CityPASS Savings On Sightseeing:

Taking in Top Attractions Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

When visiting a city with more than one must-see attraction, the costs can add up fast. And if you’r traveling as a family, the admission fees can be prohibitive. In a number of major metropolises, CityPASS can help keep costs down while making those must-sees more affordable.

How CityPASS Works

When you purchase a ticket booklet from CityPASS, your admission to major attractions are pre-paid. Depending on the city your savings can be as much as 50 per cent of the cost of paying for each attraction separately. Also, you won’t have to wait in long ticket lines for many popular attractions.

From the CityPASS website you can order your booklet to be shipped to several countries including the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy. Once purchased, your CityPASS booklet is good for one year. When you begin using your tickets, the booklet is good for nine consecutive days (seven in Denver). You can also purchase your booklet when you arrive at any attraction included in CityPASS, and there are several other purchasing options on the website.

As of this writing, CityPASS is available in the following cities:

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Denver
• Houston
• New York City
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Southern California
• Tampa Bay
• Toronto

Our CityPASS Experience

Simon and I were in NYC for a wedding, but thought we would arrive a couple of days early for the opportunity to visit some of the city’s attractions we had missed on previous visits. 

Our CityPASS – $132 for adults and $108 for children 6-17 – offered admission to six attractions:

• The Empire State Building
• The American Museum of Natural History
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• The Top of the Rock Observation Deck   OR   the Guggenheim Museum
• Ferry Access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island   OR   a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
• The 9/11 Memorial & Museum   OR   the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

We managed to squeeze in five of our six attractions in the short time we had, but, as you’ll see, they were still well worth the cost of the CityPASS.

What We Did and What We Saved

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

One regularly scheduled Landmark Cruise, Harbor Lights Cruise or Liberty Cruise, or a ride on the BEAST $37.00

Our first activity was a Circle Line Cruises trip on the Hudson and East rivers with incredible views of some of NYC’s most famous landmarks. One of the highlights of the cruise was a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty. Our guide gave us a heads-up for the best photo ops throughout the cruise. We traveled under iconic bridges, passed the pier where Titanic was supposed to have docked, caught a look down the entire length of Wall Street, and more.

The Empire State Building

General admission entry to the 86th floor observatory, plus bonus same-night general admission: $57.92-$64.02) depending on date of visit.

Next, we took in the Empire State Building. It was a treat not having to wait in the long line we saw upon arriving, and despite the haze, the view from the observation deck was breathtaking. Naturally, Simon returned that evening to take some night shots of the Big Apple.

 

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum

General admission – $28.00

The last time we visited the 9/11 Memorial, the museum had not yet opened. This time, we spent almost an entire afternoon taking in the heartbreak and heroism of the day we’ll never forget. From victims’ final voicemail messages to loved ones, to recorded first-hand accounts, to crushed fire trucks, the events of 9/11 were on display. The experience was so haunting, I’m not sure I could bring myself to go through the museum again.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

General Admission, including three consecutive days at The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters, plus Audio Guide – $32.00

Sadly, we didn’t have the time to do this museum justice. What we did see, though, was fascinating. From ancient art to the present, this magnificent building housed a myriad of paintings, sculptures and other fine art forms.

 

The Guggenheim Museum

General admission to the Guggenheim’s collection, plus special exhibits – $25.00

Since we are not fans of most modern art, our expectations of the Guggenheim were fairly low, and the museum didn’t disappoint. So why were we there in the first place? The architecture, of course. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the building is an absolute marvel. With its magnificent dome and the winding, sloping pathway through six levels of exhibits, the museum is a work of art in its own right.

Doing the Math

Our NYC history binge would have cost $180, so the saving was $48. had we had more time, we might have saved up to 44 per cent.

CityPASS is a great deal if you are prepared to spend a lot of time sightseeing and want to catch a city’s main attractions. You certainly have options from which to choose, and the more you take advantage of your CityPASS, the more you’ll save.

Current information on prices, purchasing options, and ordering instructions can be found at the CityPASS website.

Disclosure: We enjoyed our New York Attractions through the generosity of CityPass. However, all opinions are, as always, entirely my own.