San Diego City Pass Comparison 2026
Compare verified prices, confirmed inclusions, and booking rules for San Diego CityPASS, Go City San Diego, and individual tickets.
| Feature |  San Diego CityPASS |
💰 Best price  Go City San Diego | Individual Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $169.00 (Adult, SeaWorld + 3 picks) | $149.00 (Adult, 1-day All-Inclusive Plus) | Varies per site |
| Validity | 9 consecutive days | 1-day tier shown (multi-day also sold) | Per ticket |
| USS Midway Museum | 1 of 5 picks (choose 3) | Included (all pass tiers) | $39.00 |
| San Diego Zoo | Choose 1: Zoo OR Safari Park | Included (Plus / Essentials tiers only) | $78.00 |
| San Diego Zoo Safari Park | Choose 1: Zoo OR Safari Park | Included (Plus / Essentials tiers only) | $76.00 |
| SeaWorld San Diego | Core selection (or LEGOLAND) | Included (Plus / Essentials tiers only) | From $59.99 (dynamic pricing) |
| Birch Aquarium at Scripps | 1 of 5 picks (choose 3) | Included (all pass tiers) | $34.95 |
| Balboa Park (grounds) | Not needed — always free | Not needed — always free | Free |
| La Jolla Cove | Not needed — always free | Not needed — always free | Free |
| Format | 100% Digital | 100% Digital | Varies by seller |
| 💡 Best For | Choose SeaWorld and/or LEGOLAND, one of San Diego Zoo or Safari Park, and 3 more from a 5-attraction list — best if you already know your theme-park priority. | Unlimited visits to 39+ attractions on the Plus tier, including every paid pick in this guide — best for a multi-park, multi-day visit. Skip the cheaper base All-Inclusive Pass if a theme park is on your list — it excludes SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, both Zoo Wildlife Alliance parks, and Knott's Berry Farm. | Best if you're only visiting 1-2 sites, or sticking to Balboa Park and La Jolla Cove, which need no pass at all since they're free. |
| Check price on San Diego CityPASS ✓ Verified 2026-09-23 | Check price on Go City San Diego ✓ Verified 2026-09-23 | Varies per site · Individual Tickets |
San Diego CityPASS
$169.00 (Adult, SeaWorld + 3 picks)
💡 Choose SeaWorld and/or LEGOLAND, one of San Diego Zoo or Safari Park, and 3 more from a 5-attraction list — best if you already know your theme-park priority.
See full comparison
- Validity
- 9 consecutive days
- USS Midway Museum
- 1 of 5 picks (choose 3)
- San Diego Zoo
- Choose 1: Zoo OR Safari Park
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Choose 1: Zoo OR Safari Park
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Core selection (or LEGOLAND)
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- 1 of 5 picks (choose 3)
- Balboa Park (grounds)
- Not needed — always free
- La Jolla Cove
- Not needed — always free
- Format
- 100% Digital
Check price on San Diego CityPASS ✓ Verified 2026-09-23
Go City San Diego
$149.00 (Adult, 1-day All-Inclusive Plus)
💡 Unlimited visits to 39+ attractions on the Plus tier, including every paid pick in this guide — best for a multi-park, multi-day visit. Skip the cheaper base All-Inclusive Pass if a theme park is on your list — it excludes SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, both Zoo Wildlife Alliance parks, and Knott's Berry Farm.
See full comparison
- Validity
- 1-day tier shown (multi-day also sold)
- USS Midway Museum
- Included (all pass tiers)
- San Diego Zoo
- Included (Plus / Essentials tiers only)
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- Included (Plus / Essentials tiers only)
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Included (Plus / Essentials tiers only)
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- Included (all pass tiers)
- Balboa Park (grounds)
- Not needed — always free
- La Jolla Cove
- Not needed — always free
- Format
- 100% Digital
Check price on Go City San Diego ✓ Verified 2026-09-23
Individual Tickets
Varies per site
💡 Best if you're only visiting 1-2 sites, or sticking to Balboa Park and La Jolla Cove, which need no pass at all since they're free.
See full comparison
- Validity
- Per ticket
- USS Midway Museum
- $39.00
- San Diego Zoo
- $78.00
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- $76.00
- SeaWorld San Diego
- From $59.99 (dynamic pricing)
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- $34.95
- Balboa Park (grounds)
- Free
- La Jolla Cove
- Free
- Format
- Varies by seller
Data sources & verificationChecked against 6 official and provider sources. Every fact listed here was verified on or after 2026-09-23.
View sources
Checked against 6 official and provider sources. Every fact listed here was verified on or after 2026-09-23.
| Fact | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|
| Balboa ParkAttraction details | City of San Diego Parks & Recreation (official, sandiego.gov) | |
| Go City San Diego — All-Inclusive Plus PassPass details | Go City (official) | |
| Go City San Diego — All-Inclusive Plus Pass × Balboa ParkPass inclusion | Go City (official) | |
| Go City San Diego — All-Inclusive Plus Pass × La Jolla CovePass inclusion | Go City (official) | |
| Go City San Diego — All-Inclusive Plus Pass × San Diego ZooPass inclusion | Go City (official) | |
| Go City San Diego — All-Inclusive Plus Pass × USS Midway MuseumPass inclusion | Go City (official) | |
| La Jolla CoveAttraction details | City of San Diego Lifeguard Services (official, sandiego.gov) | |
| San Diego CityPASSPass details | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Diego CityPASS × Balboa ParkPass inclusion | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Diego CityPASS × La Jolla CovePass inclusion | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Diego CityPASS × San Diego ZooPass inclusion | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Diego CityPASS × USS Midway MuseumPass inclusion | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Diego ZooAttraction details | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (official, zoo.sandiegozoo.org) | |
| USS Midway MuseumAttraction details | USS Midway Museum (official, midway.org) |
"Last verified" means a person checked that specific fact against that specific source on that date. It is not a page-publication date, a file-modification date or a build date. Prices and rules can change at any time — always confirm the current figure with the provider before booking.
Spotted an outdated price or an error? Tell us:localexperiencescitypass@gmail.com
Things to do in San Diego
SponsoredProvided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.
Pricing Analysis & Important Details
01. San Diego has both a CityPASS and a Go City product, like Chicago and New York
San Diego CityPASS (CityPASS, Inc.) and Go City San Diego are two genuinely separate, official providers operating side by side — the same market structure already documented for Chicago and New York.
02. Go City San Diego actually sells three tiers, and the cheapest one excludes every major theme park
The base All-Inclusive Pass ($99 adult, 1-day) covers 39+ attractions but confirmed excludes SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California, Knott's Berry Farm, San Diego Zoo, and Safari Park. Only the All-Inclusive Plus ($149) and Essentials ($149, choose-3) tiers add those 5 premium parks.
03. San Diego CityPASS forces a choice between San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
The pass includes one of the two sister parks as a core selection, not both — visiting the other requires a separate ticket, unlike USS Midway Museum and Birch Aquarium, which are both simple choose-3 picks.
04. Balboa Park and La Jolla Cove are both completely free
No pass is needed for either of San Diego's most-visited free landmarks — the same free-landmark pattern already documented for Chicago's Millennium Park.
Which Option Fits Your Visit?
A Theme-Park-Heavy Visit
San Diego CityPASS or Go City's Plus/Essentials tiers both work well if SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, or the Zoo/Safari Park are must-sees — just check which tier of Go City you're buying.
A Museum-and-Harbor Day
Go City's base All-Inclusive Pass covers USS Midway Museum, Birch Aquarium, and dozens of tours and museums at a lower price point — skip it only if a major theme park is on your list.
Zoo or Safari Park — Not Both
Choose carefully on San Diego CityPASS, since it only includes one of the two Zoo Wildlife Alliance parks. Go City's Plus tier is the only pass option that can cover both in one purchase.
A Free Coastal & Park Day
Skip any pass — Balboa Park's grounds and La Jolla Cove are both free to visit at any time.
Detailed Attraction Guides
Verified prices, booking rules, and city-pass compatibility for San Diego's most-visited sites.
USS Midway Museum Guide
Ticket pricing for San Diego's most-visited attraction, and confirmed inclusion on both passes.
San Diego Zoo Guide
Ticket pricing, Value Day discounts, and why the base Go City pass doesn't include it.
Balboa Park Guide
Confirmed free access to the park's grounds, gardens, and architecture.
La Jolla Cove Guide
Confirmed free coastal access, sea lion viewing, and seasonal closure rules.
🗝️ San Diego's Secret Places
Three hidden spots — verified against the San Diego Tourism Authority's own listings.
USS Recruit ("USS Neversail")
A full-sized Navy warship permanently "docked" on dry concrete at the edge of Liberty Station — the only commissioned U.S. Navy vessel to never once touch water.
Queen Califia's Magical Circle
The only American sculpture garden ever built by French-born artist Niki de Saint Phalle — her final major international project, tucked inside a regional park in Escondido.
Iipay~Tipai Kumeyaay Mut Niihepok (Land of the First People)
An outdoor exhibit inside Old Town San Diego honoring the Kumeyaay people who lived across the region for thousands of years before Spanish missionaries ever arrived.
Things to do in San Diego
SponsoredProvided by our commercial partner GetYourGuide — bookings made through this section may earn LocalExperiences a commission. See our Editorial Transparency page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best city pass for San Diego?
Does the cheaper Go City All-Inclusive Pass include San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld?
Do I need a pass to visit Balboa Park or La Jolla Cove?
Is there a Turbopass product in San Diego?
Spending 1, 2, or 3 days here?
Discover example itineraries with an integrated Google Maps route and travel tips.
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