If you’re planning a first trip to New York City, chances are you’re considering the New York CityPASS. It’s one of the easiest ways to save money while visiting the city’s most iconic attractions. That said, there’s something important you should know before you buy it: the CityPASS only really works if you plan your reservations ahead of time and build your days around them.

During our 8‑day trip to New York City at the end of May 2025, my mom and I used the CityPASS for five major attractions. It was absolutely worth it, but only because we booked our time slots early and planned our itinerary strategically. In this post, I’ll explain exactly how the CityPASS works, which attractions you should reserve first, and how we planned our days in NYC without feeling rushed or stressed.

What is included in the New York CityPASS we used

We chose the classic New York CityPASS, which lets you visit five major attractions. Some attractions are fixed, while for others you can choose between different options. You can find the different types of CityPASS here.

At the time of our trip, the New York CityPASS cost around €150 for adults, with a reduced price for children and teenagers. The exact price can vary slightly depending on booking platform and exchange rates, and there is usually a small processing fee added at checkout.

What’s important to know is that the CityPASS is valid for 9 consecutive days, starting from the day you use it for the first time. This makes it especially suitable for trips of a week or longer, as you don’t have to rush through all attractions in just a few days.

During our trip, we selected the following attractions:

• 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• Ferry to the Statue of Liberty (with the option to include Ellis Island)
• Top of the Rock Observation Deck
• Empire State Building Observatory
• American Museum of Natural History

One of the advantages of the CityPASS is that it offers choice, depending on your interests. For example, instead of visiting 9/11 Memorial and Museum, you can check out Intrepid Museum. This flexibility makes it easier to tailor the CityPASS to your own travel style: whether you prefer views, museums, or a mix of both.

Reservations are mandatory (and this is where many people go wrong)

Buying the CityPASS does not automatically grant you entry. Almost every attraction requires you to reserve a specific time slot via the CityPASS app. Popular attractions and time slots, especially late afternoon and sunset hours, sell out quickly. If you wait until you arrive in New York to book your reservations, you’ll likely miss out on the best times.

My advice is simple:
As soon as your travel dates are fixed, buy your CityPASS and reserve your time slots.

What to book first (in this order)

Based on our experience, this booking order makes planning much easier.

1. Top of the Rock at sunset

Sunset slots are limited and very popular. If you want to see both daylight and nighttime views, book this first.

2. Statue of Liberty ferry

The ferry runs on fixed departure times and can take up a large part of your day. Booking early helps you structure your Downtown itinerary properly.

3. Empire State Building

Easier to fit into a day, but still worth reserving in advance to avoid peak crowds.

4. 9/11 Memorial and Museum

This requires a reserved entry time and is emotionally intense, so choosing the right moment matters.

5. American Museum of Natural History

Very flexible, but it’s massive, so pick a day where you still have enough energy and time.

How we planned our CityPASS days without rushing

Instead of cramming CityPASS attractions into every single day, we planned our itinerary around a limited number of CityPASS days, leaving enough space before and after each activity.

While our general approach was to focus on one main CityPASS attraction per day, we made one conscious exception in Downtown New York, where several highlights are located close together.

Here’s how that worked for us:

• Downtown day: We visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the morning, walked through Wall Street and the Financial District, and took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty later that afternoon.
• Midtown day: We spent the first part of the day shopping and wandering around Midtown, with the Empire State Building planned for later in the day.
• Museum day: We dedicated a large part of the day to the American Museum of Natural History. Because the museum is so vast, we didn’t combine it with any other major CityPASS attractions.
• Sunset day: We planned the day loosely around our Top of the Rock reservation, arriving early and staying long enough to experience both daylight and nighttime views.

This approach kept our schedule realistic and enjoyable.

Practical timing tips that saved us hours

A few small decisions made a big difference during our trip:

• Group attractions by neighborhood whenever possible
• Build buffer time around subway rides
• Accept that you can’t see everything in one trip
• Schedule airport transfers generously, especially at Newark or JFK

When booking a taxi after landing, we learned it’s best to schedule it at least two hours after arrival, as customs can easily take longer than expected.

Our honest tips per CityPASS attraction

Top of the Rock

Arrive early and stay long enough to experience both daylight and nighttime views. Bring a jacket, even in late May it can get quite cold at the top.

Statue of Liberty ferry

Mid‑afternoon worked well for us. Lines were manageable, but keep in mind that visiting Ellis Island becomes harder later in the day, so decide in advance what you really want to see.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

Plan something calm afterward. The museum is very powerful and emotionally heavy.

Empire State Building

A classic New York experience and easy to combine with shopping or dinner in Midtown.

American Museum of Natural History

Plan plenty of time for your visit. It’s one of the largest museums in New York City, and even a few hours will only give you a glimpse of what’s inside. We scheduled it on a calmer day, which made the experience much more enjoyable.

Common CityPASS mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until you’re already in NYC to reserve time slots
• Booking attractions in completely different neighborhoods on the same day
• Underestimating security lines, walking distances, and crowds
• Trying to do too much just because it’s included

New York City rewards good planning, but it also rewards leaving space to simply wander.

Combine this guide with my other New York posts

If you want a complete overview of our trip, these posts are helpful to read alongside this one:

• Discover the Big Apple: 8 days in New York City
  A full day‑by‑day itinerary with neighborhoods, highlights, and realistic pacing
• A Food Lover’s Guide to New York City
  My favorite spots for bagels, pizza, tacos, coffee, and iconic NYC treats

Together, these posts help you plan both the practical side of your trip and the fun parts that make New York so special.

Final thoughts

If you book your CityPASS reservations early and build your days around one main attraction, the pass feels like a real advantage. You’ll spend less time queueing and commuting, and more time actually enjoying the city.

New York City is intense, exciting, and impossible to fully experience in one trip. The CityPASS works best when it supports your plans, not when it dictates them.