More about: New York Go City Passes
New York can be two things at once: the most fascinating city in the world and a black hole for your budget. Tickets here, queues there, overlapping reservations... In the end, you spend more time doing the math than looking up.
Go City tourist cards take that burden off your shoulders: they help you plan, save you more than if you bought individual tickets for attractions, and allow you to get around with a single code on your mobile phone instead of chasing tickets around in your pocket.
The advantages of Go City Cards
A tourist card is a pass that you purchase in advance and gives you access to various attractions in a city (museums, viewpoints, tours, cruises, etc.) for a certain period of time.
With Go City cards for New York:
- You can access more than a hundred attractions, tours and experiences throughout the city, such as the Empire State Building or the Top of the Rock.
- A digital pass is available through an app (although you can print it out if you prefer paper).
- You will save more than if you buy tickets for the attractions separately.
- At many attractions, you can skip the queue and go straight in.
The three types of Go City cards
No two travellers are alike, which is why Go City has three types of cards so you can choose the one that best suits your travel style: the New York Essentials Pass, the New York City Explorer Pass and the New York Pass All Inclusive.
New York Essentials Pass: Choose 3 Top NYC Attractions
New York's top attractions at your disposal
If you don't have much time on your trip to New York, this tourist pass is perfect for ensuring you don't miss out on the essential attractions.
The Essentials Pass is designed to get straight to the point: you choose a total of three experiences — one observation deck + two attractions — from a selection that includes the Empire State Building, The Edge, Top of the Rock and One World Observatory, as well as classics such as MoMA, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Manhattan cruises, Intrepid, Madame Tussauds and bike hire in Central Park.
You don't have to decide everything when you buy it: you don't choose the attractions in advance. Once in New York, you select them on the go from the app; just keep in mind that some require advance booking (the digital guide indicates this) and that each attraction can only be visited once with the pass. The app itself helps you manage schedules and reservations to maximise savings compared to individual tickets.
Go City: New York City Explorer Pass - Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 attractions
The best attractions in New York at your fingertips
If you don't want to miss out on the best of New York, buy this tourist pass to visit the ones you like best.
Think of the Explorer as an à la carte menu: you choose how many attractions you want to include (from 2 to 10) from over 100 options, from the Empire State Building to Manhattan cruises and iconic museums. You pay according to the number of activities, and then you have up to 30 days from the first activation to use them at your own pace.
You don't need to decide everything before you travel: you purchase the pass with a number of attractions and, once in New York, you choose what suits you each day. Depending on the attractions you choose, you can save up to 40% compared to buying tickets separately.
The New York Pass All Inclusive - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 Days
The best attractions in New York, at the lowest price
If you want to access the best attractions in New York, get this multi-day tourist pass to access the ones you like best during your trip. You'll save time and money.
The New York Pass All Inclusive from Go City is in a league of its own: here you don't choose how many attractions, but how many consecutive days you want to make the most of the city (between 1 and 10 days). During that period, you can visit as many activities as you want in a single day: viewpoints, museums, walking tours, cruises, etc.
Ideal if you're the type who leaves the hotel in the morning and doesn't return until the lights of Times Square start to fade. If you make good use of it, you can save up to 47% compared to individual tickets.
What attractions are included in Go City passes
The three Go City passes in New York give you access to over a hundred attractions, tours and experiences, including:
- Empire State Building
- The Edge New York Observatory
- Top of the Rock Observatory
- One World Observatory
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- American Museum of Natural History
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Intrepid Museum
- Madame Tussauds + MARVEL Universe 4D
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry
- 2-day Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus with Big Bus
How Go City tourist cards work
The cards are purchased online and received by email in digital format. You can add the pass to the official Go City app or carry it as a QR code on your mobile phone (or printed, if you prefer).
- The pass is only activated when you scan it at the first attraction.
- For "per day" passes, it counts by calendar days (until midnight).
- For "number of attractions" passes, one visit is deducted each time you scan it.
- Some attractions require advance booking (check each case on the official website).
How to choose between the three Go City passes
The key here is not so much "which one is best", but how you travel and how many things you want to do.
The Explorer Pass is best if:
- You have a short list of must-sees (e.g. 4–6 attractions).
- You prefer to spread them out over several days.
- You like to leave time to wander around without feeling obliged to "make the most of the day".
- Ideal for relaxed trips, repeat visits or trips combined with work or shopping.
The All Inclusive (The New York Pass) makes more sense if:
- It is your first time in New York and you want to see all the classics.
- You are only going for a few days and plan to have intense days of activities.
- You want to get the most out of the pass by visiting several attractions per day.
The Essentials Pass is right for you if:
- You want to simplify: 3 experiences in total (1 viewpoint + 2 attractions) without wasting time comparing dozens of options.
- You value the flexibility to choose on the fly.
- You want to be sure to visit a viewpoint (Edge, Top of the Rock, Empire State or One World).
- You are travelling for 2–5 days and are looking for hassle-free savings, with management from the app and notification of necessary reservations at some attractions.
A simple criterion: if you have many attractions in a few days, the All Inclusive is probably the best option. If your list is shorter and more scattered, the Explorer is probably best for you. And if you have little time but don't want to miss out on the essentials, the Essentials is probably the most suitable.