Is The Go City New York Pass Worth It & How Does It Work?

Last Updated on 3rd March 2026

This post about is the Go City New York Pass worth it contains affiliate links and mentions of gifted and collaborative work with Go City. All opinions are my own; please see my disclaimer for more.

Saving money on a trip to New York City might sound like some far-off distant dream, but after spending months at a time in The City That Never Sleeps, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that can help you save money on sights and attractions.

Enter: the Go City New York Pass! There are numerous passes to choose from when it comes to saving money in NYC, but after trying them all, I’m confident that the New York Go City Pass is the best and my personal favourite and therefore, the one that I recommend the most.

In my detailed guide below, I’m sharing everything you need to know about the Go City Pass, including how it works, examples of when it is (and isn’t!) worth the money, how much it costs, and example New York itineraries that use the Go City Pass so you can see exactly how each pass works in action!

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To save an extra 10% OFF the Go City Passes, just enter the discount code GOPROMOCD at checkout!

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What is the Go City Pass and who is it for?

Go City are the largest sightseeing pass provider in the world, offering sightseeing passes to over 28 cities in 15 different countries, including Amsterdam, London, Paris, Prague, Rome, Singapore, and, of course, New York City.

With more than 7.5 million active users and over 1,500 attractions included worldwide, Go City is the best way to save up to 50% on sights, tours, and attractions all over the world.

The New York Go City Pass is designed for travellers looking to visit as many sights and attractions in NYC as possible, while saving money in the process.

There are three types of Go City New York Pass; the All-Inclusive Pass, the Explorer Pass, and the Essentials Pass. In my extensive guide below, I’m going to be breaking down exactly what each pass is, how it works, how much it costs and how to use them to save money during your trip to NYC.

Is the Go City New York Pass worth it?

The New York Go City Pass is worth it in many cases as it enables you to save money on sights and attractions in New York City. However, there are times when the pass isn’t worth using, and I’ve shared some examples below of when it is/isn’t worth it.

The New York Go City Pass IS worth it:

• If you want to take advantage of potentially huge savings on sights and attractions in NYC.
• If you want to enjoy a variety of observation decks, museums, walking tours, bus tours, cruises, and more.
• If you’re happy with a flexible schedule and are OK with not having everything booked in advance.
• If you’re visiting NYC during the quieter months (January/February and September/October) when it’s not quite as essential to pre-book attractions.

The New York Go City Pass MIGHT NOT be worth it:

• If you’re visiting NYC in the height of December and you’re worried about attractions being booked up in advance.
• However, it is still worth using the Go City Pass in December if you’re planning to visit attractions that you can pre-book in advance such as the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry, The RIDE, Harlem Gospel Tour, Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Walking Tour, and the SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour.
• If you’d prefer to stick to free/cheaper activities overall so you wouldn’t really feel the benefit of the savings.

The best and easiest way to determine whether the Go City Pass is worth it for YOU is to make a list of all the paid-for sights and attractions you want to visit in New York, work out how much each one costs individually and then see if you’d save money by using the Go City Pass. I’ve given detailed examples below of when the Go City Pass IS worth it.

Which attractions are included in the New York Go City Pass?

There are 110 attractions/activities included in the All-Inclusive Pass, 109 attractions included in the Explorer Pass, and 13 attractions to choose from with the Essentials Pass.

Below, I’ve listed the attractions that are included in both the All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass.

• Empire State Building (booking required)
• Edge
• Top of the Rock
• One World Observatory
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry (booking required)
• 9/11 Museum
• American Museum of Natural History
• Museum of Modern Art
• The Ride (booking required)
• SoHo, Little Italy & Chinatown Neighborhood Walking Tour (booking required)
• Big Bus 1-Day Downtown & Uptown Hop-on Hop-off Tour

There are also certain attractions that are only included in certain passes. For example, attractions such as the Museum of Arts and Design, New York Hall of Science, Staten Island Zoo, and South Street Seaport Museum are exclusive to the Go City All-Inclusive Pass.

Attractions such as The Beast Speedboat Ride, Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Walking Tour and the Woodbury Common Bus Tour are exclusive to the Go City Explorer Pass.

Note that Summit One Vanderbilt is NOT currently included in the Go City Pass (or any New York Pass for that matter!), so you will have to book individual tickets for Summit.

How much does the Go City New York Pass cost?

Please note that the prices featured throughout this guide are accurate as of June 2025. I will endeavour to keep this guide updated as often as possible to show you the most accurate and up-to-date prices for each Go City Pass. Prices are listed in USD.

Go City All-Inclusive Pass prices:

Go City New York Explorer Pass prices:

Go City New York Essentials Pass

The Go City Essentials Pass has just one price; for just $99 you get the choice of three top New York attractions from their curated list. It includes a choice of one of four of New York’s observation decks (Top of the Rock, Edge, One World Observatory, or the Empire State Building), and then you get a choice of two more experiences from a possible nine attractions.

The Essentials Pass is valid from 30 days after you use the pass at your first attraction, but non-activated passes are valid for one year from the date of purchase, so you can buy your pass now, and then not activate it until a year later!

It’s important to remember that certain attractions (such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum) require booking in advance via the Go City website or app portal, whereas other attractions (such as One World Observatory and the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum) don’t require pre-booking, and to use your pass, you simply have to show it at the entrance to the attraction on the day/time you desire.

How does the Go City New York Pass work?

While it might seem a little overwhelming to figure out exactly how the New York Go City Pass works, it’s actually much easier than you’d think! Below, you can find the exact step-by-step instructions for using the Go City Passes in NYC!

1. Pick your pass: The All-Inclusive Pass is best if you want to see as much as possible over a certain number of days, whereas the Explorer Pass is better suited to those wanting to tick off just a few attractions.
2. Download the Go City app and sync your pass: Once you’ve purchased your pass, you’ll receive an email with an order confirmation number (see 1st picture below). Download the Go City app and enter your order number and the email address you used to purchase the pass (see 2nd picture below). Your pass will be marked “ready to use” (see 3rd picture below) and will activate when you scan it at your first attraction.
3. Book your must-see attractions in advance: While most NYC attractions can’t be pre-booked with the Go City Pass, there are certain attractions that do require booking in advance (including the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry, The RIDE, Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Walking Tour, Catacombs by Candlelight Tour, and more). You can see the full list of attractions that require pre-booking on the Go City website.

Go City New York Explorer Pass

The New York City Explorer Pass allows you to choose the number of attractions you want to visit. The pass is valid for 60 days from the use of your pass at your first attraction. There are 95 attractions included in the Explorer Pass, including all the top museums and observation decks (apart from Summit as that’s not included in any pass), as well some exclusive attractions such as The Beast Speedboat Ride and the Woodbury Common Bus Tour.

Features of the Go City Explorer Pass:

• Allows you to save up to 57% on New York City attractions compared to their original price.
• Enables you to choose from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 choice pass.
• Pass valid for 60 days from your first visit.
• Allows you to pre-book certain attractions such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty Tour, as well as use the pass on any day/time where there is availability at your chosen attraction.
• Easy to use on the Go City app.
• Free cancellation within 365 days.

My exact 3 choice Explorer Pass itinerary

During my sixth trip to New York City in October 2024, we used the 3 choice Explorer Pass to save money on sights and attractions.

Below, I’ve included detailed examples/instructions about how to use the New York Go City 3 Choice Explorer Pass at each attraction.

Top of the Rock

On my recent trips to NYC, you just had to turn up to the TOTR and use your pass on the day, but it is now possible to book a time slot in advance; you can do this via the Go City app or online.

One thing to bear in mind; the Top of the Rock gets super busy and booked up quickly, particularly in December when it’s the height of the festive season, so it’s a good idea to plan accordingly and book your time slot via the Go City app as soon as possible.

The best time to visit TOTR is at sunset for incredible views, but the best time to visit if you want a better chance of getting straight in is between 10 AM and 2 PM. As an example, we arrived at TOTR on a Wednesday in October at 1.45 PM and managed to print off our tickets and head to the observatory for the next available time slot of 2 PM.

American Museum of Natural History

Similarly to the Top of the Rock, you can’t pre-book a time slot at the American Museum of Natural History, so you have to show up on the day/time that you want and scan your Go City Pass to gain entry.

How to use the Go City Pass at the American Museum of Natural History:

1. Have your pass ready on the Go City app.
2. Head to the museum to use the pass (you can’t pre-book a time slot online in advance). I would suggest heading to the entrance at the Rose Center for Earth and Space rather than the main entrance on Central Park West as it is usually much quieter.
3. You may still have to queue for a little while, but it shouldn’t take too long.
4. Show your Go City Pass to the security guard then head straight to the Ticket Sales desk to use your pass on the app to redeem your tickets.
5. From there, head to the person in charge of scanning tickets, present your paper ticket and head to your first exhibit inside the museum!

The best time to visit the American Museum of Natural History is either first thing in the morning (arrive before it opens at 10 AM so you’re one of the first people in the queue) or early afternoon (just after lunchtime).

We arrived at the AMNH at around 9.50 AM and the queues were already crazy long at the main entrance on 79th Street at Central Park West, but it was much quieter at the Rose Center for Earth and Space entrance on 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Ave, so I would definitely suggest entering there.

Madison Square Garden Tour Experience

The Madison Square Garden Tour is another attraction that cannot be pre-booked in advance using the Go City Pass, so you will need to head to the venue and present your pass to take the tour.

How to use the Go City Pass at the Madison Square Garden Tour Experience:

1. Have your pass ready on the Go City app.
2. Head to the Madison Square Garden main entrance on 7th Avenue (ask a member of staff to assist if you can’t find it!) and go through security (small backpacks and cameras are permitted inside/on the tour).
3. You’ll then be directed towards the Box Office area where you’ll need to use your Go City Pass on the app to redeem printed tickets for the next available time slot for the tour.
4. Tours are available daily from 10.30 AM to 3 PM (unless closed for an event) and begin every 15 minutes.

The best time to take a Madison Square Garden Tour using the Go City Pass is first thing in the morning when they open. I would suggest heading to the arena for just before 10.30 AM so you can redeem tickets for the next available slot.

Is the New York Explorer Pass worth it?

For the three attractions that we chose using the Go City Explorer Pass, I do think that it was worth the money. As you can see from the simple calculations below, we saved $16.88 each by using the Explorer Pass to visit these three attractions, rather than booking seperate tickets for each attraction.

However, it’s important to note that two of the attractions we visited could not be pre-booked in advance. Therefore, you do run the risk of having to wait around and queue up at each attraction to use the pass each time.

• Top of the Rock – up to $66 per person usually
• Madison Square Garden Tour Experience – $46 per person usually
• American Museum of Natural History – $30 per person usually

Total cost of all three attractions without the pass: $142

3 Choice Go City Explorer Pass worth: $119

TOTAL savings with the pass: $23

Go City All-Inclusive Pass – 3 day Pass example itinerary

Hopefully my detailed itinerary/use of the 3 choice Explorer Pass above has given you some insight into how the Explorer Pass works and when it’s worth using. Below, I’ve also shared an example 3-day New York itinerary using the Go City Pass to show you when it’s worth the money.

Day 1:

• Empire State Building – $53.35 (booking required)
• The RIDE – $79 (booking required)
• Catacombs by Candlelight Tour – $38 (booking required)

Day 2:

• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry – $25.50
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum – $36
• Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise – $54

Day 3:

• Top of the Rock – $59.88
• SoHo, Little Italy & Chinatown Walking Tour – $39 (booking required)
• Madison Square Garden Tour Experience – $46

Is the Go City New York All-Inclusive Pass worth it?

The total cost of all of these attractions is $430.73 and the 3-Day All-Inclusive Pass costs just $274, therefore you’d enjoy savings of a whopping $156.73, so in this example, the Go City All-Inclusive Pass is definitely worth it!

If you’re planning to visit attractions that CAN be pre-booked in advance, then it’s almost always worth purchasing a Go City Pass! Also, if you’re happy to get to each attraction as early as possible in order to use the pass without pre-booking, then it’s also worth the money!

Go City Pass New York top tips

• You will have two years from the date of purchase to activate your pass.
• Remember to check in advance if you need to pre-book certain attractions, especially during peak tourist seasons.
• While you won’t incur any extra charges to use the Go City pass at most attractions, there will be additional surcharges for things like visiting observation decks at sunset.
• Passes that have not yet been activated are eligible for a refund within 90 days from the purchase date.
• You can have more than one pass saved to a single Go City app on one device, so if you’re travelling as a family, you can share one device/app and have all passes in one place.

Remember to use the discount code GOPROMOCD to save up to an extra 10%!

Conclusion – is the Go City New York Pass worth it?

As you can see from the many examples throughout this guide, the New York Go City Pass is worth it in many cases. If you’re visiting New York in the quieter months, then it’s almost always worth it, and even if you’re visiting in the peak tourist seasons, as long as you choose some attractions that can be pre-booked and you’re willing to queue for the attractions that can’t be pre-booked, then the Go City Pass is worth it as long as it saves you money.

I hope you found this Go City NYC Pass review useful and I hope it’s helped you to decide whether the New York Go City Pass is worth it for you! Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group if you’re planning to purchase a New York Pass!