New York Go City Pass Review 2026: Everything You Need to Know

New York is renowned for being an expensive city, so anything you can do to save money on a visit is worth it. One of these ways is by choosing a New York Go City Pass, which allows you to visit top sites and attractions for up to 50% less. Sounds too good to be true? This guide explains how it works, why it’s worth it and everything you need to know.

What Is the New York Go City Pass?

First things first, what exactly is a New York Go City Pass?

Go City is the largest sightseeing provider in the world and actually covers over 25 cities across the world, including Sydney, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong! Check them all out here. And of course, New York!

Purchasing a pass allows you to access the top attractions in each city. You can choose the option that is right for you, and how many attractions you have time to visit. Then choose your experiences, find the right date and time, and book through the app. You can see what you have scheduled, and rearrange as needed, in the app.

Worldwide, there are over 7.5 million active users, 700,000 passes sold annually, and over 1,500 attractions. Go City allows you to save up to 50% on all of these!

What are the Different Types of New York Go City Passes?

There are three different options for purchasing a New York Go City Pass:

• Explorer Pass
• All-inclusive Pass
• Essentials Pass

These vary in price and also in the number of attractions included.

Compare all three passes here:
New York Go City Pass options

Explorer Pass

The most popular pass. With the Explorer Pass, you can choose how many attractions you want to visit, to align with how many days you are spending in the city. The website advises that you can visit 3 to 4 attractions in a day. I personally visited 6 in 5 days.

The Explorer Pass is available for 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 or 10 attractions, and has 106 attractions to choose from.

All-inclusive Pass

The All-inclusive Pass allows you to choose how many days you want your pass to be valid for; available for 1 through 10 days. Within these days, you can visit as many of the 106 included attractions as you like. This is the perfect pass if you want to pack in some serious sightseeing.

If you are visiting New York for the first time and want to see some of the most well-known sights, this could be the pass for you. The Essentials Pass includes 13 of the top attractions, including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and 9/11 Museum. You can choose one of the 4 included viewing platforms, and two more from the other top 9.

How does it work?

Once you have purchased the Go City Pass, it is ready to use! Follow the next steps to activate and use your pass.

1. Download the app. You can then add sync passes by adding the confirmation number in your email.
2. Book your activities. Some of the activities don’t need any booking in advance, but many of the popular ones do. And they can get booked up, so if there are any must-dos for you, then make sure to get these booked in.
3. Visit your first attraction to activate your pass. Just show your pass when you arrive, and you’re away!

How long is the New York Go City Pass Valid for?

A Go City Pass is valid in two stages. Before you start using it and once it is activated:

• Before activation: You have one full year from the date of purchase to activate your pass. If your plans change, you don’t need to worry about the pass expiring immediately after you buy it.
• After activation: Once your pass is activated (the moment you use it for the very first time at an attraction), you then have 30 consecutive calendar days to visit the number of attractions you purchased for an Explorers or Essentials pass. For an All-inclusive, you need to use it over consecutive days from the first day of activation.

The Trip Planner

If you aren’t sure which pass is right for you, want some suggestions on what sites to visit or help planning the best itinerary to make the most of your time, then Go City New York has a handy feature. The Trip Planner page allows you to put in how many days you have and what type of attractions you want to see. From there, it generates a perfect itinerary for you. Including some free activities to complement the ones booked through the New York Go City Pass.

Alternatively, you can build your own bespoke itinerary using the planner by choosing the attractions you want to visit. The planner then generates the ideal itinerary for you to see them all.

How Much Does the New York Go City Pass Cost in 2026?

Go City Explorer Pass:

Go City All-inclusive Pass:

Go City Essentials Pass:

Is it cheaper than paying separately?

Undoubtedly, purchasing a New York Go City Pass will give you savings. Below, I have mapped out a few examples.

Using the Explorer’s Pass

During my time in New York, I visited The Top of the Rock Observatory, The Edge, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a walking tour of Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and a rooftop bar tour. The total cost if I had booked these myself would have been $272. Using a New York Explorer Go City Pass, the cost was $204, around a 25% discount, and a saving of $68. So in this example, it is definitely worth it!

I also chose a couple of the ‘cheaper’ options, as I have visited some of the sights before. If you want to go for the more popular and higher ticket value options, then your savings could be even higher. For example:

• Big Bus 2-Day Downtown & Uptown Hop-on Hop-off Tour: Usually $81
• One World Observatory: Usually $48
• Empire State Building: Usually $57

Total without a pass: $186
Total with a 3-choice Explorers New York Go City Pass: $119
A saving of $67 and around 36%.

Using the All-inclusive Pass

If you decide to go for the All-inclusive Pass, then there are even larger opportunities to make savings, depending on how many attractions you visit in a day. An example 2-day itinerary could look like this:

Day 1:

• Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown Walking Tour: $42
• Madison Square Garden Tour Experience: $48
• 9/11 Memorial Museum: $36
• Top of the Rock Observatory: $65

Day 2:

• Edge: $69
• Empire Statue Building: $57
• Circle Line NYC Landmarks Cruise: $45
• Museum of Modern Art: $30

The total cost for the above is $392.
By using the 2-day all-inclusive pass for this specific itinerary, you would be saving $173, which is a fantastic discount of 44%.

Are there any discounts or promo codes?

Currently, if you sign up to the Go City Pass newsletter, you can receive a futher 5% disount off the price of your pass. Also, keep an eye on seasonal savings; there are often offers around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

A reminder, the pass is valid for a year from purchase before activation, so you can buy in advance if there are offers on.

What’s Included in the New York Go City Pass?

The New York Go City Pass gives you access to over 100 top New York attractions, all managed through the easy-to-use digital app. The lineup covers pretty much every corner of the New York sightseeing experience, from observatories, museums, harbour cruises, walking tours, and a few hidden gems you might not have found on your own.

The exact attractions available depend on which pass type you choose. The Explorer and All-inclusive passes both draw from the same pool of 106 attractions, while the Essentials Pass focuses on 13 of the most iconic sights. Always check the Go City app for the most up-to-date list before booking, as inclusions can occasionally change.

Top attractions covered

With so many attractions to choose from, there really is something for everyone, whether it is your first or 20th time in New York. ‘Top’ attractions are a personal choice, but there are some standout inclusions that offer the best value and are genuinely worth building your itinerary around:

• Empire State Building: One of the most iconic observatories in the world, and at $57 standalone, one of the best value inclusions on the pass. The views from the 86th floor are hard to beat.
• Top of the Rock: As mentioned in the itinerary example above, this consistently delivers. It’s also the one place in New York where you can photograph the Empire State Building as part of the skyline, rather than from it.
• Edge: NYC’s newest major observation deck, and at $69 standalone, one of the priciest. Including it on your pass is a smart move.
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: One of the most thoughtfully produced museums in the city. At $36 a ticket, it’s well worth including.
• Museum of Broadway: Well laid out across several floors in a timeline format, from the earliest to the most recent Broadway shows, with plenty of great photo opportunities throughout.
• Madison Square Garden Tour: A great inclusion, especially for sports fans or first-time visitors. At $48, it’s reasonably priced on its own, but satisfying to get covered by the pass.
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): World-class art collection and a welcome indoor option if the weather turns. A solid inclusion at $30.
• Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Walking Tour: A great way to see one of New York’s most photogenic neighbourhoods with a guide who knows the history. DUMBO is well worth a visit.

Attractions worth skipping

As above, what might be worth skipping for some is a must-see for others. However, not every inclusion on the pass represents the same level of value. A few worth approaching with realistic expectations are:

Hop-on hop-off bus: Useful for orientation on day one, but New York’s subway is fast, frequent, and far cheaper outside of the pass. If you’re comfortable navigating the city independently, this one probably isn’t worth using up a choice on your Explorer Pass.

Madame Tussauds: It’s fun, especially with kids, but at around $40 standalone, it’s one of the lower-priced inclusions on the pass, so it contributes less to your overall savings. Worth doing if it appeals to you, but don’t prioritise it over higher-ticket options.

Yankee Stadium Tour: The experience itself is great, but the stadium is notably out of the way compared to most Midtown and Downtown attractions. Factor in travel time before committing to a choice, unless baseball is high on your agenda.

One note: some of the most popular attractions, particularly the observatories, can book up well in advance during peak season. The pass doesn’t guarantee entry if slots are gone, so as soon as you’ve purchased, it’s worth locking in reservations through the app for anything that’s a must-do.

Is the New York Go City Pass Worth It in 2026?

The short answer is yes! But with a caveat. The pass works best when you go in with a plan and have worked out the attractions you want to visit. For example, if you do want to experience some of the longer and further away attractions, such as Coney Island or the Yankee Stadium Tour, or want to take your time visiting a museum, then the Explorer’s Pass would be a better choice than the All-inclusive.

If it is your first time in the city, and you want to whizz through all of the top sights and have an action-packed day, the All-inclusive offers great value for money.

If you use the Explorer Pass strategically and visit at least five attractions, you can save over $100 per person. With a 7–10 attraction pass, savings can reach $250–$450 per person. The All-inclusive Pass pushes those savings even further if you’re willing to pack your days.

Who is it worth for

The pass works super well for first-time visitors, families, and anyone planning to pack in three or more days of sightseeing. However, don’t rule it out if you’ve visited before. This was my fourth trip to New York, and the pass still delivered real value, partly by revisiting old favourites and partly by finally getting round to attractions I’d always skipped. If your itinerary includes several of the higher-ticket inclusions, the savings add up quickly regardless of how many times you’ve been.

It is also great for solo travellers in New York. Perfect for a safe and convenient way to see the city, as well as some savings, which is always needed when solo travelling. A good choice is to pick attractions such as walking tours, which give you the chance to meet and chat with other travellers.

Who should skip it

If you’re only in the city for a couple of days with a very short list of priorities, it’s worth doing the maths before buying. The pass only earns its cost if you’re using it consistently, and if your idea of a great New York trip involves neighbourhood walks, free markets, and wandering without a plan, you’ll likely get more value booking the odd attraction individually.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Go City Pass

Some final, handy tips to help you decide whether the New York Go City Pass is right for you and to help you plan your trip:

• Book early. The most popular attractions, particularly the observation decks and the Statue of Liberty cruise, can sell out days in advance during peak season. As soon as you’ve purchased your pass, open the app and secure your must-dos.
• Prioritise your highest-ticket attractions. When choosing which experiences to include on your Explorer Pass, start with the most expensive options. The costlier the attraction would have been individually, the more value you’re getting from the pass.
• Plan your days geographically. Group attractions by neighbourhood to avoid criss-crossing the city. A day in Lower Manhattan, a day in Midtown, and a day in Brooklyn will serve you far better than bouncing around the map.
• Don’t overlook the lesser-known inclusions. Some of the best values are hidden further down the list; the Rockefeller Center Tour, RiseNY, and the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Walking Tour are all highly rated and frequently missed.
• Sign up for the newsletter before you buy. You’ll receive a 5% discount code immediately after subscribing.
• Use the Trip Planner. Go City’s built-in planner generates a suggested itinerary based on your dates and preferences. Very useful if the 100+ options feel overwhelming.

Final Verdict on the New York Go City Pass

The pass really is a fantastic way to save money when visiting New York, and worth it for so many people. With the huge variety of attractions, there is something for everyone, no matter what you are interested in or whether you are looking to explore New York a little deeper on a return visit.

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Considering a trip to New York? Here are my other guides on the city to help you plan your trip:

• Solo travel guide to New York
• 5 Days in New York
• Food of New York
• Visiting New York in the winter

Disclaimer: My Go City Pass was complimentary PR, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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