Go City: San Francisco Explorer Pass: Choose 2 to 5 Things To Do

The clever part of this pass is its range. You can pair a Golden Gate sightseeing cruise with the California Academy of Sciences, or swap in an aquarium, museum, bike rental, or hop-on hop-off bus tour. You choose only 2 to 5 activities, then use them within a 30-day period.

I like the freedom to spread visits across several days, especially if you dislike racing from one attraction to the next. I also like the strong mix of indoor museums and outdoor activities, which helps when San Francisco weather changes its mind. The main catch is that some popular options need advance reservations, and the pass does not automatically give you priority entry.

Key points to know before you buy

• Choose 2, 3, 4, or 5 attractions: The pass is built for a short list of carefully chosen activities, not unlimited sightseeing.
• Use it over 30 days: Once activated, you can visit at your own pace rather than squeezing everything into one day.
• See the Bay from the water: Blue & Gold Fleet and Red and White Fleet cruises offer different views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the waterfront.
• Big museums offer the best value: The California Academy of Sciences, Exploratorium, SFMOMA, and de Young Museum can make the pass pay off quickly.
• Keep reservations in mind: GoCar and several popular attractions require advance booking, so check the Go City app before setting your schedule.
• Use your phone as your ticket: Save the digital pass to your mobile device, or download and print it at home.

How the $79 pass can work for you

The listed price is $79 per person. Since you select 2 to 5 attractions, the value depends entirely on what you choose and how many activities you actually use.

The pass is most likely to save money when you select several higher-priced attractions, such as the California Academy of Sciences, a bay cruise, Big Bus, and SFMOMA. If you pick only small or short activities, the savings may be modest. Before buying, compare the regular admission price for your chosen attractions with the pass price.

The pass is not a general public transit ticket. Older information connected with this product caused confusion about Muni and cable car access, including trouble collecting a transit ticket when the San Francisco Visitor Center was closed. For this current attraction-focused version, plan to pay separately for public transportation unless the Go City app clearly states otherwise.

You also need to use all the attractions you select. A four-attraction pass is poor value if you have time for only two. I would make a list of your likely activities first, then choose the pass size that matches your real schedule.

Big Bus is a useful first look at San Francisco

The one-day Big Bus Classic Tour is a practical way to get your bearings. The route links major sights from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the hop-on hop-off format lets you leave the bus when a neighborhood catches your eye.

This works best near the beginning of your stay. You can see the city’s broad layout before deciding where to spend more time. It also helps limit steep walking on a first day, though you should not expect the bus to replace all local transportation.

Build in extra time. Demand can be high, and bus frequency may not always match the number of people waiting. Finding the correct stop can also take effort, so check the route map and stop details before setting out.

Big Bus is a sensible pass choice if you want a general introduction to San Francisco and plan to use the bus for much of the day. It is less useful if you already know the city or prefer exploring on foot.

Two aquariums, two very different visits

Aquarium of the Bay takes about two hours and focuses on the life of San Francisco Bay. Its glass tunnels bring you close to roughly 20,000 animals, including seven-gill sharks, described here as the Bay’s largest predator.

The aquarium is an easy match with a Fisherman’s Wharf day. You can combine it with a bay cruise, the USS Pampanito, or the waterfront walking tour without making a special cross-city trip.

The California Academy of Sciences takes about three hours and offers a much broader visit. It combines natural science displays, an aquarium, and other major museum features under one roof. It was named one of Conde Nast Traveler’s New Wonders of the World, and it is one of the strongest choices for using the pass.

You do not need both aquariums unless marine life is a central interest. Aquarium of the Bay is smaller and more focused. The Academy of Sciences offers more variety and usually makes better sense when you have only a few pass admissions to spend.

Exploratorium turns science into play

The Exploratorium is made for hands-on learning. More than 650 interactive exhibits invite you to touch, test, tinker, and watch ordinary physical effects unfold in surprising ways.

Allow about two hours, though families and curious adults can easily spend longer. This is not a museum where you simply walk past glass cases. You are expected to take part, which makes it a strong pick for children, families, and anyone who prefers experiments to formal displays.

The Exploratorium also works well when the weather is poor. You can pair it with a bay cruise or another waterfront stop, but remember that the cruise schedule may not fit neatly around a long museum visit.

Bay cruises show San Francisco at its best

The water-based activities are among the most appealing pass choices because they give you views that streets and lookout points cannot provide.

The one-hour San Francisco Bay Cruise passes beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, heads by the Pier 39 sea lions, circles Alcatraz, and follows the historic waterfront. It is a straightforward introduction to the bay, with skyline views and a close look at the city’s most famous landmarks.

The 90-minute Escape from the Rock Cruise also goes under the Golden Gate Bridge and circles Alcatraz. Its focus is the island’s prison story, including accounts of escape attempts and the harsh conditions faced by inmates. Choose this version if Alcatraz itself interests you and you want more narration about the island.

The Red and White Fleet Bridge to Bridge Cruise lasts 90 minutes and travels from the Oakland Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge. This route gives you a broad sweep of the bay and lets you compare the two major bridges from the water.

You should choose one cruise rather than assuming all three are necessary. They overlap in some views, but the emphasis differs. The Blue & Gold Fleet options focus more closely on Alcatraz and the San Francisco waterfront. The Bridge to Bridge Cruise gives you a longer bridge-to-bridge perspective.

Check departure times and reservations before committing your day. A pass can save admission money, but it cannot create extra boat departures.

Museums for art, design, and American culture

The pass includes several museums, so you can build a strong indoor day around your own interests.

The Walt Disney Family Museum occupies 40,000 square feet and uses interactive exhibits, more than 200 video screens, and a detailed Disneyland model to tell Disney’s story. Allow about two hours. This is a better fit for people interested in animation, design, entertainment, and the development of a major creative brand than for visitors seeking a general San Francisco museum.

The de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor are part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Visiting one gives you same-day admission to both, which makes this option especially valuable if you can fit the two museums into one day. Allow about two hours, though art lovers may need more.

SFMOMA is a large modern and contemporary art museum. Its major expansion made it the largest museum of its kind in the country, and the suggested visit time is about three hours. This is one of the pass choices that can justify the price on its own when combined with another substantial attraction.

The Asian Art Museum focuses exclusively on Asian art and is one of the largest museums of its type in the Western world. Plan about two hours. It gives the pass a cultural breadth that the science museums and cruises do not.

Do not choose museums simply because they are included. A five-attraction pass filled with places you only half want to see is not a bargain. Pick the institutions that match your interests, then check opening days and hours in the app.

Historic vessels near the waterfront

The USS Pampanito is a World War II Balao-class submarine and a National Historic Landmark. A visit takes about an hour and gives you a close look at a working naval vessel and memorial.

The USS Hornet Museum takes about 90 minutes and is located on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, CVS 12. It is aimed at anyone interested in naval aviation, aircraft, and military service.

Both ships offer a different kind of museum visit. You move through a real vessel rather than a conventional gallery, so the experience is physical and compact. If tight corridors or shipboard spaces do not appeal to you, spend your pass admission elsewhere.

The Pampanito fits naturally into a Fisherman’s Wharf itinerary. The Hornet is a stronger choice for visitors who have a specific interest in aircraft carriers and military history.

Bikes, GoCar, and a walking tour

Blazing Saddles provides an all-day comfort bike rental, with up to six hours listed for the activity. This lets you explore waterfront paths and bike-friendly streets under your own power.

A bike rental can be a good use of the pass if you want an active day and are comfortable managing your own route. It is not a guided tour, so you are responsible for planning your ride and returning the bicycle according to the operator’s instructions.

GoCar offers a one-hour GPS-guided storytelling tour in a small talking car. The vehicle guides you through San Francisco while pointing out landmarks and sights. Reservations are required, so do not leave this choice until the last minute.

The Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour lasts one hour and covers Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and other nearby sights. This is a useful short activity, particularly if you want context for the waterfront instead of simply wandering through it.

These three options help break up a museum-heavy itinerary. The walking tour is the simplest to fit into a day. The bike rental needs more time and energy. GoCar offers the most unusual format, but its required reservation makes it the least spontaneous.

Family attractions and short thrill rides

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens takes about three hours and houses more than 2,000 exotic, endangered, and rescued animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. It is a full outing, not a quick stop, so allow time for the trip and the visit itself.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area is in nearby San Jose, not central San Francisco. Its ten interactive play areas include MINILAND, Pirate Adventure Island, a 4D cinema, NINJAGO Training Camp, and the LEGO-themed Imagination Express.

This is a strong family choice if you already plan to spend time in the San Jose area. It is a poor choice if you are staying in central San Francisco and have limited days, since the location can consume much of your schedule.

The Flyer is a ten-minute flying theater experience in San Francisco. It presents an aerial-style ride over downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and Redwood National Park. Its short length makes it easy to add around a longer waterfront day, but it should not be treated as one of your main pass attractions unless the format appeals to you.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord is a seasonal water park with slides and other water attractions. It is another activity outside central San Francisco, and it makes sense only if your dates, transport, and weather line up.

Using the phone pass without trouble

Your digital pass becomes available immediately after purchase. Save it to your phone before leaving your accommodation, and consider downloading the official Go City app. You can also print the pass at home if you prefer a paper backup.

At each participating attraction, show the pass for scanning or validation. The digital guide explains entry instructions, opening times, and reservation rules. Attractions can change, so the app is the best place to check the current choices.

I would not rely on a third-party booking app as your only record. One customer had trouble after the pass disappeared from the Viator app once the first attraction was used. The practical fix is simple: keep the original confirmation, install the Go City app, and save a copy of the pass before your first visit.

Most popular activities need advance reservations. GoCar is specifically noted as requiring one, and cruises may also have limited departure times. Check every activity before you build a tightly timed itinerary.

The pass is mobile-ticket friendly, near public transportation, and suitable for most people. Transportation to attractions is not included, and food and drinks are excluded unless specifically stated.

A sensible two-day and four-day strategy

For a short stay, I would avoid scattering your choices across the entire Bay Area. A practical two-day combination could be Big Bus on day one, followed by Aquarium of the Bay or a bay cruise. On day two, choose the California Academy of Sciences and one museum that matches your interests.

With four or five days, you can slow down. Pair SFMOMA with the Asian Art Museum, use a separate day for the Academy of Sciences and de Young, and save a cruise or bike rental for a clear-weather day.

The 30-day validity is useful for local residents or people making repeated visits. It matters less to someone spending only two days in San Francisco, but it still removes pressure if your schedule changes.

Avoid putting every activity into one day. The pass is designed to give you choices, not to reward frantic box-checking.

Should you buy the San Francisco Explorer Pass?

Buy it if you can name at least two substantial attractions you genuinely want, and especially if you can reach four or five. The California Academy of Sciences, SFMOMA, a bay cruise, Big Bus, and the Exploratorium are the strongest building blocks for value.

Skip it if your plans center on free sights, public parks, walking, or public transportation. It also may not suit you if you need guaranteed advance entry everywhere, since the pass does not automatically provide front-of-the-line access and some activities have limited reservations.

For families, museum fans, first-time visitors, and people who want a mix of cruises and indoor sights, this is a flexible tool. Just check the current app details, reserve popular activities early, and compare regular admission prices before paying the $79.

FAQ

How many attractions does the pass include?

You can choose a pass for 2, 3, 4, or 5 attractions or tours.

How long is the pass valid?

The pass is valid for 30 days after activation, allowing you to visit the selected attractions at your own pace.

Can I use the pass on my phone?

Yes. The pass is digital and can be saved to your mobile phone. You can also download and print it at home.

What attractions are available?

Options include Big Bus Tours, the California Academy of Sciences, Aquarium of the Bay, the Exploratorium, bay cruises, the Walt Disney Family Museum, SFMOMA, the Asian Art Museum, the de Young Museum, USS Pampanito, USS Hornet, bike rental, GoCar, the San Francisco Zoo, and other listed activities.

Do I need reservations?

Some popular activities require advance reservations. GoCar specifically requires a reservation. Check the Go City app or digital guide for current instructions.

Are transportation, food, and drinks included?

Transportation to and from attractions is not included unless specifically stated. Food and drinks are also excluded unless noted for a particular activity.

Is the pass valid for cable cars and Muni?

The supplied information for this attraction pass does not confirm general Muni or cable car access. Check the current Go City app before relying on it for public transportation.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking.