The New York Sightseeing Pass is a discount pass for visiting the attractions in New York. The pass is available in two types, both are very flexible to use. You only have to choose which attractions you would like to visit when you are in New York. The Sightseeing Pass also offers lots of advantages compared to buying individual tickets.
Buy the New York Sightseeing Pass here
What Is the New York Sightseeing Pass?
The Sightseeing Pass for New York is a commonly used discount pass. It is part of Sightseeing Pass LLC; a provider of city passes for various cities. The Sightseeing Pass comes in two forms; the Flex Pass and the Day Pass. If you purchase this pass, you no longer need to buy individual tickets for attractions. The pass is enough to do all the sights and tours in New York that you actually want to do, without paying anything extra!
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How Does the Sightseeing Flex Pass Work?
You can buy your Sightseeing Pass online with the Sightseeing Passes website. First, you need to decide between the Flex Pass or the Day Pass. The Flex Pass is an attraction pass where you can choose a number of attractions, then build your own pass from the list of included attractions and tours. The number of attractions you can choose from are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 12.
Immediately after purchase, you will receive an email with a link to your pass. You can use this as a mobile pass, the QR-code can be scanned from your mobile at the attractions. Alternatively, you can also print it and then use the pass physically. A third option is to upload the pass in the Sightseeing Passes app. Would you like a step-by-step explanation about the purchase and the use of the Sightseeing Pass? Look here. When you choose a pass, individual tickets are no longer necessary. One pass gives you access to all the included tours and attractions, it’s practical and affordable!
How Does the Sightseeing Day Pass Work?
The Day Pass is not for a specific amount of attractions, rather it is for a set number of days. This means you can do as much as you like within those specific days. Does this pass suit your plans best? If so, go to the website of Sightseeing Passes then select the Day Pass and choose how many days you would like to use it for: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10.
You will also receive the Day Pass through email via a link. The QR-code is valid indefinitely for the number of days for which you have purchased the pass. Please note these are consecutive days so you cannot ‘split’ the selected amount of days into two or more separate periods. In the Sightseeing Passes guide, you can see exactly how the Day Pass is purchased and used.
Booking Attractions With the Sightseeing Pass
Most of the tours and attractions you can do with the Sightseeing Pass don’t need to be reserved in advance. For example, visits to observation decks, museums and the Hop-on Hop-off bus cannot be booked beforehand. The moment you would like to visit; you simply go. You might receive a ticket for the next available time slot at certain attractions when it is very busy. However, most of the time you can enter directly.
Some things that are included in the Sightseeing Pass require a reservation in advance. The way to do this varies by attraction and tour. The information you receive by email, which can also be found in the app, explains exactly how this works. In most cases, there is a specific website where you can book with your pass number. Credit card information might be requested but your card will not be charged. Your card will only be charged if you do not show up on the day; the cost of the tour will be deducted. You can find out more here.
What Does the Sightseeing Pass Offer?
The Sightseeing Pass promises a wide choice of 150 attractions and offers. You have to pay close attention here; there are 100+ attractions and tours included with the pass (they also mention this on the site). The remaining 50 are offers which you can make extra use of with the pass. These extra offers are not a main reason to purchase the pass. However, the expansive list of attractions and tours are a main reason. This gives you access to the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, along with the relatively new One World Observatory and Edge. This offer applies to both the Flex Pass and the Day Pass; there is no difference between them.
One digital pass to enter the top attractions is one of the great advantages of the passes. This also applies to the other attraction passes, it is one of the reasons for using a pass rather than purchasing individual tickets.
Another benefit listed on the pass website is that there are two pass options which suit each budget. It can definitely be put it this way as in any case, there is primarily the choice between the Flex Pass and the Day Pass. The Day Pass is slightly more expensive to purchase than the Flex Pass. However, you can do more with the Day Pass if you have a full itinerary planned. Besides this, it is your decision how many attractions or days you would like to buy a pass for. Naturally, it’s true that the savings are greater with the more attractions or days you purchase.
Benefits With the Sightseeing Flex Pass
The Sightseeing Pass promises great savings. In regards to the Flex Pass, they promise a 50% discount when visiting at least two attractions per day. This is a bit of a strange description since you buy the Flex Pass for a number of attractions, not for a few days (like the Day Pass). This means how many things you do in one day doesn’t actually affect the amount of savings at all. Based on their own calculations, and on daily schedules filled with included attractions; you only get a 50% discount if you purchase a pass with 12 attractions. The calculation is shown below.
When we create an example itinerary with more expensive attractions, we also find a maximum savings of: -9%
Benefits With the Sightseeing Day Pass
Sightseeing Passes claim that with the Day Pass, you can save up to 70% if you visit three attractions per day. They also provide an example itinerary of 7 days but when we recalculate this the savings with this plan is only 65%, which is slightly lower than promised. In this calculation a few cheaper attractions are chosen so we made our own 7-day itinerary example with more expensive attractions.
However, even with that itinerary we only get a discount of: -44%.
It is only when you buy the pass with discount do you get a discount of: -75%. Below you can view this calculation.
Deals and Discounts
The Sightseeing Pass regularly has deals and discounts. You can order the pass online where discounts are offered. Therefore, it’s wise to keep an eye on the offers before you depart so you can order quickly if a good deal comes along. An added offer can save you 20-30% on the regular prices, which makes your overall savings very high on activities in New York. In addition, the pass is only valid for 24 months after purchase. It’s possible to opt for cancellation insurance with your purchase (“24 months money back guarantee”) so this means you won’t run any risks with last minute change of plans.
Price of the Flex Pass
Below you can find an overview of the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass prices
Buy the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass here
| 2 attr. | 3 attr. | 4 attr. | 5 attr. | 6 attr. | 7 attr. | 10 attr. | 12 attr. | |
| 0-2 |
free |
free |
free |
free |
free |
free |
free |
free |
| 3-12 | $76 | $105 | $116 | $131 | $140 | $161 | $220 | $239 |
| Adults | $95 | $125 | $143 | $167 | $179 | $206 | $269 | $297 |
Prices of the Day Pass
Below you can find an overview of the New York Sightseeing Day Pass prices
Buy the New York Sightseeing Day Pass here
| Day pass | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days | 6 days | 7 days | 10 days | |
| Kids up to 2 | free | free | free | free | free | free | free | free |
| Kids up to 12 | $119 | $171 | $205 | $222 | $248 | $271 | $281 | $299 |
| Adults | $161 | $218 | $266 | $289 | $315 | $343 | $361 | $389 |
Where Can I Buy the New York Sightseeing Pass?
The Sightseeing Flex and Day Pass are only available online, you can order them on the Sightseeing Pass site. You will always find the most current offers directly online so you don’t have to worry about missing out on the best deal.
Delivery
After ordering the New York Sightseeing Pass directly on the Sightseeing Pass website, you will receive an email with a link to your pass(es). The pass itself is actually a QR code which you can show at the attractions. You can choose to either print the pass and / or save it on your phone by taking a screenshot. It’s also possible to add it to the Apple/Android wallet. Another option is to add the pass to the Sightseeing Passes app.
Payment Method
You can pay for your Sightseeing Pass through several various ways, specifically by credit card, iDeal, PayPal and Sofort.
Return Policy
When purchasing a Sightseeing Pass, you will be offered the option of purchasing cancellation insurance. For an additional charge of 4% on the order total, it’s possible to cancel the pass up to 24 months after purchase. If cancelled within this time, you will receive the full amount back.
Validity Period
The New York Sightseeing Pass is valid for 24 months after purchase. When you first use the Flex pass, you’ll then have 30 days to visit all attractions. The Day Pass is valid for the number of days you have purchased it for. These are consecutive days. Therefore, it isn’t possible to use the pass for a few days, take a break then use it for the remaining days.
Delivery
Per email
Returns
With insurance up to 24 months
Validity
24 months
For Children and Senior Citizens
The New York Sightseeing Pass is available for both children and adults. This applies to both the Flex Pass and the Day Pass. The child pass is for those between the ages of 3 to 12 years, teenagers aged 13 and older must use an adult pass. Children from 0 to 2 years old can enter for free. For other children who are slightly older than 2 years, they can also sometimes enter for free. However, it is still advisable to buy the appropriate pass so the whole family can enter quickly and easily together.
There are no special rates for military/veterans or senior citizens. Some attractions do offer these discounts when you buy individual entry tickets but this is not applicable for every place. Taking this into account, you’ll probably still find it cheaper with an attraction pass.
Is the Sightseeing Pass for New York Worth It?
The Sightseeing Pass is definitely worth buying! Both the Day Pass and Flex Pass save you a lot of money when visiting attractions. Overall, it’s a little easier to access the savings with the Flex Pass rather than the Day Pass. Although, if you have a packed schedule, the potential savings with the Day Pass are worthwhile. The Sightseeing Passes offers an affordable attraction pass for every New York trip. Look here for various reviews about the Sightseeing Flex and Day Pass.
Savings With the Flex Pass
The exact savings with the Sightseeing Passes differ but it’s certain that you’ll save on attractions. There are two types of passes, both of which are available in different amounts of days / attractions and offer a different amount of savings. In addition, the savings depend on which attractions and tours you use the pass for. If the normal entrance cost is high, the pass will be more worthwhile than an entrance with lower costs. Below you see an example of the savings when using the Flex Pass with 6.
If you choose a Flex Pass with 12 attractions then your total savings can be up to -9%. Below you can view this calculation.
Sightseeing Pass 6 Attractions
| One World Observatory | $36 |
| Madame Tussauds | $48 |
| Woodbury Common Outlets | $42 |
| Edge | $44 |
| Hop-On Hop-Off | $58 |
| Circle Line: Landmarks Cruise | $44 |
| Total cost separate tickets: | $272 |
| 6 attractions Sightseeing Pass | $179 |
| Savings per person: | $93 |
| Discount per person: | -34% |
Sightseeing Pass 12 Attractions
| One World Observatory | $36 |
| Madame Tussauds | $48 |
| Woodbury Common Outlets | $42 |
| Edge | $44 |
| Hop-On Hop-Off | $58 |
| Circle Line: Landmarks Cruise | $44 |
| Empire State Building | $48 |
| Top of the Rock | $44 |
| Spyscape | $42 |
| Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | $30 |
| The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum | $36 |
| Guggenheim Museum | $30 |
| Total cost separate tickets: | $502 |
| 12 attractions Sightseeing Pass | $297 |
| Savings per person: | $205 |
| Discount per person: | -41% |
Buy the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass here
Savings With the Day Pass
Similar with the Day Pass, the savings depend on the planning for the day. We have made an example itinerary for 5 days where the pass does not give you a maximum discount (but it’s still a very good discount!) Below you can view this calculation. Please note: the last calculation is made with the discount price of the New York Sightseeing Pass.
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Day 4 |
Day 5 |
|||||
| Hop on Hop off Bus | $58 | Top of the Rock | $44 | Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island | $33 | Woodbury Common | $42 | Gospel Tour | $45 |
| Empire State Building | $48 | Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour | $42 | Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | $30 | The Ride | $79 | Edge | $44 |
| Madame Tussauds | $48 | Biking in Central Park | $49 | Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour | $34 | Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum | $36 | Spyscape | $42 |
| Circle Line: Landmarks Cruise | $44 | American Museum of Natural History | $30 | One World Observatory | $36 | LOL Times Square Magic | $20 | St. Patrick’s Cathedral | $$25 |
| Costs | $198 | $165 | $133 | $177 | $156 |
| Total cost separate tickets: | $829 |
| New York Sightseeing Pass for 5 days | $315 |
| Savings per person: | $514 |
| Discount per person: | -62% |
When you’re planning for 7 days, it’s possible to reach the promised discount of 70% as you can see below. You have to put together a full schedule and keep a good pace up with visiting attractions during your holiday to get the maximum discount offered. This is a clear disadvantage of the day passes; if you want to get a really good discount, you have to plan your days fully. However, even if you decide to take it a bit easier with the planning, you’ll still save money! Only it will be a saving of less than 70%. Please note: the last calculation is made with the discount price of the New York Sightseeing Pass.
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Day 4 |
Day 5 |
Day 6 |
Day 7 |
|||||||
| Hop on Hop off Bus | $58 | Top of the Rock | $44 | Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island | $33 | Woodbury Common | $42 | Gospel Tour | $45 | Museum of Broadway | $47 | Luna Park Coney Island | $70 |
| Empire State Building | $48 | Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour | $42 | Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | $30 | The Ride | $79 | Edge | $44 | Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour of Brooklyn | $32 | NY Aquarium | $30 |
| Madame Tussauds | $48 | Biking in Central Park | $49 | Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour | $34 | Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum | $36 | Spyscape | $42 | Madison Square Garden | $46 | Buffalo Wings Brooklyn | $25 |
| Circle Line: Landmarks Cruise | $44 | American Museum of Natural History | $30 | One World Observatory | $36 | LOL Times Square Magic | $20 | St. Patrick’s Cathedra | $25 | RiseNY | $48 | Brooklyn Botanic Garden | $15 |
| Fotografiska | $20 | Guggenheim Museum | $30 | ||||||||||
| Costs | $198 | $165 | $153 | $177 | $186 | $173 | $140 |
| Total cost separate tickets: | $1192 |
| New York Sightseeing Pass for 7 days | $361 |
| Savings per person: | $831 |
| Discount per person: | -70% |
Buy the New York Sightseeing Day Pass here
What Is Included in the Sightseeing Pass?
The list of included attractions is the same for both the Flex Pass and the Day Pass. Almost all of the known sights can be visited with the passes. This means you can visit all the observation decks, including Edge. Different tours are also included, such as bicycle and boat tours. The selection of tours is regularly increased. However, it’s good to keep in mind that the list available at the time of using the pass is the list that you can ultimately choose from. This means even if an attraction wasn’t yet included when you bought the pass, you can still do it. Although, you cannot use the pass for attractions that are no longer included in the pass. On the Sightseeing Pass website you can find the most up to date list of attractions. Below you can also find an overview.
Hop-on Hop-off Bus
The Gray Line Hop-on Hop-off bus is also included with both Sightseeing Passes. This is a very good deal, especially with the Day Pass as you can use the bus for the entire duration of your pass. If you have the Day Pass for 10 days, you can also use the bus for 10 days! In comparison, the Flex Pass allows you to experience the Uptown and Downtown Tours for 72 hours as an option. The Brooklyn Tour and Evening Tour are also available as separate attractions.
Exclusive Attractions
The Sightseeing Pass has several exclusive attractions on offer; it’s the only pass which includes an airport transfer by shared shuttle from Go Airlink. Several zoos are also included in these passes. There are also several lesser-known attractions that are included in this pass. However, these are not a reason to opt specifically for the Sightseeing Pass.
USA Pass
In addition to the Flex Pass and the Day Pass, there is another Sightseeing Pass that may be worthwhile to New York travellers; the USA Pass. This pass is comparable to the Flex Pass; it can be purchased for 10 up to 30 attractions. The unique thing about the USA Pass is that you can use it in New York and in other American cities. This pass is ideal if you have a road trip planned, and you plan to visit New York, Washington DC, Miami or Los Angeles. Buy the USA Pass here
- 2h Central Parc Guided Bike Tour by Fancy Apple
- 9/11 Ground Zero Museum Workshop
- American Museum of Natural History
- Artechouse NYC: Magentaverse
- Best of Brooklyn Walking Tour - Brooklyn Unplugged
- Big Bus New York Essential Ticket
- Bowlero Times Square
- Bronx Zoo
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Walking Tour - Brooklyn Unplugged
- Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour or Rental by Fancy Apple
- Brooklyn Children's Museum
- Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour (at Dyker Heights) - Brooklyn Unplugged
- Buffalo Wild Wings -
Brooklyn - Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine - General Admission
- Central Parc Bike Rental by Fancy Apple
- Central Park Bike Tour or Rental by Bike Rent NYC
- Central Parc Walking Tour by Bike Rent NYC
- Central Park Zoo
- Edge
- El Museo del Barrio
- Empire State Building
- Escape Game New York
- Escape Virtuality
- Escorted 5HR Experience
Tour - Food On Foot - New York Waterfront Villages - Brooklyn Guided Food Tour
- Food On Foot Tours - Go West Guided Food Tour
- Food On Foot Tours - Midtown Mix Guided Food Tour
- Fotografiska NY
- Fraunces Tavern Museum
- Friday Fireworks Show, Baseball Game & Free Baseball Cap by Food On Foot
- Go Airlink One-way Share-ride transfer to Manhattan hotels
- Graffiti & Street Art Walking Tour of Brooklyn
- Hamilton Happy Hour Tour
- Harlem Gospel Series
- Harlem Jazz Series
- High Line NYC Immersive Audio Tour
- Hush Tours - Dancer's delight Times Square
- Hush Tours - Hello Brooklyn
- Hush Tours - Walk This Way Thru Harlem Tour
- Inside Out Tours - Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour
- Inside Out Tours - Harlem Gospel Experience Tour
- Inside Out Tours - Holiday Markets & Christmas Lights Tour
- Inside Out Tours - How Money Was Made: The Wall Street Tour
- Inside Out Tours - NYC Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Legoland Discovery Center New Jersey
- LOL Comedy Lounge - Times Square
- LOL Comedy Lounge Magic - Times Square
- Luna Park Coney Island
- Madame Tussauds Admission + MARVEL 4D
- Madison Square Garden All Access Tour
- Manhattan and Beyond Tours - Central Park Walking Tour
- Manhattan By Sail - Clipper City Daytime Statue Sail
- MoMA
- MoMA PS1
- Museum at Eldridge Street
- Museum of Broadway
- Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
- Museum of the City of New York
- National Lighthouse Museum
- New York Botanical Garden
- New York Historical Society Museum and Library
- Northlandz Miniature Wonderland
- NY Aquarium
- On Location Tours - Central Park TV and
Movie Sites Tour - On Location Tours - NYC TV and Movie Tour by Bus
- One World Observatory
- Queens-Flushing Meadows International Food Excursion
- Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour
- Rise NY
- Rockefeller Center Art & Architecture Tour
- Scavenger Hunts - New York
- SEA LIFE Aquarium American Dream _ New Jersey
- Shake Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos Brunch
- Shake Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos Show
- Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- South Street Seaport Museum
- Spirits On Foot - Beer, Spirits & Wine Crawl
- SPYSCAPE
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tour – Gold Pass
- Staten Island Children’s Museum
- Staten Island Museum
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Roundtrip Ferry Tour
- The Cauldron NYC - Potion Making for Beginners
- The Ride
- The Skyscraper Museum
- Top of the Rock® Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
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