New York CityPASS 5 Top Attractions Bundle

The Empire State Building observatory

Opened in 1931, the Empire State Building is the classic symbol of the New York skyline, and its observatory is one of the most visited places in the city. Your pass includes the museum-style exhibits on the second floor, which tell the story of how the tower was built in just over a year, and the open-air 86th-floor deck with 360-degree views over Manhattan, the rivers and the bridges.

A special feature of the pass is the bonus same-night visit: go up once during the day, then return the same evening to see the city lights. The Empire State Building is worth visiting at both times, as the views are completely different. To avoid the longest queues, go early in the morning or late at night.

The American Museum of Natural History

Facing Central Park on the Upper West Side, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. Its famous halls include the dinosaur galleries with towering fossil skeletons, the Hall of Ocean Life with a life-size blue whale hanging from the ceiling, dioramas of animals from every continent and dazzling halls of gems and minerals.

Your pass includes general admission plus one special experience, such as a planetarium space show, the butterfly vivarium or a ticketed exhibition, depending on availability. Plan at least three hours here; the museum is enormous and children could easily spend a whole day. The museum opening hours are usually from morning to late afternoon, so start early.

Top of the Rock or a modern art museum on Fifth Avenue

For your third attraction, choose between two very different experiences. Top of the Rock is an observation deck spread over three levels, the highest of them outdoors, at the top of a landmark Art Deco tower in Midtown. Its great advantage is the view: Central Park stretches to the north, and the Empire State Building stands in full view to the south.

Alternatively, visit the celebrated modern art museum on Fifth Avenue, famous for its white spiral building, where visitors walk up a continuous ramp past works of modern and contemporary art. The building itself is a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. Choose the deck for skyline photos, or the museum if you love art and design.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, or a harbour cruise

The fourth choice takes you onto the water. The official ferry from Battery Park sails to Liberty Island, where you can walk around the base of the statue and visit the Statue of Liberty Museum, then continues to Ellis Island, whose museum tells the story of the millions of immigrants who arrived there. Access to the pedestal and the crown is not included.

If you prefer a shorter outing, choose instead a harbour sightseeing cruise that passes the statue, the skyline and the bridges with live commentary. Many visitors ask how to get to the Statue of Liberty: the ferry leaves from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan, and security screening means you should arrive early and allow half a day.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum or the Intrepid Museum

The final choice is between two moving and very different museums. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum, in Lower Manhattan, honours the victims of the attacks of 2001. Two large reflecting pools sit in the footprints of the original towers, and the underground museum presents artefacts, testimonies and the remains of the foundations in a quiet, respectful setting.

The Intrepid Museum, on a pier on the Hudson River, is housed aboard a historic aircraft carrier. You can explore the flight deck lined with military aircraft, a submarine and a pavilion with a space shuttle. It is a favourite with families and anyone fascinated by aviation and space. Both are worth two to three hours.