Difference between New York CityPASS and GoCity New York Explorer Pass

Difference between New York CityPASS and New York Explorer Pass

What is the difference between the New York CityPASS and the GoCity New York Explorer Pass? The main difference between these two New York discount passes is that you can choose from 105+ attractions and tours with the Explorer Pass, and with the CityPASS you can choose 5 attractions from a choice of 8. To make the comparison easier, below I explain to you all the differences between the CityPASS and Explorer Pass!

Eric's Index

1 New York CityPASS vs. GoCity Explorer Pass
- 1.1 How do the passes work?
2 What can you do with the passes?
- 2.1 Overview of the main pass features
3 What do the Explorer Pass and CityPASS cost?
4 Which pass should I choose?
5 FAQ

New York CityPASS vs. GoCity Explorer Pass

The New York CityPASS gives you access to 5 attractions. Of these 5, 2 attractions are fixed: the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History. You choose 3 more attractions from a list of 6, and you have 9 days to visit them.

With the GoCity Explorer Pass, you choose a specific number of attractions. There are passes for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 attractions. You can choose from a list of 105+ attractions and tours, and you have 30 days to visit them.

How do the passes work?

With both discount passes, you decide how many attractions you want to visit during your stay in New York. You can use your pass several times a day and also choose not to use it some days. You don’t have to pay anything extra at the attractions, just show your pass to get in. You can make a reservation for certain attractions. You can only visit each attraction once.

Once you have ordered either pass, you will receive an email with a QR code. It is possible to print it out, but you can also show the code on your phone. The pass activates once you visit the first attraction in New York.

Difference between New York CityPASS and New York Explorer Pass - Empire State Building

What can you do with the passes?

With both the CityPASS and the Explorer Pass, you gain access to famous attractions in New York. For example, you can visit the Empire State Building, the island of the Statue of Liberty and several museums.

The big difference is that with the Explorer Pass, you have much more choice between attractions. The CityPASS gives you a choice of 8 attractions, while with the Explorer Pass there are 105+!

In addition, the CityPASS already includes fixed attractions, so you’ll always visit the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History. The additional 3 attractions are chosen from a list of 6 options:

Top of the Rock
The Guggenheim Museum
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
One of the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
9/11 Museum
Intrepid Museum

The 8 attractions of the New York CityPASS are also included in the Explorer Pass. Moreover, the Explorer Pass allows you to rent bikes for Central Park, take the Hop on Hop off bus and visit the Edge Observation Deck, among other things.

Difference between New York CityPASS and New York Explorer Pass - American Museum of Natural History

Overview of the main pass features

The New York CityPASS and Explorer Pass have similarities and differences. Here is a summary of their key features:

New York CityPASS	New York Explorer Pass
5 attractions	105+ attractions
Valid for 9 days	Valid for 30 days
$164	$85 - $284 with my discount code!
Mobile QR code, directly via email	Mobile QR code, directly via email
Special attractions: Empire State Building 2x	Special attractions: Hop-on Hop-off bus Edge Observation Deck One World Observatory

What do the Explorer Pass and CityPASS cost?

The fairest price comparison is between an Explorer Pass with 5 attractions and the CityPASS price, as this pass offers access to 5 attractions. But remember, the Explorer Pass offers more choices, including more expensive attractions such as the Hop on Hop off bus and bike rentals.

The price per attraction of the CityPASS: $33
The price per attraction of the Explorer Pass with 5 attractions: $34

Which pass should I choose?

The benefits of the New York CityPASS and the Go Explorer Pass are:

GoCity Explorer Pass

With the Explorer Pass, you can choose from 105+ attractions and tours.
Popular attractions such as the Hop on Hop off bus, Edge, One World and Madame Tussauds, as well as bike rental, are included in this pass.
Reservations can/should be made for some attractions.

New York CityPASS

For some it is an advantage, for others a disadvantage; all attractions require you to book a time slot. For Top of the Rock and Guggenheim Museum, it is not mandatory but recommended.
With the CityPASS, you can visit the Empire State Building twice on the same day; once during the day and once in the evening.

Eric’s Tip: “I would definitely recommend that anyone visiting New York gets a discount pass. The best pass for you depends on your own preferences and plans, but for many New York visitors, the Explorer Pass is the best choice as it offers more flexibility than the CityPASS. However, if you would like to visit the Empire State Building both during the day and in the evening, the CityPASS would be a better option.”

Buy the New York Explorer Pass here

Buy the New York CityPASS here

FAQ

Both are discount passes, but there are differences between them. With the New York CityPASS, you have access to 5 attractions, and with the Go New York Explorer Pass, you choose the number of attractions to visit.

Which New York discount pass is the best choice for you depends on your planning and preferences. Both passes are good options for a New York trip.

It’s difficult to compare the price of the GoCity Explorer Pass with that of the CityPASS because they use different pricing models. However, if you make an 'honest' comparison based on the same number of attractions, the prices are similar.

You can use the New York CityPASS for 9 days, and the Explorer Pass is valid for 30 days.