San Francisco City Pass Comparison 2026
Compare verified prices, confirmed inclusions, and booking rules for San Francisco CityPASS, Go City San Francisco, and individual tickets.
| Feature |
💰 Best price  San Francisco CityPASS |  Go City San Francisco | Individual Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $89.95 (Adult, choose 4 of 8) | $109.00 (1 day) | Varies per site |
| Validity | 9 consecutive days | 1-day tier shown (multi-day also sold) | Per ticket |
| California Academy of Sciences | 1 of 4 picks (of 8) | Included | $49.00 |
| Exploratorium | 1 of 4 picks (of 8) | Included | $36.00 |
| Aquarium of the Bay | 1 of 4 picks (of 8) | Included | $33.00 |
| San Francisco Zoo & Gardens | 1 of 4 picks (of 8) | Included | From $32.00 |
| SFMOMA | 1 of 4 picks (of 8) | Included | $30.00 |
| Alcatraz Island | Not included | Not included | $47.95 |
| Golden Gate Bridge | Not needed — always free | Not needed — always free | Free |
| Pier 39 | Not needed — always free | Not needed — always free | Free |
| Format | 100% Digital | 100% Digital | Varies by seller |
| 💡 Best For | A pure choose-4-of-8 model with no fixed attractions — best if you already know exactly which 4 you want. | Unlimited visits to 25+ attractions, including all 5 of this guide's paid picks — best for a busy, multi-day visit. | Best if you're only visiting 1-2 sites, or specifically Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39, which need no pass at all since they're free. |
| Check price on San Francisco CityPASS ✓ Verified 2026-09-23 | $109.00 (1 day) · Go City San Francisco ✓ Verified 2026-09-23 | Varies per site · Individual Tickets |
San Francisco CityPASS
$89.95 (Adult, choose 4 of 8)
💡 A pure choose-4-of-8 model with no fixed attractions — best if you already know exactly which 4 you want.
See full comparison
- Validity
- 9 consecutive days
- California Academy of Sciences
- 1 of 4 picks (of 8)
- Exploratorium
- 1 of 4 picks (of 8)
- Aquarium of the Bay
- 1 of 4 picks (of 8)
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
- 1 of 4 picks (of 8)
- SFMOMA
- 1 of 4 picks (of 8)
- Alcatraz Island
- Not included
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Not needed — always free
- Pier 39
- Not needed — always free
- Format
- 100% Digital
Check price on San Francisco CityPASS ✓ Verified 2026-09-23
Go City San Francisco
$109.00 (1 day)
💡 Unlimited visits to 25+ attractions, including all 5 of this guide's paid picks — best for a busy, multi-day visit.
See full comparison
- Validity
- 1-day tier shown (multi-day also sold)
- California Academy of Sciences
- Included
- Exploratorium
- Included
- Aquarium of the Bay
- Included
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
- Included
- SFMOMA
- Included
- Alcatraz Island
- Not included
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Not needed — always free
- Pier 39
- Not needed — always free
- Format
- 100% Digital
$109.00 (1 day) · Go City San Francisco ✓ Verified 2026-09-23
Individual Tickets
Varies per site
💡 Best if you're only visiting 1-2 sites, or specifically Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39, which need no pass at all since they're free.
See full comparison
- Validity
- Per ticket
- California Academy of Sciences
- $49.00
- Exploratorium
- $36.00
- Aquarium of the Bay
- $33.00
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
- From $32.00
- SFMOMA
- $30.00
- Alcatraz Island
- $47.95
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Free
- Pier 39
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate BridgePrice | Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District (official) | |
| Golden Gate BridgeReservation rules | Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District (official) | |
| Alcatraz IslandAttraction details | Alcatraz City Cruises (official, sole authorized concessioner) | |
| Go City San Francisco — All-Inclusive PassPass details | Go City (official) | |
| Go City San Francisco — All-Inclusive Pass × Alcatraz IslandPass inclusion | Go City (official) | |
| Go City San Francisco — All-Inclusive Pass × San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)Pass inclusion | Go City (official) | |
| Pier 39Attraction details | Multiple independent sources (free, open public pier; no ticket or admission) | |
| San Francisco CityPASSPass details | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Francisco CityPASS × Alcatraz IslandPass inclusion | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Francisco CityPASS × San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)Pass inclusion | CityPASS (official) | |
| San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)Attraction details | SFMOMA (official, sfmoma.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 Francisco
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 Francisco has both a CityPASS and a Go City product, like New York and Chicago
San Francisco CityPASS (CityPASS, Inc.) and Go City San Francisco are two genuinely separate, official providers operating side by side.
02. San Francisco CityPASS has NO fixed attractions at all
Unlike Chicago CityPASS's fixed-2 structure, San Francisco's pass is a pure choose-4-of-8 model: California Academy of Sciences, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise, Exploratorium, Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, SFMOMA, The Walt Disney Family Museum, or de Young Museum + Legion of Honor.
03. Alcatraz Island is excluded from BOTH passes
Confirmed absent from the base CityPASS (a separate, pricier "+Alcatraz" bundle exists instead) and from Go City's own attraction list entirely — the same "flagship attraction excluded from every pass" pattern already documented for New York's Met.
04. Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 are both completely free
No pass is needed for either — the same free-landmark pattern already documented for Chicago's Millennium Park. The bridge toll applies only to southbound vehicles, never to pedestrians or cyclists.
Which Option Fits Your Visit?
You Already Know Your Top 4
San Francisco CityPASS's choose-4-of-8 model rewards knowing exactly which 4 attractions you want, since there are no fixed picks to fall back on.
A Museum-Heavy, Multi-Day Visit
Go City San Francisco covers California Academy of Sciences, Exploratorium, Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco Zoo, and SFMOMA all at once, with unlimited visits.
Alcatraz Is a Priority
Book directly through Alcatraz City Cruises, or via CityPASS's separate "+Alcatraz" bundle — no pass in this comparison includes it otherwise, and tickets sell out months ahead.
A Free Sightseeing Day
Skip any pass — the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 are both free to visit at any time.
Detailed Attraction Guides
Verified prices, booking rules, and city-pass compatibility for San Francisco's most-visited sites.
Golden Gate Bridge Guide
Confirmed free access for pedestrians and cyclists, and the vehicle toll explained.
Alcatraz Island Guide
Ticket pricing, the 90-day booking window, and why no pass includes it.
Pier 39 Guide
Confirmed free access to the pier and its resident sea lion colony.
SFMOMA Guide
Ticket pricing and confirmed inclusion on both city passes.
🗝️ San Francisco's Secret Places
Three hidden spots — verified against San Francisco Travel's own listings.
Peephole Cinema
A coin-sized hole in a wall in the Mission District plays continuous silent short films, free, 24 hours a day — no ticket, no theatre, no seats.
Doggie Diner Head Statues
Three giant fiberglass dog heads that once spun over a 1940s hot dog chain now stand quietly in Golden Gate Park, free to visit any time.
Bay Model Visitor Center
A room-sized, still-functioning hydraulic model of the entire San Francisco Bay, built by the U.S. Army to settle a 1950s engineering dispute — free to walk through.
Things to do in San Francisco
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 Francisco?
Does any pass include Alcatraz Island?
Do I need a pass to walk the Golden Gate Bridge or visit Pier 39?
Is there a Turbopass product in San Francisco?
Spending 1, 2, or 3 days here?
Discover example itineraries with an integrated Google Maps route and travel tips.
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