Top New York Tickets & Passes: A Helpful Guide

Planning a trip to New York City? Well, you’re in for a treat! Getting around and seeing all the sights can get very pricey, but purchasing a ticket or pass may save you a little coin. To experience the Big Apple without blowing your budget, it is worth checking out some of the ticket and pass options available. So, let’s have a peek at a few top contenders.

1. New York CityPASS: A Closer View

Okay, first on our list is the New York CityPASS. This pass gives you entry to some can’t-miss spots, yet it is usually for those that may have a shorter trip or just a limited number of places that they intend to visit. Is that cool, right? The main attraction is that it offers significant savings – up to 40% off regular admission prices.

The way it works is really simple. It allows entry to five attractions, generally out of a list of about nine or ten, where some attractions are bundled as an either/or. The popular attractions usually include the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, and then your choice between the Top of the Rock Observation Deck or the Guggenheim Museum. It might be perfect if you kind of know exactly what you want to do. The downside, or perhaps the trade-off, so to speak, is that you are limited in choice and the pass must be used within a certain timeframe. So, this is likely a decent choice if time is against you.

2. New York Pass: For the Energetic Explorer

The New York Pass takes a totally different route. What they offer here, too, is access to over 100 attractions, tours, and activities. Yeah, so that’s a lot, right? Instead of choosing a number of attractions from a list, like some of the others, the New York Pass operates on a day basis, typically, offering passes for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days. You pay for the number of days you would like to sightsee, then cram in as much as you physically can. This is good if you plan ahead and, just possibly, end up feeling quite exhausted at the end.

So, if you like to do a few things a day, and would consider yourself an active type, it may offer very good savings compared to buying individual tickets. Very very handy! This pass can pay for itself rapidly if you really make use of it. It includes almost anything that you can think of. From touristy spots to lesser-known museums, boat tours, bus tours and even bike rentals. Is that not tempting? Think about how many bagels that extra cash might purchase?

3. Explorer Pass: Pick Your Own Adventure

The Go City Explorer Pass could be viewed as sitting somewhere in the middle of the CityPASS and the New York Pass, which might be cool for you. Basically, this pass allows you to pick a number of attractions that you wish to see, for a slightly reduced fee compared to paying at the gate. Fair enough? You select from a list of over 95 attractions and purchase a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 attractions.

That being said, it doesn’t operate on a timed day basis, like the New York Pass. The Explorer Pass gives you 60 days to use your attractions, which should provide a bit more flexibility. Also, because you are not tied to getting your money’s worth in a restricted timeframe, you can savor each attraction. Seems pretty cool, right? It might appeal to people who like things to be not quite so scheduled and a little bit slower paced.

4. The Sightseeing Day Pass: Total Immersion

Just like the New York Pass, the Sightseeing Day Pass offers unlimited access to many attractions. Again, you pay for the number of days and can see as many things as is humanly achievable. By the way, one day could be quite the test. The key difference could be the actual attractions included. They might very slightly from pass to pass. You will want to spend a bit of time, possibly, looking at the full list of options for each pass and make sure that it contains the things that you want to see.

This is also good if you like an agenda jam-packed with activities. If you want to hit all the major sights in as little time as possible, this might just be your best bet, basically! Just be prepared for sore feet. That, too, is one little factor to think about.

5. The Sightseeing Flex Pass: Custom-Made Experience

The Sightseeing Flex Pass could almost be the same as the Explorer Pass. However, it does give you the option to choose either a set number of attractions, or to purchase an “unlimited” day pass. To be honest, they are nearly the same, so it is worth comparing both to get the better deal, especially if there is an offer on. What it comes down to is that the Flex Pass grants you access to many different sights and activities based on how many attractions you want to visit. This is generally beneficial if you are looking for something particular.

A great benefit here may very well be the flexibility (the name probably gave that away, alright?) because, unlike the Day Pass, you aren’t stressed out to pack a number of attractions into one single day. Isn’t that brilliant? Instead, you’re given 60 days to use your pass after activation. This lets you take things slowly, savor your time, and really enjoy the city at your speed. This is very helpful for you.