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New York City Cards

Crafted by Headout, a global experiences brand offering curated tours, tickets & experiences. Discover with ease, book with peace.
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How Headout makes choosing experiences effortless

We curate the best ways to experience

We research and organise all unique experiences - from tickets to tours to special combos - so you get all the choices without the clutter.

We partner with the best

Every supplier is vetted for quality, reliability, and value so you only get top rated experiences. No surprises, no disappointments.

All the best options, in one place

Each experience is thoughtfully organised to give you maximum availability, great value and an easy way to choose.

Book with complete peace of mind

Free cancellations, Flexible payments, and 24/7 support - thoughtfully designed for flexibility, assurance, and total peace of mind.

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We curate the best ways to experience

New York City Cards: Discover New York with ease

The New York City passes give you entry to sights, museums, cruises, tours, and transport in one pass instead of buying tickets one by one. You can choose a day-based New York pass for 1 to 10 days or a New York attraction pass that covers 2 to 10 visits. Most city pass options in NYC include the Edge NYC, the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, Top of the Rock Observation Deck, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry, plus guided tours, harbor cruises, and Hop-on Hop-off buses. Depending on the pass you pick, you can save up to 50% against individual tickets. Whether you travel with family, solo, or on your first trip, you’ll find a New York City pass that fits.

New York City Passes in a nutshell

Pick a New York city pass that fits

Some sightseeing passes in New York work by day, so you can visit as many attractions as you can fit into 1 to 10 calendar days. Others give you 2 to 10 attraction credits to use over 9 to 30 days. You’ll also find NYC pass options that bundle Hop-on Hop-off buses or airport transfers, and museum-specific or observation-deck-focused picks for shorter trips, longer stays, and tighter schedules.

One New York attraction pass, many classic stops

Depending on the pass you pick, the list of NYC pass attractions can include the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, Top of the Rock, the American Museum of Natural History, MoMA, and the 9/11 Museum. Many also add Circle Line cruises, Hop-on Hop-off buses, bike rentals, walking tours, guided visits, neighborhood walking tours, and family-friendly museums beyond the headline landmarks.

Save big in this big city

A 3-attraction New York city pass costs about $114, while separate standard tickets for the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock Observatory, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum come to roughly $140. That’s a difference of around $25, or about 18% less than what you'd have to pay if you bought tickets individually. If those three are already on your list, NYC city pass savings start making sense before you add a fourth stop to the plan.

Buy the pass once & scan as you go

​Using the New York city pass is as easy as it gets. Your pass usually arrives by email within minutes, and most New York City pass providers let you add it to an app or print a backup copy. It activates when you scan it at your first attraction, then stays valid for the number of days or visits included. Some attractions still ask you to reserve a time slot in advance, but entry itself is usually just a quick QR-code scan.

Your New York City Card options explained

Card detailsGo City Explorer PassGo City Essential PassGo City All-Inclusive PassHeadout New York PassNew York CityPASS® 5 Attractions PassNew York C3® Pass

Type of card

Attraction-based (2/3/4/5/6/7/10 attractions)

Attraction-based (3 attractions; pick 1 deck + 2 others)

Day-based (pick 1/2/3/4/5/7/10 days)

Attraction-based (pick 2/3/4/5/7/10 attractions)

Attraction-based (5 chosen attractions)

Attraction-based (Access to 3 attractions)

No. of attractions

100+

13

100+

40+

10

11

Price range

$89–$299

$99

$169-$429

$79-$277(Essential); $88-$380(Flexi)

$149

$109

Validity

30 days from first use; 1 year from purchase if unused

30 days from first use; 1 year from purchase if unused

Valid for the consecutive days selected; valid for 1 year if unused

Valid for 30 calendar days from the selected date

Valid for 9 consecutive days from first use; valid for 1 year if unused

Valid for 9 consecutive days from first use; valid for 1 year if unused

Which New York City Pass saves you the most

New York City Pass Savings - Pass Comparison
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Verdict: Headout Pass New York – Essential (2 Premium + 3 Standard)

Why it wins: For this five-stop NYC itinerary, Headout Pass New York Essential costs $165 and saves you $81.90 (33.17%) compared with buying tickets separately, the biggest saving among the three passes compared. It’s a strong fit for first-timers who want headline sights like the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and 9/11 Museum without paying more for a fully flexible attraction mix. You spend $14 less than Go City Explorer and $40 less than Headout Flexi, making Essential the best-value pick when your must-sees fit its two-premium, three-standard combination.

Book here: Headout Pass New York: Save up to 40% at 40+ Attractions

Verdict: Go City Essential Pass (3 attractions)

Why it wins: The Go City Essential Pass saves you 28.47% if you visit the city's top 3 most popular landmarks from a list of 13 choices. You get to choose exactly the attractions that you want to see and won't have to pay for extras you’ll never use. After your first visit, you have 30 days to redeem the rest, which is ideal if you want to spread out your visits as opposed to clubbing them all in one day.

Book here: Go City New York Essential Pass: Access to 1 Observatory + 2 Top Attractions

Verdict: Go City All-Inclusive Pass (1 day)

Why it wins: The Go City All-Inclusive Pass saves you 11.7% and starts paying off once you fit in around 3 major sights in a day. From there, the value keeps climbing because you also get access to top museums, cruises, and offbeat attractions in the city. You get to pick where to start when you’re ready and keep the city moving around you.

Book here: Go City New York All-Inclusive Pass: Access to 100+ Attractions

Types of New York City Passes explained: Attraction-based vs. Day-based passes

Attraction-based cards

A New York attraction pass lets you choose a fixed number of experiences from a larger list and visit them within a set period after activation. Unlike consecutive-day passes, you don’t need to sightsee on back-to-back days, giving you the flexibility to spread your visits over a longer period. It’s ideal for families, repeat visitors, and explorers with a shorter shortlist who want to enjoy the city at their own pace.

Recommended passes:

  • Headout Pass New York
  • New York CityPASS®
  • Go City New York Explorer Pass
  • Go City New York Essential Pass
  • New York C3®

Day-based cards

A day-based New York sightseeing pass lets you visit attractions from a large included list during a fixed number of consecutive days. Your pass activates when you use it at your first attraction, and the sightseeing days then run back-to-back—you cannot pause the pass or spread those days across your trip. For example, a three-day pass used for the first time on Monday covers Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Unlike an attraction-count NYC pass, which lets you choose a fixed number of experiences, a day-based pass gives you a set period to explore the included attractions. It’s best for visitors on a tight schedule who plan to fit several sights into each day.

Recommended Passes:

  • Go City New York All-Inclusive Pass

Which New York City Pass is best for you

If you want full control over what sights you can pick

The Headout Pass New York lets you pick 2–10 experiences from 40+ options, including iconic sights, transport-style options like Hop-on Hop-off buses, and airport transfers, and visit over 30 days. Its affordable options offer two formats: Flexi lets you choose the number of premium or standard attractions; Essential fixes the number in each category but leaves the attraction selection to you, balancing customisation with a lower-cost, preset mix.

The Go City New York Explorer Pass lets you choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 attractions from 100+ experiences and visit them within 30 days of first use, without sightseeing on consecutive days. Pick your attraction count, then choose which sights to visit; ideal for flexible explorers who want a broad selection without committing to a packed itinerary.

If you want to cover classics

If you want to see New York’s classics rather than try to see everything, New York C3, New York CityPASS, and Go City Essentials keep your choices focused. With smaller lists of 10–13 experiences, they suit first-timers, short-trip travellers, and anyone prioritising headline sights such as the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, and the Statue of Liberty. You get a manageable shortlist rather than extensive coverage you may never use.

​New York C3® by CityPASS® lets you choose any 3 attractions from 11 options and visit them within 9 days of first use. New York CityPASS® expands that to any 5 attractions from 10 options, also within 9 days, ideal if you want a fuller highlights itinerary without committing to a packed sightseeing schedule. Go City New York Essential Pass lets you choose 1 observation deck and any 2 other included experiences from 13 options.

If you want non-stop sightseeing

If you plan to visit 3 or more paid attractions a day, the Go City New York All-Inclusive Pass is a good fit for a packed New York itinerary. Rather than choosing a fixed number of sights, you choose a pass lasting 1 to 10 consecutive calendar days and visit included experiences from a list of 100+ attractions during that period. Your first visit activates the pass, and the days then run back-to-back; you cannot pause it between sightseeing days. For example, you could combine the Empire State Building, a Statue of Liberty trip or Liberty Cruise, and MoMA across a full day. With this New York sightseeing pass, you are free to see as many included attractions as you want. An unused pass remains valid for one year.

Top attractions included in your New York City Pass

AttractionHeadout Pass New YorkGo City New York All-Inclusive PassGo City New York Explorer PassNew York CityPASS®New York C3® by CityPASS®

Empire State Building Observatory

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

American Museum of Natural History

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Top of the Rock® Observation Deck

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

9/11 Memorial & Museum

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

✅

✅

✅

❌

✅

Edge

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

One World Observatory

✅

✅

✅

❌

❌

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

✅

❌

❌

❌

❌

Intrepid Museum

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

✅

✅

✅

✅

✅

Full list of attractions included in New York City passes

The attractions included in New York passes vary by operator, so check that your must-see sights are covered before choosing. Explore the full lists below to compare your options and find the pass that best fits your sightseeing shortlist.

Top highlights of your New York City Pass

Empire State Building spire against a cloudy sky, New York City.
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Empire State Building Observatory

  • Timings: 9am to 11pm
  • Address: 20 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001, United States

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

  • Timings: 9am to 11pm
  • Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, United States

9/11 Memorial & Museum

  • Timings: 9am to 7pm (Wednesday to Monday)
  • Address: 180 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007, United States

Museum of Modern Art

  • Timings: 10:30am to 5:30pm
  • Address: 11 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019, United States

American Museum of Natural History

  • Timings: 10am to 5:30pm
  • Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, United States

Intrepid Museum

  • Timings: 10am to 5pm
  • Address: Pier 86, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036, United States

How to use a New York City Pass

Step 1: Choose your New York City attraction pass

Pick the city pass that best fits your NYC trip needs! Make sure you check the attractions covered and make a choice between day & attraction-based passes.

Step 2: Book your tickets

Purchase your New York City pass easily using PayPal, a credit/debit card, or iDEAL.

Step 3: Check your email

Receive your ticket instantly in your inbox. Be sure to check the spam and junk folders.

Step 4: Download the operator's app

Download the operator's app on your phone and follow the activation instructions.

Step 5: Start exploring!

Present your activated pass at attractions to gain entry and enjoy your sightseeing!

Frequently asked questions about the New York City Passes

A New York sightseeing pass is worth it when you plan at least three paid attractions, especially observation decks, cruises, or major museums. You save more when you use high-value inclusions and spread visits efficiently over the pass validity window.