San Francisco, United States · Money-saving passes

San Francisco Money-Saving Passes & Cards

Current pass prices, what each one really includes, and the simple math to tell whether a San Francisco pass will save you money or just add clutter to your trip.

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verified Prices and rules verified 2026-04-22

The short answer

Usually, only if you already know which paid attractions you want. San Francisco is full of free views, free neighborhoods, and museums that are already free for many kids, so a pass is often a bad buy. The strongest options are CityPASS for 3 to 4 mainstream attractions, CityPASS + Alcatraz if Alcatraz is locked in, and the SFMTA Visitor Passport only if cable cars matter.

Every pass, compared honestly

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

San Francisco CityPASS®

attraction bundle

Prices

  • Adult 12+ $89.95 + $2 fee
  • Child 4-11 $69.95 + $2 fee
Durations: 4 attractions · 9 consecutive days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Choice of any 4 attractions from the current San Francisco CityPASS pool
  • ✓California Academy of Sciences
  • ✓Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise
  • ✓Exploratorium
  • ✓Aquarium of the Bay
  • ✓San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
  • ✓SFMOMA
  • ✓The Walt Disney Family Museum
  • ✓de Young Museum + Legion of Honor same-day admission
  • ✓Mobile ticket delivery
  • ✓Reservations where required

Not included

  • ·No Muni or cable car transit
  • ·No Alcatraz
  • ·One-time entry only at each included attraction
  • ·Blue & Gold Fleet and Exploratorium currently require reservations

shopping_bag Buy direct on the official CityPASS site and use the mobile ticket. You do not need a central pickup office, and CityPASS does not publish a standard downtown collection counter.

This is the easiest adult pass to recommend in San Francisco. It works if you will actually use four admissions over two to four days. It is weak for travelers doing only one or two paid sights, and it loses value fast for families whose kids already get free museum entry.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

San Francisco C3®

attraction bundle

Prices

  • Adult 12+ $81 + $2 fee
  • Child 4-11 $64 + $2 fee
Durations: 3 attractions · 9 consecutive days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Choice of any 3 attractions from the current C3 pool
  • ✓California Academy of Sciences
  • ✓Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise
  • ✓Exploratorium
  • ✓Aquarium of the Bay
  • ✓San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
  • ✓SFMOMA
  • ✓The Walt Disney Family Museum
  • ✓Bay City Bike & Parkwide Bike Rentals
  • ✓de Young Museum + Legion of Honor same-day admission
  • ✓Mobile ticket delivery
  • ✓Reservations where required

Not included

  • ·No Muni or cable car transit
  • ·No Alcatraz
  • ·One-time entry only
  • ·Blue & Gold Fleet and Exploratorium currently require reservations

shopping_bag Buy online from CityPASS and keep it on your phone. This one makes the most sense when you already know you only want three paid attractions and do not want a bigger bundle nudging you into extra spending.

For many visitors, this is the less risky version of CityPASS. The break-even point is still easy for adults if your three choices are solid ones, but it is not a deal just because the word pass is attached.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

San Francisco CityPASS® + Alcatraz

combo pass

Prices

  • Adult 12+ $114.95 + $2 fee
  • Child 5-11 $84.95 + $2 fee
Durations: Alcatraz day tour + 3 attractions · 9 consecutive days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Alcatraz City Cruises Day Tour
  • ✓Choice of 3 additional attractions from the CityPASS pool
  • ✓California Academy of Sciences
  • ✓Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise
  • ✓Exploratorium
  • ✓Aquarium of the Bay
  • ✓San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
  • ✓SFMOMA
  • ✓The Walt Disney Family Museum
  • ✓de Young Museum + Legion of Honor same-day admission
  • ✓Mobile ticket delivery
  • ✓Reservations where required

Not included

  • ·No Muni or cable car transit
  • ·No Alcatraz night tour
  • ·No behind-the-scenes Alcatraz option
  • ·You must choose the Alcatraz date at purchase
  • ·Blue & Gold Fleet, Exploratorium, and Alcatraz require reservations

shopping_bag Buy direct only if you know your Alcatraz date before checkout. This bundle is simpler than piecing together third-party combinations, and it avoids the lookalike Alcatraz ticket sites that cause most of the trouble.

This is good value only when Alcatraz is a fixed part of the trip and you will still do three more paid attractions. If you mainly want Alcatraz and one museum, buy Alcatraz direct instead.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

SFMTA Visitor Passport

transport pass

Transport

Prices

  • 1 day $15
  • 3 days $35
  • 7 days $47
Durations: 1 day · 3 days · 7 days

Includes

  • ✓Unlimited Muni buses
  • ✓Unlimited Muni Metro
  • ✓Unlimited historic streetcars
  • ✓Unlimited cable cars
  • ✓Consecutive calendar-day validity
  • ✓Purchase in MuniMobile, Clipper, or paper form at official sales points

Not included

  • ·No BART
  • ·No airport trip to or from SFO
  • ·No other Bay Area transit systems
  • ·No attraction entry
  • ·Poor value for many kids because youth 18 and under already ride Muni free except cable cars

shopping_bag Buy this only if cable cars are part of the plan. For regular buses and Metro, the cheaper Muni Day Pass usually makes more sense. If you want a paper pass, use official SFMTA kiosks such as Powell and Market.

This is not a sightseeing pass. It is a cable-car-heavy transit tool. Two cable car rides in a day can justify the 1-day version. Without cable cars, it is often the wrong buy.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Go City San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass

tourist card

Prices

  • Adult From $109
  • Child 3-12 From $89
Durations: 1 day · 2 days · 3 days · 5 days

Includes

  • ✓Unlimited included attractions during chosen pass days
  • ✓California Academy of Sciences
  • ✓Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus 1-Day Classic Tour
  • ✓Golden Gate Bay Cruise
  • ✓San Francisco Bridge to Bridge Cruise on Red and White Fleet
  • ✓Aquarium of the Bay
  • ✓Exploratorium
  • ✓de Young Museum and Legion of Honor
  • ✓The Walt Disney Family Museum
  • ✓All-Day Comfort Bike Rental by Blazing Saddles
  • ✓Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars with the 1 Day Muni Pass
  • ✓GoCar 1 Hour Tour
  • ✓Scenic Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour
  • ✓Asian Art Museum
  • ✓USS Pampanito
  • ✓Other listed Go City partner attractions

Not included

  • ·No Alcatraz
  • ·No guarantee of a fast-lane entry everywhere
  • ·Some listed attractions are outside San Francisco proper, including LEGOLAND Discovery Center in San Jose and USS Hornet in Alameda
  • ·Several attractions require booking
  • ·Practical value depends on moving quickly between expensive entries

shopping_bag Buy direct from Go City only after mapping a realistic day. This is a digital pass, not a pickup product. It works best when your day is built around premium attractions close enough together that transit time does not eat the savings.

This can save money for a fast, almost military day of sightseeing. Most people do not travel like that. If you like to linger in museums or spend half a day in one neighborhood, skip it.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Go City San Francisco Essentials Pass

attraction bundle

Prices

  • Adult $74
  • Child 3-12 $54
Durations: 3 attractions · 30 days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Choice of 3 attractions from the current Essentials list
  • ✓Golden Gate Bay Cruise
  • ✓Aquarium of the Bay
  • ✓San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
  • ✓Exploratorium
  • ✓San Francisco Flyer & 7D + Laser Maze
  • ✓All-Day Comfort Bike Rental by Blazing Saddles
  • ✓The Walt Disney Family Museum
  • ✓SFMOMA
  • ✓USS Pampanito
  • ✓Digital pass delivery

Not included

  • ·No Alcatraz
  • ·No wider 20-plus attraction pool
  • ·The 1 Day Muni Pass with cable cars is not included in Essentials
  • ·Savings depend on picking the pricier options in the short list

shopping_bag Use this only if your three choices are all on the curated list and all fairly pricey. Since it is digital, there is no pickup step. Compare it directly against CityPASS C3 before buying, because the attraction pool is smaller.

This is decent on paper, but it is not the first pass I would check. The smaller attraction pool limits your wiggle room, and CityPASS C3 often ends up feeling cleaner.

Official site open_in_new Verified 2026-04-22

Go City San Francisco Explorer Pass

tourist card

Prices

  • Adult From $89
  • Child 3-12 From $69
Durations: Choose 2 attractions · Choose 3 attractions · Choose 4 attractions · Choose 5 attractions · 30 days from first use

Includes

  • ✓Choice-based access to the larger Go City San Francisco attraction pool
  • ✓California Academy of Sciences
  • ✓Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus 1-Day Classic Tour
  • ✓Golden Gate Bay Cruise
  • ✓Bridge to Bridge Cruise on Red and White Fleet
  • ✓Exploratorium
  • ✓Aquarium of the Bay
  • ✓The Walt Disney Family Museum
  • ✓de Young Museum and Legion of Honor
  • ✓Ride the San Francisco Cable Cars with the 1 Day Muni Pass
  • ✓GoCar 1 Hour Tour
  • ✓Scenic Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour
  • ✓Asian Art Museum
  • ✓Other listed Go City partner attractions

Not included

  • ·No Alcatraz
  • ·Official attraction count showed a mismatch between pages, with 22 results on the index and 23 on the comparison page
  • ·Several attractions require booking
  • ·Some inclusions are low-value filler rather than big-ticket sights
  • ·The lowest Explorer tier is often overpriced for cheap attraction combinations

shopping_bag Price this one backward. Make your exact list first, then compare the Explorer tier against direct tickets. Buy only from the official Go City page or app, because secondhand digital resale is too easy to fake.

This sounds flexible, and sometimes it is. But the starting tier only works when your picks are expensive ones. Aquarium plus zoo is not enough. Big Bus plus California Academy is the kind of pairing that makes it look better.

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.

Adult doing California Academy, Exploratorium, Aquarium over 2 days

buy

Using: San Francisco C3®

Single tickets

$123.70

With pass

$83

Diff

Save $40.70

This is the cleanest C3 use case: three expensive, mainstream attractions with no filler. The pass beats door prices easily and does not push you into a fourth attraction just to justify the spend.

Adult doing Aquarium, Zoo, Disney, de Young over 3 days

buy

Using: San Francisco CityPASS®

Single tickets

$104.75

With pass

$91.95

Diff

Save $12.80

The savings are not massive, but the math works even with a mid-priced four-stop itinerary. If you know you want four paid attractions, CityPASS is usually the safer adult buy than a Go City product.

Adult doing only Alcatraz and SFMOMA on a short trip

skip

Using: San Francisco CityPASS® + Alcatraz

Single tickets

$72.95

With pass

$116.95

Diff

Loses $44.00

This bundle only works when Alcatraz is paired with three more real attractions. If your trip is short and you mainly want the island plus one museum, the bundle is too much pass for too little use.

One packed sightseeing day with Big Bus and California Academy

borderline

Using: Go City San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass

Single tickets

$116

With pass

$109

Diff

Save $7

The pass technically wins on this pair alone, but only narrowly. It becomes a stronger buy if you add one more decent attraction the same day. If you move slowly, the small margin disappears.

Visitor riding 2 cable cars and 3 regular Muni trips in one day

buy

Using: SFMTA Visitor Passport

Single tickets

$22.50

With pass

$15

Diff

Save $7.50

Cable cars change the transit math immediately. Without them, the cheaper Muni Day Pass would usually be better. With two cable car rides in one day, the Visitor Passport earns its keep.

What should YOU buy?

Pick your travel style.

solo

Buy: San Francisco C3®

Solo travelers often mix free wandering with a few paid sights rather than four full-ticket attractions. C3 fits that rhythm better than a bigger bundle. If your list is shorter than three, skip passes entirely.

couple

Buy: San Francisco CityPASS®

For two adults doing the standard big hitters over a long weekend, CityPASS is usually the best balance of savings and simplicity. It works especially well when both travelers want the same four mainstream attractions.

family

No pass recommended

Families need to check child pricing with unusual care in San Francisco. Many museums already let kids in free or cheap, and youth ride Muni free except cable cars. A pass can still work, but it is not the default safe choice.

48h stopover

Buy: San Francisco C3®

Two effective sightseeing days is often too short for a larger bundle but enough for three expensive attractions. C3 gives structure without the pressure to squeeze in a fourth stop just because you paid for it.

week long

Buy: San Francisco CityPASS®

A week in San Francisco usually includes plenty of free time in neighborhoods, but the 9-day validity gives you room to spread four paid attractions across relaxed days. It is better for a slow week than an all-inclusive sprint pass.

budget

No pass recommended

Budget travelers often do better with no attraction pass at all in San Francisco. Use free viewpoints, free neighborhoods, museum free days, and direct tickets for one or two priorities. Buy the SFMTA Visitor Passport only if cable cars are part of the fun.

senior

No pass recommended

Pass savings are usually compared against the highest public ticket prices, not senior rates. If you qualify for reduced admission at several attractions, the pass can quietly stop being a bargain.

student

No pass recommended

Students should compare direct discounts first. Passes rarely reflect student pricing, and the savings claims assume full adult gate prices. In this city, the better move is often targeted direct tickets plus lots of free exploring.

luxury

Buy: San Francisco CityPASS® + Alcatraz

Luxury travelers are not usually chasing every last dollar, but this bundle is still tidy if Alcatraz is fixed and you plan to add three serious attractions. It saves time on decision fatigue more than it transforms the budget.

warning Scams & traps to avoid

Known scams tied to San Francisco passes and tickets.

Lookalike Alcatraz ticket sites and padded bundle sellers

How it works

San Francisco has a long-running problem with third-party sites that look official, then sell Alcatraz tickets at inflated prices or bury them inside bundles you did not actually want. The National Park Service says Alcatraz City Cruises is the only authorized ferry provider.

How to spot it

The site is not Alcatraz City Cruises or an official CityPASS page, or it uses urgent sold-out language and odd domain names that sound official without being official.

Safe alternative

Buy Alcatraz by itself from Alcatraz City Cruises, or buy the official CityPASS + Alcatraz bundle direct from CityPASS.

Secondhand Go City or digital pass resale

How it works

Unused digital passes sometimes show up on Reddit, local listings, or person-to-person marketplaces. The problem is simple: you cannot reliably verify whether the QR code has already been activated, refunded, copied, or partially used.

How to spot it

A seller offers screenshots, QR codes, or a last-minute transfer at a discount and asks you to trust that the pass is still valid.

Safe alternative

Buy digital passes only from the official issuer site or app. If the discount depends on trusting a stranger, walk away.

Savings headlines that assume the most expensive version of your trip

How it works

Pass companies compare against full gate prices and the priciest attraction mix. That is not fake, but it does mislead travelers who were planning cheaper sights, youth tickets, resident discounts, or free-kid museum entries.

How to spot it

You see phrases like save up to or from price, but no clear side-by-side math for your exact attractions and your actual travel party.

Safe alternative

Write down your real must-do list, check direct prices, then compare that total with the pass. Do the math before the marketing gets there first.

Don't buy a pass if…

  • block Skip attraction passes if you only want one or two paid sights and the rest of your trip is neighborhoods, parks, views, and food.
  • block Skip most child passes if your family itinerary leans on museums where under-18s are already free or discounted, including SFMOMA and de Young or Legion of Honor.
  • block Skip the SFMTA Visitor Passport if you will use only buses and Muni Metro. The cheaper Muni Day Pass usually beats it unless cable cars are part of the plan.
  • block Skip Go City All-Inclusive if you dislike tightly scheduled days or know you spend half a day in one museum. The pass needs speed.
  • block Skip any Alcatraz bundle if you really want the night tour, because the CityPASS bundle includes the day tour only.

Common questions

Is a San Francisco tourist pass worth it for most visitors? expand_more
Not automatically. San Francisco rewards travelers who like walking, views, neighborhoods, and one or two paid sights rather than a nonstop attraction checklist. A pass is worth it only when your real itinerary matches it. For most adults, CityPASS works for three or four mainstream attractions. For many families and budget travelers, no pass is the better answer.
Which San Francisco pass includes Alcatraz? expand_more
The main official bundle that includes Alcatraz right now is San Francisco CityPASS + Alcatraz. It includes the Alcatraz City Cruises day tour plus three more attractions. If you want Alcatraz by itself, buy direct from Alcatraz City Cruises, the only NPS-authorized ferry operator.
Do any San Francisco passes include cable cars and public transport? expand_more
Only the SFMTA Visitor Passport is a true public transport pass in this lineup. It covers Muni buses, Muni Metro, historic streetcars, and cable cars. It does not cover BART and it does not cover the airport trip to or from SFO.
Is the SFMTA Visitor Passport better than the Muni Day Pass? expand_more
Only if cable cars matter. The Visitor Passport includes cable cars, which are expensive enough to change the math after one or two rides. If you are just using regular buses and Metro, the cheaper Muni Day Pass is usually the smarter buy.
Do San Francisco attraction passes let you skip lines? expand_more
Not in any blanket citywide sense. CityPASS and Go City can save you from buying tickets at the door, and some attractions require reservations, but that is not the same as a formal fast-lane benefit everywhere. You should expect timed entry rules and normal queues at some places.
Which San Francisco pass is best for a 2-day trip? expand_more
Usually San Francisco C3. Two days is often enough for three meaningful paid attractions but not enough to make a larger bundle feel relaxed. If your trip is even lighter than that, buying direct tickets may still be cheaper.
Is Go City San Francisco Explorer Pass a good deal? expand_more
Sometimes, but only with expensive picks. The starting tier is not a bargain if you choose cheaper combinations such as Aquarium plus Zoo. It looks much better with premium attractions such as Big Bus, California Academy of Sciences, or one of the pricier cruises. Price your exact list first.
Are San Francisco museum passes worth it for families with kids? expand_more
Often no. That sounds backward, but many San Francisco museums already have generous youth policies. SFMOMA is free for guests 18 and younger, de Young and Legion of Honor are free for 17 and under, and youth ride Muni free except cable cars. Those existing benefits can wipe out most of the pass savings.

Sources

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