San Francisco Pass and other passes

The San Francisco CityPASS® will be your ally in combating American prices during your trip.

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

7 min read

San Francisco Pass and other passes

View of San Francisco | ©Bernard Spragg. NZ

On a tour of the west coast of the United States, a visit to San Francisco is a must. Known for the Golden Gate, Lombard Street or Alcatraz Island, this city is a melting pot of cultures united under the Californian spirit.

In San Francisco there is much to see but to simplify the organization of your trip there are some tricks, such as tourist passes. I'll tell you the best you can use to visit the city and not miss anything!

The most popular: San Francisco CityPASS®

Tramway through the streets of San Francisco| ©Amogh Manjunath
Tramway through the streets of San Francisco| ©Amogh Manjunath

Starting at 65 euros, the San Francisco CityPASS® tourist pass is the most popular tourist card to visit the main tourist attractions and places of interest in this Californian city as it will not only give you access to very cool places to see during your vacation but you will also save money.

If you plan to travel to San Francisco for ten or fifteen days, this is the ideal pass for you as it will allow you to save around 50 euros compared to the combined box office price of adult tickets. In addition, the San Francisco CityPASS® has discounts to visit other attractions to help you save even more and offers unlimited use of the city's iconic streetcars and Muni public transportation for 3 consecutive days.

This tourist pass is valid for 9 consecutive days from the date of first use and expires 1 year from the date of purchase.

Please note that some of the tourist attractions in San Francisco require prior reservation to visit them or have limited days or hours of operation so before you go there I advise you to always consult this information.

Book the San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Pass

For Short Trips: San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass

San Francisco Sightseeing Bus| ©megabus13601
San Francisco Sightseeing Bus| ©megabus13601

If you are only going to spend a few days in San Francisco but want to enjoy the city to the fullest by sightseeing, I advise you to get the San Francisco All-Inclusive Passfrom 75 euros.

This is a tourist card that not only gives you access to more than 25 attractions but also allows you to save time (by having direct entry to each attraction and avoid queues at the ticket office) and money (to enjoy discounts at stores and restaurants in the city), which always comes in handy if you are traveling with family.

The Go San Francisco Card is activated the first time you use it and you can choose between a tourist card for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. For added flexibility, this pass is valid for 2 years from date of purchase to first use.

It also includes a 1-day free-stop San Francisco sightseeing bus tour so you can explore the city at your own pace, hopping on and off at any stop.

Book the San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass

The most economical option: San Francisco Explorer Pass

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art| ©Guilhem Vellut
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art| ©Guilhem Vellut

If you are traveling to San Francisco on a tight budget, the most convenient tourist card to take is the San Francisco Explorer Pass from 60 euros.

This pass is also the best if you are looking to personalize your experience in the city as much as possible, because you can choose between 2, 3, 4 or 5 attractions and you will pay according to the number of attractions you choose, so you will save much more money than with conventional tourist cards.

The San Francisco Explorer Pass is great for those people who travel with an open and flexible plan seeing tourist attractions on the go. In fact, the pass is valid for 2 years from the date of purchase and is only activated when visiting the first attraction. From that moment it is valid for up to 30 days except for the Go San Francisco 2-Choice 2-Attraction Pass which is valid for 60 days.

To get the most out of this tourist card, I advise you to opt for the most expensive attractions to maximize savings. And to move from one to the other, don't forget to use the 1-day San Francisco sightseeing bus tour with free stops included in this pass but you can also use it if you prefer to explore the city at your own pace.

Book the San Francisco Explorer Pass


How much does a San Francisco attractions pass cost?

California Academy of Sciences| ©Jose Camões Silva
California Academy of Sciences| ©Jose Camões Silva

It depends on the type of tourist card you choose. The cheapest is the San Francisco Explorer Pass where you can choose up to 5 attractions to visit in 30 days.

However, if budget is not a problem for you and you are an all-rounder traveler who wants to get the most out of your stay I recommend choosing between the San Francisco CityPASS® (the most popular option for all the possibilities it offers) or the Go San Francisco Card (to use it for the days of your visit).

Reserve the San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Pass®

How do I choose my San Francisco CityPASS®?

Exploratorium| ©k1ng
Exploratorium| ©k1ng

Finding the ideal tourist card for you depends on the type of trip you are going to make in San Francisco. Although it may not seem like it, this is important because you will avoid buying a pass that will be too big for your stay, or worse, too small.

So when choosing your pass to visit San Francisco I advise you to compare them first and consider factors such as your tastes and interests, the time you are going to be there and the budget you have available.

Is it worth buying the San Francisco CityPASS®?

Discover the Madame Tussauds Museum's wax statues of fashionable actors.| ©Gallant's Photography
Discover the Madame Tussauds Museum's wax statues of fashionable actors.| ©Gallant's Photography

Absolutely. Not only will you have access to many of San Francisco's top tourist attractions, but you'll save time (by avoiding lines at the ticket booths) and money (by getting into the top attractions at a discounted rate and enjoying discounts).

Reserve the San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Pass

What attractions do San Francisco passes include?

Visit the USS Pampanito| ©Steve Knight
Visit the USS Pampanito| ©Steve Knight
  • California Academy of Sciences
  • San Francisco Bay Cruise
  • Aquarium of the Bay
  • Exploratorium (San Francisco Museum of Science, Technology and the Arts)
  • San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
  • Walt Disney Family Museum
  • San Francisco Zoo
  • Madame Tussauds Museum
  • Oracle Park (the San Francisco Giants stadium)
  • Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals & Tours
  • USS Pampanito Submarine
  • M. H. de Young Memorial Museum
  • Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum
  • Asian Art Museum
  • Contemporary Jewish Museum
  • K1 Speed San Francisco
  • Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals & Tours
  • GoCar GPS Guided Tours
  • And much more.

Compare San Francisco Sightseeing Passes

How does the San Francisco CityPASS® and other passes work?

Oracle Park| © rocor
Oracle Park| © rocor

When you receive your pass after purchase, I recommend that you carefully read the instructions it comes with for proper use. However, San Francisco tourist passes generally work as follows:

  • San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Card: To access attractions you can present the pass on a mobile device or print it out.
  • Go San Francisco Card: Just download the pass to your mobile device. No need to redeem a voucher.
  • San Francisco Explorer Pass: Just print the pass or download the code to your mobile device. No need to redeem any voucher.

Does the San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Bus include the San Francisco CityPASS® and the other passes?

Visit the city by bus| © megabus13601
Visit the city by bus| © megabus13601

The Go San Francisco Card and the San Francisco Explorer Pass include the San Francisco Sightseeing Bus Tour with free stops. With this bus you can explore the city and get around in comfort by creating your own route - the fastest and most convenient way to see San Francisco if you're a first-time traveler!

Plus, with the San Francisco CityPASS® and San Francisco Explorer Pass you get unlimited use of Muni public transportation (Muni Metro, historic streetcars, subways, buses and cable cars) for 3 consecutive days and 1 full day, respectively.

Book San Francisco Tourist Passes

How many days do I have to use the San Francisco CityPASS® or the other passes?

Enjoy a Bay Cruise| © DARSHAN SIMHA
Enjoy a Bay Cruise| © DARSHAN SIMHA
  • San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Pass: Pass is valid for 9 days from date of first use and expires 1 year from date of purchase.
  • Go San Francisco Card: Pass is valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days from date of first use and is valid for 2 years from date of purchase to first use.
  • San Francisco Explorer Pass: The 3, 4 and 5 attraction pass is valid for a period of 30 days while the 2 attraction pass (Go San Francisco 2-Choice) is valid for 60 days from the date of first visit to the attraction. From the date of purchase this pass is valid for 2 years and is only activated when you visit the first attraction.

Compare San Francisco Tourist Passes

Frequently asked questions

  • How long does the San Francisco CityPASS® last?

    The San Francisco CityPASS® is valid for 9 days from the date of first use, so you should have plenty of time to take advantage of it on your trip.

  • How much will I save with the San Francisco CityPASS®?

    It depends on how much you use your San Francisco CityPASS®. The more you use it, of course, the more you save - in total, up to 50% compared to buying each ticket individually.

  • Can I add extras to the San Francisco CityPASS® Tourist Card?

    No, all the activities included in the tourist passes are already established, but you will be able to choose between access to the Exploratorium or the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.