the whole plan. You may be able to change a time or date, but check the rules for that specific attraction rather than assuming every booking works the same way.

The American Museum of Natural History deserves special warning because you may need to join a line to collect or convert the ticket. Build that delay into your schedule.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

I would consider CityPASS for a first visit, a family trip, or any itinerary built around major sights. It suits you if you want the Empire State Building, Natural History Museum, and at least three of the optional attractions.

It is also useful for a short trip because advance reservations give each day a basic shape. You can still walk neighborhoods and eat wherever you like, but your main admissions are already organized.

I would skip it if you strongly prefer smaller museums, already have plans for only one observation deck, or want crown and pedestal access at the Statue of Liberty. The fixed attractions reduce flexibility, and the pass does not include transportation, food, or special Statue of Liberty access.

The pass is wheelchair accessible, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your dates are not fully settled.

Final decision: a strong pass with two conditions

Buy the New York CityPASS if you can name five included attractions you genuinely want to visit, not just five attractions you feel obliged to use. The strongest combination for many first visits is Empire State Building, Natural History Museum, one additional observation deck, one downtown history stop, and either a cruise or the Intrepid.

Before paying, check current reservation availability and confirm that the nine-day window fits your trip. If it does, the $154 price can be a sound deal, and the app makes the practical side much easier. Just remember that the pass saves money through commitment: it works best when you use all five entries and plan around the fixed attractions.

FAQ

How much does the New York CityPASS cost?

The listed price is $154 per person.

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

It is valid for nine consecutive days, starting with the first day you use it.

How many attractions are included?

The pass includes admission to five attractions.

Which attractions are fixed in the pass?

The Empire State Building Observatory and the American Museum of Natural History are included automatically.

Which attractions can I choose from?

You can choose three from Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Statue City Cruises, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, the Intrepid Museum, and the Guggenheim Museum.

Does the Empire State Building ticket include a night visit?

Yes. It includes daytime admission and bonus same-night general admission, with one visit during the day and the other the same night.

Does Statue City Cruises include crown or pedestal access?

No. Crown tickets and pedestal access are not included.

Do I need to make reservations?

Reservations may be required for some attractions. Use the CityPASS app or website to check requirements and reserve times.

Are transportation, food, and drinks included?

No. Transportation, food, and drinks are not included.

Can I cancel the CityPASS?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, according to the stated activity terms.