New York CityPASS: is it worth it?
New York CityPASS bundles five major attractions into one $146 ticket, valid nine days from first use. It isn't a pick-anything pass — it's a fixed set with one or two rotating slots — so the value depends entirely on whether that specific list matches your trip.
Also searched as: CityPASS New York · NYC CityPASS · City Pass New York · CityPass NY
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links — it never changes the ranking. · Verified 2026-07-01
At a glance
How does the New York CityPASS work?
- It runs on consecutive days. The clock starts at first use and never pauses, so a rest day inside the window is a day you paid for and did not use.
- Public transport is not included — budget for it separately when comparing totals.
- Most sites have a pass-holder queue, but timed reservations still apply wherever the attraction requires one.
How much does the New York CityPASS cost?
These are the official adult prices we last verified on 2026-07-01. Children, youth and seniors often pay less, and the calculator applies each attraction’s own age rules to your group.
Cheapest way in: $146
Prices change without notice — always confirm on the operator’s site before paying.
Prices by duration
What’s included
- Empire State Building · Reservation required
- Top of the Rock · Reservation required
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island · Reservation required
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum · Reservation required
- American Museum of Natural History
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
What’s not included
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- One World Observatory
- Edge at Hudson Yards
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Madame Tussauds New York
- Central Park Zoo
Is the New York CityPASS worth it?
If your itinerary already includes the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial, CityPASS runs about $33–35 cheaper than buying those tickets separately, before you've even used the two rotating slots. If you only want one or two of the five, or you're chasing a different mix of museums and viewpoints, skip it and buy single tickets instead.
Where it wins
- Fixed bundle saves roughly $33–35 (about 19–20%) over five single tickets
- Skip the general ticket line at every included site
- Bundles two genuinely expensive tickets — Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island and the 9/11 Memorial
- Valid 9 days from first use, so it isn't locked to consecutive days
Where it falls short
- Fixed bundle, not pick-anything — you can't swap in MoMA or the Met
- MoMA never participates in any city pass, CityPASS included
- Bundles two of NYC's five near-identical observation decks, when most trips only need one
- Empire State, Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Memorial all still need a timed reservation
Best for: First-time visitors who want the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and a major museum, and don't need a second skyline view.
What you get
CityPASS is a fixed five-ticket bundle for $146, valid nine days from first use rather than tied to consecutive calendar days. Three entries never change: the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island ferry and museum, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. The other two slots rotate — one between Top of the Rock and another headline viewpoint, one between the American Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim.
Priced separately, that comes to roughly $179 with AMNH or $181 with the Guggenheim — Empire State Building $47, Top of the Rock $46, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island $24.50, and the 9/11 Memorial $34. CityPASS at $146 saves about $33–35, close to 19–20%, and gets you a separate skip-the-line queue at each site — though Empire State, the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial all still require a timed reservation regardless of which ticket you’re holding.
The catch
CityPASS is a bundle, not a menu. You can’t drop the Statue of Liberty for the Met or MoMA — both sit outside it, and MoMA in particular never joins any third-party city pass in New York.
The other trap is redundancy the pass builds in on its own. New York has five observation decks that all sell essentially the same experience — skyline views from height: Empire State, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, Edge at Hudson Yards, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. CityPASS bundles two of them (Empire State plus your rotating pick). Doing both adds little beyond a second set of similar photos; most travelers are satisfied with one.
Our verdict
If your must-see list already lines up with the bundle — one skyline view, the harbor crossing, and a major museum — CityPASS is a clean $33–35 saving with less queueing. If you’d rather choose from New York’s wider catalogue, or don’t want two viewpoints, run the numbers against Go City’s Explorer and All-Inclusive passes in the calculator before buying.
Alternatives to consider
Frequently asked questions
Is the New York CityPASS worth it in 2026?
Only if your list matches the bundle. At $146 for the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial, plus a rotating viewpoint and museum, it runs about $33–35 cheaper than five single tickets. Want a different mix of attractions? Single tickets or a flexible pass like Go City will likely serve you better.
What's included in the New York CityPASS?
Three fixed entries — Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum — plus a choice between Top of the Rock and another headline viewpoint, and a choice between the American Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim. MoMA, the Met, One World Observatory and Edge at Hudson Yards are not included.
Do I need more than one NYC observation deck?
Rarely. Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, Edge at Hudson Yards and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt all sell essentially the same experience — city views from height. CityPASS includes access to two of them; most visitors are satisfied after one.