new york tourist transport pass

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NYC Subway Pass

Which metrocard to buy.

How to pay for your NYC subway ride can be confusing if you are visiting NYC.

Should you get a pay-per-ride or an unlimited MetroCard, or maybe you just pay with OMNY using a contactless credit card?

But, once you understand the basics, the choices aren't so daunting.

As local tour guides who not only use the subway for personal transport but also for our tours, this is definitely one of the topics we get asked about the most.

And, it's our hope, that this post will help you determine which form NYC subway MetroCard is best for you.

And, if you would like to have someone show you how to use the subway in NYC, then consider taking our subway tutorial.

Like most of our tours, it's free to book and runs on the pay-what-you-wish model.

Let's get going!

Unlimited vs. Pay-Per-Ride Card vs. OMNY
How to Purchase a MetroCard
Tips on Using the Subway
Which Subway App is Best?
Subway or Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus?
Things to Do in NYC

Is There a New York Subway Pass for Tourists?

New York City does not currently offer a subway pass intended only for tourists. However, you don't have to worry!

We'll show you where and how to purchase a card, and how much to spend, with special tips for tourists and visitors.

UNLIMITED vs. PAY-PER-RIDE METROCARDS

There are two types of cards to choose from: a Pay-Per-Ride card and an Unlimited Ride card.

With a Pay-Per-Ride card, your card will deduct $2.90 every time you take the subway/bus.

An Unlimited Card costs a flat fee and you can use the subway/bus as many times as you want within a set number of days.

When deciding which card is best , think about how long your trip is and how many times you think you might be taking the subway.

Also, consider the number of people in your party.

*Before buying a MetroCard, read below about NYC's OMNY program which began its rollout in 2019.

Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards

Add money to your card and each time you 'swipe' your card to enter the subway, $2.90 will be deducted from your card balance.
There is a one-time $1 fee when you purchase a card. Don't throw your card away when it runs out of money, or you will have to pay $1 again when you buy a new card.
You can buy a single-ride card for $3, but it is unlikely you will need this type of card.
See below for what deals are available.
Up to 4 people can use the same MetroCard. It will still cost $2.90 per person per ride but you do not need to pay the $1 fee for multiple cards.
Each ride includes a free transfer (within two hours) between subway lines, bus, and subway, or between buses.
This card can be used on the JFK AirTrain connecting the airport to the subway system (additional cost applies). See our Manhattan to/from JFK Airport .
See below for other transportation systems that accept the Metrocard.

Before we continue, we are running this poll in our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group.

Would you like the option of a 1-hour subway tutorial tour? Click the link to vote or email us .

Unlimited MetroCards

This card is valid for unlimited subway and bus rides until midnight from the day of first use. You can choose a 7-day unlimited card or a 30-day unlimited.

There is a $1 fee when you purchase a card. *Do not throw away your card when it expires, or you will have to pay $1 again for a new card.

An unlimited 7-Day MetroCard costs $33 and allows unlimited swipes. See below for what deals are available.

While a single ride costs $2.90, the Unlimited card saves you money because the more you use it, the cheaper each ride is.

for 13 trips = $2.53/ride
for 15 trips = $2.20/ride
for 20 trips = $1.65/ride

If your stay is 30 days or longer, consider a 30-day unlimited card for $127 ($63.50 reduced fare).

Important rules that apply to Unlimited MetroCards:

It can only be used by 1 person.
Once you have swiped the card to enter the subway, it cannot be used again for 18 minutes.
Unlimited Ride MetroCards are not accepted by the JFK AirTrain , Express buses or PATH trains.
See below for other transportation systems that accept this card.

As an alternative to using a MetroCard, riders can now tap to pay at the turnstile!

Metrocard machines were scheduled to be phased out in 2023, but this date is now 2025.

With the new OMNY system, you can tap a credit or debit card onto the OMNY reader, smartphone, or wearable device.

You also have the option of buying an OMNY card, a durable hard card ( see more below ).

The OMNY tap-to-pay method is available at all subway stations in NYC and all MTA-operated buses.

A great feature of the OMNY system is the weekly fare cap .

Starting on a Monday, once you pay for 12 rides, with the same device or card, you can ride for free for the rest of the week through Sunday.

A few important things to know:

OMNY only offers the “pay-per-ride” option so you will pay full price every time you tap to pay. Unlimited passes and other concessionary prices will be added to the system later.
You get most of the same features of a MetroCard such as free transfers and the ability to pay for yourself and up to 3 other people on the same card.
OMNY accepts Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, Discover®, and JCB networks. But debit cards requiring a pin cannot be used at this time. Be sure to check the MTA website to see if your card is accepted by OMNY.

If you want to switch to the OMNY tap system but do not have a credit card or contactless form of payment, you can purchase an OMNY card.

OMNY cards are not sold in subway stations yet. You can buy them and reload them at stores like Walgreens, CVS and 7-Eleven.

Since MetroCards are still available until the end of 2024, so until then, it may not be worth buying an OMNY card, which costs $4 more than a MetroCard.

On the other hand, if you use a pay-per-ride MetroCard, you do not get to take advantage of the OMNY fare cap mentioned above .

Find out more about the OMNY card here .

You could also listen to our NYC Travel Tips podcast episode on the NYC subway. You can get our podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

What other transportation systems accept the MetroCard?

In addition to the New York City subway and bus system, both unlimited and pay-per-ride cards can be used on:

Staten Island Railway (stay and explore Staten Island after taking the free Staten Island Ferry )
Roosevelt Island Tram (to get one of the best skyline views of NYC . Learn more by reading our post on riding the tram and visiting Roosevelt Island .
New Jersey PATH trains between Manhattan and certain locations in New Jersey (an extra fee applies for the pay-per-ride MetroCard).

See the official MTA website for:

subway and bus maps
service status and delays
planned service changes
the MTA TripPlanner to figure out your route.

DECIDING WHICH CARD IS BEST FOR YOU

When deciding what card to get, ask yourself how many times you think you will be taking the subway within the number of days you will be here.

Also, take into account the number of people in your group and their ages as there are offers for seniors and toddlers. (See below ).

If you think you will be taking the subway at least 12 times, the Unlimited Card will likely save you money.

If you think you will take the subway just a few times, go for the Pay-Per-Ride card.

Remember that an Unlimited Card can be used only by one person, and you would each have to buy your own Unlimited card.

But if you are traveling with several people, it makes sense to buy a Pay-Per-Ride card since up to 4 people can enter the subway with the same card.

The card will deduct $2.90 for each person when you enter.

Deals to take into account:

For families, up to 3 children can ride for free with one fare-paying adult, provided all the children are under 44 inches (112 cm) tall.

This policy is good for subways and local buses, no matter which type of MetroCard you choose.

Seniors 65 years+ and also individuals with qualifying disabilities may qualify for reduced fares.

See below to learn how Reduced Fare cards work.

Reduced-Fare Customers - Deals to take into account:

Seniors 65 years and over and those with qualifying disabilities can get a reduced fare.

Bring your valid ID, such as your passport or driver's license that shows your age
Go to the station agent in the booth where you will show your ID and pay $2.90 for a non-refillable MetroCard good for TWO rides.
You do not have to pay the $1.00 new card fee.
Not all stations have agent booths.
This 2-trip MetroCard will be accepted at all subway stations, local buses, and Staten Island Railway.
This card is not accepted for any other bus lines or the Roosevelt Island Tram.
For more information, click here .

Student MetroCards

Student MetroCards are distributed by NYC schools and allow eligible students 3 free rides per school day to and from school and school-related activities and events.

Note: To receive a refillable reduced-fare MetroCard, you must apply and wait a few weeks to receive it. So unless you plan on staying in NYC for a very long stay, stick with the non-refillable card.

Taxis and Uber

If you like to take taxis, then having a pay-per-ride MetroCard may be your best choice.

You might find that taking a taxi makes more financial sense, especially if you are going short distances.

Not only does a taxi save you time (if there is no traffic), but in some cases, a taxi can be cheaper for most trips under 2 miles (3.2 km), especially if you have 3 or 4 people in your group.

See our posts on how to take a taxi in NYC and use Uber in NYC .

PURCHASING YOUR METROCARD

MetroCards can be purchased from the vending machines at subway stations and some shops and newsstands around the city.

Check here to see what merchants near you sell MetroCards nearest you.

The easiest way is to purchase your card at a station from the vending machines.

There are two types of machines pictured here: the larger machines on the right let you pay with cash, credit cards, or ATM/debit cards.

The smaller machines are for credit or debit cards only.

Paying with a credit or debit card:

If you pay with your credit card, you will be asked to enter your zip code after you dip your card.

If you do not have an American zip code, you can use 99999 for a zip code.

Paying with cash:

If you pay with cash and pay with a large bill and not the exact amount, you will receive the difference back but in $1 coins, not bills.

The machine can only return up to $9 in change.

Tip: Always get a receipt in case you lose your card or it does not work.

Here is a step-by-step instructional video.

TIP: A good way to have fun and get an in-person lesson about the subway is to take our Manhattan in One Day Tour .

Once you have purchased your card, here are some tips on how to use it!

Make the most of your metrocard and subway travel.

Foreign Language Speakers

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website offers translations of their site.

Simply look in the lower left-hand corner of the page and you will see an option for Google Translate.

Ride the Subway with a Tour Group

Our New York Subway Art Tour , our All-in-One Tour , and our Manhattan Night Tours use the subway.

This will help you familiarize yourself with the New York Subway System.

You'll get an expert lesson on using your card, including how fast to swipe your card through the turnstile.

Swiping too fast or too slow won't work - you have to find just the right speed!

MetroCard Offers Offers and Deals

For certain attractions, theater tickets, and events. Most New Yorkers do not even know this!

Click here for what concessions are being offered currently.

We can also tell you where to find cheaper tickets for major attractions and Broadway shows .

Enjoy the ride!

Perhaps the best part of riding the subway is the great free musical performances you'll come across.

Our post on where to find NYC street performers and music in the subway will lead you straight to them!

Other means of traveling around NYC

Travel by various ferries .
Take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour .
Take a hop-on, hop-off boat tour, or cruise .

See which bus tours, cruises, and ferries are included in NYC concessionary tourist passes .

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Getting around New York: public transport, cards and passes

WATCH THE INFOGRAPHIC : Getting around New York

Useful tips

come muoversi a new york come arrivare e mezzi consigliati 03

The best way is definitely the underground : fast, punctual and reaches every borough, from Manhattan you can even get to Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx. Buses and cars are not recommended , mainly because of the traffic. Thetourist bus, on the other hand, follows fixed routes with stops near the main attractions. Alternatively, get around by taxi or Uber , but be careful, only get on the official ones!

For public transport, it is highly recommended to buy the MetroCard , a rechargeable card costing $1.00 (€0.90) that will save you money on individual metro and bus rides ($2.75/€2.50 instead of $3.00/€2.75). For longer stays, we recommend the purchase of the Unlimited-Ride MetroCard , a season ticket that allows you unlimited travel on all means of transport for its entire validity (7 days at $33.00/€30.30).

Recommended solutions and means of transport: walking in individual districts, metro throughout the city, tourist bus

Solutions and means of transport not recommended: bicycle, bus, rental car

Transport cards and public transport passes: which one to choose?

Unfortunately, there are no city cards that include both free or discounted admission to attractions and free use of transport. What comes closest to this is the New York: Go City Explorer Pass : in addition to saving up to 45% on admission to the listed sites, you can choose from guided walking tours, guided bike tours (including bike rental in Central Park), cruises or sightseeing buses.

How to get from the airport to Central New York

come muoversi a new york come arrivare e mezzi consigliati 02

John Fitzgerald Kennedy International Airport

Distance from the centre : 31.4 km / travel time: 45 min;

By train + underground : JFK AirTrain to Jamaica and Howard Beach; Subway E to Midtown Manhattan, A to Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan / ticket cost: AirTrain $8.00 (€7.30) + underground $3.00 (€2.75);

By taxi : fixed rate $52.00 (€47.70), plus tips and taxes total approx. $70.00 (€64.20) / travel time:45 min;

By bus : average cost $6.75 (€6.20) / NYC Express Bus lines (stops at Grand Central, Times Square and Port Authority in Manhattan);

Private Transfer: Private transfer from JFK Airport to Manhattan .

Newark-Liberty International Airport

Distance to downtown : 28.7 km / travel time: 35 min;

By Airtrain + Path : AirTrain to airport train station; Path red line to Downtown / ticket cost: AirTrain $7.75 (€7.10) + Path $1.75 (€1.50)

By taxi : average cost between $50.00 (€45.90) and $75.00 (€68.80) / travel time: 35 min;

Private Transfer: Transfer from Newark-Liberty Airport .

Fiorello LaGuardia Airport

Distance to downtown : 15.4 km / travel time: 40 min;

By bus : ticket cost: $2.75 (€2.45) / line M60;

By taxi : average cost $45.00 (€41.30) / travel time: 40 min;

Private Transfer: Private transfer to LaGuardia Airport .

Getting around on foot

To visit individual neighbourhoods or areas, on the other hand, you can easily walk. We recommend that you dedicate a whole day to the Times Square area, which can all be visited on foot . Nearby you will find attractions such as the Empire State Building (1 km), Rockefeller Center (700 m), MoMa (950 m) or the Broadway Theatre (350 m).

Take part in a free tour : for a first approach to the city and to better acclimatise yourself in a metropolis, we recommend taking part in a free tour of New York, where you can discover the most iconic places in the company of an expert guide.

With the sharing services

A great way to explore New York is also to take advantage of the sharing services . You can find everything from electric scooters , which are slowly expanding worldwide, to the convenient UberPOOL service offered by Uber, which allows you to travel with other people at half the cost, much more convenient than other car-sharing services in the city. You will also find one of the largest bike sharing services in the world , which is very convenient. Be careful though: in this case, be very careful when moving around, follow the bike lanes present and respect the rules of the road.

Lime NYC : is the electric scooter rental service currently operating in the Rockaways and Staten Island. It can be used through the App downloadable from the official website : you register, locate the different stations (where you can also leave the scooter at the end of the ride), unlock the scooter by framing the qrcode and see the costs. Payment is made automatically at the end of the ride on the payment method selected in the account (credit card, prepaid, paypal, apple pay, google pay);

City Bike : is New York's bike sharing service, with 25,000 bicycles (classic and e-bikes) and 1,500 stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Jersey City and Hoboken. Service can be used by downloading the City Bike App : you register, locate the stations, unlock your bike and pay at the end of the ride by linking a credit or debit card to your account. Costs $3.99/30 min (€3.70), $15.00/day (€13.80). Recommended for Central Park and green areas or along the river, better to avoid jumping into traffic;

UberPOOL : is Uber's car sharing service, which allows you to cut costs by sharing a car with other travellers, even from airports. This service can be used by downloading the UberApp , where by registering it is possible to see in advance the cost of the ride, the driver's rating and choose the car. Payment is made automatically from the app by the chosen system (paypal, credit card, etc).

By public transport

And besides public transport, there is no shortage of the unmistakable yellow taxis , with fairly cheap fares that you can stop right at the curb, just like in the movies. Alternatively, you can use Uber , downloading the app and checking in advance how much you are going to pay. Warning: remember that it is normal to tip , not only in restaurants, but also to taxi drivers! Tipping is usually 10% to 20% more than the fare paid. If a trip is short, it is normal to leave a $1.00 or $2.00 tip, or at least round up the amount requested. Usually, the tip tends to increase by a few dollars if the driver helps you load and unload luggage.

This is the best way to get around . It is one of the largest metros in the world and at first it may seem a little difficult to find your way around. Open 24 hours, it has 26 lines and 470 stations , covers a route of 1,055 km and connects all the districts of the city. The lines are of different colours and are marked by numbers or letters.

Downloadable map : click here

Timetable: 24 h

Ticket price/single journey : $3.00 (€2.75), with MetroCard $2.75 (€2.50)

Ticket/subscription cost : 7-Day Unlimited-Ride MetroCard $33.00 (€30.30)

Using the buses is not complex , as the city has a very simple and linear structure of perpendicular streets, Avenues and Streets . So it will be very easy to find the right stop, also because the individual buses either move north/south back and forth, or east/west, with very linear routes and with stops on almost every block. There are about 14,000 stops, including all boroughs, and the different lines are distinguished by letters, numbers and colours (B Brooklyn, Bx Bronx, M Manhattan, Q Queens, S Staten Island, X Express Bus).

The Express Bus network has about 61 lines and they are buses that follow a route with only a few stops , only the most important ones, to ensure speedy travel. They mainly connect Staten Island and the Bronx with Manhattan and are mainly used by commuters and little by tourists.

Downloadable map : Manhattan Bus Map , Brooklyn Bus Map, Bronx Bus Map, Queens Bus Map

Hours: 24 hours

Ticket price/single ride : $3.00 (€2.75), with MetroCard $2.75 (€2.50) / Express Bus $6.75 (€6.20)

Ticket price/subscription : 7-Day Unlimited-Ride MetroCard $33.00 (€30.30), 7-Day Unlimited Express Bus Plus $62.00 (€56.90)

If you are not used to driving in big cities, it is better to avoid doing so in New York. The intersections are really big, the traffic lights are on every corner, the roads are wide with several lanes, and don't forget to watch out for cyclists, people on mopeds and pedestrians who don't always look when crossing! You can get around easily by public transport , or the many taxis or Uber, and it is still cheaper than renting a car.

Neighbourhood Slow Zones

Neighbourhood Slow Zones can be found anywhere in the city, especially near residential neighbourhoods, and, most importantly, they are always marked by the Speed Limit road sign , which shows the speed limit to be observed, under penalty of heavy fines. You can find all the info and keep up to date on the official NYC DOT website of the New York government, where you can also find the complete list of zones.

Stops and parking

If you arrive in New York by car or decide to rent a car, the best solution is to check that the hotel where you are staying has parking facilities available! This is because parking in New York, especially in Manhattan, is very expensive ! Here a parking space costs on average $20.00/hour (€18.35), but in central locations it can cost up to $50.00/hour (€45.90)! Many indoor and underground car parks offer cheaper daily and overnight packages , but still at high prices.

In addition to underground and guarded parking, you can also park above ground on the street , but it is not easy to find a space. Beware of parking rules and bans, which change street by street. Costs range from $1.00/h (€0.90) in the more suburban districts to $5.00/h (€4.60) in the more central ones. On Sundays, parking spaces are free in the suburbs.

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How To Get Around New York City: A Guide To NYC Transport Options

Last updated: June 2, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 12 Comments

Heading to New York City? As you might be aware, there are several boroughs in this city, which is home to millions of people!

We teamed up with Expedia.com to help you navigate the large metropolis. Start off by checking out the many NYC hotel options on Expedia.com to decide where you want to put your feet up at night. Once you’ve figured out where you want to stay in New York, you’re going to need to know how to get around New York to all the sights you’ve come to the city to see.

Well, with our definitive guide, you’re going to learn all the different options you have for getting around New York. This will include all the major New York transport options, as well as tips for using each one.

Once you’ve read this, check out our guide to spending 2 days in New York , which has a detailed itinerary and lots of tips on what to see in the city. Now, let’s get started with our guide to getting around NYC.

How to Get around New York City

As you’ll see from this list you have a lot of options when it comes to getting around New York City. This is to be expected, after all, New York is the most populated city in the United States.

With over twenty million residents in the New York metropolitan area, which is spread across five main boroughs, it’s easy to see why there are so many ways to help them get around!

Here are some of the best ways to get around the city when you visit.

The iconic yellow taxi is certainly a popular way to get around the city with residents and visitors alike. The yellow taxi is easy to recognise, being bright yellow, and having a yellow light on the roof. These yellow taxis are the only vehicles that are allowed to pick passengers up in response to a street hail across the entire city.

A taxi shows it’s availability by illuminating the yellow light. An illuminated light means the taxi is available for hire. To hail a taxi, you just need to attract the drivers attention, usually by waving from the street corner.

Once the taxi sees you, they will stop somewhere safe to pick you up. Let the driver know your destination address. Taxis are metered, with fares starting at $3, and then increasing as time and distance pass – you can see the fares here . Note that tolls will also be added to your taxi fare. New York taxi Fares can be paid in cash, or with a credit or debit card.

It’s definitely worth taking a taxi in New York just for the experience. It’s not a big expense, particularly for shorter rides.

There are of course alternatives to the yellow taxi, including ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. These need to be booked in advance using their apps, and do generally work out cheaper than a yellow cab.

The New York Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) operates a fleet of almost 6,000 buses in New York, which cover over 322 routes. Suffice to say, you should be able to find a bus route to meet your needs!

Buses in New York are generally classified as local or express. Express routes have reduced stops and focus on serving commuter routes from some of the busier areas of Manhattan to the outer boroughs.

Buses only stop at marked stops, which are normally located two to three blocks apart. Bus stops are clearly marked with blue signs and sometimes with shelters. The bus stop will indicate which bus routes service the route.

To use the public bus in New York, just stand at the stop, and as your bus approaches, just signal with your hand that you want the bus to stop. Fares are $2.75 for standard buses, and $6.75 for express buses. Fares can be paid in cash, by MetroCard or using contactless via the OMNY system . If paying in cash, you need to give exact change, and be aware that only coins are accepted as fare – no bills.

If you have a contactless payment card or smartphone device, the OMNY system is going to be the easiest way to pay for your fare. Just swipe your card or device on the reader and the fare will be deducted. OMNY also has the advantage that you only pay for the first 12 fares in a week (starting on a Monday). Rides after that are free.

The MetroCard is a alternative if you don’t have contactless. It covers a number of different transport options in the city, and you can recharge it. If paying by MetroCard, just swipe it when you board the bus.

MetroCards can be purchased at MetroCard vending machines, subway station booths, and local stores. They cost $1 to purchase, but can then be refilled.

One main advantage of paying by OMNY or MetroCard is that you can transfer for free to other bus or subway services within two hours of your first fare.

When you want to get off the bus, locate a “stop” button on the bus, which you should press to indicate to the driver that you want to stop at the next stop. You don’t need to swipe your Metrocard or contactless payment card to disembark.

One of the most popular ways to get around New York is the New York Subway. This is a great way to get around the city as you avoid any traffic.

With 472 subway stations, the New York City subway is the largest subway system in the world as measured by total number of stations. It’s also one of the oldest subway systems in the world, as well as one of the busiest. It’s operates twenty four hours a day across 36 lines, and serves four out of five of New York’s boroughs.

Suffice to say, as a visitor to New York City, the subway is likely to be able to get you pretty much anywhere you want to go!

Riding the subway is easy. First, you need to find a nearby subway station, which will be well signposted with an entry sign. This sign will also indicate which routes are served at the subway stations, with routes denoted either by numbers or letters. The majority of subway stations will have a map of the network to help you plan your route.

As with the bus system, you can pay for your fare either with a contactless payment device using OMNY, a MetroCard, or you can purchase a single ticket.

OMNY and Metrocard fares are $2.75, whilst single tickets are $3. Fares are not distance dependent and unlike many other subway systems, there is no zone system. So you can go as far as you want on your single ticket.

Tickets and MetroCards can be bought at the vending machines at the stations, or if available, at ticket desks. The machines accept coins, bills and credit/debit cards. We definitely recommend buying a MetroCard for your New York City visit.

To access the subway, you need to scan your ticket, contactless payment device/card, or MetroCard at the turnstile, which will activate the barrier with a green “GO” sign. You will exit through similar turnstiles or doors, but the majority of these do not require you to scan a ticket – you just walk through them. Trains stop at every station, you do not need to request the stop.

As well as the subway, there are a number of passenger railway lines operating around New York city. The majority of these are commuter focused lines designed to bring people into the city from the more distant boroughs, and they include the NYC suburban train, Staten Island Railway, New Jersey Transit, Port Authority Trans-Hudson, Long Island Railroad and Metro North Railroad.

Unless you are planning on visiting one of the more distant part of the city, or have booked a hotel a long way from the main sights in New York, it’s unlikely you’re going to need to use one of these rail services.

If you do, you will most likely have to buy a ticket for the individual journey at the train station. There is also an eticketing app called eTix, available for both Android and iPhone devices, which lets you buy tickets on your phone for the Metro-North Railroad or Long Island Rail Road. Fares will vary depending on the route you take.

There’s a lot of water in New York, and as a result, there are a variety of options for using boats to get around the city, including the NYC Ferry service and Staten Island Ferry.

The NYC Ferry is a relatively recent addition to New York’s public transport system. Launched in 2017, at time of writing this offers six lines, with additional lines planned to open in the coming years. There are 21 terminals and 28 boats in operation, connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn and Queens.

We rode this service a number of times when we visited New York in the summer of 2017. We were staying in Brooklyn, and found the ferry to be one of the best options for getting to parts of Manhattan. Services are regular and good value – it costs $2.75 for a single trip, which is the same as the subway or bus system.

NYC Ferry tickets are not a part of the MetroCard system, and must be purchased separately. All the ferry stations have ticket vending machines, which accept cash or credit cards. Tickets can also be bought on board, using the NYC Ferry app , or on the NYC Ferry website . Just show your ticket when you board.

We really liked the NYC Ferry system – it’s a good value way to get around, and the views of the Manhattan skyline and various bridges on the trip to various Brooklyn ports is really nice – it’s worth paying to ride the ferry just for this alone!

There are a number of other passenger water services in New York City, including the NY Waterway , the well known Staten Island Ferry and the New York Water Taxi .

The Staten Island Ferry, as the name suggests, operates between Manhattan and Staten Island. It’s totally free to use, and is a great way to get a relatively close view of the Statue of Liberty without taking a paid tour.

The NY Waterway and New York Water Taxi services service additional routes, and also need their own tickets, so depending on the routes you are taking you might find them useful as well.

New York is a big place, but don’t discount walking as an option for getting around! Just be aware that distances might be further than you imagine when looking at a map. Still, exploring different parts of the city on foot, which is for the most part fairly flat, is certainly a possibility.

Just be aware that the locals will also be walking around, and they tend to move quickly, and can get irritated by slow moving tourists with limited situational awareness. So just be aware of your surroundings, and don’t just stop in the middle of busy sidewalks to grab a selfie or consult your map!

7. Bicycle / Pedicab

Like many cities around the world, New York has a bike hire program whereby you can get access to a large network of bikes located around the city, which you can drop off and pick off at various points.

The Citi Bike program is open to both locals and visitors. At time of writing, it’s $12 for a day pass, and $24 for a 3 day pass. These passes can be bought through the Citi Bike Mobile App , or in person at a station kiosk (see kiosks here ). Annual memberships are also available, which are more suited to residents or those staying longer term in the city, and you can sign up for those on the official website .

Passes can be bought with either a debit or credit card – cash is not accepted.

Once you have your 1 or 3 day pass you use the bike for up to 30 minutes at a time. After thirty minutes, there’s an extra fee, so if you want to ride longer, it’s best to drop off the bike and pick up another one. Annual memberships let you ride for 45 minutes without incurring additional fees.

Note that the Citi Bikes program does require you to be 16 years or older to rent and use them.

There are also other options for bike rental as well. See this service which offers bike rental for varying durations.

If the idea of cycling yourself seems like a lot of effort, there are also pedicabs for hire in the city. These are three wheeled cycles with a driver that can either take you from one point to another, or can be booked for tours.

Pedicab operators must have a Pedicab Drivers License, and their pedicabs have to pass an inspection. Fares are time based, and must be clearly displayed on the Pedicab in a relatively large font.

Fares range from $3 – $7 per minute, and the Pedicab will be fitted with a compliant timer that all passengers can see. Drivers are not allowed to levy any other fee – you can see all the applicable laws here so you know your rights before taking a Pedicab.

8. Helicopter

Ok, so this is not exactly a budget option. But if you want to quickly get from downtown Manhattan to a wide range of destinations around New York, including the airport, then a quick ride on a helicopter is your best bet. There’s a heliport located in downtown Manhattan , which is the most popular as it is so close to Wall St. There’s also a heliport at East 34th Street.

The majority of heliport activities are around servicing busy executives, but you can also book sight-seeing helicopter tours like this one , which is a unique way to see the city, and perfect for a special occasion.

9. Aerial Tram

New York definitely has no shortage of transport options. The Roosevelt Island Tramway is an aerial tram which links Roosevelt Island with the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It’s been in operation since 1976, and was the first aerial tram of its kind in the USA.

It was primarily built as a commuter tram to link Roosevelt Island with Manhattan, but is also popular with visitors looking for a unique view of the skyline. Whilst not operated by the MTA, you do need a MetroCard to ride the tram. Prices are the same as a subway or bus ride, at $2.75 for a single.

In addition, because it is linked to the MetroCard system, you can transfer from the tram to a bus or subway service without paying any more.

10. Hop-on Hop-Off Bus

If you’re looking for a way around New York that focuses on the attractions and also provides information, then you’ll likely want to take a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour of New York. These open-top buses follow routes around the city that stop at all the major attractions you’ll want to visit, and you can get on and off as often as you want for the duration of your ticket.

We find that HOHO buses are a great way to see a lot of a city in a short amount of time without trying to figure out the public transport system, plus they come with commentary which will give you lots of information about the city you are visiting, and the New York HOHO buses are no different.

You can buy HOHO bus tickets in advance here , or they are also included on many of the New York city attraction passes, such as the New York Pass , New York Explorer Pass & New York Sightseeing Pass .

You can see our review of the top New York City attraction passes here to see if they are a good option for your visit.

What is the Best Way to Get Around New York?

We think the best way to get around New York is a combination of the subway, bus system and walking. If you’re situated over in Brooklyn, we would add the NYC Ferry to that list.

If you are new to the city and want to get a feel for the layout and the sights, then we can also recommend a Hop on Hop off bus tour. These are especially worth doing if you have invested in a sightseeing pass as they are normally included.

As you can see from our list, there are lots of options to get you around the city. The best option for you is going to depend on where you are staying, where you need to go, and your needs.

There are 12 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

12th February 2020 at 12:47 pm

I was told that the HOHO bus is a very slow method of seeing the major sights. Too much time spent in slow moving traffic. We’ve never been on a subway and the thought of trying to navigate it is a little intimidating! Due to medical conditions, long walks are not an option. Any advise?

Laurence Norah says

12th February 2020 at 1:38 pm

We’ve taken the HOHO bus in New York and it is a good experience, but it is more useful as a sightseeing tour than a means of transport between the sites, as it does take a bit of time due to the traffic, and you do obviously have to wait for the next bus to come. That said, it is one of the more convenient ways to do sightseeing, as most of the stops are at places you will want to visit.

The NYC subway is not too hard to navigate. The system is well laid out and there are lots of lines to choose from. Tickets are easily purchasable at every station, although I’d recommend buying a metrocard rather than individual tickets. Then you just swipe the metrocard to go in. Unlike some cities, the subway isn’t very deep, so you don’t have to worry about hundreds of steps.

Obviously the other option is the normal bus (lots of route, metrocard also accepted), or taxi. The latter will get you where you want to go, but will definitely be the most expensive option.

I’d probably go for the subway or HOHO bus personally 🙂

Have a great trip – let me know if you have any more questions!

Louis Marotta says

29th December 2019 at 4:24 am

Every so often, making my way through the mayhemed tangle of NYC’s cracked and potholed highways and roads , I see in dimmly lighted dots, the feeble and perhaps apologetic advice to “use mass transit” . I assume “car pools” are not solely implied here. It makes me wonder though, if any of the people who were in any way connected to this NYC “public service message ” are actually sacrificing the immediate comforts of thier automobiles despite the gridlock and toll rip offs to rise perhaps one or two hours earlier, walk the filthy sidewalks to the crowded little grime encrusted bus stand or dirty, foul smelling subway and cram thier way into what is undoubtedly the most vile, unsightly, and thankless mass transportation rides in the world.

29th December 2019 at 10:04 am

I take it you are not a fan 😉

Kyle William says

1st May 2019 at 8:18 pm

These above pictures look so fascinating and I really like your post. Thanks for sharing and keep up the amazing work.

2nd May 2019 at 8:26 pm

Thanks Kyle!

Martin says

23rd March 2019 at 6:06 am

Thanks so much for the information! Leaving for NYC in 5 days and this was awesome!

23rd March 2019 at 11:11 am

Our pleasure Martin – have a great time!

18th December 2018 at 9:03 am

That’s the best article I could dream about! So much information. Thank you guys for your work

18th December 2018 at 3:21 pm

Our pleasure Jane 🙂

4th July 2018 at 5:31 am

Great information compiled into a concise article. Thank you!

4th July 2018 at 9:13 am

My pleasure!

Is there a New York Subway Pass for Tourists? 🚇

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This post has been updated on January 1, 2024 to reflect the updated MTA fares.

If you’re visiting New York only for a few days, you might be wondering what the most affordable way is to get around the city. Taking the subway is a great option. The different lines connect New York seamlessly – 24/7. However, you don’t want to get a pass that is more expensive than single rides and vice versa.

The question is: Is there a New York Subway Pass for Tourists? And the short answer is: No.

While there used to be a so-called “1 Day Fun Pass” and “14-Day Unlimited Pass” until 2010 available, it is now up to the visitor to decide what other ticket option serves their needs best. Get your calculators out, here are some options that could qualify as a New York subway pass for tourists.

Skip to the option you’re most interested in: Single Rides ( Single Ride Ticket – Single Ride Contactless OMNY – Pay-Per-Ride ) – 7-Day Unlimited Ride – 30-Day Unlimited Ride – Kids Ride Free – Example

Single Ride Ticket – $3.25 per ride

OK, single rides are really only the right option for you if you’re planning on taking the subway as a backup option in case you get tired of walking or you need a last minute ride. The price per ticket is $3.25 (2024). If you already know that you’ll take the subway at least three times, skip this section!

However, if you believe this comes close to the New York subways pass for tourists you were looking for, here’s how it works:

*Available languages: English and Spanish are always available. Italian, German, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Hebrew, and Japanese are only available at selected machines.

**About payment types: If you select a card type, insert your card into the card slot and enter your pin. If you want to pay in cash, please note that machines don’t accept $100 bills.

Once your payment has been accepted you’ll get your single ride ticket. As soon as you’ve swiped the card through the turnstile, the ticket remains valid for 2 hours. During this time you are allowed to change lines but you can’t re-enter the subway system again once you’ve left a station, even if 2 hours are not over. Since you can’t reuse the ticket, feel free to dispose of it after you’ve reached your destination.

Single Ride Contactless (OMNY) – $2.90 per ride

In December 2020 the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) completed the rollout of the contactless payment option OMNY at subway turnstiles and in busses. NEW since 2022: There’s now a weekly fare cap ($34) when you use OMNY . Once you’ve paid 12 single rides with the same card or device, you’ll ride free for the rest of the week.

If you want to rely on single rides/tickets, this is a slightly cheaper option than the one mentioned above and may be enough to qualify for you as a New York subway pass for tourists.

Here’s how it works (same steps apply when you enter local busses):

Single Ride Pay-Per-Ride (MetroCard required) – $2.90 per ride

If you already know that you’ll take the subway more than three times but still not too frequently and you don’t want to pay contactless, the Pay-Per-Ride option might be the right choice for you. Note that you’ll need a yellow MetroCard first to take advantage of the reduced single ride fare. Here’s how it works:

You don’t have a yellow MetroCard

You already have a MetroCard and want to top it up

⭐ Our Favorite

7-day unlimited ride metrocard – $34 per week.

NEW since 2022: There’s now a weekly fare cap ($34) when you use the contactless payment option OMNY . Once you’ve paid 12 single rides with the same card or device, you’ll ride free for the rest of the week.

The 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard is probably the best alternative to a New York subway pass for tourists, especially if you already know that you will be heavily relying on public transportation. The weekly pass costs $34 per week (2024). With this pass you can also take advantage of the many local busses. Depending on whether you already have a MetroCard or not, here are the purchasing steps:

You already have a MetroCard and want to add a 7-Day Pass

30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard – $132 per month

Last but not least, there is the 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard for $132 per month (2024). You probably won’t need this option unless you’re really spending a whole month in New York. However, even then we don’t recommend the 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard as a replacement for a New York subway pass for tourists. Not even many New Yorkers purchase this pass as it’s a huge monetary damage if you lose the card. As a tourist who will rely on public transportation, you’ll always be better off with weekly passes ($34/week). However, if you still want to get a monthly pass, follow the steps described in the “ 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard ” section and select “30-Day Unlimited” instead of “7-Day Unlimited.”

Kids Ride Free

We frequently get asked if parents need to purchase tickets for their children as well. Not necessarily. Up to three children below 44 inches can join you for free if you have a valid ticket or pass.

Wow, that was a lot of information! We understand that taking the subway for the very first time can be overwhelming and confusing. Because there is no New York subway pass for tourists available, many visitors are worried that they won’t pick the right option and end up spending too much on transit.

So here is an interactive example ! The tourist couple Max and Lisa are visiting New York for 4 days and they don’t want to use the subway too often. They believe that single tickets and a couple of contactless rides will work for them. Let’s have a look at their daily itineraries.

Day 1: First they travel from JFK to their hotel in Manhattan ($3.25). Once checked in they decide to explore the neighborhood by foot, then they get tired and take the subway back to the hotel ($3.25).

Day 2: The couple discovers that they can also use the contactless option because their credit cards have the contactless icon on them. They take advantage of OMNY for their sightseeing trip to Brooklyn (probably 2x $2.90) and then back to Manhattan ($2.90).

Day 3: Lisa and Max want to explore Manhattan from Harlem to Battery Park. To make the most of the day they decide to take the subway to move around faster. They use the contactless option at least 3 times (3x $2.90). Once back at the hotel they feel like celebrating their trip at a nice rooftop bar. They dress up and head straight to the bar ($2.90) and then later back again to the hotel ($2.90).

Day 4: The couple still hasn’t seen Central Park ! Before they head to the airport in the evening, they decide that there’s still time for a quick trip to the park (2x $2.90). Afterwards they go back to the hotel, grab their bags from the lobby and take the train back to JFK ($3.25).

Total: $38.75 per person

What ticket option would you have recommended to Max and Lisa instead?

Max and Lisa would've been better off with a 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard for $34 per person (or new since 2022, the contactless payment option OMNY with a weekly fare cap - $34 - after 12 rides) instead of single tickets as both of them would've saved $4.75. Keep in mind, this is really just a rough example, not considering a lot of spontaneous trips.

You see, even if you’re only visiting New York for a few days, single fares can add up and a weekly pass quickly becomes a much better option. While there is no New York subway pass for tourists, you can still be spontaneous with a weekly pass instead of calculating all the time how much money you have left on your card or how many more times you can use single rides so you stay below $34!

We hope you were able to pick an option that qualifies for you as a New York subway pass for tourists. If you’re still having doubts or questions, reach out to us or post a comment below and we’ll help you pick the most suitable option.

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Getting Around New York City: Guide to Public Transportation

Everything you need to know to get around New York City

Wikipedia Commons

The easiest, most affordable way to get around New York City is by public transportation. New York City mass transit generally falls into two categories: buses and subways. The city has 36 subway lines (that go to 472 stations) and 5,725 buses that can take you anywhere you want to go. Once you know how to use them, you'll find them efficient, reliable, and easy. The only problem is you must learn the system.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about navigating your way around New York City's public transportation. You'll feel like a local in no time, maybe even venturing to far away places you never thought you would.

Watch Now: Riding the Subway in New York City

How to ride the new york city subway.

Most visitors will find themselves wanting to get around the city by subways. Subways serve most of Manhattan and the outer boroughs very well, and they take you directly to many popular tourist destinations.

Before you ride the New York City subway you need to buy a MetroCard. You will swipe this card every time you enter a subway station at the turnstiles. MetroCards cost $1 to purchase. Once you buy your MetroCard you can add money to it.
MetroCards may be purchased and refilled at subway station booths, MetroCard vending machines, and at other vendors . You can use cash, credit, or debit cards to make your purchase.
New York City subway fares are $2.75 per trip. For visitors staying more than a couple of days you can buy a one week unlimited MetroCard for $33 or an unlimited monthly MetroCard for $127.00. People who are 65 or older or who have qualifying disabilities can get a reduced fare, which is half price. You must see an attendant at a station to purchase one.
Because New York City has so many subway lines, it's impossible to memorize them all. Even locals have to look up directions on occasion. The best way to plan your trip is to consult Google Maps or the MTA website . There are also a variety of apps that you can download before your trip to easily look up subway directions. You simply type in your point of origin and your destination, and the app will tell you the route.
New York City has some subways that run express. Your trip planning app will tell you exactly which line to take. If it tells you to take the 1, for example, don't get on the 2 or 3 even though it looks like it's going in the same direction. Those trains are express and won't stop at the station you need.
The New York City subway operates 24 hours a day, but service is more sporadic between midnight and 6 am and on weekends. If you're traveling on the weekends or late at night, you should be aware of service interruptions that might impact your trip. Taking a few minutes to review the planned service changes can save you a ton of hassle. Trip Planning apps like Google Maps are aware of these disruptions and can help you plan your route.
In every station there is an information booth where you can press the green button and talk to an attendant. If you are confused or need help it's a great tool to use.
MTA has a list of accessible subway stations on its website.

Other Transit Options

Subways serve most of Manhattan and the outer boroughs very well, but in those areas where the subway service is not ideal there are buses, trains, bikes, and boats that can take you where you need to go.

New York City Buses

The city has around 5,000 buses, and you'll find they are particularly helpful when you need to travel to the far east or west portions of Manhattan.

New York City bus fare is $2.75 per trip. Be aware that buses only accept MetroCards or exact fare in coins—drivers cannot make change. There are also some buses along major routes in Manhattan & the Bronx that have you pay your fare before you board to speed the process of boarding. It's called "Select Bus Service" and the kiosk for pre-paying your fare is usually very obvious and easy to use.

Google Maps and MTA Trip Planner can tell you the best buses to take (and whether you should take one instead of the subway.) You can also look up New York City Bus schedules.

The NYC Ferry Service

In the past few years New York City has launched new ferry services taking commuters and visitors to Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, & Bronx. Ferries are particularly advisable if you are traveling to places along the water (perhaps you are going from the South Street Seaport to Brooklyn Bridge park.)

The ferries are fun to ride because they offer incredible views and refreshments on board (even local wine and beer!) During warmer seasons you can sit on the outer decks and enjoy the sunshine. They are also relatively inexpensive at $2.75 a ticket. You can look up routes and ticket information on the website.

Railroad Services

If you need to get to the suburbs or areas around New York City you might need to take railroads. Metro North trains take you to Connecticut and Westchester. They leave from Grand Central Station.

Long Island Railroad takes you into Manhattan, and New Jersey Transit takes you to New Jersey. Both train services leave from Penn Station. Google Maps will tell you which service to take.

All train services are reliable and run frequently, but they can get crowded at rush hour. Sometimes it's standing room only during morning and evening commutes. Avoid those times (8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) if possible.

Taxis and Ride Shares

Many New Yorkers prefer to take taxis or private cars, especially late in the evening when subway service is more sporadic. Yellow taxis are the iconic New York City cars. You can flag them down when you need them. If you are in Brooklyn or another outer borough, the taxis are green.

New York City has a variety of ride-sharing apps. Uber and Lyft allow you to book a private car or share a car with passengers traveling in a similar direction. Both are reliable services and usually arrive very quickly.

One of the best ways to get around New York City is by Citi Bike, New York's bike share system. There are stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens & Jersey City where you can unlock a bike with your credit card and return it when you get to your destination. Download the Citi Bike app to find the docking stations closest to your location.

While many parts of the city have bike paths, be careful when riding bikes in the city. Lanes can get congested, and sometimes bike paths are close to speeding cars. Accidents happen regularly so vigilance is key.

Rental Cars

While New York City has ample car rental places, it's not advisable. It's difficult to drive in New York City. There is usually heavy traffic, and taxis are used to swirling in and out of lanes. Parking a car can also be difficult especially in Manhattan.

Tips for Getting Around New York City

If you are traveling around Manhattan during the day, a subway is your best option.
Between midnight and 6 am and on weekends check trip planning apps to determine how to travel to your destination. Routes and lines get changed during those times.
Buses are your best option if you are traveling from East to West across the city.
If it's a pleasant day try to rent a bike or ride a NYC ferry. You will see more of the city and have fun.
NYC has many ride sharing options. If you are in a hurry choose a private car. If you have time and want to meet new people order a shared car. You never know who you will meet!
Driving is tough in the city. It's also hard to park. Avoid a rental car if possible.

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The New York Pass®

8.80 / 10 525 reviews | 13,992 travellers Great, very useful, no queues, no waiting, quick pass and easy to use, I recommend it 100% 10 Eva
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service starts

The New York Pass® is a tourist card that provides entry to over 100 of the best attractions in New York City , including the Empire State Building , ferry to the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Museum . A definite must!

The most popular landmarks include:

Empire State Building Observatory
Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center
One World Observatory
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Madame Tussauds
Manhattan River Cruise
National September 11 Memorial Museum
Bike hire in Central Park
Guggenheim Museum
Shake Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos

Visiting these ten landmarks and museums without a tourist card would cost over US$ 250 . The New York Pass® not only includes these top attractions but offers much more, for example, tickets to the Yankee Stadium, The Edge, or a ticket for a New York bus tour , to discover the city in a comfortable and practical way.

Moreover, the card includes a digital guide with information on all the attractions included in The New York Pass®. You can download the guidebook via this link .

How does it work?

Some of the attractions will require a booking made in advance. Once you've made your booking, you'll receive a link you can use to make bookings when necessary.

The New York Pass® is activated once you visit your first museum or landmark. From that moment onwards, you’ll be able to use it for the number of consecutive days you chose when making your booking.

You can access each attraction included in this tourist card just once . The only exception is the Sightseeing Bus , which you can hop-on and hop-off as many times as you wish for 24 consecutive hours.

Although you must select a date when booking, your pass will be valid for 24 months following this date before you activate it.

More Information

1 day - 10 days.

The New York Pass® for the selected time

Hop on, hop off tour bus included for 1 day

Digital guide in English

When to book?

You can book up to the start time, as long as there are places remaining. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
Uphold fair employment standards.
Foster the growth of local communities.
Preserve the integrity of local culture.
Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
Operate with honesty and transparency.
Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

No printing of documentation required.

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Corporate name: GO CITY GROUP NORTH AMERICA INC

Not permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Q - If my card is lost or stolen, can I recieve another with the days I haven't been able to use?

A - No, it is not possible to receive another card.

Q - Is it necessary to print off the pass?

A - No, you can simply present the pass at the entrance of the attracitons using the QR code on your pass be it electronic or physical.

Q - Can I use the New York Pass App with the pass reserved through Civitatis?

A - No, the app is not available for reservations made on our website, however, you can download the PDF of QR codes that we'll send you and show them on your phone at the attractions.

Q - How do I book the attractions included in The New York Pass®?

A - Some of the attractions require a previous booking. Once you've purchased The New York Pass®, you'll receive full instructions on how to plan your visits to the various attractions.

Q - Are there passes for children under 4 years old?

A - Children under 4 years old don't need a pass as almost all attractions are free for them.

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we only offer tickets at official prices, with transparency and exclusive advantages for our users. More information

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

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Go City: New York Explorer Pass

How it works

Read on for all the information you need to sightsee with our passes.

First off, choose your duration

With The New York Pass®, you can explore the best attractions, tours and experiences, for one money-saving price.

Choose the duration (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 consecutive days) of your pass and take your pick from over 100 attractions.

Then, start your trip prep!

Let the planning begin!

Here's a few tips to get you started...

You'll find all the information you need to start planning your sightseeing.

The app includes entry information, opening hours and a handy digital map.

It's easy to sync The New York Pass® to the app.

You'll just need to enter the confirmation number that can be found in your confirmation email.

And don't worry, doing this won't activate it. That comes later, when you visit your first attraction.

Although many attractions don't require a reservation, some are pretty popular and need to be booked in advance.

Look out for the 'reservations required' stamp in the app when browsing attractions. If a booking is required, just click on the attraction and you'll find all the info you need to make it happen!

Explore with ease

Seeing New York's best sights couldn't be easier!

Just show The New York Pass® when you arrive at your chosen attraction and you're in.

Your pass is valid for consecutive days, not 24-hour periods, so start early in the day to make the most of all the incredible New York attractions at your fingertips.

Favorite attractions in the app for quick access to entry information when you're on the go.

Use the in-app map to see what hidden gems are nearby.

Buy with confidence

Free cancellation.

Plans can change, we get it. All non-activated passes are eligible for a refund within 365 days of your purchase date.

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Check out our FAQs or live chat with our customer service agents now

The New York Pass® is highly rated, but don't just take our word for it!

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What Is The Best New York Pass For You In 2024? My Tips After 25 Visits!

How to find the best sightseeing pass for nyc.

With so many different sightseeing passes out there, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This New York Pass comparison guide is here to help you easily spot the differences between all major New York attraction passes so that you can quickly determine the very best NYC pass for you.

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I have visited New York more than twenty times and have tested every sightseeing pass multiple times on my many visits. None of the pass providers have paid me to write about them; my reviews of New York attraction passes and my experiences are 100% authentic. If you have any questions, always feel free to contact me at [email protected] !

In my New York pass comparison, I’ll show you which attraction pass is the best for you. With it, you will not only save money but also time!

Attention, the prices will increase in March, make sure you get the cheaper February prices now!

Looking for a shortcut? Click here to 👉 compare the NYC attraction passes , 👉 see my personal recommendation or 👉 calculate your savings with the New York Attraction Passes.

Don't know where to start? Then try THIS!

Want a New York trip that’s as unique as you are? Our New York Pass comparison tool is here to help. Answer two simple questions and I’ll show you the two best sightseeing passes to suit your needs. Make it easy for yourself and start planning your New York visit now!

Question 1: How many attractions are on your itinerary?

Depending on how many attractions there are, this limits the choice of the right passes considerably.

more than 10

Question 2: Would you like to spread your visit to the attractions over your entire trip? Or are you planning full days of sightseeing?

In the first case, attraction-based passes are ideal. They are valid for 2 to 12 attractions.

In the second case, day-based passes are better. With them, you can visit as many attractions as you like on 1 to 10 consecutive days.

I want to see it all and visit unlimited New York attractions each day.

I would like to visit my attractions flexibly on several days and also plan days without sightseeing.

1. Why should you buy a New York Attraction Pass?

Quite simply, they save you a ton of money ! There are nine different New York Sightseeing Passes available which are all slightly different, meaning that you will be able to find one that suits your specific needs. As you will see here, they can make your NYC trip much easier and help you save money & time.

Before my many trips, I often found it hard to know beforehand how much I would save with each of the attraction passes for the city and whether they would be worth purchasing. Here I will share my knowledge and experience with you so that you don’t have the same issues I had.

2. How do New York Attraction Passes work?

All New York Attraction Passes function identically . After you purchase a pass, you have 12 to 24 months to activate it, which will automatically happen when you visit your first attraction.

You can visit each attraction only once when using a pass; the only exception to this is the New York CityPASS . With this pass, you can visit the Empire State Building twice within the same day!

Once you purchase an NYC pass, you will be able to select from several delivery options. The easiest way to obtain your pass is the mobile pass, as it will be emailed to you right away. To use your pass, simply present it at your selected attraction . Attendants will then scan the QR Code and give you your ticket!

3. Comparison: Which New York Attraction Pass should you choose?

So, what is the best attraction pass for visiting attractions in New York City? Let’s find out by comparing them:

Which Museums are included in the New York Sightseeing Passes?

The New York City tourist passes are the best way to save money on entry fees at the NYC attractions. Many museums and exhibitions in New York City like The Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum , the 9/11 Memorial and even the Fotografiska New York are included in the different sightseeing passes. But which are the best museum passes for New York City? Here is a quick overview:

How can I make reservations at attractions with my New York Pass?

It depends on the attractions and your sightseeing pass. At the Empire State Building, you ALWAYS need a separate ticket (it’s free) because you must commit to a specific time and date. For most attractions, you just go to its location and you will receive the next free time slot. You can also choose the time slot that suits you best. From my experience, I have found that this is always in periods of 15 minutes to 4 hours.

How to reserve with your New York Pass
How to reserve with your Go New York Explorer Pass
How to reserve with your Sightseeing DAY Pass
How to reserve with your Sightseeing FLEX Pass
How to reserve with your All-Inclusive Pass

4. My recommendations

I have been to NYC more than twenty times and have tested every attraction pass multiple times , so you can be sure that these are real and honest reviews from me!

My top picks

For those who want to visit many attractions and plan with a fixed budget, the New York Pass is the best day-based sightseeing pass. With it, you can visit as many attractions as you like and take as many tours as you want. It is the best “all you can eat” pass in my opinion, also providing the most ‘fast lanes’ and attractions.

👇 Don’t forget to use my promo code “LNYOfferNYP” to get an extra 10% off 👇

BUY NEW YORK PASS

If you want to spread your visits to attractions out over several days, or you want to take a break from sightseeing for a day, the Explorer Pass New York is perfect. For me, it is the best attraction-based pass because it includes all the major attractions and tours in NYC!

Note: If you don’t want to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, get the New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass – it will be much cheaper!

GET EXPLORER PASS »

5. How To Find The Best Sightseeing Pass

Finding the right New York attraction pass is not as hard as it looks. Due to the different makeup of each pass, each one serves a specific purpose!

It’s important to understand a key difference: some New York City sightseeing passes are attraction-based , meaning you choose the number of attractions you can visit beforehand, while others are day-based , meaning that you choose the number of days you can visit attractions beforehand. Besides the type and validity, other differences can be found when it comes to included attractions, advantages, pricing, and discounts.

Day-Based Passes

When purchasing NYC day passes, you will select the number of days you would like to go sightseeing in New York City. During the selected time frame, you can visit as many attractions as you want ! You could also say that these types of passes are all-inclusive passes.

If you want to see a lot in a short period of time, you should go for a day-based pass!

Please note that day-based NYC passes work on calendar days , rather than 24-hour periods, meaning that if you activate your pass at 7:00 pm, you only have five hours left on your first day. Your New York Attraction Pass will only be activated when you visit your first attraction.

You can visit as many attractions as you want within the time frame you purchase, which may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 days.
All costs are covered
Huge savings are possible
The days must be used consecutively.

These are all day-based NYC Tourist Passes that are currently available. For each, I’ll show you which attractions you can visit with it, how much it costs, and if the pass is worth it!

New York Pass

Sightseeing Day Pass

New York All-Inclusive Pass

Attraction-based passes.

Attraction-based passes are sightseeing passes such as the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass, CityPASS, and the Go New York Explorer Pass . They allow you to visit up to twelve attractions and are very flexible in terms of time; from the first use, the passes are valid for up to 60 days.

If you want to be flexible and do your sightseeing spread out over several days, then this type of New York Attraction Pass is the way to go!

Valid up to 60 days
You do not commit to see any particular attraction, just the number of attractions you wish to see.
Limited to the number of attractions you selected (3 to 12)

Here are all current attraction-based passes for New York City. For each, I’ll show you which attractions you can visit, how much it costs, and if the pass is worth purchasing!

Sightseeing Flex Pass

Go New York Explorer Pass

You’re still not quite sure 🤔.

Then our New York Pass Savings Calculator is the answer to all your questions! It calculates instantly which New York Pass is the best for you – individually tailored to your sightseeing. He will also show you if a NYC pass is not worth it.

Try NYC Attraction Pass Savings Calculator

Extra tickets are required here

For these attractions, you must book a separate ticket and present it TOGETHER with your respective New York Attraction Pass at the ticket counter:

6. What is the best attraction pass for New York City?

If you are looking for a shortcut to the best NYC attraction pass right away, here is my list of the best, including alternatives:

#1 The best New York City Tourist Pass for first-time visitors

Especially if you are in New York for the first time and want to see as many of the attractions and sights as possible, the day-based passes are a good idea. My favorites are the Sightseeing Pass NYC and the New York Pass .

They are quite similar, and you will not go wrong with either one. The good thing about these sightseeing passes is that you can see as many attractions as you want!

#2 The best New York Attractions Pass for selected attractions

If you already know exactly what you want to do in New York City, then I recommend the Sightseeing FLEX Pass , New York Explorer Pass (now called Go New York Explorer Pass) or the CityPASS New York .

All three sightseeing passes are attraction based and you can choose exactly how many attractions you wish to see.

#3 The best NYC Pass for families

In my opinion, the best sightseeing pass for families is the Sightseeing FLEX Pass , which I have used several times with my family. With it, you can be flexible with your time, and it offers a 50% discount on children’s passes.

Still not sure? Calculate your savings here .

7. What are the day-based sightseeing passes for New York?

For each of the passes, I’ll show you which attractions you can visit with, how much it costs, and if the pass is worth purchasing! At the end of the section, you can compare which is the better pass for you in the New York Pass vs. Sightseeing Pass comparison.

NOTE: The newest observation deck SUMMIT One Vanderbilt , is not yet included with any attraction pass for New York. Tickets for the One Vanderbilt observation deck can be purchased here .

What attractions are included in the New York Pass?

The New York Pass includes an extensive list of attractions, museums, walking tours, bus tours, and cruises. The Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, The Edge at Hudson Yards and the One World Observatory are included.

Here is a small selection of the 110+ attractions:

Empire State Building
One World Observatory
Edge Hudson Yards
Top of the Rock
Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Circle Line Cruises
1-Day Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (valid for 24 hours)
9/11 Memorial Museum
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
American Museum of Natural History

You can find the full list of included attractions here.

How much does the New York Pass cost?

New York Pass prices start at $142 for the 1-day pass and go as high as $399 for the 10-day pass. You save more, the larger your pass is and the more attractions you visit.

Is the New York Pass really worth it?

Yes! If you visit at least 2 attractions a day, the New York Pass will be worth the money. Compared to other passes, the New York Pass offers most fast lanes , including main attractions like the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock , MoMA, and Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.

Just like the Sightseeing Pass, the New York Pass includes over 100 unique attractions and tours. The biggest advantage you’ll get when you buy the New York Pass is the access to fast lanes. It offers fast tracks for many of New York’s top attractions, such as the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock.

How to use the New York Pass?

The New York Pass is a great unlimited pass option, ideal for seeing a large number of attractions in a short period of time. Purchase the pass online to receive your mobile pass. You can then show this at the counter when entering the attraction in order to receive your entrance tickets – simple!

👇 Don’t forget to use my promo code “LNYOfferNYP” to get up to 31% off! 👇

BUY NEW YORK PASS

New York Sightseeing DAY Pass

On top of that, our promo code LNYOffer can save you up to an additional 40% !

What attractions are included in the New York Sightseeing DAY Pass?

This day-based pass also has a lot to offer; with it you can visit more than 100 of the most popular attractions. You can visit four observation decks, use the hop-on hop-off buses, and visit the American Museum of Modern Art or the Guggenheim Museum.

The Edge Hudson Yards
Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (1 Day Classic Ticket, valid for 24 hours)

Here you can find the list of all attractions included in the Sightseeing DAY Pass .

How much does the Sightseeing DAY Pass cost?

Is the New York Sightseeing Pass worth it?

Yes! The New York Sightseeing Pass can save you a ton of money, provides you with a lot of flexibility in terms of attractions, as well as removes a lot of the hassle from your NYC Sightseeing trip. As the pass with the best value for money of the lot, it is definitely worth it if you are planning on up to 10 days of consecutive NYC sightseeing.

In order to get the most out of your sightseeing pass, you should plan on visiting around 2-3 NYC attractions with your pass each day.

The longer you purchase the pass for the fewer attractions you need to visit per day to make sure the pass is worth the money. If you purchase a Sightseeing Pass for 6 days for example (~$334, you get unlimited sightseeing for ~$56 per day, which is below the price of many attractions tickets purchased on their own. This means that you only need to visit one attraction a day for 7 days to make this pass worth it! This is what makes this the best value for money pass of the bunch.

How to use the NYC Sightseeing Pass?

The NYC Sightseeing Pass is a piece of cake to use! After purchasing the pass online, you will receive an email with your pass. You can from here print the pass or save it to your phone. Once you are in NYC and ready to go sightseeing with your New York tourist pass, choose which attraction you want to visit on the go and head towards it with your Sightseeing Pass in hand. Choose as you go, simply show your Pass at each attraction for free admission; easy!

Buy Sightseeing Day Pass

New York Pass vs. Sightseeing Pass

I often get the question whether the New York Pass or the New York Sightseeing Pass is better. While there are differences, both passes are worth the money and you won’t go wrong with either of them.

For both New York Day Passes, the attractions and included tours are almost identical. You can visit all the major attractions, except for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and The Met. Both include a 1 Day Classic Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket and many of the boat and walking tours!

So, what are the differences between the two? New York Pass is a little better in terms of boat tours because it’s the only one that includes the Circle Line Best-Of Cruise (which takes you all the way around the island of Manhattan). The Sightseeing Pass is better in two aspects: first, it is cheaper than the New York Pass with our exclusive discount code (as you can see in the table), and it’s also available in a 6-day version!

The All-Inclusive Pass is managed by the same company as the New York Pass. It functions the same as the New York Pass in how it works, the available attractions and tours, and prices. Since it is quite new compared to the New York Pass, I would recommend the original.

8. What are the attraction-based sightseeing passes for New York?

Note: The newest observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt , is not yet included with any NYC pass. Tickets for the One Vanderbilt observation deck can be purchased here .

New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass

It also gives you a large amount of flexibility since you do not need to decide on which attractions to visit beforehand. All that you have to do is show your Sightseeing Pass at the first attraction (included in your pass) that you wish to visit.

Attractions included in New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass

These are what I consider to be the top attractions and tours you can visit with the Sightseeing Pass FLEX (there are over 100 in total):

Here you can find the list of all attractions included in the Sightseeing FLEX Pass .

How much does the Flex Pass cost?

BUY NYC SIGHTSEEING FLEX PASS

Is the New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass worth it?

The NYC Sightseeing Flex Pass is most definitely worth it if you are looking to visit up to 12 NYC attractions on non-consecutive days, all while saving money and remaining flexible during your trip. If you visit all of the attractions you have purchased with your pass, it is definitely worth it alone for the amount of money you can save. It is however also extremely worth it because of the flexibility that the New York tourist pass gives you. Choose as you go, simply show your NYC Sightseeing Pass at each attraction for free admission, for as many attractions as you purchased!

Compared to the cost of tickets individually, you save over 40% with the Sightseeing Flex Pass for 10 attractions. This is quite relaxed possible, because you have 30 days to visit these attractions.

How to use the NYC Sightseeing FLEX Pass?

The NYC Sightseeing Flex Pass is super simple to use. Once you have purchased the pass you will receive an email with a QR code (that you can either print or save to your phone), which you can then scan at attractions to gain free entry.

Does the NY Sightseeing FLEX Pass include the NY Sightseeing Bus (Hop-On Hop-Off) Tours?

Yes! The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass includes the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours (Uptown & Downtown Bus Loops) which count as just one choice and are valid for 24 hours.

Attractions included in Go New York Explorer Pass

With the Explorer Pass, you can visit many amazing attractions like the Empire State Building, the Top of the Rock, and the observation deck Edge Hudson Yards, as well as take walking tours, the hop-on hop-off bus tours, and boat tours.

Also included are major museums like MoMA, the Guggenheim, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History. Here is a selection of the most popular attractions and tours you can visit with the Explorer Pass (there are over 110 in total):

20+ Walking Tours
Hop on Hop off with BIG BUS (1 Day Classic-Ticket, valid for 24 hours)

Here you can find the list of all attractions included in the Go New York Explorer Pass .

How much does the Go New York Explorer Pass cost?

The prices depend on the number of attractions you want to visit with it:

Is the New York Explorer Pass worth it?

The Go New York Explorer Pass also pays off pretty quickly, in the example I spread 10 paid attractions over 3 days (and a few free ones too) – saving you $135 per person compared to the single tickets. You could also spread them over even more days, after all you have 60 days to use the Explorer Pass in New York.

How to use the New York Explorer Pass?

After deciding on how many attractions you would like to purchase the Explorer pass for, you can make the purchase online for your desired pass. You do not need to decide beforehand which attractions you would like to visit!

👇 Don’t forget to use my promo code “GO5LOVING” to get up to 31% off! 👇

GET EXPLORER PASS

New York CityPASS

You can choose 5 out of 8 attractions:

Top of the Rock OR Guggenheim Museum
Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island OR Circle Line Cruises
9/11 Memorial Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

How much does the New York City Pass cost?

The New York CityPASS costs $138 for adults, meaning that you pay an average of $27 per attraction. For kids from 6 – 17 years, the CityPASS costs $118. A CityPASS is likely not worth it for kids younger than 6, as many attractions will be free for them anyway. Because the pass is already heavily discounted, there is no further New York City Pass promo.

Is the New York CityPASS worth it?

If you want to focus on museums, the New York CityPASS is an option for you. It is limited to the most important attractions and is also quite affordable. If you also want to do hop-on hop-off bus tours or more boat tours, then the New York Pass , Sightseeing Pass NYC and the Explorer Pass are better.

GET New York CityPASS

9. Other NYC attraction passes

In addition to the options mentioned so far, there are three other sightseeing passes that I’ll briefly name here for the purpose of being a comprehensive NYC Pass Guide. I can’t really recommend any of them, because they don’t offer you more than the New York Pass, DAY Pass, Explorer Pass, FLEX Pass and the CityPASS.

It is rather the other way around: with them you are less flexible, if you change your sightseeing program on the trip. The reasons can be manifold: maybe the weather is worse or better than planned or you spontaneously feel like visiting another sight!

C3 Pass by CityPASS

Recently, the company behind CityPASS New York has started offering two more options: the C3 Pass (limited to 3 attractions) and the C-All Pass, which lets you visit 10 attractions. The C3 Pass is – once activated in NYC – valid for 9 days. You can save up to 36% (depending on the attractions and tours you choose).

Attractions included in C3 Pass

You can choose 3 attractions from these 10:

The Edge at Hudson Yards
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Guggenheim Museum
Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
City Cruises

How much does the C 3 Pass cost?

The C 3 Pass costs $96 for adults (13+), the price for children (5-12 years) is $74.

Is the C 3 Pass worth it?

It depends! If you select the attractions whose regular ticket price is the highest with the C3 Pass, you can save up to 36% with it.

However, I personally recommend another NYC Pass – either the Sightseeing FLEX Pass or the Go New York Explorer Pass . Why? Both have a much larger selection of attractions and the popular hop-on hop-off buses are also included. Plus, both alternatives are at least as reasonably priced.

If you’re not sure whether the C3, Explorer Pass or Sightseeing FLEX Pass is right for you, just try my free New York Pass savings calculator ! It will calculate in a few seconds which one will save you the most!

C-All Pass by CityPASS

The C-All pass is a bit of a cheat because its name is misleading. With this pass you can visit up to 10 attractions. You can choose from 11 attractions and boat tours, which are these:

Attractions included in C-All Pass

You can choose 10 attractions from these 11:

How much does the C-All-Pass cost?

The C-All Pass costs $212 for adults (13+), the price for children (5-12 years) is $157.

These Sightseeing Passes are better

As with the C 3 Pass, however, I recommend other NYC Passes for the same reasons.

With up to 10 attractions, both the day-based and attraction-based passes are an option for you. It’s best to try my free New York Pass savings calculator !

Are the New York City Attraction Passes worth purchasing?

I’ve put together two very common itineraries for a visit to New York City that will help you see if a New York sightseeing pass is worth purchasing, and which would be best.

New York City in Two Days

This itinerary includes seven attractions that I spread over two days.

Several of the sightseeing passes are worth purchasing – you can customize and recalculate here , and here is my itinerary for two days in New York City in full detail.

New York City in Three Days

This itinerary includes eight attractions that I spread out over three days.

With a three-day itinerary, several New York passes are worthwhile – you can customize and recalculate here, and here is my itinerary for three days New York City in full detail.

Is the New York MetroCard included in the New York Pass?

In many cities, the discount passes also include free use of public transportation. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the New York Passes. They cover the tourist attractions and tours, but not fares for the subway and buses. For public transportation use, you need an OMNY account, the new digital version of the MetroCard.

What about fast lanes at attractions?

Attraction passes primarily focus on price, not on time. That being said, the passes do include a few fast lanes that allow you to skip the standard waiting line. However, there are not that many of them, and the CityPASS does not offer any fast lanes. You can, however, upgrade your tickets at the attractions for an additional cost.

Which hop-on hop-off buses are included with New York passes?

We often get the question which hop-on hop-off bus tour providers are included with the sightseeing passes and which loops you can take.

Since Covid, there is only one provider: BIG BUS! All sightseeing passes (except the CityPASS New York) include the 1 Day Classic Ticket. This allows you to do both the Uptown and Downtown loops within 24 hours. Taking both loops counts as one attraction, not as two.

Which New York passes are available in 2023?

There are six main sightseeing passes: the New York Pass, the Explorer Pass, the CityPASS New York, the Sightseeing FLEX Pass, the Sightseeing DAY Pass, and the New York All-Inclusive Pass. In addition, there are three more to choose from with the C 3 Pass, C-All Pass, and the Turbopass New York, but I can’t recommend them to you without some hesitation.

Which New York Pass is best to buy for one day?

Many may recommend the New York Pass for one day, and while it is a good option, I recommend its main competitor, the New York Sightseeing DAY Pass. With it, you can do just as much as with the New York Pass, but it is much cheaper ($129 compared to $142) with my discount code: LNYOffer!

You can buy the Sightseeing Pass for one day in New York cheap here.

Best New York Pass for 1 Day? The Sightseeing DAY Pass!

Is the Sightseeing Pass for New York worth it?

Absolutely! The New York Sightseeing Pass is available in two options, suitable for every type of travel. The FLEX Pass is an attraction-based pass, which I have used on my last four visits to New York. The day-based version is the DAY Pass. With either pass, many major attractions and tours are included, and you can save a lot of money. With my exclusive discount code, LNYOffer, you can save even more!

You can buy the Sightseeing Pass for New York here.

Where can you buy the New York Pass?

You can now only get the New York Pass online (with a discount!). I strongly recommend that you buy the New York Pass online in advance; on the official site, there are additional discount promotions that will help you to save even more.

Is a New York Pass worth it for you?

In general, the more paid attractions you want to visit, the faster a New York Pass will pay off for you. You can easily visit two to three attractions per day without any added stress.

Furthermore, the longer that the New York Pass is valid, the cheaper it will be for you. Most of the attractions cost between $30 and $60, and with a New York Pass valid for seven days or more, you only need to visit one attraction per day to make it worth your while. The most popular New York Pass is the New York Pass for five days, making each day cost just under $50.

My tip: Here you can calculate if and which New York Pass is useful .

Can I visit an attraction more than once with the New York Passes?

With the New York Pass, the Go New York Explorer Pass, the Sightseeing DAY Pass, and the FLEX Pass, you can visit each attraction exactly once. Only with the CityPASS New York can you visit the Empire State Building on the same day; once during the day and again in the evening.

Are the New York Passes activated at the time of purchase?

No; all sightseeing passes are not activated at the time of purchase. They will activate when you use them for the first time at one of the valid attractions and are valid for 1 to 60 days, depending on the type of NYC pass.

NYC Attraction Pass Savings Calculator

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New York Pass Comparison

Which city sightseeing pass should you buy.

Latest update: March 6, 2024

In a nutshell

There are 4 city sightseeing passes with which you can save time and money.
There are time-based passes (for as many attractions as you want in a limited amount of time) and attraction-based passes (for a certain number of attractions).
If you want to see as many attractions as possible , we recommend the New York All-Inclusive Pass or the New York Sightseeing Pass .
The All-Inclusive Pass or the New York City Pass are the best choice if you want to see the most important sights in a short amount of time.
If you want to visit the major sights without any stress , you should pick the Sightseeing Flex Pass , Explorer Pass or New York City Pass.

In our article we’ll show you which New York passes are available, what advantages and disadvantages they have and which one is the best for you.

Our recommendation for those in a hurry: this is the best New York pass

In this article, we compare all of the New York passes in-depth and show you through detailed sample calculations which pass is the best choice for each type of traveller. If that’s too much information for you though, we can totally understand that.

That’s why, for those of you in a hurry, we’ll start right away with a very brief summary of the article and answer the question: which New York pass is the best?

#1 The best New York pass if you want to see as many attractions as possible:

Best choice: New York All-Inclusive Pass or New York Sightseeing Pass

If you’d like to see as many attractions in New York as possible, the New York All-Inclusive Pass is the best option according to our calculation.

But the New York Sightseeing Pass hardly does any worse here, so it’s worth comparing the included attractions and matching them to your personal agenda.

Depending on how many sights in New York you’d like to visit and how much time you have, you can save more than a hundred dollars with the New York All-Inclusive Pass.

You can buy the New York All-Inclusive Pass here You can buy the New York Sightseeing Pass here

#2 The best discount pass if you want to see the most important sights quickly (in 3 days):

Best choice: New York All-Inclusive Pass or New York City Pass

If you want to see the most important sights in a short amount of time, the savings aren’t very high with any of the passes.

In this case, you can think about whether you might want to buy your tickets individually instead. You’ll still have the most savings with the New York City Pass here, which we always like to use ourselves.

You can buy the New York City Pass here

If you’d like to use the Hop-on-Hop-off-busses as well and rent a bike in Central Park, then the savings with the New York All-Inclusive Pass and the New York Explorer Pass are the biggest.

You can buy the New York All-Inclusive Pass here You can buy the New York Explorer Pass here

#3 The best New York pass if you leisurely want to see the most important sights:

Best choice: Sightseeing Flex Pass, Explorer Pass or New York City Pass

If you want to give yourself a little more time (e.g. 5 or 7 days) and would rather visit the most important sights in New York a little more gradually, you also have the choice between three passes.

The differences of savings between these three passes are not very great. It really just depends on which sights you’d like to see the most. Simply take a look at what’s included in each pass and compare it with your personal to-do list.

You can buy the Sightseeing Flex Pass here You can buy the Explorer Pass here You can buy the New York City Pass here

#4 If you only want to see very few attractions

Best choice: buy individual tickets instead of a New York pass

If you’d only like to visit a very few selected attractions or want to decide what you’ll see on short notice and prefer to be flexible, a pass is generally not worth it.

To avoid having to stand in never-ending lines everywhere you go, we’d recommend that you always get your individual tickets online.

Now you know which passes are the best choice. If you also want to know exactly why that is, then keep reading the rest of our great New York pass comparison. If our brief summary was enough for you, we’re happy to have helped.

How do the New York passes work?

The New York passes are offered specifically for tourists. Maybe you’ve already seen something similar in other cities. These passes are often called City Cards as well.

You buy the passes for a certain amount and can then use them to visit different sights, museums and attractions . Besides that, you can take part in numerous guided city tours for free and take various bus and boat rides .

There are two types of New York passes:

#1 Time-based passes

There are passes that are valid for a specific amount of time , e.g. for 3, 5 or 7 days. In this time, you can go to all of the sights, tours and attractions that are included in the pass.

#2 Attractions-based passes

The second type are passes that can be used for a certain number of sights and attractions . So you buy these passes for 5, 7 or 10 attractions, for example, and are more flexible time-wise.

All of the New York passes now work on your mobile phone too. You used to have to pick up the passes somewhere, which was always a little time-consuming.

Today, you’ll simply get an email with a mobile pass after your purchase. You can then comfortably present it on your smartphone at all sights. You don’t necessarily need internet when on the go, as you can easily save your pass and then show it offline as well.

Alternatively, there’s also the possibility of printing out the pass yourself. Anyone who doesn’t have a smartphone or doesn’t trust their battery-life can choose this option. In any case, there’s no annoying pick up on-site.

What New York passes are there?

In most cities there’s only a single City Card. In New York, there are four offers to choose from. There are actually five, because one of the passes is available in two very different options. That doesn’t make it any less difficult, but that’s what our New York pass comparison is for.

In the following table, you’ll find an initial overview of the available passes. You’ll then find more detailed information about every pass, as well as the advantages and disadvantages.

#1 The New York All-Inclusive Pass

The New York All-Inclusive Pass is one of the most popular and extensive passes for New York.

What does the New York All-Inclusive Pass offer?

The New York All-Inclusive Pass enables access to more than 100 attractions , such as:

Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and Statue of Liberty
The new observation deck Edge
Around 30 museums
1 day Hop-on Hop-off busses with Big Bus
Boat rides with Circle Line
Numerous tours

What does the New York All-Inclusive Pass cost?

You can find the prices for the New York All-Inclusive Pass in the following table.

On the website of the New York All-Inclusive Pass, there’s a year-round sale. That means that you don’t actually have to pay the regular prices for the pass, there’s always around 20 to 30% discount on the regular price.

We’ve therefore written the reduced prices directly on the overview as well:

Beware of supposed discount codes for the New York All-Inclusive Pass: discount codes for the New York All-Inlusive Pass circulate on some websites that allow you to get a 20% rebate off the pass. This discount is only on the original price of the pass though. Because the prices on the site are always reduced anyways, sometimes you’ll pay more with a discount code than without.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the New York All-Inclusive Pass:

Very large selection of attractions
The longer the pass is, the cheaper it is per day

Disadvantages of the New York All-Inclusive Pass:

Only one day Hop-on Hop-off-Bus
Slightly non-transparent pricing

Our verdict on the New York All-Inclusive Pass

The New York All-Inclusive Pass is especially worth it if you’d like to visit a lot of attractions or want to go on guided tours.

If you want to see only a few select museums and sights, it won’t get any cheaper with the New York All-Inclusive Pass.

But if you want to visit a ton of attractions, you can save over a hundred dollars with the pass.

You can buy the New York All-Inclusive Pass here

#2 New York Sightseeing Pass

Along with the New York All-Inclusive Pass, the New York Sightseeing Pass is the most extensive of all the New York passes.

What does the New York Sightseeing Pass offer?

More than 100 attractions are included in the New York Sightseeing Pass, such as:

Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and One World Observatory
The new viewing platform Edge is included in the Sightseeing Pass.
Almost 30 museums
1 day Hop-on Hop-off busses from Big Bus
Large selection of boat rides

What does the New York Sightseeing Pass cost?

The New York Sightseeing Pass is the only pass that exists in two different variations :

1. The normal Sightseeing Pass, also called the Day Pass, which is valid for a certain number of days . On these days, you can use all of the attractions.

2. Alternatively, you can opt for the Flex Pass. With this, you decide how many attractions you’d like to visit with the pass beforehand. You then have 30 days to visit these attractions.

Advantages of the Sightseeing Pass:

In all, the best offers of all passes
Empire State Building and One World Trade Observatory are included
All popular museums are included

Disadvantages of the Sightseeing Pass:

The Sightseeing Pass is expensive
The two different price models can be confusing

Our verdict on the New York Sightseeing Pass

The New York Sightseeing Pass is definitely the most extensive of all the passes , and with the two pricing schemes, the Day Pass or the Flex Pass, the pass is an interesting option for almost all travelers .

Anyone who’d like a little more flexibility and who doesn’t want to visit 3 attractions per day would be well advised with the Sightseeing Flex Pass.

You can buy the Sightseeing Pass over the booking platform GetYourGuide. It’s usually a little cheaper there.

Buy the Sightseeing Flex Pass from GetYourGuide Buy the Sightseeing Day Pass from GetYourGuide

#3 New York Explorer Pass

What does the New York Explorer Pass offer?

The New York Explorer Pass includes more than 95 attractions , such as:

The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and the Statue of Liberty
1 Day Hop-on Hop-off busses with Big Bus can be chosen as an attraction
Various boat rides

What does the New York Explorer Pass cost?

With the New York Explorer Pass, you don’t decide on a certain number of days, but rather on a certain number of attractions , which you can visit within 60 days.

Advantages of the Explorer Pass:

All major museums in New York are included
Fair pricing: you only book as much as you need
No time stress, since it’s valid for 60 days
Empire State Building and One World Observatory are included

Disadvantages of the Explorer Pass:

Hop-on Hop-off busses are only bookable as an attraction, but not part of the standard package

Our verdict on the New York Explorer Pass

The New York Explorer Pass is a good option for anyone who doesn’t want to visit countless sights and museums .

Through it’s simple pricing scheme , you can figure out very easily whether the pass is worth it for you. Almost all of the important sights are included in the pass, so you’ll be all set for your New York trip.

The Explorer Pass is very similar to the Sightseeing Flex Pass. The savings with each pass are often nearly the same.

Both passes are very good options. If you want to save every dollar you can, you should calculate exactly which pass is cheaper.

You can buy the Explorer Pass here

#4 New York City Pass

The New York City Pass is the smallest of the five New York passes , but it can still be worthwhile.

What does the New York City Pass offer?

8 attractions are included in the City Pass, of which you can visit 5 .

Two of them are set. For the other three attractions, you have a choice between two options for each:

Empire State Building
American Museum of Natural History
Top of the Rock OR Guggenheim Museum
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR boat ride with the Circle Line
9/11 Memorial and Museum OR Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

What does the New York City Pass cost?

The pricing scheme of the New York City Pass is very easy. There aren’t any price scales, like with the other passes. The pass simply costs 121 dollars .

After you visit the first attraction with the pass, you have 9 days to see the rest of the sights and museums.

Advantages of the City Pass:

Simple pricing
Many important sights are included
High flexibility because of the long validity period of 9 days
The only pass with which you can visit the Empire State Building twice (day and night)

Disadvantages of the City Pass:

No Hop-on Hop-off bus
One World Trade Center and the Museum of Modern Art are not included

Our verdict on the New York City Pass

The New York City Pass is an ideal choice for anyone who’s looking for a simple and uncomplicated pass and doesn’t want to busy themselves with countless attractions and options.

Because the attractions are more or less fixed and only a few possible variations exist, it’s relatively easy to decide whether the pass is of interest.

If you want to visit all 5 attractions, the City Pass is a good option. If one of the attractions doesn’t interest you, the pass is generally still a good choice. If two or more attractions don’t interest you, then the City Pass isn’t for you.

You can buy the City Pass here

Differences of the New York passes

We’ve now introduced the different New York passes. Since that’s a lot of info to take in all at once, in this section, we’d like to sum up the significant differences and similarities of all the New York passes.

That way you’ll get a better impression of which New York pass you should buy and which ones aren’t worth it for you.

Difference #1: time-based or attraction-based

To start with, there are two types of New York passes:

Passes that are valid for a specific amount of time. In this time, you can visit all of the attractions included in the pass.
Passes that are only valid for a certain number of attractions.

Both types of passes have their advantages and disadvantages. You can see which pass works by which model in this summary:

Time-based passes:

New York All-Inclusive Pass (1 to 10 days)
New York Sightseeing Pass (1 to 10 days)

Attraction-based passes:

New York Sightseeing Flex Pass (2 to 12 attractions)
New York Explorer Pass (2 to 10 attractions)
New York City Pass (5 attractions)

The time-based passes are especially worth it if you want to see as many attractions as possible . The longer the validity of the pass, the cheaper it becomes per day.

Besides that, these passes are a good choice if the additional offers , such as bike rentals, city tours or boat rides, are important to you. In these cases, you usually get away cheaper with a time based pass.

Those passes where you decide on a fixed number of attractions are especially recommended if you only want to visit the most important sights in New York and want to remain as flexible as possible.

Difference #2: included attractions

The New York passes don’t all include the same sights and attractions. For most travelers, the most important difference is surely the tickets for the famous lookout points in New York.

If you’d like to see very specific museums or do specific activities, it’s worth checking beforehand whether these activities are included in each of the New York passes.

So that you don’t have to do the strenuous work of searching for all this information, we will show you which attractions are included in the passes in the following table. Alongside the must-sees, we’ve also included other very popular attractions, so you can get a good overview.

As you can see, the Sightseeing Pass is something like the all-around worry-free package. All of the important attractions are included here.

Difference #3: Hop-on Hop-off busses

A significant difference between the passes is the use of the Hop-on Hop-off busses. Many travelers really like to use this mode of transportation to explore a city like New York.

The busses go along a fixed route and generally stop at all points relevant to tourists. With a ticket for the busses, you can get on or off at any time , so you can conveniently get from one sight to the next.

What’s more, there’s an audio commentary on the busses. So you can use these busses either for a classic city tour, or really just to get from one attraction to the next.

There are two big providers of these bus tours in New York: Big Bus and Grayline. Both companies each offer two different routes through Manhattan. Grayline also operates a further line that brings you to the most important places in Brooklyn.

If you’d like to use these busses, then we suggest the New York Sightseeing Pass , the New York All-Inclusive Pass , and the New York Explorer Pass . All three offer the Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with two different routes, valid for one day

The City Pass does not offer any Hop-on Hop-off busses.

Which New York Pass is suitable for whom?

Now we of course want to answer the question of all questions: which New York pass is the best?

Needless to say, we can’t give the ultimate answer here, since not every New York pass is the best option for every person.

So we’ve put together three different types of travelers and our recommendation for the best New York Pass for each type of traveler .

These are the types of travelers:

Those who want to visit as many ticketed attractions as possible
Those who quickly want to visit the most well known sights
Those who want to visit the most well known sights calmly

Traveler #1: as much as possible

Are you one of the travelers who wants to see as much as possible in New York? Then the time based New York passes are interesting for you.

A typical itinerary could look like this:

Empire State Building ($48) Top of the Rock ($44) One World Observatory ($45) Edge ($44) 9/11 Museum ($28) MoMA ($25) Guggenheim Museum ($25) Museum of Natural History ($23) Bicycle rentals in Central Park ($25) Hop-on-Hop-off-Bus tour ($60) Boat ride, for example with Circle Line ($35) 2 further attractions according to your interests (ca. $60) 2 guided tours ($70) Total price: $532

In total, that’s 15 attractions, which you can manage well over 7 days. For all of that, you’d have to spend around 530 dollars for individual tickets.

In the following table, you can see how much you’d save with one of the New York Passes.

Note : the New York City Pass isn’t made for this type of travel, since they both only include relatively few attractions. We’ve therefore not included it in this table.

If you want to see a ton of attractions in New York and also have enough time (in our example, 7 days), then the New York All-Incusive Pass is the best option for you.

The savings with the New York Explorer Pass and the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass is only a little lower, so it’s worth taking a look at the included attractions. Your own itinerary will probably look a little different than our example itinerary.

Traveler #2: quickly see the most important sights

If you’d like to visit as many attractions as possible in New York in as little time as possible, we’ve put together a small example itinerary that you can be done in three days .

If you’re really fast, you can probably even complete it in 2 days, but then it’d be really stressful. So we’d prefer to base it on 3 days.

For us, the following attractions are some of the highlights in New York:

Empire State Building ($48) Top of the Rock ($44) One World Observatory ($45) 9/11 Museum ($28) Two museums, for example Met, MoMA or Guggenheim ($50) Boat ride, for example with Circle Line ($35) Total price: 250 dollars

Optional: Bike tour through Central Park with a rental bike ($20) Optional: Hop-on Hop-off bus tour ($60) Total price with Hop-on Hop-off bus und bike rental: $330

In retail sales, you’d pay a total of 250 dollars for the most important sights if you don’t incude the Hop-on Hop-off busses and would rather explore Central Park by foot. If you’d like to use the busses and to go through Central Park on a bike, you’re up to 330 dollars.

Why isn’t the Statue of Liberty included? We find that the Statue of Liberty isn’t really worth it if you don’t have a lot of time in New York. The trip to the island is relatively time consuming. So we’d instead suggest a boat tour that also takes you very close to the statue. That’ll save time and is just as impressive.

In both of the following tables, we’ve listed how much you’d save for all passes – both with and without a bus ticket and a bike rental.

Savings without Hop-on Hop-off bus and bike rental:

Without the Hop-on Hop-off bus, the New York Explorer Pass , the New York City Pass and the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass are the best options.

Depending on which attractions are the most important to you, another one of the passes could be a good choice. The differences of savings aren’t so big here that we could make an ultimate recommendation.

Savings with Hop-on Hop-off bus and bike rental:

Note : The New York City Pass doesn’t offer the Hop-on Hop-off tours or bike rentals. We therefore haven’t factored it into this table.

If you’d also like to use the Hop-on Hop-off buses and would like to rent a bike in Central Park, then either the New York All-Inclusive Pass or the New York Explorer Pass is the cheapest option.

Traveler #3: see the most important sights without any stress

We like to see all of the important attractions in a city, but we don’t like to do it in a rush.

We also sometimes enjoy just wandering through the streets and neighborhoods of a city, instead of rushing from one attraction to the next. Just the same, we of course want to see the major highlights.

So we would rather distribute the attractions mentioned above across a longer time period , for example, 5 or 7 days.

For this scenario, we’ve also created two tables in which we show you which pass is the best solution for you then.

Savings without Hop-on-Hop-off-Bus and bike rental:

With the unhurried options, the savings aren’t so huge , as with the fully packed 3 day itinerary. The City Pass , the Sightseeing Flex Pass and the Explorer Pass are very close to one another here.

Savings with Hop-on-Hop-off-Bus and bike rental:

Note : The City Pass isn’t taken into account in this table, since it doesn’t include buses or bicycles.

Because the Hop-on Hop-off tours and bike rentals are relatively expensive, the savings are higher again. The New York Explorer Pass or the Sightseeing Flex Pass are once again the most lucrative here. You can also save a couple of bucks with the New York All-Inclusive Pass .

In our example, the Explorer Pass was a little better than the Sightseeing Pass.

New York without a pass

Does there absolutely have to be a New York Pass? Of course not! You can also discover the best attractions in New York without a pass.

If you don’t plan on visiting a lot of ticketed attractions , we’d suggest that you do it without a pass. You can also jump the line for the ticket desk at most attractions, even without a pass, by booking your tickets online ahead of time. We’d definitely recommend doing that.

You do always save some money with the passes, but with just a few sights, the savings usually aren’t so high. It’s then better to stay flexible and go without a pass.

In the following table, we’ve shown you an overview of which ticket you can buy beforehand online, also without using any of the passes.

Frequently asked questions

To conclude, we’ve put together the answers to frequent questions about the different passes for you.

Do you have another question? Then just write a comment to us below and you’ll receive an answer from us very shortly.

Do the New York passes also work for the subway?

In many cities, you can also use the City Cards for public transportation. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in New York and actually not with any of the providers.

To use the subway in New York and public busses, you have to buy a separate metrocard.

Are there reduced passes for kids?

Yes, for all of the New York passes that were introduced here, there’s also a reduced option for kids. Little kids (usually up to 3 years) are usually free.

How do I get my pass after ordering it?

You used to have to pick up the passes in New York, which was time consuming. Luckily that isn’t so anymore. Nowadays, you receive your pass by email directly after your purchase.

You can then just show your pass on your smartphone at each attraction. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can also easily print out the passes.

Are the passes cheaper on site?

No, you always get the best prices online.

Can I visit individual sights more than once with the pass?

No, unfortunately that’s not possible. You can only visit each attraction once with your pass.

Only exception : with the City Pass, you can go up the Empire State Building twice in one day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

We drew a detailed conclusion at the very beginning of our New York pass comparison. So here’s just a very brief summary again:

Cheapest pass with as many attractions as possible:

New York All-Inclusive Pass New York Explorer Pass Sightseeing Flex Pass

Cheapest pass for the most important sights in 3 days:

New York All-Inclusive Pass New York Explorer Pass New York City Pass

Cheapest pass for a relaxed New York itinerary:

New York Explorer Pass Sightseeing Flex Pass New York City Pass

Info: Our New York pass comparison is updated regularly. Nevertheless, some things can suddenly change. It’s best to check the conditions and included attractions before you make the final decision to buy one of the passes. Thank you!

That was our New York pass comparison

We hope that we could make your search for the perfect New York pass a little easier. After we almost got desperate during our own search for the right pass, we’ve put extra work into this comparison to make it easier for you.

Do you still have questions or ideas? Then we’re happy to hear your comments!

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New York City Attraction Passes: Which Pass is Best for You?
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NYC Transit Fares and Tolls: What to know
The fare for any transportation is $2.90. You can read more about the program, apply, make reservations, and more. See details about Access-A-Ride. Find out how much it costs to ride the NYC subway, the bus, and railroads in the New York area, how transfers work, your options for reduced fares, and more.
Which NYC Subway MetroCard to Buy (for Tourists and Visitors)
Go to the station agent in the booth where you will show your ID and pay $2.90 for a non-refillable MetroCard good for TWO rides. You do not have to pay the $1.00 new card fee. Not all stations have agent booths. This 2-trip MetroCard will be accepted at all subway stations, local buses, and Staten Island Railway.
Getting around New York: public transport, cards and passes
For public transport, it is highly recommended to buy the MetroCard, a rechargeable card costing $1.00 (€0.90) that will save you money on individual metro and bus rides ($2.75/€2.50 instead of $3.00/€2.75). For longer stays, we recommend the purchase of the Unlimited-Ride MetroCard, a season ticket that allows you unlimited travel on all ...
MetroCard New York Subway Pass
New York MetroCard prices. A single ride is $2.90 and tickets are sold at vending machines. A 7-day MetroCard costs $34.00 and is a popular New York subway pass option. Some contactless bank cards can tap on and off through the OMNY system. If you take 12 subway trips in a week, you'll cap out at the same price as a 7-day MetroCard.
New York City MetroCard 2024
The 7-day-unlimited Metrocard in NYC is 33 Dollars per person. This means you pay $33 and can ride the subways and most busses in New York City as often as you want for seven consecutive days. You can also buy a 30-day-unlimited Metrocard for $127.
MetroCard
The MetroCard is essential if you want to use New York's transportation, as you will only be able to take the Subway using this card. Although for buses you can still pay with cash (exact amount), to use the subway you need to have a Metrocard. You can either purchase the pay-per-ride or the unlimited Ride MetroCard.. Pay-per-ride MetroCard. If you buy multiple rides with this card, the cost ...
How To Get Around New York City: A Guide To NYC Transport Options
3. Subway. One of the most popular ways to get around New York is the New York Subway. This is a great way to get around the city as you avoid any traffic. With 472 subway stations, the New York City subway is the largest subway system in the world as measured by total number of stations.
NYC Subway & New York City Public Transportation Guides
The City is also home to several pet-taxi companies that can help transport pets that are not allowed on ordinary public transit. Pet Chauffeur: 212-696-9744. K9 Cars: 718-683-2152. Official NYC information on navigating the NYC Subway systems by train, bus, ferry, car, foot, and more.
How to Use Public Transportation in NYC
First, keep in mind that locals often mean 'subway' when they use the word 'train.'. Subway 'trains' travel between boroughs, while commuter trains take passengers to and from the city. Pay close attention to distinctions such as 'express' or 'local,' which determine whether trains skip certain stations. Keep in mind: trains that run local can ...
Is there a New York Subway Pass for Tourists?
The 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard is probably the best alternative to a New York subway pass for tourists, especially if you already know that you will be heavily relying on public transportation. The weekly pass costs $34 per week (2024). With this pass you can also take advantage of the many local busses.
How to ride the NYC subway
Using a MetroCard. Hold the card so the black magnetic strip is facing you and on the bottom of the card. (The clipped corner should be on the upper right.) Swipe your card through the reader at a medium speed, similar to how you would swipe a credit card in a credit card reader. When the turnstile screen says GO, proceed through the turnstile.
Getting Around New York City: Guide to Public Transportation
Fact checked by. Jillian Dara. Wikipedia Commons. The easiest, most affordable way to get around New York City is by public transportation. New York City mass transit generally falls into two categories: buses and subways. The city has 36 subway lines (that go to 472 stations) and 5,725 buses that can take you anywhere you want to go.
The New York Pass®
The New York Pass®: Save big on your must-sees. Unlock admission to 100+ attractions and activities for one low price! Includes the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock®, American Museum of Natural History and Guggenheim Museum. View all attractions Buy a pass.
The New York Pass®
Description. Cancellations. Reviews. The New York Pass® is a tourist card that provides entry to over 100 of the best attractions in New York City, including the Empire State Building, ferry to the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Museum. A definite must!
How does the New York Pass work?
With The New York Pass®, you can explore the best attractions, tours and experiences, for one money-saving price. Choose the duration (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 ...
OMNY
Expanded fare options. 2023 to 2024. Reduced-Fare customers are starting to tap and go. Use the digital assistant in the bottom-right of your screen and follow prompts to put your reduced fare benefit on a smart device or contactless card. Next up is OMNY for students and for riders of paratransit, commuter railroads and other special programs.
Buy New York MetroCard
New York Pass for 4 days + MetroCard. £ 92 DISCOUNT. MetroCard - 7 days. New York Pass Pass for 4 days. subway map. 10% Macy's discount. Edge VIP Access. Read what a New York Pass is here. £ 272.00.
Find The Best New York Pass
The New York CityPASS allows you to save money on admissions to New York's main attractions. In fact, with the CityPASS, you can save up to 44% on entry tickets. The New York CityPASS is valid for 9 consecutive days following the first day of use, meaning you can visit the 5 attractions at your own leisure.
Say hello to tap and go, with OMNY
This gives OMNY customers the benefits of a 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard without paying in advance. Your first tap starts a new seven-day cap. If you spend $34 within seven days, you ride free for the rest of the cap period. If you spend less, you only pay for the rides you take. The cap resets every seven days and restarts with your next tap.
New York Pass Comparison: Which Pass Should You Buy? [2023]
New York Sightseeing Flex Pass (2 to 12 attractions) New York Explorer Pass (2 to 10 attractions) New York City Pass (5 attractions) The time-based passes are especially worth it if you want to see as many attractions as possible. The longer the validity of the pass, the cheaper it becomes per day.
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NYC Subway Pass

Is There a New York Subway Pass for Tourists?

UNLIMITED vs. PAY-PER-RIDE METROCARDS

Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards

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What other transportation systems accept the MetroCard?

See the official MTA website for:

DECIDING WHICH CARD IS BEST FOR YOU

Deals to take into account:

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Paying with a credit or debit card:

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Once you have purchased your card, here are some tips on how to use it!

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Stephen Pickhardt

Getting around New York: public transport, cards and passes

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