New York CityPASS®

New York CityPASS turns a long list of expensive admissions into one practical plan. For $154 per person, you get the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, then choose three more attractions. The pass works for nine consecutive days from first use, so you can spread out the big sights instead of racing through them.

I like two things here: the mobile ticket is easy to keep in your phone wallet, and the attraction choices cover several sides of New York, from skyline views to immigration history, art, ships, and harbor cruises. The main catch is that you need to plan ahead, and a few venues may still require you to exchange the pass for a timed ticket.

Key points to know before you buy

• Five attractions are included: Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, plus three selected options.
• Nine days begin with first use: An unused pass expires one year after purchase, but activation starts the nine-day clock.
• The best savings come from using four or five admissions: It is less useful if you only want two or three sights.
• Some popular stops need reservations: The app lets you view details and change many booking times.
• The pass is mobile, not a guided tour: You arrange your own transportation and daily schedule.
• Statue of Liberty access has limits: The ferry, islands, museums, and audio guides are included, but the pedestal and crown are not.

How the New York CityPASS works

This is an admission pass, not a hosted sightseeing tour. You will not have a guide leading a group from one stop to the next. Instead, you use your phone to enter the included attractions, with the freedom to arrange each day around your interests and energy.

The fixed part of the pass includes the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History. You then select three attractions from six choices: Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Circle Line cruises, the Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim Museum.

That setup is simple, but it rewards a little homework. Before you buy, list the five places you genuinely want to visit and compare the individual admission costs with the $154 pass price. If your plan includes four or five substantial attractions, the pass is likely to offer good value. One family found it worthwhile after fitting in four attractions, while a shorter visit made it harder to use every option.

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day of use. That is useful for a weeklong visit, but less so for a quick weekend unless you choose attractions close together and keep a firm schedule.

Empire State Building, with a same-night return option

Your Empire State Building admission includes the 86th Floor Observatory, the second-floor museum, and a bonus same-night general admission visit. The standard visit is listed at about three hours, though your actual time will depend on how long you spend with the exhibits and views.

The 86th Floor Observatory gives you the classic Manhattan outlook associated with the building. It is the kind of stop that works best in a carefully planned day because you can pair it with Midtown sights and avoid crossing the city several times.

The same-night return is a useful extra. You can see the city in one part of the day, then return later for a different mood without using another attraction credit. Check the exact entry instructions when you reserve, since the pass details and attraction procedures can change.

American Museum of Natural History and its added choice

The American Museum of Natural History is a large stop, and the included admission covers permanent museum halls across more than 40 galleries. You also receive one choice of a ticketed exhibition, the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, a giant-screen film, or the Hayden Planetarium Space Show, subject to availability.

Allow around four hours if you want more than a quick walk through. This is one place where the pass can save both money and decision fatigue, but it is also easy to underestimate the time needed. You might find that one visit is enough for your family, while another group could spend most of a day here.

The practical snag is that the mobile pass may not always send you straight through the entrance. At times, you may need to wait in line to show the CityPASS and exchange it for the museum’s own tickets. That undercuts the promise of skipping queues, so build in some extra time and check the current instructions before setting out.

Top of the Rock for a second skyline view

Top of the Rock is one of the strongest choices if you want to compare New York from above with the Empire State Building. General admission is included as one of your three selections, and the visit is listed at about three hours.

Using both observation decks costs one of your three optional choices, but it gives you two different outlooks. At the Empire State Building, the building itself is part of the experience. At Top of the Rock, you can include the Empire State Building in your view.

Timed entry matters at popular observation decks. Reserve as early as you can, especially if you want a particular time of day. The CityPASS app makes it possible to change many reservations when plans shift, but that flexibility does not remove the risk of a full time slot.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island by ferry

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

This is a full half-day style outing, listed at about three hours. It takes you beyond Midtown and gives you a harbor crossing, two islands, and two museums in one admission. Keep your schedule realistic, since ferry timing and the distance between the islands can make this feel longer than a simple monument visit.

The pass does not include access to the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal or crown. If those areas are important to you, you will need to arrange and pay for the relevant upgrade directly at the attraction, if available. The included ticket still gives you the ferry, island access, museums, and audio guides, but do not buy the pass expecting crown access.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is included as an optional selection and usually deserves a quiet block of time. General admission is listed at about three hours, but the emotional weight of the site means you should avoid squeezing it between two hurried appointments.

The memorial and museum cover difficult material. Give yourself room to process what you see rather than treating this as another quick photo stop. It can be one of the most meaningful choices in the pass, but it is not light entertainment.

Advance reservations are especially important here. The pass app helps you choose and adjust a time, yet a popular entry slot can fill several days ahead. Plan this stop early in your New York schedule if it is a priority.

Circle Line cruises from Midtown

Circle Line gives you one regularly scheduled cruise from the available choices, such as a Landmarks Cruise, Liberty Midtown Cruise, Liberty Super Express Cruise, or Statue at Sunset Cruise. Current schedules determine which sailings are available.

This is the most restful option in the pass. After a morning of walking, a boat ride gives you time off your feet while still showing you New York from the water. One useful approach is to place the cruise between two land-based activities, rather than treating it as a separate day.

The cruise is listed as free within the attraction choices, but it still uses one of your three optional selections. Check the current departure times before building your day, and remember that transportation to and from the pier is not included.

Intrepid Museum, from aircraft carrier to space shuttle

The Intrepid Museum includes general admission to the aircraft carrier, the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the submarine Growler, the immersive Kamikaze experience, and temporary exhibitions. Allow around three hours.

This is a good pick if you like military technology, aviation, maritime history, or large machines. It also provides a change of pace from museums about art, memorials, or city views. The museum is in a different part of Manhattan from several other choices, so group it with nearby plans instead of treating the pass as a reason to crisscross town.

The inclusion is broad, covering the named areas and temporary exhibitions, but extra ticket upgrades may be offered directly at some attractions. Check the current details before assuming every special program is part of general admission.

The Guggenheim for art and architecture

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum gives you general admission to its collection and special exhibitions. It also includes access to a free daily architecture tour and a digital guide with content in multiple languages, accessed on your own phone.

This can be a compact but rewarding choice, especially if you want art and a distinctive building rather than another observation deck or large history museum. The visit is listed at about three hours, though your pace will vary with the exhibitions on display.

The Guggenheim is also one of the choices that may appeal most to adults or older children who want a quieter indoor stop. As with the other selections, confirm the current entry process and opening details before you go.

What the $154 price really buys you

The pass costs $154 per person. I would not buy it simply because it sounds convenient. I would buy it after choosing at least four included attractions that fit your schedule.

The value comes from combining admission savings with time savings. You avoid purchasing several separate tickets, keep all admissions on one mobile pass, and can make many reservations in one place. The attraction mix also helps you spend money on experiences you might otherwise skip, such as a harbor cruise or Ellis Island.

Still, the pass is not automatically cheaper for every itinerary. If you only want the Empire State Building, one museum, and a walk around the harbor, individual tickets may make more sense. The selection is also fixed, so you cannot use it at every New York sight.

You should also factor in transport. Subway, taxi, and other costs are not included, and several attractions are far apart. A smart plan groups the Empire State Building with Midtown activities, the Statue of Liberty with Lower Manhattan, and the Intrepid Museum with nearby west-side plans.

Reservations, phone access, and small snags

You receive confirmation at booking, and you can present the pass on your mobile device or print it. The app is particularly useful for viewing attraction details, making reservations, and changing many time slots when you arrive early or run late.

Do not wait until the last minute for major sights. Booking two or three days ahead is a sensible target for popular buildings and the 9/11 Museum, though availability can change.

Keep your phone charged. A dead screen is a poor substitute for a ticket. It is also wise to save the pass in your phone wallet if that option is available to you, and to carry a printed copy as a backup.

One technical issue can cause trouble: the pass system needs the correct email information to connect your booking with the CityPASS account. If the pass does not appear properly, contact CityPASS customer service promptly. The pass is non-refundable and cannot be changed or cancelled for a refund, so check your details before purchase.

Who will get the most from this pass

I think the pass suits first-time New York visitors who want a clear list of major sights without arranging every admission separately. Families can also benefit, particularly when the app makes it easier to shift reservations as children tire or plans change.

It is less suitable if you prefer neighborhood wandering, small galleries, local restaurants, and unplanned days. The pass encourages you to visit major ticketed attractions, and those stops take time. You may also find the nine-day window excessive if your visit lasts only two days.

For a short stay, choose attractions by location. For a longer stay, use the nine-day validity to alternate demanding museum visits with a cruise or observation deck. That keeps the pace manageable and gives you a better chance of using all five admissions.

Should you book the New York CityPASS?

Book it if you already want the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, and at least two or three of the optional attractions. The strongest combinations include Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, 9/11 Museum, and a Circle Line cruise, or a museum-heavy plan with the American Museum of Natural History, Intrepid, and Guggenheim.

Skip it if your sightseeing list is short or if you dislike timed reservations. The pass can save money and reduce ticket juggling, but it does not remove the need to plan, queue occasionally, or pay for local transport.

For most first visits built around five major sights, I see the $154 price as a practical deal. Buy it with a route in mind, reserve the busiest stops early, and leave enough time to enjoy the places rather than merely collecting admissions.

FAQ

How long is the New York CityPASS valid?

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days, including the first day you use it. An unused ticket expires one year from the purchase date.

Which attractions are automatically included?

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

How many additional attractions can I choose?

You can choose three additional attractions from Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Circle Line cruises, the Intrepid Museum, or the Guggenheim Museum.

Is the pass available on a mobile phone?

Yes. You can present the ticket on a mobile device or print it for entry. The app also lets you view attraction details and make reservations when required.

Does the Statue of Liberty ticket include the crown?

No. The included Statue City Cruises ticket covers the ferry, Liberty Island, Ellis Island, audio guides, and the two museums. Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access are not included.

Is transportation included between attractions?

No. You arrange and pay for transportation to and from each attraction yourself.