Once you’ve paid for your entry fees, travel fares and meals at rip-off restaurants on the high street, you remember: being a tourist is expensive. Save a little coin, time and hassle the next time you’re in the Big Apple by scouting out a New York Pass. It gets you free and fast-tracked entry to loads of different attractions and includes access to a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. That means more money for the important thing, like bagels and theatre tickets. Here’s how to use your New York Pass on a weekend away.
Get to the Guggenheim nice and early so you can dodge the crowds and actually get a glimpse of the art, without having to get on the tips of your toes. With your New York Pass you’ll get in for free (entry is usually $25) and you’ll get to skip the line for quicker access to one of the most beautiful buildings and best collections of modern art in the world.
No visit to NYC is complete without a stop-off at the iconic Empire State Building. Expect views of Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and more. Getting up to the observation deck on the 86th floor will normally cost you, but it’s included in the New York Pass. (They have an exclusive deal). Visit at sunset for the best photo opportunities; go in the morning for fewer crowds.
Go beyond the tourist traps and find some of New York’s best eats with a Food on Foot tour (normally $40, included with the Pass). Super experienced tour guides will take you through different parts of the city, with an itinerary specially tailored to your taste buds. Want to discover the best of the city’s Jewish delis? Try the bagels and bakeries tour. Sweet tooth? There’s a tour for desserts. Foodies, don’t miss this one.
Embrace your inner nerd and join the When Harry Met Seinfeld bus tour, which takes you around town to stop off at a bunch of NYC movie and television hotspots. Want to get a picture outside the Seinfeld restaurant, visit the deli from When Harry Met Sally, or pretend you’re Carrie Bradshaw on the front steps of her brownstone? Of course you do. Cameras at the ready.
Start day two with a sobering visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, a beautiful monument on the lower east side of town that honours the 2983 victims of the 1993 and 2001 terror attacks. You can pay your respects by gazing into the calming reflective pools, then head into the museum to learn about the history of the buildings and the attacks. Entry is included with your New York Pass.
Take a train out to Coney Island to spend the rest of the day eating, drinking and riding all the rides you can at Luna Park. Your New York Pass gets you 25 rides free (is that a challenge?) - normally valued at around $50. When you’re done and dizzy, take a walk down to Coney Island beach and walk the boardwalk before heading back into the Big Smoke. Blackout days apply, so check before you visit to avoid disappointment.
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