The Difference between the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass and the Go New York Explorer Pass

What is the difference between the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass and the Go New York Explorer Pass (also known as New York Explorer Pass)? The New York Sightseeing Flex Pass and the New York Explorer Pass are two discount passes for New York. The main differences are the price and the attractions that they include. Both passes work in the same way and are very user-friendly. You choose the number of attractions and there are no extra costs to be paid once you get to New York. If you would rather have a pass that allows you to visit an unlimited number of attractions, go for the New York Pass.

Tours and Attractions

With both the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass and Go New York Explorer Pass, you can choose from up to 100 tours and attractions. Both passes allow you to visit all four observation decks in New York: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, and Edge. With the two passes, you can also ride a bike through Central Park and take a boat tour past or to the Statue of Liberty. Also, museums, such as the 9/11 Museum, the Guggenheim and the American Museum of Natural History, are included in both. A difference is that the Flex Pass includes entrance to Central Park Zoo and Vessel, and it offers the option to take a transfer to the airport. The Explorer Pass on the other hand has a better offer of bike and boat tours.

Hop-on Hop-off bus

You can take the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour with both passes. The Flex Pass includes a Gray Line ticket for 72 hours, with which you can take the Uptown and Downtown tours. This counts as one attraction. The Brooklyn and evening tours both count as separate attractions. With the Explorer Pass, you can choose a one day Big Bus ticket. This also includes the Uptown and Downtown tours. Alongside this, only the Evening Tour is available as a separate attraction.

Observation deck

Both passes include entrance to all four New York observation decks: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory and Edge. Even if you’re not sure yet which platforms you’d like to visit, you can choose both passes, as with both you can decide in New York where you’d like to go.

How do the Passes work?

The New York Sightseeing Flex Pass and the New York Explorer Pass work in the same way. You buy the Flex Pass for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 12 attractions or the Explorer Pass for 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 attractions. With the Flex Pass, you have 60 days to visit the attractions you choose. The validity of the Explorer Pass is 60 days. You can decide which attractions you want to visit on the spot. After purchase, you receive a voucher per email. On the voucher is a QR-code, which is your pass. You can show the pass on your phone, or print it out.

Which Pass Should I Choose?

If all of the attractions that you want to visit are included in the Flex Pass, then this is the pass I recommend because of its low price. The passes for 6, 10 or 12 attractions are even better value, with my personal discount code. Do you want to do a Circle Line Cruise and go biking a few times? Then the Explorer Pass is a better option. Specifically the Explorer Pass for 5, 7 or 10 attractions, which are best in terms of value. Below you can see the biggest differences:

Click here to buy the New York Sightseeing Flex Pass

Click here to buy the New York Explorer Pass