New York Pass: 100+ Things To Do including Empire State Building

If you like the idea of building a tight NYC itinerary without buying admission one-by-one, this pass is interesting. You get a digital ticket plus a Go City app that helps you stitch together skyline views, big museums, neighborhood walks, and a few fun curveballs.

I especially like how much you can pack in. You get admission to 100+ attractions over 1 to 5 days, and many of the headline stops like Empire State, One World, MoMA, and the Natural History Museum are included.

One thing to consider: it is not a true skip-everything ticket. Several big attractions require reservations or time-slot pickup, and you still have to wait in line for those moments.

Key highlights you will feel fast

• Multiple sighting days: choose 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days so you can match your pace
• Big skyline hits included: Empire State Building, One World Observatory, Top of the Rock, and Edge NYC
• Liberty plus immigrant history: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, with key limits on crown or pedestal
• Museum day power: MoMA, Guggenheim, Whitney, Natural History, and more included tickets
• Neighborhood variety: Harlem, Little Italy, Chinatown, Wall Street, and Central Park walking or biking options
• Digital and flexible: sync your pass in the Go City app and plan around opening hours and time slots

The value question: is $169 a good deal for your NYC days?

At $169 per person, the pass makes sense when you are going to use several included admissions in the same trip window. NYC ticket prices add up quickly, so the value comes from stacking a lot of paid sights into one plan.

Here is the simple test I use for passes like this. If you are only doing one or two expensive anchors, you probably do not win. If you are doing at least three to five of the big-ticket stops, plus a couple of museums or tours, the math starts to tip in your favor.

You also want to be honest about your style. This pass favors people who plan a little, get to places early, and are willing to book time slots when required. If your days are chaotic or you hate checking schedules, you will feel the friction.

How the Go City app works, and why setup matters

This pass runs on a mobile ticket and the Go City app. Your pass is available right after order confirmation, and you should hit Get ticket to update your email and sync your pass in the app.

That matters because some attractions require you to show your pass at a ticket desk to get a ticket for the next available time slot. For example, MoMA says you will head to the ticket desk and present your pass for the next available slot. Intrepid, Ground Zero Museum Workshop, and other reservation-required stops also expect you to be organized.

The app also lists what to do, and it is the place to check up-to-date details since included attractions can change. One practical tip: build your plan around your first day. Once you use the pass at your first attraction, the pass activates and stays valid for consecutive calendar days that you purchased.

Reservations, lines, and the part that can cost you time

Not every attraction uses the same rules. Some are straightforward entry with a ticket desk scan, while others are strict about reservations and specific entry windows.

For skyline views, be ready for waiting and timing. One World Observatory and Top of the Rock both note you will wait in line to receive a time slot. Empire State Building requires reservations, and you cannot reserve a time slot for sunset hours with your pass. The pass even nudges you toward visiting later to enjoy night views.

For major history stops, expect time-slot style entry too. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum says you will wait in line to receive a time slot. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry also requires advanced reservations, and the included ferry does not include entry to pedestal or crown levels inside the Statue, which must be purchased separately.

That is the key tradeoff. You may save money, but you do not get total control over the clock.

Empire State Building to Edge NYC: your skyline lineup

If you want classic Manhattan views, this pass puts you in the right zip codes. You can bounce between Midtown and Hudson Yards, and you can choose day views or night views depending on how you schedule.

Empire State Building (included)

You get views up to 80 miles on a clear day, and you can spot landmarks stretching across multiple states. The big note is reservation requirements. Also, you cannot reserve sunset hours with your pass, so plan to go after, when night views are the goal.

Top of the Rock (included)

This is the view that many people chase because it frames the Empire State Building nicely. Expect a time-slot line, so go with patience and pick a day when the weather is stable.

One World Observatory (included)

One World is high impact, 102 stories up. You travel straight to the top in 47 seconds via the SkyPod Elevator, and you get interactive displays plus talks led by Tour Ambassadors. Again, the note here is waiting in line to receive a time slot.

Edge NYC (included)

Edge is the open-air glass platform experience at 100 stories above Hudson Yards. The practical catch: you reserve your entry by visiting a kiosk outside the Edge entrance to reserve the next available time slot. If you want Edge, do not treat it like a walk-up.

Liberty and Ellis Island: what is included, what is not

This is one of the most important stops on any NYC trip, and the pass covers a lot of it. You get the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, plus access tied to the included experience.

The important limitation: the included ticket does not include entry to the pedestal or crown levels inside the Statue of Liberty. If those levels matter to your trip, you will need a separate purchase. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island also requires advanced reservations, so you should lock this in early.

If you do only one “history with feelings” stop, this is usually the one. Ellis Island’s role in processing more than 12 million immigrants gives the day a deeper storyline than a quick photo stop.

9/11 Memorial and Museum, and the kid-friendly option nearby

This pass includes two different approaches to the World Trade Center story, which is handy if you are traveling with different age groups or emotional limits.

National 9/11 Memorial & Museum (included)

You start at the reflecting pools and then move through the museum’s artifacts, testimonies, and first-hand accounts. It is a respectful, interactive exhibit experience, with a tranquil pavilion area. You will wait in line to receive a time slot.

Ground Zero Museum Workshop (included)

This is the “kid-friendly” version described as non-graphic and interactive. It is designed as a gentle first stop for learning about this subject, and it allows guests to pick up WTC artifacts. It also requires advanced reservation, so it is not last-minute friendly.

If you are short on time, choose based on your group. Museum Workshop can be a good opener, then you move to the main museum if you still want the full depth.

The museum power move: MoMA, Natural History, Guggenheim, Whitney

When NYC weather is poor, or you simply want a break from walking, this pass lets you do heavyweight museum days.

MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) (included)

MoMA is built around contemporary art with rotating permanent and visiting collections. Your pass is used at the MoMA ticket desk for the next available time slot. This is one of the places where I would plan for a timed entry approach rather than showing up casually.

American Museum of Natural History (included, reservation required)

This is the classic big one, and the pass includes it with advanced reservation required. You will see signature displays like the 94-foot blue whale and Tyrannosaurus Rex, plus fossils, specimens, and artifacts. Give yourself time to drift, because this museum rewards wandering.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (included)

The building itself is part of the show, with Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiral. The museum includes modern art collections and special exhibitions. If you love architecture, this one is a double win.

Whitney Museum of American Art (included)

The Whitney focuses on 20th and 21st-century American art. You can expect major names like Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, and Jackson Pollock in its collection highlights. It is a strong choice if you want art that feels modern but still grounded.

You can also mix in other included art and design stops depending on your taste, like Cooper Hewitt for design, or International Center of Photography for photo exhibitions.

Central Park from bikes to movie tours: choose your style

Central Park is big enough that you need a plan. This pass includes multiple ways to experience it, so you can match your energy level.

Central Park bike rentals and tours (included)

You can book a 2-hour guided bike tour with an expert guide, or choose bicycle rentals to explore at your own pace. If you want to cover more ground without exhausting yourself, biking is the move.

Central Park TV and Movie Sites walking tour (included, reservation required)

This is a fun option if you love recognizing locations from screen time. It is specifically aimed at famous movie sites in the park.

Central Park sightseeing walking tour (included)

This version is also guided and focused on park history and landscaping, with examples of movies the park has appeared in. Start early if you can, because you will cover more when you avoid the late-day crowds.

If you want a flexible mix, pair one Central Park option with a skyline stop on the same day. Midtown and Uptown access are easy enough to connect with smart scheduling.

Neighborhood walks that make NYC feel like a place, not a checklist

A pass can become a blur if it is only towers and museums. The included neighborhood tours are what keep it human.

Harlem walking tour (included, reservation required)

You get a fully guided look at Harlem’s history and culture, with notes on how economic cycles shaped the area.

Wall Street walking tour (included, reservation required)

This one is about how money was made, with a history of the global financial institution. It is useful if you want context behind all those bank buildings.

Little Italy walking tour (included, reservation required)

A guided walk designed to show the neighborhood’s story and cinematic links to creators.

Chinatown walking tour (included, reservation required)

Expect a guided stroll through the sights and streets of Chinatown, with focus on neighborhood character.

On Location Tours and food tours

There is also a Central Park movie tour and a Worldwide Plaza food walking experience. Those are reservation-required and good when you want a break from galleries.

High Line, Hudson Yards, and the elevated architecture moment

The pass includes a High Line plus Hudson Yards experience. This is a good pairing day if you like modern design and want a “NYC after a train track” story.

High Line and Hudson Yards Tour (included, advanced reservation required)

You learn how Hudson Yards went from an industrial district to a vacant lot, then into the current redevelopment. You also visit the High Line, and the Hudson Yards Vessel, described as huge bronze interlaced staircases with 2,500 steps.

This is also a scheduling day. If you do it, consider it your anchor. Plan fewer other stops nearby because you are moving through a lot of ground.

Water views and skyline from the best seat in NYC

If you have never done a harbor cruise here, it can flip how you see the city. This pass includes Circle Line options from Midtown.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises – Midtown (included)

You can choose routes like classic skyline viewing or a sunset cruise of harbor lights and more. You will wait in line to secure a boarding pass for your day’s cruise. The included pitch is award-winning guides and state-of-the-art boats, plus famous routes.

If you only have one “slow down” experience, I’d put this on your list. It is a break from sidewalks and also gives you photo angles you cannot get from land.

More included stops worth planning around

This is the section where you decide your interests and stitch together your final itinerary. I will keep it practical so you can see what to pick.

MoMA PS1 (included)

Experimental art space in Long Island City, with performances and a solid reason to head into Queens.

International Center of Photography (ICP) (included)

Photography-focused museum with multiple exhibitions each year and programming like lectures.

Museum of Sex (included)

Adults-only. No patrons under 18 are allowed. If your group likes provocative, this one is memorable, with 22,000 square feet of exhibitions.

Museum of Arts and Design (included)

Smaller than the megamuseums, focused on art and design, especially in Columbus Circle area.

Museum of the City of New York (included)

A good “what makes NYC NYC” stop, with exhibits about past, present, and future.

New York Historical Society (included)

Four centuries of NYC history, right near Central Park.

Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine (included)

Romanesque and Gothic architecture in a huge cathedral setting. It also mentions gardens with peacocks.

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum (included)

The design-focused museum with historic and future-facing technology connections.

South Street Seaport Museum (included)

Maritime history with historic ships and 19th-century cabins and decks.

Intrepid Museum (included, advanced reservation required)

A floating museum at USS Intrepid with other aircraft and ships like the space shuttle Enterprise and the Concorde, plus interactive exhibitions.

Skyscraper Museum (included)

Architecture-focused museum with views from Battery Park.

Madame Tussauds (included)

Wax attraction with interactive experiences, including Mission: Undead and Marvel Super Hero 4D.

Artechouse NYC (included)

Digital art exhibit experience.

Escape Virtuality (included, advanced reservation required)

VR and AR experience. Escape rooms are private and require minimum four players.

Grand Central Terminal Marvel & DC Superheroes Tour (included, advanced reservation required)

A guided tour aimed at comic-book linked landmarks.

Catacombs by Candlelight at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral (included, advanced reservation required)

A guided tour below the basilica into crypts, done by candlelight.

Rockefeller Center Tour (included)

Art-Deco building history and highlights. Capacity is limited to 10 guests, first-come basis.

Yankee Stadium Classic Tour (included)

Classic tour with Yankees history and artifacts. Popular, arrive 15 minutes early and allow security time.

Yankee Stadium game tickets or stadium tour (included)

This pass also lists a free option for game tickets or stadium tour depending on your selection.

Shake Rattle & Roll dueling pianos (included)

A long-running music party format.

Clipper City Tall Ship (included, seasonal May to October, advanced reservation required)

Tall ship cruises for about 60 minutes after departure from Battery Park.

Big Bus New York (included)

Hop-on hop-off with live commentary and many stops, but it is only valid for the Uptown and Downtown loops.

Unlimited Biking, Brooklyn Bridge bike rental (included)

A longer bike rental option and a fast way to get big views and lots of ground covered.

On Location and specialty tours

You can also choose Underground Railroad and NYC slavery tours, Little Italy and Chinatown guides, and food on foot tours, all of which require advanced reservation.

If you want outdoors, plan the borough hop

This pass includes several nature and animal options, mostly aimed at a half-day or full-day slot where you can unwind and breathe.

New York Botanical Garden (included)

In the Bronx, 250 acres and 50+ gardens, plus a children’s garden with interactive games.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (included)

A classic picnic-and-stroll option in Brooklyn.

Staten Island Zoo (included)

A wildlife stop on Staten Island, plus 8 acres of zoo area.

Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor and Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (included)

Two Staten Island options with arts, science, and gardens, including an illustrated Ming era Scholar’s Garden experience with special entry routes like a drawbridge.

If you do borough days, treat them as your anchor day. It is easy to burn time hopping if you also stack too many Midtown stops.

Practical tips I’d use to make this pass work

Start with your must-do tickets and then fill in the rest. In NYC terms, your skyline picks and your top museum picks should go first. Then add one neighborhood walking tour, and one “reset” activity like a cruise.

Go early for ticket desks and expect time-slot lines. This pass often includes admission, but for some attractions the timed entry process still means waiting.

Also remember: each attraction can only be visited once. So if you have two favorites that you might want to repeat, you should decide which one matters most for this trip.

And yes, the included list is subject to change. That means you should not build your whole trip around a single “maybe” stop. Have a backup option ready in the Go City app.

Should you book the New York Pass?

If your plan is to see a lot of NYC highlights over a few days, and you are comfortable managing time slots, I think this pass is often a smart move at $169. It is especially good for first-timers who want both skyline icons and major museums without doing a calculator for every entry ticket.

If you want zero waiting, or you hate planning and reservations, it might feel annoying. In that case, you may do better by buying individual tickets for the few things you truly care about and leaving the rest spontaneous.

My decision rule is simple. Choose this pass if you can name at least three included “anchor” attractions you will definitely do, and you can commit to checking the Go City app for required reservations and time-slot steps. If you cannot, book fewer admissions directly and keep your days freer.

FAQ

Do I need to book time slots for included attractions?

Some included attractions require advanced reservations, and others require you to wait in line to receive a time slot. The Go City app or digital guide is where you can see which stops require reservations.

Does the pass include entry to the Statue of Liberty pedestal or crown?

No. The pass includes the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry experience, but it does not include entry to the Statue of Liberty pedestal or crown levels. Those must be purchased separately.

Can I reserve an Empire State Building sunset time with the pass?

No. The pass does not allow reserving a time slot for sunset hours at Empire State Building. It suggests visiting after instead for night views.

Does Big Bus New York cover all routes?

The Big Bus New York pass is only valid for the Uptown and Downtown loops.

When does the pass become active and how long does it last?

Your pass is activated upon your first attraction visit. It then remains valid for the number of consecutive calendar days purchased (not 24-hour periods).

Is food included with the pass?

No. Food and drinks are not included unless a specific attraction states otherwise.