As one of the most easily navigable cities in America, you can see lots of San Francisco in little time – which is all the more reason to grab yourself a City Pass.
The Golden Gate Bridge seen from the Welcome Center (Photo: Jeremy Thompson / Courtesy CC BY 2.0)
There are different types of City Pass available in San Francisco, all of which provide access to a wide number of the city’s most popular tourist sites and activities. Passes are usually valid for several days – and sometimes much longer – allowing travellers to keep their plans flexible and not too cramped However, there are also differences between the passes that may make one more suited to their needs than others. To help visitors choose, we’ve compared three of them below.
CityPASS
Rather than allowing you to pick from almost all of San Fran’s attractions, the CityPass includes access to up to seven designated city favourites – namely, the California Academy of Sciences, Aquarium of The Bay, Exploratorium, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, SFMOMA, Walt Disney Family Museum and Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise. The digitally- stored tickets are valid for up to 9 days from the first day of use and promise up to 45% savings on individual admission to the equivalent attractions. Pricing for the CityPASS starts at $87.
Go City All Inclusive Pass
The Go City All Inclusive pass invites travellers to choose from more than 30 renowned attractions or activities across the city. Passes are valid for up to 5 days, making them a popular choice with those coming to the city for less than a week, and they promise to save you as much as 50% compared with buying tickets for the same attractions separately Passes are stored on a free app that includes a digital guide that helps you decide what to do, where to go, and how to get there. There are also Explorer passes which are valid for two months. Pricing for the All Inclusive pass starts at $89.
Flex Pass
Valid for one month, the Flex Pass would suit those staying in San Francisco for a longer spell. It also promises the biggest savings – up to 60% – of all the passes we recommend. In total, pass holders can select from over 30 attractions and tours throughout the city, as well as discounts at selected restaurants, shops and other entertainment options. Tickets are stored on your smartphone and there’s a QR code for admission to each attraction. The Flex pass starts at $69.