More about: New York Tourist Cards
Choosing the right tourist card to make the most of your visit to New York can make the difference between a good trip and an amazing one. To help you decide, here is a comprehensive comparison of the different passes available so you can find the one that's right for you.
- New York Pass All Inclusive Card — from $158
- New York Essentials Pass — from $94
- New York CityPASS® Card — from $155
- New York Explorer Pass — from $89
1. New York Pass All Inclusive (formerly New York Pass): to see everything and make the most of every minute of your trip
When you purchase the New York Pass All Inclusive (formerly known as the New York Pass), you should know that it is a multi-day card, and you pay based on the number of days of validity you choose. During the validity period of the New York Pass All Inclusive, you can access all the attractions you want. Be careful, because these are not 24-hour days. From the moment you activate the pass, you have until midnight before it counts as a full day, and your pass will turn into a pumpkin like Cinderella (or simply stop working at the attractions).
The New York Pass includes 100 attractions, including the most popular ones in New York: Manhattan sightseeing bus, the 9/11 Museum, a Manhattan cruise, the Statue of Liberty, Madame Tussauds, the Empire State Building, and Top of the Rock. You can choose a duration of between one and ten days for this card, but my recommendation is to avoid the one-day pass, as it will most likely not be worth it.
More details: All about the New York Pass All Inclusive
What's included
- Travel guide in Spanish
- Skip-the-line access to over 100 attractions and activities
- New York's top attractions
Practical information
- Recommended if: you like to go all out on your trips and see lots of things in a single day
- Duration: one to ten days
- Price: from 158
- You'll save up to: €450 (on a 7-day pass)
2. New York CityPASS® tourist card: see the best of New York at your own pace
The New York CityPASS® tourist card includes two fixed attractions and three others to choose from among several options, making a total of five attractions, which you can visit within a maximum of 9 days from its first use. It is the most popular tourist card among people visiting New York, as it includes tickets to the city's essential landmarks and its duration is tailored to most trips.
Compared to buying individual tickets for each attraction, you can save up to €72 with this pass, as well as skip the line to buy tickets at each site you visit.
More details: Everything you need to know about the New York CityPASS® tourist pass
What's included
- Tickets to the Empire State Building with audio guide, which will allow you to access the building twice so you can enjoy the experience by day and by night
- Tickets to the Museum of Natural History
- Tickets to the 9/11 Memorial and 9/11 Museum (if you choose this option)
- Tickets to the Interepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (if selected)
- Tickets to Top of the Rock (if selected)
- Tickets to the Guggenheim Museum (if selected)
- Ferry to the Statue of Liberty or a cruise around Manhattan (if selected)
Practical information
- Recommended if: you are spending less than ten days in New York and want to see the main attractions
- Number of attractions: 5 (New York's main attractions)
- Duration: 9 days from the moment of activation
- Price: from 155
- You will save up to: €72
3. New York City Explorer Pass: if you are spending a long time in New York
Purchasing the New York Explorer Pass is a perfect option for fully customizing your New York experience, as you can choose 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 attractions and pay according to the number of attractions you choose. From the moment you activate the card, you have a whole month to visit the attractions you have chosen, so you can take your trip at your own pace.
If you want to get the most out of the New York Explorer Pass, I recommend choosing attractions that cost €25 or more to maximize your savings. And again, if you want to save as much as possible, make a list of the places you want to visit and compare whether it's better to buy tickets separately.
More details: All the details about the New York Explorer Pass
What's included
- Free choice of over 100 activities and attractions such as Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, or The Ride.
- Valid for 30 days
- Skip-the-line tickets for some attractions
- Cruise
- Sightseeing bus
- Guided film and television tour
Practical information
- Recommended if: you know exactly which attractions you want to visit and you're going to be in New York for a couple of weeks
- Number of attractions: 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10
- Duration: 30 days from the moment of activation
- Price: from 89
- You will save up to: €150 (on a 7-day pass)
4. New York Essentials Pass: if you want to secure a viewpoint and two icons without any hassle
Purchasing the New York Essentials Pass is a straightforward way to cover the essentials without wasting time comparing options: it includes a total of 3 experiences (1 viewpoint + 2 attractions) to choose from a carefully curated selection. For the observation decks, you can choose between the Empire State Building, Edge, Top of the Rock, or One World Observatory, and complete your pass with classics such as MoMA, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, cruises, Intrepid, Madame Tussauds, or biking in Central Park.
The pass is 100% digital, syncs with the app to manage reservations and schedules, does not require you to choose attractions when purchasing, and is valid for 30 days from the first activation (each attraction can be visited only once; some require prior reservation).
What's included
- 1 observation deck of your choice (Empire State Building, Edge, Top of the Rock, or One World Observatory).
- 2 additional attractions from the selection (MoMA, 9/11 Museum, cruises, Intrepid, Madame Tussauds, bike in Central Park, etc.).
- Digital pass with QR code and app to manage schedules, maps, and reservations.
Practical information
- Recommended if: you want a package with a guaranteed observation deck and two other icons, enjoy it at your own pace in 2–5 days, and save money compared to individual tickets with easy management from the app.
- You don't choose when you buy: you decide on the go in the app. Some attractions require advance booking.
- Duration: 30 days from the moment of activation
- You'll save up to: $70
- Approximate price: from €81
We compare all tourist cards
- The New York Pass All Inclusive - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 Days
- From $158
- For intensive trips
- Passes from 1 to 10 days
- More than 100 attractions to see everything you can
- The best: You can see everything if you make the most of your time
- The worst: You'll have to plan your trip very carefully
- Book
- New York CityPASS® Tourist Card - Visit 5 attractions in 9 days
- From $155
- The middle option
- Valid for 9 days
- 5 attractions (2 fixed and 3 to choose from 6 options)
- The best: covers the essentials
- The worst: many activities are left out
- Reserve
- Go City: New York City Explorer Pass - Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 attractions
- From $89
- For those who like to take it easy
- Valid for 60 days
- 2 to 10 attractions from over 100 options
- The best: you only pay for what you want to see
- The worst: only worthwhile if you are staying in NYC for a long time
- Reserve
- New York Essentials Pass: Choose 3 Top NYC Attractions
- From 94
- For those who like to play it safe
- Valid for 30 days
- One viewpoint + two attractions
- The best: you'll see the most important sights in the city
- The worst: you'll be left wanting more
- Book
Why it's worth buying a tourist card in New York
Buying a tourist card has several advantages, above all, saving money (they allow you to enter the main attractions at a flat or reduced rate) and saving time, as most places of interest have a special queue for pass holders.
All cards give you access to the main monuments, buildings, and points of interest. What varies between passes is their duration and the number of attractions you have access to. It will be much easier to choose a pass if you make a list of the attractions you want to visit beforehand.
What do tourist cards usually include?
- Access to a sightseeing bus through the main areas of New York
- A ferry to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located
- Tickets to the Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, or the One World Observatory
- Tickets to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- Tickets to the Museum of Natural History
- Tickets to the MoMA
- Tickets to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Tickets for Madame Tussauds New York
How to choose between the three passes?
Depending on what you prefer to pay
Before continuing, it is important to note that there are two types of New York Pass: by number of days and by number of attractions.
- Attraction passes: You only pay for the number of attractions you want to see.
- Day passes: You pay for days, and during those days, you can make the most of New York with unlimited attractions.
Depending on the type of traveler you are
Finding the perfect pass for you depends entirely on the type of trip you are taking to New York. This is very important, as it will prevent you from buying a pass that is too much for your stay in New York, or worse, that is not enough. Depending on how long you will be in New York and the type of traveler you are, I recommend one tourist card or another.
Okay, but... which card should I buy?
- New York Pass All Inclusive Card If you're an all-terrain traveler who doesn't want to leave anything untouched and doesn't mind going all out during your trip, take advantage of this "all-you-can-eat" attraction pass.
- New York CityPASS® If it's your first time in New York and you're staying for less than ten days. It includes the city's main attractions, is easy to use, and will save you money and time compared to buying individual tickets for each site.
- New York Explorer Pass If you're staying in New York for more than ten days. This pass is perfect for taking in the city. You can choose up to ten attractions from a list of ninety, and the pass is valid for up to 30 days from the moment you activate it.
- New York Essentials Pass If your stay is not going to be very long but you don't want to miss the city's must-see attractions. Choose your favorite observatory and two attractions of your choice.
What you should know before booking your tourist card
Which cards include fast-track access?
All cards offer fast-track access to certain attractions. The New York CityPASS® tourist pass includes fast-track access to 5 of its 9 attractions, while the New York Pass offers fast-track access to 11 of 100 attractions. However, fast-track access does not exempt you from going through security checks.
Which attractions offer free admission for children?
I recommend that you first check the specific policy for each site. In general, most children under the age of 3 can enter all New York attractions for free. If your children can enter most of the attractions you plan to visit for free, don't buy them a pass!
How do I purchase my card?
You can conveniently purchase any of the passes online and receive all the relevant information in your email. There are usually two options: have the pass sent to your home or pick it up at one of the designated tourist offices in New York.
How do I activate my card?
Generally, by using it at any attraction included on the card. From that first use, the pass will begin to count down, and at midnight on that same day, it will be considered that you have used the pass for one day, and so on.
Final tips
In most cases, buying a tourist card means organizing your trip in a very specific way. Plan carefully what you want to see, on what day, and at what time. If you are the type of person who travels more spontaneously and improvises, I recommend that you do not buy a tourist card.
So far, this is the comparison between the different tourist cards you can choose for your trip to New York. Now, let's eat the Big Apple!