All San Francisco Tourist Passes Compared: Which One Should You Buy?
Alcatraz, San Francisco's most-booked sight, isn't on any pass, so reserve it before anything else. After that, CityPASS covers four museums or a cruise over nine days; Go City suits one or two busy waterfront days.
Types of tourist pass
Booklet of four
Four admissions from eight: museums, the zoo or a Blue & Gold Fleet cruise, within nine days.
In San Francisco: San Francisco CityPASS
Day pass
1-5 calendar days of Red & White Fleet cruises, the Exploratorium, Big Bus and 22 more.
In San Francisco: San Francisco Go City All-Inclusive Pass
Which pass for your trip?
San Francisco CityPASS
- A week with Golden Gate Park's museums and SFMOMA. Four admissions for $89.95, nine days to fit them in.
San Francisco Go City All-Inclusive Pass
- One full day on the waterfront: cruise, Exploratorium, SkyStar Wheel. Every stop that day is on the pass.
No pass needed
- Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and Lands End. Book Alcatraz directly; the bridge and coastal trail are free.
- Two or three sights spread over a long weekend. The San Francisco Go City Explorer Pass, from $89 for 2-5 of 25, fits better.
The passes compared
San Francisco CityPASS
- Attractions
- 4 of 8
- Price
- $89.95
- Time to use
- 9 days
- Best for
- Golden Gate Park museums at an easy pace
- Academy of Sciences, de Young + Legion, SFMOMA
- Child pass $69.95
- No Alcatraz landing
- Exactly four visits
San Francisco Go City All-Inclusive Pass
- Attractions
- 25
- Price
- From $109
- Time to use
- 1-5 days
- Best for
- Busy Fisherman's Wharf and Embarcadero days
- Two Red & White Fleet cruises
- Big Bus and SkyStar Wheel
- No Alcatraz landing
- Needs 3-4 stops a day
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | CityPASS | Go City |
|---|---|---|
| Alcatraz | Not included | Not included |
| Bay cruise | Included, book a slot | Included |
| California Academy of Sciences | Included | Included |
| Exploratorium | Included, book a slot | Included |
| de Young + Legion of Honor | Included | Included |
| SFMOMA | Included | Not confirmed |
Worth knowing before you buy
Alcatraz is booked separately
No pass covers a landing on the island, and tours sell out weeks ahead.
The bridge costs nothing
Walking the Golden Gate Bridge or the Lands End trail is free; only cruises and bike hire cost money.
Golden Gate Park is a pass day on its own
The Academy of Sciences and the de Young face each other on the Music Concourse; both are on both passes.
CityPASS's own maths
$89.95 against $164.95 for its four priciest picks.
Pier 39 and the Exploratorium can fill up on weekends. Check how busy each one is right now on beatthecrowd.co before heading over.
Check live crowds in San Francisco →How pass companies make money
A pass in San Francisco is a bet: the seller wins if you slow down, you win if you plan. Here's the business behind San Francisco CityPASS and San Francisco Go City All-Inclusive Pass.
Attractions such as Alcatraz give pass sellers a discount in return for guaranteed visitors.
Rainy days, late starts and skipped sights all count in the seller's favour.
Each extra day or pick on San Francisco CityPASS is only a saving if you'd really use it.
Other ways to save
- San Francisco Go City Explorer and Essentials
Explorer from $89 (2-5 picks from 25, 30 days); Essentials from $74 for 3 attractions.
FAQs
Which San Francisco pass includes Alcatraz?
+
None. Book Alcatraz directly.
Which San Francisco pass is best?
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For Golden Gate Park's museums over a week, CityPASS. For one or two packed waterfront days, Go City.
Does any San Francisco pass include a Golden Gate cruise?
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Both: CityPASS has a Blue & Gold Fleet cruise as one option, and Go City includes two Red & White Fleet cruises.
Which San Francisco pass covers the de Young and Legion of Honor?
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Both do. On Go City they count as one entry; on CityPASS they're one of your four choices.
Is there a cheaper San Francisco Go City pass?
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The Explorer is from $89 for 2-5 of 25 attractions, and Essentials is $74.