Comparison of New York Discount Passes 2021

Below you can find a comparison of New York discount passes. There are two types of discount pass: attraction passes for a limited number of attractions and day passes for a limited amount of days. Both types are offered by various companies, meaning that there is a wide range of choice. 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.

I try these passes out 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 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 Sightseeing Day Pass	New York Sightseeing Flex Pass	New York Explorer Pass	New York CityPASS
Eric's rating	3 point(s)	3 point(s)	4 point(s)	3 point(s)	2 point(s)
Pass type	day pass	day pass	attraction pass	attraction pass	attraction pass
Valid for how many days	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10	60	30	9
Attractions to visit	unlimited	unlimited	2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 12	2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10	6
Participating attractions	100+	100+	100+	90	9
Mobile pass	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Physical pass	✖	✖	✖	✖	✖
Hop-on Hop-off bus	1 day	all days	72 hours (one of the choices)	1 day (one of the choices)	✖
Empire State Building	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
One World Observatory	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖
Edge Observation Deck	✔	✔	✔	✔	✖
Circle Line Cruises	✔	✖	✖	✔	✔
Lunch option	✖	✔	✔	✔	✖
Information guide	app and paper guide	app	app	digital guide	✖
Specifics	bike tours included	transfer Manhattan to airport included	transfer Manhattan to airport included	bike tours included	Empire State Building 2x
	Buy the New York Pass here	Buy the Sightseeing Day Pass here	Buy the Sightseeing Flex Pass here	Buy the Explorer Pass here	Buy the CityPASS here
ERIC'S DISCOUNT	Up to 30% discount with ERICSAVE20	Up to 35% discount with ERICOFFER	Up to 28% discount with ERICOFFER
Average price per day	5 days: $50 per day	5 days: $52 per day
	10 days: $36 per day	10 days: $35 per day
Average price per attraction			6 attractions: $25 per attraction	5 attractions: $28 per attraction	6 attractions: $22 per attraction
			10 attractions: $21 per attraction	10 attractions: $23 per attraction
Extra kids discount	up until 12 years	up until 12 years + 20% extra discount	up until 12 years + 20% extra discount	up until 12 years	up until 17 years
	Read more about the New York Pass	Read more about the Sightseeing Day Pass	Read more about the Sightseeing Flex Pass	Read more about the Explorer Pass	Read more about the CityPASS

Why buy a discount pass for New York?

I recommend everyone visiting New York to 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 to 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 [email protected] 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 Sightseeing Flex Pass and a MetroCard, go to my site to do this easily and all in one go.

Buy your Sightseeing Flex Pass and New York MetroCard here

Last updated 07-2021