New York with kids

Is a New York Attraction Pass Worth It for Families? CityPASS vs Go City

An attraction pass bundles several New York sights into one price. For some families it saves real money; for others it pushes you to rush around to "get your money's worth". The answer depends on how many paid places you'll actually visit, and on your kids' ages, because each pass draws the child line differently.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 4 min read

A pixel-art places list from a family's New York adventure book

Here's how the main passes work in 2026, and a simple way to check them against buying tickets one by one. Passes change their rules and prices often, so confirm on the official sites before you buy.

The passes in 2026

  • New York CityPASS: one admission to 5 attractions you choose from a list of 10: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge, the American Museum of Natural History, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the Intrepid Museum, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, the Guggenheim and the Whitney. Valid for 9 consecutive days from the first use. Child prices cover ages 6 to 17. Some attractions still need a reservation. See CityPASS.
  • Go City Explorer Pass: choose a number of attractions (from 2 up to 10) from a list of 100+, and use them within 30 days of the first one. Good for a long list spread over a relaxed trip. See Go City.
  • Go City All-Inclusive Pass (also sold as The New York Pass): unlimited attractions for a set number of consecutive days. It only pays off at a sprint pace, which is rarely how a trip with kids goes.
  • Go City's child prices cover ages 3 to 12. Under-3s are free at most attractions anyway.
  • The New York Sightseeing Pass closed in 2025. Older articles still recommend it; its passes can't be bought or used.

Do the math for your family (10 minutes)

  • List only the paid places you'd really visit. Be honest: with kids, two big things a day is plenty.
  • Look up each one's price on its official website, for every family member, using each place's own child ages. Many charge nothing for toddlers.
  • Add it up and compare with the pass price for each person, using that pass's child ages.
  • Rule of thumb: 3 or fewer paid stops, buy tickets. A first trip with the big classics at museum pace: CityPASS usually fits. A longer list over a longer trip: Go City Explorer.

Watch out for

  • Teenagers. A 13- to 17-year-old is a child on CityPASS but an adult on Go City. That alone can flip the answer.
  • Little ones. If your kids are under 6, many attractions are already free or cheap for them, so the saving shrinks.
  • A pass is not skip-the-line. Observation decks and the Statue of Liberty still need a time slot; book them as soon as you have the pass.
  • The best things are free. The Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, the High Line and the Brooklyn Bridge cost nothing; see our free things to do.
  • Weather and energy. A rainy day or a tired kid can leave paid days unused; the longer windows (9 or 30 days) are kinder to families.

Our take

For a classic first family trip (an observation deck, the dinosaurs, the Statue of Liberty and the Intrepid), CityPASS tends to be the simplest good deal, especially with teenagers. If your list is longer and your trip is slower, compare Go City Explorer. And if you only want one or two paid places, skip the passes. Building the plan first helps: our 5-day itinerary and museums guide show what's worth paying for.

Questions

Is the New York CityPASS worth it for a family?

Often, if you'll visit at least four of its attractions: it covers big paid sights like the Empire State Building, the Natural History Museum and the Statue of Liberty ferry, and its child prices go up to age 17. Add up the individual prices for your family to be sure.

What's the difference between CityPASS and Go City?

CityPASS is 5 attractions chosen from 10 major ones, used within 9 days. Go City has more attractions, either a set number to use within 30 days (Explorer) or unlimited for consecutive days (All-Inclusive). Their child ages differ: 6 to 17 for CityPASS, 3 to 12 for Go City.

Do we still need reservations with a pass?

Often, yes. Passes replace the ticket, not the time slot: observation decks and the Statue of Liberty ferry still need a reservation.