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NYC Pass Math

The cheapest NYC pass for First-Time Visitors is CityPASS C3 — barely.

Six attractions — Empire State Building, EDGE, Top of the Rock, AMNH, MoMA, and 9/11 Memorial — add up to $204 at the door. CityPASS C3 covers the three most expensive (ESB $44, EDGE $40, Top of the Rock $38) for $114, then you pay $82 for the remaining three, totalling $196 — saving $8. Go City Explorer's 6-pick pass costs $204, identical to individual tickets. CityPASS costs $232 because EDGE and MoMA are not in that pass.

TL;DR

CityPASS C3 wins at six attractions: $196 versus $204 individual, saving $8. Go City Explorer costs the same as buying individually — zero savings. CityPASS costs $232 because EDGE and MoMA are not in the pass.

Adults 18+
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Children 3–17
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Students 13+ with ID
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Seniors 65+
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CityPASS C3 wins the six-attraction first-timer math — by $8

Empire State Building ($44), EDGE Hudson Yards ($40), Top of the Rock ($38), AMNH ($25), MoMA ($28), and 9/11 Memorial ($29) cost $204 at the door. CityPASS C3 covers the three most expensive picks for $114: ESB, EDGE, and Top of the Rock. You pay the remaining three — AMNH ($25), MoMA ($28), and 9/11 Memorial ($29) — individually: $82. Total: $196. Savings over individual: $8 (4%). Go City Essentials is the next-closest option at $202, covering ESB plus 9/11 and MoMA for $99 then $103 for the rest. C3 wins.

CityPASS costs $28 more than individual — EDGE and MoMA are not in the pass

CityPASS ($164) is built around ESB and AMNH as fixed attractions, plus three choice slots from Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Circle Line, Intrepid, and Guggenheim. EDGE Hudson Yards and MoMA are not in CityPASS — both must be bought separately at $40 and $28. On this six-pick itinerary, CityPASS covers ESB, AMNH, Top of the Rock, and 9/11 Memorial — four attractions, one slot wasted. You then pay $68 for EDGE and MoMA: $164 + $68 = $232, which is $28 more than buying all six at the door.

Explorer costs the same as individual at six attractions — and C3 wins at five, too

Go City Explorer's 6-pick pass costs $204 — exactly the same as six individual tickets. Zero savings. CityPASS C3 at $196 saves $8 over Explorer on this itinerary. At five attractions (dropping the $29 9/11 Memorial), individual falls to $175 and C3 drops to $167 — still saving $8. At four attractions (dropping EDGE and 9/11), individual is $135 and C3 is $139 — individual wins by $4. C3 beats individual at five or six picks on this first-timer lineup; below five, skip every pass.

§ FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does CityPASS C3 cover all six attractions?
No — C3 covers any three of your picks. The calculator assigns the three most expensive first: ESB ($44), EDGE ($40), and Top of the Rock ($38). You buy AMNH ($25), MoMA ($28), and 9/11 Memorial ($29) separately for $82 extra. Total: $196.
Why does CityPASS cost $232 on a standard first-timer itinerary?
CityPASS does not include EDGE Hudson Yards or MoMA — both must be bought separately at $40 and $28. On this six-pick itinerary, CityPASS covers ESB, AMNH, Top of the Rock, and 9/11 Memorial (four attractions, one slot wasted), then you pay $68 for EDGE and MoMA: $164 + $68 = $232 — $28 more than buying everything at the door.
Is Go City Explorer worth it for first-time visitors?
Not on a six-stop itinerary. Explorer's 6-pick pass costs $204 — identical to individual tickets. CityPASS C3 at $196 saves $8 more than Explorer. If you are planning exactly three attractions, Explorer's 3-pick pass at $119 beats individual tickets for most high-priced combos.