The "city that never sleeps" is one of the most dazzling places in the world. However, you have to dig deep into your pockets for a sightseeing tour in the Big Apple. The various New York Passes promise great savings. But is that really the case? And which of the many offers is the best? Our big New York Pass comparison sheds some light on the matter.
| Sightseeing Pass | New York Pass | Go New York Pass | Sightseeing Flex Pass | New York CityPass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Attractions | 150+ | 100+ | 90+ | 100+ | 8 |
| Attractions visitable | all | all | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 12 | 5 |
| Days valid | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 | 60 | 30 | 9 |
| Hop-on-Hop-off-Bus | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Empire State Building | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Top of the Rock | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| One World Observatory | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| The Edge | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| 9/11 Memorial Museum | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Statue of Liberty (boat tour) | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
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| Tip | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Current discount | Up to 35 % off | none | none | Up to 35 % off | none |
| Price | from € 132 | from € 142 | from € 75 | from € 68 | from € 131 |
A New York Pass is a sightseeing ticket that includes access to a variety of different attractions. If you have a lot planned for your visit to New York, a New York Pass will save you a lot of money, as it covers admission to various observation decks, museums, hop-on-hop-off buses, walking tours, boat rides, and other activities.
Another advantage: you also save time, because the passes offer "skip the line" tickets for certain New York attractions, which give you priority access. No one wants to spend their precious vacation time waiting in lines, right? Furthermore, some New York Passes include additional discount offers, e.g., for restaurants. Usually, the New York Passes can be managed very conveniently in an app on your smartphone.
What are the differences between the New York Passes? Basically, there are two types of New York passes: time-based and attraction-based passes. Travelers can therefore choose either a period of validity or a number of attractions.
Ask yourself the following questions first:
If you're only staying for a short time in the "city that never sleeps" and you want to see as many of the top attractions as possible, you've got an all-inclusive deal for New York in your hand with a time-based pass.
If you choose a pass with a set number of sights, you can get into the city life without much time pressure.
For both pass types, time-based and attraction-based, there are several offers of New York passes. Their prices vary depending on the chosen validity period or number of attractions.
Tip: You can't decide on what sights you want to put on your travel list? Our guide to the top attractions in New York City will introduce you to the most impressive highlights in the Big Apple.
New York travelers can choose from several passes, which include different packages. So, which of them is the most worthwhile? One piece of information in advance: there is no such thing as the "best" New York Pass! What pass will pay off for you the most depends on your individual preferences, travel time, and budget. These New York Passes are available to you:
More than 150 of the city's most popular attractions are included in The New York Sightseeing DAY Pass. Just like with The New York City Pass, you decide in advance for how long you want to use the pass. Here, too, validity periods of between one and ten days are possible. The tickets can also be managed on your smartphone. In addition to the various attractions, The New York Sightseeing DAY Pass also includes around 60 other discounts.
The New York Sightseeing DAY Pass is the right pass for you if you want to make the most of your days in the Big Apple. In addition to the well-known top attractions, the pass also includes admission to a wide range of museums, and offers you a variety of walking tours as well as unlimited use of the hop-on hop-off buses.
With The New York Pass, you can choose from a huge range of more than 100 attractions! Viewing platforms, museums, boat tours, bike tours, and a gigantic selection of walking and guided tours: your possibilities are almost unlimited!
Depending on the duration of your stay in the Big Apple, you can purchase The New York Pass for a validity period of one to a maximum of ten days. The pass can be accessed on your smartphone and is valid from the day of activation.
The New York Pass is perfect for those who are in New York for the first time and want to see as many of the top sights as possible in just a few days.
The recently renamed Go New York Pass (formerly New York Explorer Pass) works similarly to The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass. It is slightly cheaper than its competitor but contains a total of "only" about 90 attractions. However, all viewing platforms and top highlights are included. With the Go New York Pass, you can choose two to a maximum of ten highlights, which you can then visit within 60 days.
The Go New York Pass is the right offer for those who know what they want. You can book precisely the activities that interest you.
The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass contains an abundance of attractions and discounts. However, with this pass, you don't have the option to visit as much as you want within a certain amount of time. You have to decide in advance how many attractions you want your pass to cover – anything from two to twelve is possible. This sightseeing pass remains valid for 30 days after activation.
The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass is the right offer for you if you already know exactly which attractions you want to visit during your New York vacation. The wide range of included attractions covers all your needs: in addition to the well-known sights, you can also choose from a wide range of walking tours and boat tours!
With the New York CityPASS, you can visit five of New York's top attractions for a fixed price of € 128,98. Two attractions are always included: the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History.
In addition, you can choose three other attractions from these highlights:
The New York CityPASS is the only way to get a "Day and Night Ticket" to the Empire State Building – that is, one tour during the day and an additional admission on the same night.
The disadvantage of the pass? The limited number of attractions does not include walking tours or bike tours, and only one boat tour. Furthermore, the One World Observatory and The Edge are not included.
The New York CityPASS will get the hearts of New York nostalgia fans racing – no other offer gets you into the Empire State Building both during the day and after dark.
If you're only in New York for a very short time, you have the option of purchasing the New York C3 for a fixed price. As the name suggests, this pass includes three attractions. You can choose them from all nine attractions that are offered in the New York CityPASS. In addition, the New York C3 also includes the observation deck The Edge and the MoMA.
If sightseeing is not the top priority on your New York trip, but you still don't want to miss the absolute must-sees, then the comparatively inexpensive New York C3 is a good choice. It gives you admission to three of New York's most famous highlights and still leaves you plenty of time for other off-the-beaten-path explorations.
The New York FreeStyle Pass from the bus provider Gray Line has a decisive advantage: you can use the hop-on-hop-off buses of Gray Line for 72 hours. The bus tours transport you through Downtown, Uptown, Brooklyn, the Bronx and also include a night tour.
The Museum of the City of New York and the New York Historical Society Museum are always included in the price. Depending on the rate you book, you can also choose one, three, or five additional top attractions. You can choose from more than 40 sights, boat tours, walking tours, and restaurants.
The New York Freestyle Pass is perfect for anyone who plans to discover more than just Manhattan. With the Gray Line buses, you can easily get from A to B in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Adventurer, organizing talent, culture lover, or individualist – the large selection of New York Passes has something for every type of traveler. Here is a brief overview of which ticket is most worthwhile under which circumstances:
Get the full program with a New York Sightseeing DAY Pass. This (almost) all-inclusive ticket for New York includes more than 150 attractions, numerous tours, and many additional discounts. You book this pass for a certain amount of time (one to ten days), during which you can see as much as you want, or can. An alternative is the slightly cheaper The New York Pass, which includes about 100 attractions.
Those who like to take their time or stay longer in New York, should go for the New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass or the Go New York Pass. When booking these highly flexible offers, you decide on a number of attractions you want to visit. Both passes provide a full 30 days to enjoy the booked attractions.
If you're only spending two or three days in the Big Apple, a time-based pass is your best bet (The New York Pass or New York Sightseeing DAY Pass). The Go New York Pass, which includes a skip-the-line ticket to the Empire State Building, also offers a small time advantage for those in a hurry.
Museum and art lovers have the greatest variety of places to explore and marvel at with The New York Pass or The New York Sightseeing DAY Pass.
Those who like to be active and out in the fresh air will love New York's walking or biking tours. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose their favorite exploration tours with the Go New York Pass.
Note: To guarantee your spot, tours should always be reserved online in advance.
You don't want to spend all your time in the "Manhattan bubble," but still don't want to miss certain New York highlights? With the Go New York Pass or the New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass, you can book just a few attractions and still have plenty of time for individual explorations.
The various New York Passes are, of course, available on-site at local sales points. However, the booking process is more relaxed if you buy your pass online. In addition, you can often get additional discount offers online, and you can reserve tours or attractions with limited admission times directly.
Yes, there are also New York Passes available for children. However, the price difference to the regular ticket is rather small, as many of the attractions only offer small discounts for children.
No, none of the New York passes include a ticket for public transportation. However, most offers contain hop-on-hop-off buses.
You're now a New York expert – it's high time to explore even more highlights of the United States! Discover the most beautiful attractions in Los Angeles, the most exciting attractions in Las Vegas and the most breathtaking attractions in San Francisco!
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