Which New York passes include the Empire State Building?

The Empire State Building, an iconic symbol of New York City, attracts millions of visitors each year eager to experience its breathtaking views.

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic landmarks in New York City, offering stunning 360-degree views from its 86th and 102nd-floor observation decks.

Visiting this world-famous skyscraper is a must for tourists, but buying individual tickets can be expensive.

If you want to save money, purchasing a New York discount pass is a great option. But which passes actually include the Empire State Building?

This guide breaks down the four most popular NYC passes, explaining whether they cover the Empire State Building, how to use them, and key things to know before purchasing.

Which Passes Include the Empire State Building?

✅ New York CityPASS – Yes, included. Also includes a bonus same-day night entry to see NYC at sunset.

✅ Go City New York Explorer Pass – Yes, included. Choose 3, 5, 6, or more attractions and save up to 43%. Reservations are required.

✅ New York Sightseeing Flex Pass – Yes, included. Select 2 to 12 attractions from 100+ options. Reservations are required.

✅ Go City The New York Pass – Yes, included. Visit as many attractions as you like within 3, 4, or 5 consecutive days. Reservations are required.

All four passes include entry to the Empire State Building, but you must reserve your entrance in advance.

New York CityPASS

The New York CityPASS offers up to 43% savings on admission to five top NYC attractions.

Of these five, two – the Empire State Building Observatory and the American Museum of Natural History are pre-selected, and you pick the other three from a curated list of attractions.

What’s best is that the CityPASS grants access to the 86th-floor open-air observation deck of the Empire State Building, plus a bonus same-night visit within the final three hours before closing.

This ability to visit ESB twice makes CityPASS the best discount pass for you if you want to go up the Empire State Building.

Here is the complete list of attractions this pass includes:

How to use the pass to enter the observatory

1. Use the My CityPASS® App (Android | iOS) to check attraction details and make any required reservations.
2. Activate the pass when visiting the Empire State Building
3. Present your pass at the entrance and walk in

Things to know

• Valid for nine consecutive days from first use.
• Some attractions require advance reservations.
• Unused passes can be refunded up to 365 days after purchase.
• No refunds or rescheduling once activated.

Cost: Starts from $214

Go City New York Explorer Pass

The Go City New York Explorer Pass lets you choose 3, 5, 6, or more attractions from a list of 90+ options across NYC.

And yes, it includes free entry to the Empire State Building, but reservations are required.

The discount pass includes popular sights such as:

*Complete list of 90+ attractions

There’s no need to pick your attractions while you purchase. Just choose attractions as you go.

Buying this New York pass helps save up to 43% compared to buying individual attraction tickets. 

How to use the pass for the Empire State Building

1. Reserve your time slot online via the Go City app (Android | iOS) before visiting.
2. Present your pass at the entrance for entry.

Things to know

• Pass is valid for two years from purchase and 60 days from first use.
• Digital pass—no need for a printed ticket.
• Some attractions require reservations via the Go City app.
• No refunds or rescheduling once purchased.

Cost: Starts from $119

New York Sightseeing Flex Pass

The New York Sightseeing Flex Pass lets you choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, or 12 attractions from a list of 100+ options, saving up to 65% on entry fees.

The Sightseeing Flex Pass includes the Empire State Building, allowing you to select it when purchasing your pass and visit the observatory at no extra cost.

Popular tourist attractions include:

*Full list of 100+ attractions

How to use the pass for the Empire State Building

1. Go to sightseeingpass.com to reserve your timed entry 
2. Bring your reservation confirmation ticket when you visit the Empire State Building 
3. Present your pass and reservation ticket to the Empire State Building staff and walk in

Things to know

• Pass is valid for two years from purchase and 60 days from first use.
• Most attractions do not require reservations, but some do.
• No refunds or rescheduling once purchased.

Cost: Starts from $85

Go City The New York Pass

The Go City The New York Pass lets you visit as many attractions as you want within 3, 4, or 5 consecutive days.

The NYC discount pass gives you a one-time admission to the Empire State Building, but you must reserve first.

It provides access to 100+ attractions, including:

*Complete list of 100+ attractions

How to use the pass for the Empire State Building

1. You can make reservations at Go City’s Reservation Portal up to 10 days in advance. 
2. At the portal, enter your order number and the email address you used to book your pass and follow the steps to reserve your slot.
3. Arrive at the scheduled time and present your mobile pass at the entrance for entry.

Things to know

• From the date of purchase, the pass is valid for two years.
• Once activated, the pass remains valid for the number of days you selected while booking it.
• Check the Go City app for instructions on each attraction and place reservations in advance if needed.
• Refunds are available if canceled by 11:59 PM the day before your visit.

Cost: Starts from $274 (for a 3-day pass)

How to visit the Empire State Building without a pass

If you decide not to buy any of the New York passes for your Empire State Building visit, you must first decide if you want to visit the main deck alone or both the main and top decks.

Accordingly, you must buy tickets for the Main Deck on the 86th floor or the Main Deck and the Top Deck on the 102nd floor.

Some visitors who have experienced both levels feel the difference is minimal, making the higher-priced 102nd-floor ticket less worthwhile.

Empire State Building offers Express tickets for those who want to skip all lines and reach the observatory in less than 10 minutes.

If you prefer an exclusive experience, check out the Sunrise Ticket.