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City passes promise one price for dozens of attractions. Sometimes they save you a lot of money and time; sometimes they cost more than the tickets you'd actually use. Here's how to tell the difference in five minutes, before you buy.
How city passes work
A city pass is a single digital ticket that gives you entry to a set of attractions, tours and sometimes transport in one city. You usually show a QR code on your phone at each entrance. Most passes come in one of two styles:
- All-inclusive (day-based): unlimited attractions for a fixed number of consecutive days. Best for packed sightseeing days.
- Pick-a-number: you choose how many attractions you want (for example 3, 5 or 7) and visit them at your own pace over a longer period. Best for slower trips.
Go City, one of the biggest pass providers, offers both styles in dozens of popular cities worldwide, from New York and London to Dubai and Singapore.
The 5-minute calculation
- List what you would really visit, not everything the pass includes. Be honest about your energy and your time.
- Add up the normal ticket prices for those attractions, using each attraction's own website.
- Compare that total with the pass price for the number of days or attractions you need.
- Count the extras: skip-the-line entry, included tours or transport, and the time you save booking everything separately.
A simple example with made-up numbers: if the four attractions you really want cost 25, 30, 20 and 35 in total, that's 110. A 3-attraction pass at 80 would save you money only if you visit three of the pricier ones; a 2-day all-inclusive pass at 120 would only pay off if you add more sights. The pass wins when the total of what you'll actually use is clearly higher than its price.
When a city pass is worth it
- It's your first visit and you want to see the big-name sights.
- You enjoy busy sightseeing days and will visit three or more paid attractions a day.
- The pass includes expensive extras you'd book anyway, such as a hop-on hop-off bus, a boat cruise or an observation deck.
- You like having one booking and one QR code instead of a dozen tickets.
When it's not
- You prefer slow travel, cafés and wandering neighbourhoods.
- The attractions you care about most aren't included, or need a separate timed reservation anyway.
- Many top sights in the city are free, such as major museums in some capitals.
- You're travelling with children who get free or heavily discounted entry everywhere.
Mistakes that make a pass poor value
- Overplanning. Five attractions a day looks good on paper and is exhausting in real life.
- Ignoring opening days. Check that your must-see places are open on the days your pass is active.
- Forgetting reservations. Some attractions still require a timed booking, even with a pass. Book those slots as soon as you buy.
- Activating too early. Day-based passes usually start with the first visit, so plan a full day for it.
The alternative: buy single tickets
If you only want two or three attractions, individual tickets are usually cheaper and more flexible. Tiqets sells instant mobile tickets for museums and attractions in cities around the world, often with skip-the-line entry and free cancellation on some tickets.
Compare Go City passes Browse single tickets on Tiqets
Bonus tip: your last day
Checked out of your hotel but flying in the evening? Store your bags with Radical Storage in a shop or hotel near the sights and use your pass until the very last hour.
Still planning? Start with the trip planning checklist and our guide to the best eSIMs for travel so you have maps and tickets on your phone from the moment you land.
Pass contents, prices and reservation rules change. Always check the current list of included attractions and their booking requirements before you buy.