San Diego City Pass vs Go City

Do you want to compare the various sightseeing passes of San Diego to find out which San Diego Pass is the best for you? Then you’re in the right place with my detailed San Diego City Pass comparison!

In my comparison of the Explorer Pass San Diego, San Diego All-Inclusive Pass (also called San Diego Go Card), and San Diego CityPASS, you can see at a glance which attractions and tours are included and their costs.

Additionally, you’ll find my personal recommendation, and I’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about the City Passes of San Diego.

My tip: You can use my free San Diego savings calculator to easily figure out if a pass is worth it for you. Give it a try right now!

Comparing San Diego Passes

To give you a quick overview when comparing the San Diego City Pass vs Go City, I have put together all the important information, attractions and prices in this table👇

How do San Diego attraction passes work?

Whether you choose the San Diego Explorer Pass, the CityPASS San Diego, or the San Diego All-Inclusive Pass, the way they function is the same across all San Diego City Passes.

#1 Purchase in advance, activate, and use in San Diego

The sightseeing passes are a great way to ease your travel budget. If you’ve decided on a San Diego Pass, these are the next steps:

• Step 1: You receive the booking confirmation by email.
• Step 2: Print this out (it’s already your pass) or download it directly as an electronic version into the free app of the respective San Diego Pass provider.
• Step 3: Once in San Diego, show it at the ticket counter of the attraction (NOTE: for some attractions you need to have a reservation).
  
• Step 4: You receive your entrance tickets, or your San Diego Pass is scanned, and you’re all set to go!

#2 Save on key attractions and tours in San Diego

All San Diego City Passes work like a combined ticket, like 1 ticket for many attractions at the same time. The fact that you don’t just buy a single ticket, but several in the form of sightseeing passes such as the San Diego Explorer Pass, the CityPASS San Diego or the San Diego All-Inclusive Pass, makes it cheaper for you to visit the sights of San Diego.

Savings of over 20% are almost always possible, with savings of 30-50% being more likely!

#3 Simple to use

You can use them for as many attractions or days as you have purchased them for.

For example, if you bought the Explorer Pass for 4 attractions, you can use it for exactly 4 attractions as an entrance ticket, while with the All-Inclusive Pass for 2 days, you can visit as many attractions as you want or can manage – but only for 2 days.

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Travel itinerary for San Diego

Not sure which attractions you should include in your travel plan for San Diego? Here’s my suggestion for seeing the best of San Diego:

Which San Diego City Pass is the Best?

This is a tough question, as the answer depends on what you want to see, how many days you have, and who you are with in San Diego. However, some attraction passes stand out in comparison to others:

#1 The Best San Diego Pass for First-Time Visitors

If you want to see many of San Diego’s attractions in just a few days, the San Diego All-Inclusive Pass is the best choice for you. Why? For a fixed price, you can visit as many attractions as you want or can manage.

My tip: The days count consecutively, so don’t leave a day in between free – otherwise, it expires!

#2 The Best San Diego Pass for Families

Especially for families with children, the CityPASS is perfect because you can plan a day without sightseeing in between. Do the kids want to do something different than what you originally planned? No problem, you can just catch up on another day!

You can buy the CityPASS San Diego here.

#3 The Best San Diego Pass if You’ve Been to San Diego Before

Already familiar with San Diego? Great! You will experience the city even more relaxed, as you likely have already visited many of the famous attractions on your first vacation.

Therefore, like for families, the time-flexible attraction passes such as the San Diego Explorer Pass and the CityPASS San Diego are ideal.

The San Diego Passes in Detail

In a nutshell – these are the attraction passes for San Diego available to you:

#1 San Diego All-Inclusive Pass or Go San Diego Card

• Includes all TOP attractions and tours like LEGOLAND California, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, many museums, and boat tours
• 6 Variants: bookable for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days
• Save up to 55%
• Best value for money if you want to see 2 to 3 attractions per day
• Perfect for first-time visitors and families
• You can visit as many attractions as you want or can manage for a fixed price

» Get San Diego ALL-INCLUSIVE PASS here

Find more details about the San Diego All-Inclusive Pass here.

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#2 CityPASS San Diego

• Includes 4 or 5 attractions depending on the package, such as LEGOLAND California, SeaWorld, Trolley Tours, a boat tour, and the San Diego Zoo
• Save up to 44%
• Valid for 9 days
• Perfect for first-time visitors and families

» Get CITYPASS San Diego here

Find more details about the CityPASS San Diego here.

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#3 San Diego Explorer Pass by Go City

• Includes over 40 attractions like the San Diego Natural History Museum, Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air and Space Museum, and various water activities
• 5 Variants: bookable for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 attractions
• Save up to 40%
• Flexible travel planning, as days off are possible
• Valid for a 60 days after first use
• no sightseeing stress!

• No theme parks included (not a disadvantage if you already know them)

» Get EXPLORER PASS here

Find more details about the San Diego Explorer Pass here.