Yes, the New York Pass is worth it. If you only have a few days to spend in NYC and want to see and do as much as possible, then getting the New York Pass is a no-brainer. This sightseeing card can save you over 50% off the city’s most popular attractions.
Are you planning a trip to New York City and considering buying the New York Pass? Find out if it’s worth the price and whether this sightseeing card is a good fit for your NYC trip!
New York City is the largest city in the United States and home to some of the best tourist attractions in the world, including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial.
New York City is also known for being an expensive travel destination for tourists. While there are some free things to do in the city, such as walking through Central Park or Times Square, its best attractions and tours can be quite pricey.
There’s good news though!
The New York Pass can get you fast-track entry into all the city’s top-rated attractions for a significant discount. It’s silly to pay full price at NYC’s popular tourist attractions when you can save money with the New York Pass.
Related Posts:
- Visiting New York City For The First Time? Avoid These 10 Costly Mistakes
- 10 Ways To Visit NYC On A Budget
- New York CityPASS Review – Is it worth it?
Table of Contents
What is the New York Pass?
✓ Pick from over 100 NYC attractions
✓ Valid for up to 10 days
✓ Save up to 70% compared to purchasing tickets at each attraction
✓ Visit unlimited amount of NYC attractions each day
The New York Pass is an all-inclusive sightseeing card which gives you FREE entry to over 100+ top attractions and tours in NYC including the Empire State Building, riding the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, and the Top of the Rock.
Empire State Building
Standard Entry Price
Adult $44.00
FREE with the New York Pass
Top of the Rock Observatory
Standard Entry Price
Adult $41.00
FREE with the New York Pass
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Standard Entry Price
Adult $55.00
FREE with the New York Pass
Getting the most bang for your buck is my #1 factor when planning a vacation and the New York Pass was rated the #1 NYC tourism pass by TripAdvisor.
They’re also recommended by Expedia and the New York Pass currently have a TrustScore rating of 4.3/5 on Trust Pilot. Over 3.5 million travelers have used the pass and 9 out of 10 customers recommend the New York Pass to their friends.
With the New York Pass, you can save time, money, and enjoy stress-free sightseeing. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out these TripAdvisor reviews.
How the New York Pass Works
Simply buy your chosen pass for one flat rate and download your pass instantly on your smartphone using their App (or get it delivered). Then scan your pass to enter any of the 100+ attractions.
No cash or tickets are needed. And there’s no limit on how many attractions you can visit with your New York Pass.
This tourism pass is the most popular with visitors to New York City because it has the potential to save you A LOT of money.
By visiting just three attractions per day, you can save 70% vs. paying at the gate. Visiting two attractions per day can save you nearly 50% off the regular ticket price.
Many of the top-rated attractions in NYC cost $25-$40 per person to visit, which can get pretty expensive for travelers.
If you’re already planning to visit some of these popular attractions, buying the New York Pass can easily save you 50% to 70% off the regular ticket price. Who wouldn’t want to save extra money?
Read Next: New York Pass vs. New York CityPASS – Which is better?
Benefits of the New York Pass
It’s super convenient for sightseeing
The New York Pass can be so helpful when you’re visiting the city. This is because you can purchase the pass online before your trip and activate it when you visit your first attraction.
You don’t have to worry about waiting in long ticket lines or dealing with cash. With your New York Pass, you can use the “Fast Track Entry” feature to skip all the long lines and enjoy more time sightseeing.
You’ll save tons of time
The New York Pass makes it easy to save time and maximize the fun on your vacation. As I already mentioned, you can skip the ticket lines at attractions and head through the “Fast Track Entry” with your pass.
The New York Pass website also includes sample itineraries to help you save time when planning your trip.
You’ll save A LOT of money
The New York Pass was created to help you save money when visiting NYC. Free entry to all the city’s top attractions are included in your pass, so you don’t have to think twice about visiting an attraction due to its cost. This can be a great option for budget-conscious travelers.
Who is the New York Pass Good for?
First-time visitors
Visiting New York City is a trip of a lifetime for many people. If this is your first time to the Big Apple, then investing in the New York Pass can be a great option.
The pass is specifically designed to help first-timers save time and money when sightseeing. Use the built-in “Fast Track Entry” to skip the long ticket lines and enjoy more time at each attraction.
Families and Groups
If you’re traveling with your family or friends, the cost of buying individual tickets at each attraction can add up quickly.
The 3-day New York Pass can save a single adult over $100, which means a family of four can easily save over $400 with the pass. That’s a lot of money!
Stress-Free Sightseeing
When you buy the New York Pass, you don’t have to worry about waiting in long ticket lines or dealing with cash. You can just head through the Fast Track Entry and start sightseeing.
You’re also more likely to visit more attractions than you would have without the pass. This is because all the top attractions are already included in the pass.
You don’t have to worry about the cost of admission because it’s already paid in full. This can really help take the stress out of sightseeing, especially in a big city like New York.
What is the New York Pass NOT Good For?
Those Not Interested in Sightseeing
If you’re not interested in visiting NYC’s popular tourist attractions, then New York Pass may not be a good option for you.
Those Who Want to Take a Day Off from Sightseeing
Once the New York Pass has been activated, it’s valid for consecutive days only. If you’re getting the 1, 2, or 3-day pass, visiting two to three attractions per day will ensure you get the best value from the pass.
The 5, 7, and 10-day pass can still offer a good value if you decide to take a day off from sightseeing.
Those Who Want to Explore Off-the-Beaten Path
If you’re not interested in sightseeing and prefer to explore off-the-beaten path, then buying a sightseeing pass is probably not a good fit for you.
Which Pass Duration Should I Get?
The New York Pass is available for purchase as a 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10-day pass.
It’s intended to be used on consecutive calendar days and will become activated once you visit your first attraction.
To save time and hassle, I recommend buying your New York Pass before your trip. Then you can plan your itinerary and activate your pass anytime in the next 12 months.
You can click here to purchase your New York Pass from their official website.
This means if you’re using the 3-day pass card (which is the most popular option with travelers), “Day 1” starts when the card is first activated.
If you active the card on Monday, it will be active for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The pass will expire on the last day at midnight.
To maximize your time and get the best value from your pass, I recommend starting early in the day for sightseeing. This lets you get a full day’s worth of sightseeing when you activate your pass.
PRO TIP: You can buy the New York Pass on sale now and activate it anytime in the next 12 months. This can help you save money and plan your sightseeing itinerary ahead of time.
How to Buy Your New York Pass
Step 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 day). You can click here to purchase your New York Pass from their official website. When you buy the pass online, you can take advantage of online discounts.
Step 2: Download your mobile pass instantly using the New York Pass App. If you prefer a physical pass, simply opt for delivery (they deliver worldwide).
Step 3: You now have FREE access to any of the 100+ top NYC attractions included for the duration of your pass. You can activate your pass anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase.
What is free with the New York Pass?
The New York Pass gives you FREE entry to over 115 top NYC attractions.
You have the choose the pass for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10 days. There is no limit to how many attractions you are able to visit with the pass, regardless of duration.
You’ll also get a free guidebook with your pass to help you plan your New York sightseeing itinerary.
How long is the New York Pass valid for?
The New York Pass is valid for two years after your purchase. Once you activate your pass, you’ll need to use it on consecutive calendar days.
The pass will become activited once you visit your first attraction and that day will conclude at midnight as the pass goes into its second day of use.
For example, if you purchase the 3-day New York Pass and activate it on Monday, it will be valid on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The pass will conclude at midnight.
If your plans change, you get a refund on unused passes up to 365 days after purchase. This can give you peace of mind when planning your trip to NYC>
Is the New York Pass worth the money?
Yes! If you’re interested in visiting the popular attractions in New York City, such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial, then yes, the New York Pass provides great value for your money.
By visiting just a few attractions per day, you have the potential to save up to 70% off vs. paying at the gate for individual tickets.
Another reason why the New York Pass is the most popular tourism pass with travelers is because it includes ALL the must-see attractions in the city.
You can visit as many attractions as you’d like with your pass. (The only limit is that you can visit each attraction just once with your pass).
Where the New York Pass Falls Short
The only drawback of the New York Pass is that it doesn’t include the option to add a public transit card for the New York metro. In fact, none of the New York sightseeing passes offer this option.
The New York Pass still offers some options for you to easily get around the city and visit each attraction. Here are just a few of the many transportation offers your pass includes:
- Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour – This 1-day bus tour is one of the best ways to get around the city. You can ride it for FREE with your pass.
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island – With your pass, you can get a FREE ferry ticket and entry to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises – You get your choice of a FREE boat cruise (day or night) along the city’s waterway. This offers a beautiful view of the NYC skyline.
- Central Park Sightseeing Bike Tours & Rentals – Central Park is a must-visit spot in New York City. You can take a FREE 2-hour bike tour with an expert guide using your pass.
- The Ride – This interactive bus tour takes you on a scenic voyage through NYC. It’s FREE with your New York Pass.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Water Taxi – This sightseeing cruise is an excellent way to see Manhattan’s waterfront landmarks at neighborhoods at your own pace. Get a FREE all-day access pass with your New York pass.
Tips for getting the best value from your New York Pass
Below are some helpful tips to save the most money and maximize your time with the New York Pass:
Visit the most expensive attractions
To get the best value from your New York Pass, you’ll want to hit up to city’s most expensive attractions. This includes:
- Empire State Building
- Top of the Rock
- Edge Observation Deck
- One World Observatory
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
- Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Madame Tussauds + MARVEL Universe 4D
- The RIDE (an interactive bus tour $99 value)
Buy the pass when it’s on sale
To save even more money, I recommend getting the pass when it’s on sale. The only way to score the pass on sale is to purchase it online from their official website. From time to time, they offer a sale, so you’ll want to take advantage of this.
Visit 2 or 3 attractions per day
The more you use the pass, the better value you’ll get from it. By just visiting 2 or 3 attractions per day, you have the potential to save hundreds of dollars per person.
Don’t like an attraction? Then skip it and check out the next one on your itinerary. With over 100 attractions to choose from, you’ll never run out of things to do with the New York Pass.
Start early to maximize your sightseeing
I always like to start my day early when traveling. This helps me to beat the crowds and make the most out of sightseeing.
Plan ahead
While you can definitely play it by ear while visiting New York City, planning ahead can make your trip go smoother. Because New York is a big city, I recommend visiting attractions that are near each other.
This will save you a lot of time from having to jump across the city trying to fit in the next attraction.
Do the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour on the first day
This bus tour is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the city and to get to know the different neighborhoods.
Activate your pass in the morning
The New York Pass runs on consecutive days. This means you’ll want to activate your pass on Day 1 in the morning to get the best value from your pass.
Is the New York Pass right for you?
As you can see, the New York Pass can be a great way for travelers to save time and money when exploring NYC’s best attractions and tours.
The “Fast Track Entry” feature can let you skip the long ticket lines, which is a huge time saver in a busy city like New York.
If you’re visiting NYC for the first time, the New York Pass can provide and easy and stress-free way to sightsee. If you’re interested in hitting all the top attractions in New York, then getting the pass is a no-brainer.
However, for those who are just planning on visiting a few attractions, you may want to consider the New York CityPASS or the GO New York Explorer Pass instead. And if you’re traveling on a super tight budget, don’t worry, there’s plenty of free things to do in the city.
Remember, this is your trip to NYC. You can plan it to suit your travel style and interests.
Ready to plan your NYC vacation? See what hotel deals are available in the area thanks to Booking.com
