Comparison of New York Discount Passes 2025

Below you can find a comparison of New York discount passes. There are two types of discount passes: attraction passes for a limited number of attractions and day passes for a limited number of days. Both types are offered by various companies, meaning there’s a wide range of choices. The New York discount passes in the table below are the most popular ones, and they are also the ones that I recommend based on experience.

The Best New York Passes in Comparison

I try out these passes on a regular basis; I use a pass to visit attractions and take tours almost once a month. This means that my experiences are always recent and the information in the table is up-to-date. Two well-known passes are the New York Pass and the New York CityPASS, but there are more options that may further suit your specific needs and wishes. The best discount passes for New York are presented in the following comparison:

	New York Pass	New York Explorer Pass	New York Sightseeing Flex Pass	New York Sightseeing Day Pass	New York CityPASS
Eric's rating
Pass type	day pass	attraction pass	attraction pass	day pass	attraction pass
Valid for how many days	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10	30	60	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10	9
Attractions to visit	unlimited	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 12	unlimited	5
Participating attractions	105+	100+	100+	95+	8
Mobile pass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Physical pass	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Hop on Hop off bus	2 days	2 days (one of the choices)	2 days (one of the choices)	2 days	✖
Empire State Building	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Top of the Rock	✔	✔	✖	✖	✔
One World Observatory	✔	✔	✖	✖	✖
Edge Observation Deck	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖
SUMMIT	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Statue of Liberty	✔	✔	✖	✖	✔
9/11 Museum	✔	✔	✖	✖	✔
Airport transfer	✖	✖	✔	✔	✖
Lunch option	✔	✔	✖	✖	✖
	Buy the New York Pass here	Buy the Explorer Pass here	Buy the Sightseeing Flex Pass here	Buy the Sightseeing Day Pass here	Buy the New York CityPASS here
ERIC'S DISCOUNT	Up to 34% discount with ERIC5NYP		Up to 40% discount with ERICOFFER	Up to 37% discount with ERICOFFER
Average price per day	5 days: $65 per day			5 days: $59 per day
	10 days: $39 per day			10 days: $37 per day
Average price per attraction		5 attractions: $34 per attraction	5 attractions: $31 per attraction		5 attractions: $31 per attraction
		10 attractions: $28 per attraction	10 attractions: $25 per attraction
Extra kids discount	up until 12 years	up until 12 years	up until 12 years + 20% extra discount	up until 12 years + 20% extra discount	up until 17 years
	Read more about the New York Pass	Read more about the Explorer Pass	Read more about the Sightseeing Flex Pass	Read more about the Sightseeing Day Pass	Read more about the CityPASS

Why buy a discount pass for New York?

I recommend that everyone visiting New York get a discount pass. You’ll save a lot of money compared to buying separate tickets. You’ll be able to enter various sights quicker, and you’ll enjoy the ease of having just one pass, rather than numerous different tickets. A discount pass gives you access to almost all of the top sights and activities, such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the 9/11 Museum and the Hop-on Hop-off bus.

Choosing a discount pass

There are many factors that may influence your choice of discount pass, such as the sights you would like to see, how long you’ll be in New York, how much you want to do and with whom you are going. The table above shows you the most important differences at a glance and will help you choose the best pass for New York.

Still can’t choose which pass to get after looking at the information? Try Eric’s Pass Picker or send me an email at eric@newyork.co.uk, and I’ll give you my personal advice.

Discount pass and MetroCard

You cannot use your discount pass on public transport; you’ll need a separate card for this. The most convenient way of getting around in New York is the subway – it goes almost everywhere and there are always quick and regular services available.

You can buy your MetroCard before coming to New York so that you can use it straight away upon arrival. If you plan on buying a MetroCard in addition to a New York Pass or Explorer Pass, go to my site to do this easily and all in one go.

Buy your discount pass with New York MetroCard here

Last updated 06/2025