Los Angeles, United States · Money-saving passes

Los Angeles Money-Saving Passes & Cards

The honest version: most LA visitors do not need a sightseeing pass, but a few bundles and transit caps can save real money if your plan is tight.

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verified Prices and rules verified 2026-04-22

The short answer

Usually, no. Los Angeles is a bad city for buying a pass on autopilot because the best sights are spread out, many strong museums are free or cheap, and one big attraction can eat your whole day. A pass starts to make sense when Universal Studios Hollywood is already in your plan, or when you are stacking several paid attractions with reservations lined up.

Every pass, compared honestly

Neutral comparison — no affiliate links, no sponsored placements. Prices checked on official issuer sites.

Los Angeles CityPASS

attraction bundle

Prices

  • Adult 10+ $109-$209
  • Child 5-9 $96-$187
Durations: Fixed bundles · 9 days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Universal Studios Hollywood in selected bundles
  • ✓Warner Bros. Studio Tour in selected bundles
  • ✓Three extra attractions from a defined pool
  • ✓Choice pool includes Madame Tussauds Hollywood
  • ✓Choice pool includes Starline Tours
  • ✓Choice pool includes Los Angeles Zoo
  • ✓Choice pool includes SoFi Stadium Tours
  • ✓Choice pool includes GRAMMY Museum
  • ✓Choice pool includes Natural History Museum
  • ✓Choice pool includes La Brea Tar Pits

Not included

  • ·Public transport
  • ·Parking
  • ·Special exhibitions unless named
  • ·Museum add-ons beyond general admission

shopping_bag Buy direct from CityPASS online. Los Angeles CityPASS is mobile-ticket based, so you do not need a pickup counter. Check your Universal date carefully before buying because changing that reservation can be awkward.

This is the cleanest LA bundle if Universal is already on your list. If Universal is not part of the trip, the value drops fast and the fixed attraction pool can feel narrow.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass

tourist card

Prices

  • Adult from $99
  • Child 3-12 from $79
Durations: 1 day · 2 days · 3 days · 4 days · 5 days · 7 days

Includes

  • ✓Access to 36 attractions and tours
  • ✓Warner Bros. Studio Tour
  • ✓Big Bus hop-on hop-off if selected itinerary supports it
  • ✓SoFi Stadium Tour
  • ✓Madame Tussauds Hollywood
  • ✓La Brea Tar Pits
  • ✓Natural History Museum
  • ✓Aquarium of the Pacific
  • ✓Knott's Berry Farm

Not included

  • ·Universal Studios Hollywood
  • ·Regular public transport
  • ·Repeat visits to the same attraction
  • ·Guaranteed fast-track entry

shopping_bag Buy direct from Go City online or in the app. It is a digital pass, with no pickup point stated. Before paying, check the reservations page, because several headline attractions need advance booking or day-of booking.

Worth it only for an attraction-heavy schedule with early starts and a realistic transport plan. Museum-heavy or casual trips usually lose money.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass Plus

tourist card

Prices

  • Adult from $249
  • Child 3-12 from $219
Durations: 2 days · 3 days · 4 days · 5 days · 7 days

Includes

  • ✓All regular All-Inclusive attractions
  • ✓Universal Studios Hollywood
  • ✓San Diego Zoo
  • ✓LEGOLAND California
  • ✓Premium experience on 3, 4, 5, and 7 day versions
  • ✓Warner Bros. Studio Tour
  • ✓SoFi Stadium Tour

Not included

  • ·Regular public transport
  • ·Parking
  • ·Guaranteed skip-the-line entry
  • ·Flexible use without reservations

shopping_bag Buy online from Go City and use the digital pass in the app. This one only makes sense if you will actually use the expensive anchor attractions. Check reservation rules first, especially for Universal and studio tours.

This can save real money, but only for a packed plan built around Universal and other high-ticket stops. For a normal LA vacation, it is too much pass.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Go City Los Angeles Essentials Pass

attraction bundle

Prices

  • Adult from $69
  • Child 3-12 from $54
Durations: 3 attractions · 4 attractions · 5 attractions · 30 days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Pick 3 to 5 attractions from a curated list
  • ✓Warner Bros. Studio Tour if available in the current list
  • ✓Big Bus products if selected
  • ✓SoFi Stadium Tour
  • ✓Madame Tussauds Hollywood
  • ✓Natural History Museum
  • ✓La Brea Tar Pits
  • ✓Aquarium of the Pacific

Not included

  • ·Universal Studios Hollywood
  • ·Regular public transport
  • ·Every attraction in the full All-Inclusive list
  • ·Guaranteed fast-track entry

shopping_bag Buy direct from Go City online or in the app. It is digital only. This is the easiest Go City product to use because you are not racing the clock, but you still need to check reservation requirements before you count on any studio tour.

A decent middle ground if you want a few paid attractions without a marathon schedule. It is still a bad buy if your list is mostly free museums and viewpoints.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Metro TAP Fare Capping

transport pass

Transport

Prices

  • Adult fare $1.75
  • Adult day cap $5
  • Adult 7-day cap $18
  • Senior/disabled 75c peak / 35c off
  • Student cap $2.50 day / $6 week
Durations: Pay as you go · 1 day cap · 7 day cap

Includes

  • ✓Metro bus rides
  • ✓Metro rail rides
  • ✓Automatic day cap on Metro fares
  • ✓Automatic rolling 7-day cap on Metro fares
  • ✓TAP compatibility across many regional agencies
  • ✓Apple Wallet and TAP app support

Not included

  • ·Metrolink rail
  • ·Universal theme park admission
  • ·Sightseeing attractions
  • ·Some transfers between municipal operators and Metro may add fees

shopping_bag Use Apple Wallet, the TAP app, station machines, retail partners, or a Metro customer center. For most visitors this is the easiest money-saver in town because the caps happen automatically.

Almost always worth using if you are riding Metro at all. The only catch is that Metro savings do not fix an itinerary that still needs lots of rideshare trips.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Metrolink Day Passes

transport pass

Transport

Prices

  • SoCal Day Pass weekday $15
  • SoCal Day Pass weekend $10
  • L.A. Zone Day Pass $5
Durations: 1 day · L.A. Zone day pass · 5-day flex pass · Monthly passes also available

Includes

  • ✓Unlimited Metrolink travel for the valid day on the selected pass
  • ✓SoCal Day Pass for broad regional coverage
  • ✓L.A. Zone Day Pass for limited local zone travel
  • ✓Many free local transit connections
  • ✓Some Amtrak Pacific Surfliner codeshare use within program rules

Not included

  • ·Theme park admission
  • ·Most city attractions
  • ·Unlimited Metro rail and bus outside the included transfer programs
  • ·Regionwide flexibility on the $5 L.A. Zone pass

shopping_bag Buy in the Metrolink app or from station ticket machines. This is more useful for regional day trips or rail-heavy sightseeing than for a normal Hollywood and beach itinerary.

Good value for longer regional rides, weak value for standard tourist days inside LA. The $5 L.A. Zone pass is niche, not a universal city transport card.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Southern California CityPASS

combo pass

Prices

  • Disneyland from $323
  • Universal from $107
  • SeaWorld from $69
  • LEGOLAND from $67
  • San Diego Zoo parks from $78
Durations: Varies by park ticket · Dated tickets · Single-park or multi-day options

Includes

  • ✓Officially sold tickets for Disneyland products
  • ✓Officially sold tickets for Universal products
  • ✓Officially sold tickets for SeaWorld San Diego
  • ✓Officially sold tickets for LEGOLAND California
  • ✓Officially sold tickets for San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
  • ✓Ability to combine multiple separate park tickets in one order

Not included

  • ·It is not a classic LA attraction pass
  • ·Public transport
  • ·Parking
  • ·General skip-the-line privileges
  • ·Simple one-price city card structure

shopping_bag Buy online only if you are comparing the exact dated ticket against the park's own official checkout. Tickets are emailed and can be printed if needed. Treat it like a ticket storefront, not like a city pass.

The name is misleading. This can be fine for park tickets, but it is not the answer to 'what pass should I buy for Los Angeles?' unless your trip is really a Southern California theme-park run.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Does the math work?

Real scenarios with real numbers. Green means a pass saves money, red means single tickets win.

Universal plus three lower-cost LA attractions over three days

buy

Using: Los Angeles CityPASS

Single tickets

$212.50

With pass

$158

Diff

Save about $54.50

Using official prices shown on the LA CityPASS page, Universal is about $154, then NHM $18, La Brea $18, and GRAMMY Museum $22.50. If Universal is already fixed in your plan, CityPASS is one of the few LA products that clears the math without heroic scheduling.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour plus three museum-style stops

buy

Using: Los Angeles CityPASS

Single tickets

$134.50

With pass

$111

Diff

Save about $23.50

Warner Bros. at $76 plus NHM $18, La Brea $18, and GRAMMY Museum $22.50 comes to $134.50. The adult Warner bundle is $109, then about $2 processing. It is a real saving, though not huge, and only works if you actually use all four admissions.

One packed day with Warner Bros. and SoFi Stadium Tour

buy

Using: Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass

Single tickets

$132.65

With pass

$99

Diff

Save about $33.65

Official overlapping prices published on the CityPASS page put Warner Bros. at $76 and SoFi at $56.65. That beats the one-day All-Inclusive starting price of $99. The catch is practical, not mathematical: you need reservations and a realistic route, or the day collapses.

Museum-heavy day with NHM, La Brea, and GRAMMY Museum

skip

Using: Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass

Single tickets

$58.50

With pass

$99

Diff

Loses about $40.50

Natural History Museum is $18, La Brea Tar Pits is $18, and GRAMMY Museum is $22.50 on the official CityPASS page. That total is far below the starting All-Inclusive price. This is a common LA mistake: the pass looks broad, but cheap museums do not justify it.

Three Metro rides in one day plus extra buses at night

buy

Using: Metro TAP Fare Capping

Single tickets

$7 or more

With pass

$5 cap

Diff

Save at least $2

Metro charges $1.75 per ride, so once you go past two rides and keep moving, the automatic day cap becomes useful. You do not have to pre-commit to a pass. Just use TAP and let the cap do the work.

What should YOU buy?

Pick your travel style.

solo

Buy: Metro TAP Fare Capping

For most solo travelers, TAP is the only no-regret buy. A full sightseeing pass only makes sense if you already know you will do Universal or a packed chain of paid attractions with reservations lined up.

couple

Buy: Los Angeles CityPASS

For couples planning Universal plus a few paid sights, LA CityPASS is the strongest fixed bundle. If the trip leans more toward free museums, beaches, and food neighborhoods, skip the attraction pass and just use TAP.

family

Buy: Los Angeles CityPASS

Families heading to Universal can save real money with CityPASS, but only if the extra attractions fit the age range and energy level of the group. Family museum discounts and free-child rules can make a pass weaker than it first appears.

48h stopover

No pass recommended

A short stopover in LA rarely leaves enough time for a sightseeing pass to work well. Pick one or two paid attractions, buy direct, and use Metro TAP if your route matches transit. Trying to force pass value in two days usually makes the trip worse.

week long

Buy: Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass

A week gives you enough room to spread out reservations and make a bigger pass pay off, especially if you are committed to several paid attractions. Even then, it works best for organized travelers, not for people who want open-ended days.

budget

Buy: Metro TAP Fare Capping

Budget travelers should usually skip attraction passes in Los Angeles. The city has a strong list of free or cheap sights, and TAP keeps transport costs under control without forcing paid stops you did not really want.

senior

Buy: Metro TAP Fare Capping

Reduced Metro caps are genuinely good value, and they are easier to use than a sightseeing pass built around rushed cross-town scheduling. Attraction bundles only make sense if the itinerary is already heavy on paid, pre-booked stops.

student

Buy: Metro TAP Fare Capping

Students often get the best savings from reduced transit and from choosing free museums, free viewpoints, and cheap neighborhoods over headline bundles. A sightseeing pass is only worth it if the trip is unusually attraction-heavy.

warning Scams & traps to avoid

Known scams tied to Los Angeles passes and tickets.

Unofficial Universal tickets from marketplaces and resale PDFs

How it works

A seller on eBay, a coupon site, or a random ticket page offers Universal tickets below the official rate and sends a PDF or voucher that looks plausible. The problem is not always obvious until the gate scan fails or support points you back to the reseller.

How to spot it

The site is not Universal, CityPASS, or Go City, the terms are vague, and the ticket arrives as a forwarded PDF with no clean issuer trail.

Safe alternative

Buy from Universal directly, LA CityPASS, or Go City if Universal is explicitly included in the product you chose.

Street-vendor ticket deals near Hollywood and Universal

How it works

Someone offers same-day attraction discounts on the sidewalk, often claiming extra inventory, employee tickets, or a one-time deal. None of the current major LA pass issuers use street-vendor sales for their verified products.

How to spot it

Cash requests, pressure to decide on the spot, and no official app, issuer email, or machine receipt.

Safe alternative

Use the official issuer website or app, Metro station machines for TAP, or Metrolink machines and app for rail passes.

Skip-the-line promises attached to standard city passes

How it works

A reseller or content page implies that a pass gets you fast-track entry everywhere. In LA that is usually false. CityPASS says skip-the-line is not generally included, and Go City still requires reservations at many major attractions.

How to spot it

The sales pitch says 'priority access everywhere' but does not name the exact attraction and ticket type that grants it.

Safe alternative

Read the official pass FAQ and reservation page, then assume normal security and reservation queues unless the issuer says otherwise.

Don't buy a pass if…

  • block Your LA plan is mostly free places such as Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, the Broad, beach time, and neighborhood wandering.
  • block You only want one anchor attraction, especially Universal or Warner Bros., and do not have three or four other paid stops you genuinely want.
  • block You are staying car-free and trying to cross the city for multiple timed entries in one day. Travel time can erase the value even when the math looks good.
  • block You are traveling with children who already get free or very cheap entry at some museums, which weakens bundle savings.
  • block Your dates are uncertain and you may need to shift a Universal reservation after purchase.

Common questions

Is Los Angeles CityPASS worth it if I only want Universal Studios Hollywood? expand_more
Usually no. Universal on its own is already expensive, which is why LA CityPASS can look tempting, but the pass only makes sense if you will actually use the extra attractions. If Universal is your one big paid day and the rest of your trip is beaches, Griffith, and free museums, buy Universal direct.
Does any Los Angeles tourist pass include Metro or public transport? expand_more
The main sightseeing bundles do not. Go City and Los Angeles CityPASS do not include regular public transport. For transit, the useful saver is Metro TAP fare capping, which automatically limits what you pay on Metro bus and rail once you hit the daily or weekly cap.
Which LA pass is best for a first-time visitor? expand_more
For a first-time visitor, the best answer is often no attraction pass at all. If Universal Studios Hollywood is already a fixed part of the trip, Los Angeles CityPASS is the best simple bundle. If your days are packed with several paid attractions and you do not mind reservations, Go City can work.
Does Go City Los Angeles skip lines at attractions? expand_more
No general skip-the-line promise is listed on the official Go City Los Angeles pages. In some places, having a prepaid pass may let you avoid the ticket-buying step, but reservation rules, timed entry, and security lines still apply. Always check the reservations page before you assume anything is instant.
What is the cheapest way to get around Los Angeles for tourists? expand_more
If your itinerary fits Metro, TAP fare capping is the cheapest clean option because you just tap and stop paying after the cap. If you are making longer regional rail trips, a Metrolink day pass can be better. The problem is not the fare system. It is whether your planned stops actually line up with transit.
Is Southern California CityPASS a real Los Angeles sightseeing pass? expand_more
Not really. It is an official CityPASS product, but it works more like a storefront for separate theme-park tickets across Southern California. It is useful only if you are comparing the exact dated park ticket against the park's own price. It is not a simple LA city card.
Are Los Angeles attraction passes good for families? expand_more
Sometimes, but families need to do the math carefully. A CityPASS built around Universal can save money, yet child pricing, free museum entry, parking, and the reality of how many paid attractions kids can handle in one trip can shrink the benefit fast.
Can I buy Los Angeles passes at the airport or a tourist office? expand_more
For the current major sightseeing products, plan on buying online or in the issuer's app. Los Angeles CityPASS is mobile-ticket based, and Go City is digital. Metro TAP can be bought at station machines, through the app, Apple Wallet, retail partners, and customer centers. Metrolink passes are sold in the app and at station machines.

Sources

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