The Go City Pass in New York: how it works and is it worth it?
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In New York, the big attractions are expensive: an observation deck, a museum, a cruise, and the budget climbs fast. The Go City Pass brings together around a hundred attractions in a single pass, at a discount compared with tickets bought separately.
We used it on our first day in New York; here’s how it works and what we took away from it.
The different formulas
| Formula | Principle | For whom? |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive Pass | As many attractions as you like during a set number of days (1 to 10 days) | Those who want to pack several visits into each day |
| Explorer Pass | A number of attractions chosen at purchase, to be used within 30 days of the first visit | Those who have a few must-sees in mind and a more relaxed pace |
| Essentials Pass | Three attractions to choose from a shorter list, to be done within 30 days | A short stay focused on the classics |
How to use it
- Buy the pass on the Go City website or in the app. It arrives directly in the app.
- The pass is activated at the first attraction, when you show it at the entrance.
- Some attractions require a reservation in advance (it’s indicated in the app). That’s the case for observation decks such as the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock, where you choose a time slot.
- As long as it hasn’t been activated, the pass is refundable for 90 days after purchase.
Our experience with the Explorer Pass
We had bought the New York Explorer Pass with 3 attractions, for $209 for two. We used it for:
- the Empire State Building, by night, on the evening we arrived (day 1);
- the American Museum of Natural History, planetarium included (day 2 (coming out on October 18, 2026));
- Top of the Rock, on Christmas morning (day 4).
For the Statue of Liberty, we didn’t go through the pass: it was cheaper to book separately, directly with the official company, with access to the pedestal.
The Explorer Pass suited us well: no pressure to “get our money’s worth” out of each day, and the freedom to fit the visits in whenever it suited us.
Is it worth it?
It all depends on your programme. Before buying, do the sums:
- list the attractions you really want to do;
- add up their prices as separate tickets, on each attraction’s website or on a ticketing platform such as Tiqets, which we haven’t tried ourselves;
- compare with the formula that covers them.
The prices and the list of attractions change often: they are up to date on the Go City website.
The pass becomes worthwhile as soon as you plan two or three big attractions (observation decks, paying museums, cruises). If you mostly intend to wander around the neighbourhoods, Central Park, the High Line or the Brooklyn Bridge, which are free, it isn’t much use.
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