Is the Oahu Go City Explorer Pass Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes for 3-7 big-ticket activities spread over a slow week. $169 for 3 choices is about $56 each, so pick the Circle Island tour, a catamaran sail or the Polynesian Cultural Center, not a $16 palace visit.
- Skip itNo if you want a luau. Both luaus are premium and only on the All-Inclusive.
- Skip itNo if two of your three picks cost under $40. Buy those directly.
- From $169 for 3
- 41 activities to choose from
- 30 days to use it
What is The Oahu Go City Explorer Pass?
The Oahu Go City Explorer Pass is 3-7 choices from a list of 41 activities. You have 30 days from your first activity, so a sail on Monday and the North Shore tour on Saturday both count, with beach days in between costing nothing.
On Oahu, where your week might be three beach days and three big outings, the Explorer lets you pay only for the outings and keeps the rest of the month free.
The seller advertises savings of up to 50% compared with buying each ticket separately. Realistic only when all your choices are tours, boats or parks above about $60.
- Choices
- 3-7
- Price
- From $169 (3 choices)
- Window
- 30 days
- Luaus
- Not on the Explorer
How to get the most value out of The Oahu Go City Explorer Pass
Every choice costs about $56 on a 3-choice pass, so spend them on the North Shore and the water: the Circle Island tour, a catamaran or the snorkel cruise, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Use a choice on Queen Emma Summer Palace or the Mission Houses | Go City lists them at $16-20. At about $56 a choice, pay for those at the door. |
| Plan the Polynesian Cultural Center as an afternoon stop | It's on the far North Shore, about an hour from Waikīkī. Give it most of a day. |
| Spend a choice on Waimea Valley for $26 | It's a cheap pay-at-the-gate visit. Save the choice for a tour that's $100+. |
| Pick the whale watch outside the season | It only runs November to April. Outside those months, pick the Turtle Canyon snorkel cruise. |
| Head to the Bishop Museum without checking how busy it is | Check the Bishop Museum's live crowd level on beatthecrowd.co first. If it's busy, do another Oahu sight on your pass and come back later. |
Before you set off for the Bishop Museum, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. An hour in a queue is an hour of your pass gone.
Check live crowds in Honolulu →Who The Oahu Go City Explorer Pass is for
Good fit
- A slow Oahu week with 3-5 big activities
- The Polynesian Cultural Center is on your list (it's on the Explorer)
- You'd rather spread activities over a month than cram 2 days
Skip it if
- A luau is a must (it's All-Inclusive only)
- Your picks are museums under $35 each
- You'll do 3+ activities a day on a short stay (the All-Inclusive wins)
- From $169 for 3
- 41 activities to choose from
- 30 days to use it
What the pass covers
Choose from 41 Oahu activities. These are the ones that use a choice well, plus the few that aren't on the Explorer.
- Best-value choices are the long tours and boats: the Circle Island tour (up to $178), the Makani sail (up to $143) and the Grand Tour with snorkelling (up to $126).
- Not on the Explorer: the Aloha Kai and Ka Moana luaus.
The big sights
- Oahu Circle Island Tour with Byodo-In TempleBook a slotUp to $178: the best-value choice.
- Polynesian Cultural CenterIncludedGo City lists it at up to $104.
- Makani Catamaran SailBook a slotUp to $143.
- Waikiki Turtle Canyon Snorkel CruiseBook a slotUp to $94.
- Battleship Missouri MemorialIncluded$44.99 on its own.
- Coral Crater Adventure CourseBook a slotUp to $65.
- Iolani PalaceBook a slotUp to $30: a weak choice.
- Ka Moana LuauNot includedAll-Inclusive only.
- Grand Tour around Oahu with snorkellingBook a slotUp to $126.
Also on the pass
- Wet'n'Wild Hawaii
- Sea Life Park Hawaii
- Kualoa Secret Island Beach
- Stand-Up Paddleboard Nature and Turtle Tour
- North Shore Hula Class
- Whale watching (November to April)
- From $169 for 3
- 41 activities to choose from
- 30 days to use it
Pass vs individual tickets
Divide the price by your choices: $169 for 3 is about $56 each. Every choice should be a tour, boat or park listed above that. Do the same sum for 4-7 choices before you buy a bigger pass.
Worked example: 3 choices
| Choice | Price without a pass |
|---|---|
| Oahu Circle Island Tour | Up to $178 |
| Polynesian Cultural Center | Up to $104 |
| Makani Catamaran Sail | Up to $143 |
| Total separately | Up to $425 |
| 3-choice Explorer | $169 |
- From $169 for 3
- 41 activities to choose from
- 30 days to use it
Fine print
- Window
- 30 days from your first activity; the pass itself is valid a year from purchase.
- Booking
- Tours and boats need booking in the Go City app.
- Refunds
- Full refund within 90 days of purchase if not activated. Go City refunds the difference if you don't save.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: The Oahu Go City Explorer Pass is Go City's own, sold through GetYourGuide.
- Reassuring: Refunds: Full refund within 90 days of purchase if not activated. Go City refunds the difference if you don't save.
- Watch out: No luaus on the Explorer. Both are premium, All-Inclusive only.
- Watch out: Most tours and boats need booking in the Go City app.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Buy 7 choices before your plans are set | Start with the activities you'd book anyway. Unused choices aren't refunded once the pass is active. |
| Fill choices with the moped or bike hire | Go City lists them at $29-34. They're better value paid for separately. |
| Queue at the Bishop Museum at peak time | Check beatthecrowd.co for the Bishop Museum's quiet hours before you go. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value in Oahu. Check which sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, starting with the Bishop Museum.
Check live crowds in Honolulu →- From $169 for 3
- 41 activities to choose from
- 30 days to use it
Alternatives
$119 for 3 from 10 activities, including the Makani sail and Waimea Valley.
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy Honolulu’s attractions are right now →
- From $169 for 3
- 41 activities to choose from
- 30 days to use it
FAQs
Is the Oahu Explorer Pass worth it?
+
Yes if every choice is a $60+ tour, boat or park. Not if your picks are small museums.
Does the Oahu Explorer Pass include the Polynesian Cultural Center?
+
Yes, it's on the Explorer list. The evening luau packages there are separate.
Can I do a luau with the Explorer Pass?
+
No. The Aloha Kai and Ka Moana luaus are premium picks on the All-Inclusive only.
How long do I have to use the Oahu Explorer Pass?
+
30 days from your first activity.
Explorer or All-Inclusive on Oahu?
+
Explorer for a few big activities over a slow week; All-Inclusive if you'll pack 2+ activities a day or want the luau.