These two tourist cards are very popular in New York, but they work differently, and your travel plan will determine which option is best for you. Here's a rundown on these maps and their advantages.
New York, with its hundreds of historic buildings and thousands of attractions, can quickly put travelers in doubt about which visits and activities to prioritize. A good alternative for organizing an itinerary and enjoying the city is toopt for one of the tourist maps. They can be used to draw up a travel plan. But which is more practical? the New York CityPass and the New York Pass ?
The answer depends on several things. do you want to visit as many attractions as possible in as little time as possible, or do you want to save money and time with skip-the-line tickets to New York's major attractions? Either way, in this article you'll find all the information you need to orient yourself towards the right tourist pass.
Why buy the New York CityPass and why buy the New York Pass?
The New York Pass and the New York CityPass are two tourist cards that provide access to many of the city's tourist attractions at a reduced price. There are, however, a few differences between these two cards: while the former gives you access to over 100 activities, the latter allows you access to only 6 of the city's popular attractions.
So you need to ask yourself whether you'd rather visit as many attractions as possible in as little time as possible, in which case the New York Pass will suit your trip better. You can use it for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 days, at your convenience. On the other hand, if you only want to see the main attractions, the New York CityPass is still the most appropriate. Valid for 9 consecutive days from the date of activation, it saves you money.
Note that the New York Pass is generally more expensive than the New York CityPass, which is logical since it gives access to more attractions. Flexible, it allows tourists to visit as many attractions as they like during their stay.
What attractions are included in each Pass?
The New York CityPass includes 6 attractions, divided into 2 fixed activities and 3 options to choose from. The 2 fixed attractions are a visit to the Empire State Building and the American Museum of Natural History. You must then choose between these 3 alternatives:
- Visit the Top of the Rock observation deck or the Guggenheim Museum.
- Take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or choose the Circle Line sightseeing cruise.
- Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum or the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
The New York Pass gives you access to over 100 of the city's most popular tourist attractions:
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Guggenheim Museum
- Museum of Natural History
- Top of the Rock observation deck
- One World Observatory
- Sightseeing cruise in New York Harbor
- Guided bus tour of New York City
- Walking tour of the Brooklyn Bridge
- Bike tour of Central Park
- Helicopter tour of New York City
In addition, the New York Pass includes discounts at restaurants, stores and other activities. Cardholders can also avoid queues at certain attractions, although it's important to note that some require advance reservations.
How does each tourist card work?
When you purchase the New York CityPass, you'll receive a booklet containing tickets to six of the city's top tourist attractions. Armed with the tickets, you simply show up at each attraction and enter without having to wait in line or pay extra.
The New York CityPass is valid for 9 consecutive days from the first day of use. You can enjoy each attraction on different days. It's a practical, economical option that eliminates the need to queue for tickets.
The New York Pass, on the other hand, gives you access to over 100 attractions without having to buy individual tickets. You'll need to choose your pass for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 consecutive days, which is activated on first use. You'll then have access to all activities, as well as discounts in restaurants.
Keep in mind that the best way to get the most out of your New York Pass is to activate it first thing in the morning, so you can use it for its full duration.
Is it worth buying these tourist cards for a long trip?
New York City Sightseeing Cards are a good option if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing during your trip. They give you access to a selection of the city's popular attractions, at a reduced price compared to the individual entrance fee for each attraction. You should bear in mind, however, that they have a reduced number of days and are therefore not compatible with a long-term trip.
It's important to ask yourself whether you'll actually use all the attractions included in each card, as it can sometimes be difficult to do all the included visits in the allotted time. Also bear in mind that some attractions are not included, and you may have to pay for some of the things you want to do.
Another thing to consider is the price of the tourist card itself. These cards are often expensive, so you need to consider whether you'll save money compared to the individual admission price of the attractions you plan to visit.
If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing in New York and can make the most of the tourist card, it may be worth buying one. On the other hand, if you're only interested in a few attractions, or if the price of the Tourist Card doesn't fit your budget, it may be better to pay individually for the attractions you want to visit, especially if you're planning a long trip.
Is it worth buying Tourist Cards for a short trip?
If you're planning a short trip, Tourist Cards will come in handy during your stay. But bear in mind that the variable that makes Tourist Cards worthwhile is not only time, but also your desire to make an intensive visit to the city.
For short trips, during which time flies, tourist maps allow you to access attractions without queuing, saving you precious time.
You should also determine in advance the number of days you wish to devote to your trip to New York. This determines the duration of the New York Pass, or the intensity with which you'll need to visit the attractions offered by the New York CityPass.
In conclusion, tourist maps are more useful for a short trip than for a long one. However, this means visiting the city at a faster pace than the average tourist.
Is it worth buying these maps if I only want to see the main attractions?
If you only want to see the main attractions, the New York CityPass will fit in perfectly with your travel plans. It gives you direct access to popular New York attractions such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty and the National Museum of Natural Science.
You can also tailor the New York Pass to your visit to the main attractions. Although it's expensive and may require you to buy separate tickets for other sites, it's still a great way to save money during the day.day, offering discounts at restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other activities not included in the activity booklet.
Is it worth buying these cards if I'm traveling with children?
The answer depends on a number of factors, such as their age, the length of your trip and what they want to see and do in the city. In general, tourist packages can be a good option if you plan to visit many popular attractions and do a lot of sightseeing. With children, you should keep in mind that packages systematically save you money compared to buying individual tickets.
When traveling to New York with children, the first thing to consider is which attractions are age-appropriate. New York offers many options for children, such as visits to the Bronx Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and the Statue of Liberty, all included in the New York Pass.
This pass is particularly suitable for a trip with children, with the added bonus of alternatives to the main activities and reduced rates for minors.
Is it worth buying these passes if I'm visiting New York in summer?
During the summer, New York is a city that welcomes many tourists. There are plenty of outdoor activities and events to do, such as visiting Central Park, walking on the Brooklyn Bridge or watching an outdoor movie in Bryant Park. If you want to discover many popular attractions, a tourist card can be a good option. You'll benefit from discounts andfree access to many of them.
During the summer, and with a heavy flow of people into the Big Applequeues for attractions are often longer. By purchasing a tourist card, you can avoid waiting at the ticket office and save time.
Please note, however, that as many of the activities on the cards take place mainly indoors, it can be a little oppressive in hot weather.
Before buying a tourist card, always check that the attractions you wish to visit are included on the card during your travel period. Don't forget that it's always important to calculate the cost of the Tourist Card against the cost of individual tickets for the attractions.
Is it worth buying these cards if I visit New York in winter?
In winter, there are fewer tourists in New York, and queues at ticket offices are shorter. From this point of view, there's no advantage to buying a New York Pass. However, it is still worthwhile , as it includes many indoor tours.
Be sure to check in advance, as some of New York's tourist attractions may have reduced opening hours in winter, or be closed due to cold or snow. The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are some of the places that are open all year round. Always calculate the comfort of using the card during your visit, based on opening and closing times.
And don't forget that when visiting New York at Christmas, many attractions are likely to be closed on the day before the holidays.
Is it worth buying these cards if I'm visiting the city on a weekend?
If you're visiting the city for a weekend, you won't have enough time to make the most of the New York Pass. But you can still take advantage of the New York CityPass, a 2-day pass offering enough time to visit the 6 main attractions. You'll save money in the process.
If you still opt for the New York Pass, choosing the 1 or 2-day option, we advise you to draw up a visit plan and, on this basis, research whether it is more appropriate and economical to pay for each activity individually.
For a weekend visit, the multimedia guide offered by the two tourist maps is very useful. It allows you to easily build an itinerary and organize yourself to avoid wasting time, which can be a complicated mission in a city with so many activities to do.
