New York CityPass Review

Table of Contents: Top Attractions | Good & Bad | Get your Value | Insider Tips | COUPON CODES

Whether it’s your first time in the Big Apple or you’re a frequent visitor, the New York CityPass lets you pay one discount price and get vouchers for six major attractions, including several world-class museums. At $79 for an adult pass, it’s more than 50% off standard admission prices, which means you’ll have more money left in your vacation budget for splurging at New York’s incredible restaurants and shopping districts.

The City Pass includes tickets to the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History plus a planetarium show, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can also pick two extra attractions: choose between the Guggenheim Museum or Top of the Rock, and between a Circle Line sightseeing cruise or Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Many of the attractions could be a full day of sightseeing on their own, so fortunately the CityPass gives you 9 full days to use all of the passes.

Purchase the card at the CityPass Website

Top Included New York Attractions

See the complete list of attractions and tours in the sidebar.

Careful timing is the best way to get your money's worth from the New York CityPass. Museums all have different days of the week that they're closed and days that they're open late, so plan accordingly and leave plenty of time to take breaks and grab a bite to eat.

If you want to really spend time at Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty, but don't care about visiting the museum or going to the top of the statue's crown, then choose that option with your pass. But if you don't want to spend all day there or pay additional museum admission, the Circle Lines cruises offer great views and picture-taking opportunities with less waiting and fewer lines.

The Met is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you start at The Cloisters in the morning, you can easily spend the entire day and evening enjoying the Met's two locations. Depending on your museum-going stamina, you can also stop at the Guggenheim in the same day. It's just 6 blocks north of the Met. Another option for a very full day would be to combine the Met and the American Museum of Natural History—they're a mile apart on opposite sides of Central Park.

At the Museum of Modern Art, your admission includes any film screenings that day, so check to see what's on the schedule and you can extend your visit. Taking a break for a movie is also a great way to relax and reenergize for more sightseeing.

Definitely take advantage of the free Hayden Planetarium show at the American Museum of Natural History. It's usually an additional $8 on top of gallery admission.

Get the latest prices on the New York CityPass

Insider Tips

You can bypass the ticket line at the Empire State Building, but all visitors need to pass through a security line and then wait for a high-speed elevator. For an additional $25, CityPass holders can purchase an Express Pass and move to the front of all lines. You can visit as late as 1:15 a.m., so it's a romantic way to cap off an evening out.

All bags must be searched and checked at coat check when visiting the Met. You can avoid these lines by leaving bags at home or the hotel. If you have an e-pass, you must redeem it at the Met for same-day admission to The Cloisters, but if you have a ticket booklet, you can visit The Cloisters first.

Expect airport-level security at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. If you want to see both islands, make sure to get on a ferry before 2 p.m. If you have a car, you'll find shorter lines and plenty of free parking at the Liberty State Park ferry launch in Jersey City, New Jersey, instead of the Battery Park ferry launch in Manhattan.

Coupon Codes

There are no current coupons for New York CityPass. Check back again as we are constantly updating the site with new coupons.

Where to Buy it

The card is available at many outlets. You can buy it at Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity or you can buy it once you get to New York but these are not great options as you may pay more. The best place the buy the card is at the CityPass website. Buy with confidence from the official site.

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