If you are looking for a travel tip for visiting New York City, you are in the right place! Recently, I took a bus into the city and spent the day sightseeing. With eight hours to explore, buying a New York CityPASS helped me make the most of my time. Featured today on Theresa’s Reviews, check out how I used this pre-paid pass to visit the Top of the Rock Observation Deck.
Exploring NYC with the New York CityPASS
Whether you are visiting for a day or longer, the New York CityPASS is well worth getting. When you pre-pay for the pass before your visit, you get access to six attractions out of nine possible attractions. Some include the Empire State Building, a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
With your New York CityPASS tickets, you can visit the attractions anytime within nine consecutive days after the first day of use. Since you have access to many popular destinations, it is helpful to have several days to use the tickets.
To use my pass, I visited the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. This location was near my bus drop off, close to the shops on 5th Avenue, and not far from my dinner reservations at Keens Steakhouse near Bryant Park.
When you have the New York CityPASS, getting into attractions is easier and quicker. With the prepaid pass, you can skip ahead of the line where most people buy their tickets. Use the printed New York CityPASS ticket or pull it up on your phone. Scan your code at a kiosk, which quickly prints off passes to get into the Top of the Rock Observation Deck.
When you enter the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, you travel up over 850 feet above street level. Looking up in the elevator, you can see a bright display of lights welcoming you to your destination.
With three observation decks to explore, you can get a different experience at each one. At the lower level, there is a glass enclosure. The higher you get, the better the view. With a 360 degree view of the city, you can see Central Park, the Empire State Building, various skyscrapers, and more.
On the 70th floor, there are no glass or metal enclosures. This is the best floor for taking photos and enjoying the spectacular view.
Since Top of the Rock is open until midnight, you can visit for a different view in the evening when the buildings light up too.
With only one day of sightseeing, getting the spectacular aerial view at Top of the Rock is a must-do during a visit. Using the New York CityPASS saved me time, helped me schedule my day, and encouraged me to check out an attraction I hadn’t visited. You can get a CityPASS for many major cities! Click here to find out more.
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Your Turn!
What is your favorite city to visit? Share your answer in the comments!
Disclosure: I received a free item, but it in no way influenced my opinion!
We visit NYC a few times a year but have never gotten a City Pass.
I’ve never gotten a city pass before. I feel like you have to visit alot of places in a short amount of time to make it worthwhile.