San Francisco CityPASS®: Save 46% at 4 Top Attractions

The best thing about the San Francisco CityPASS is the breathing room it gives you. You get nine consecutive days from first use to visit four attractions, so you can spread out museum time instead of rushing from one ticket line to the next. I especially like the fixed pairing of the California Academy of Sciences and the one-hour Blue & Gold Fleet cruise, two very different ways to get to know the city.

I also like the simple mobile format. Your ticket is scanned at each stop, and one recent booking worked with PDF tickets at every entrance. The main caution is value: if you use only two attractions, the savings may be modest, and you still need to choose your two optional attractions carefully.

Key details to know before you buy

• Nine consecutive days: Your pass starts on the first day you use it and expires after nine days.
• Two attractions are fixed: California Academy of Sciences and Blue & Gold Fleet’s one-hour narrated San Francisco Bay Cruise are included.
• Choose two more stops: Pick from Aquarium of the Bay, Exploratorium, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, SFMOMA, or The Walt Disney Family Museum.
• Mobile entry keeps things simple: Present your CityPASS ticket for scanning at each attraction.
• The best savings require a plan: The pass costs $89 per person and advertises savings of up to 46 percent.
• No transport or meals are included: You arrange your own movement between sights and pay for food and drinks separately.

How the San Francisco CityPASS works

This is not a guided tour with a set route. It is a flexible admission pass that bundles four San Francisco attractions into one purchase. You can visit the sights in any order during the nine-day validity period, subject to any reservation rules set by the individual attractions.

The pass includes two attractions automatically:

• California Academy of Sciences, with general admission to all exhibits
• Blue & Gold Fleet’s San Francisco Bay Cruise, a one-hour narrated cruise

Then you choose two attractions from five options:

• Aquarium of the Bay
• Exploratorium
• San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, also called SFMOMA
• The Walt Disney Family Museum

That structure matters. You are not paying for four identical museum visits. You are building a small San Francisco program around science, the bay, animals, art, or family culture.

Your mobile ticket is scanned at each entrance. The pass is valid for one-time admission to each attraction unless an attraction states otherwise. It expires within one year of purchase if you have not activated it, so you can buy ahead without needing to use it immediately.

California Academy of Sciences gives you the broadest first stop

The California Academy of Sciences is the most wide-ranging part of the pass. General admission covers all exhibits, which makes this a strong choice for families and for anyone who wants one indoor stop with several subjects under one roof.

You can give this attraction a large part of a day rather than treating it as a quick checkbox. The pass does not include food, drinks, or transport, so plan those costs around your visit. Since the academy is one of the two attractions included for everyone, it also anchors the value of the pass.

I like that you do not need to spend one of your two personal choices here. You get the academy automatically, then save your selections for places that match your own interests.

For a family, that may mean pairing the academy with the Exploratorium and Aquarium of the Bay. For an art-focused visit, SFMOMA and the Walt Disney Family Museum may be more appealing. You have room to create different versions of the same pass.

The Blue & Gold Fleet cruise adds a different view of San Francisco

The one-hour Blue & Gold Fleet cruise is the pass’s change of pace. Instead of walking through exhibits, you head onto San Francisco Bay for a narrated look at the city from the water.

The narration is useful because it gives structure to the ride. You are not simply taking a boat trip with no context, but the experience remains easygoing and short enough to fit between other plans. I would use it early in your visit if you want to get your bearings, or later if you need a quieter hour after a museum.

Weather and comfort can affect any bay cruise, so bring a layer even if the day feels mild on land. The pass covers the cruise admission, but you still need to get yourself to the departure point. Transportation is not included.

This cruise is also important for the pass’s value. It is one of the two fixed inclusions, so you do not have to spend one of your optional selections on a bay outing.

Choosing between the five optional attractions

Your two choices determine most of the pass’s practical value. I would not select them at random. Look at the kind of San Francisco day you want, then pick the pair that fits your interests and schedule.

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay is the natural choice if you want more water-focused time after the cruise. It gives you an indoor attraction connected to the bay theme, which can make the cruise and aquarium feel like a sensible pair.

It may also suit families who want a museum-style stop without committing to a full art museum. Admission is general admission, and the pass allows one entry.

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is a strong pick for hands-on science and curious minds. It pairs well with the California Academy of Sciences, though you should know that the two attractions share a broad science focus.

I would choose both if your family enjoys experiments and interactive learning. If you want more contrast, select one science attraction and one art or history-focused stop instead.

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

The zoo gives you an outdoor option and may be the best fit for a longer family visit. It changes the rhythm of the pass, especially if your other selections are indoor museums.

The practical drawback is time and transport. The pass does not provide transportation, and a zoo visit can take a good portion of your day. Choose it because you want the zoo itself, not simply because it is on the list.

SFMOMA

SFMOMA is the clearest choice for modern and contemporary art. It gives your four-stop plan a cultural angle that the science attractions do not provide.

I would select SFMOMA if you want time for galleries and visual art rather than another family science stop. It is also a good way to make the pass feel less repetitive when the academy and cruise already occupy two of your four admissions.

The Walt Disney Family Museum

The Walt Disney Family Museum offers a focused look at Disney’s story and work. It is a particularly appealing choice for Disney fans and families who want an attraction built around one creative figure.

Some amenities and experiences may be temporarily unavailable, so check the current details before you go. The pass covers general admission, but it does not guarantee that every temporary feature or extra experience will be operating.

Build your nine-day plan around neighborhoods and energy

Nine days sounds generous, and it is. The pass is valid for nine consecutive days from first activation, not nine separate visits spread across an open-ended period. You should still group stops sensibly.

The pass does not include transportation, so avoid assuming that all four attractions are next door to one another. Check each attraction’s location and reservation details before setting your daily route. You can use the pass on four different days, or visit more than one attraction on a day if that suits your schedule.

I would avoid putting the academy, zoo, and a museum on the same day. That plan may look efficient on paper but can turn a flexible pass into a race. The cruise is easier to place between bigger stops because it lasts one hour.

A simple approach is:

• Use the academy on a day when you have time for several exhibits.
• Pair the cruise with another nearby plan only if the timing works.
• Put the zoo on its own day if you want to see it without rushing.
• Reserve a separate block for SFMOMA, the Exploratorium, or the Disney museum.

You do not have to use all four attractions on four different days. The pass is flexible enough for a compact weekend, while the nine-day period helps if you have a longer San Francisco stay.

Is $89 a good value?

The listed price is $89 per person, with savings of up to 46 percent compared with separate admission. That can be a solid deal, but the wording up to matters. Your actual value depends on which two optional attractions you choose and how many included stops you use.

At a basic level, you should plan to visit all four attractions before buying. One booking used the science center, Exploratorium, and cruise and still found the pass worthwhile, even with only three of the four admissions used. That suggests the pass can work well for a short stay, but I would not treat that as a guarantee for every combination.

The pass is easiest to justify when:

• You expect to use all four admissions.
• You want at least one of the higher-priced museum or attraction options.
• You value skipping separate ticket purchases.
• You are staying long enough to use the nine-day window.
• You are traveling with children and already plan several paid attractions.

The value is less clear when you are likely to use only two stops. In that case, compare the individual prices on the attractions’ official sites before committing. Also remember that the pass does not cover transportation, meals, or drinks.

There is another form of value here: reduced planning. One purchase gives you a mobile ticket for four admissions, and you can view attraction details and make reservations through my.citypass.com when required. That convenience may be worth something to you, particularly during a short visit.

Mobile tickets and reservations need a little attention

Present your CityPASS mobile ticket at each attraction for scanning. A PDF ticket has worked at the sites without scanning trouble, but you should still keep the ticket easy to open on your phone. If you prefer a backup, save the ticket before leaving your hotel or other reliable internet connection.

Use my.citypass.com to access the tickets, see attraction details, and check reservation requirements. The pass itself gives you admission, but an attraction may still require a time reservation. Do not assume that having the pass removes every scheduling step.

The ticket is valid for nine consecutive days after activation. It also expires within one year of purchase if you do not activate it, giving you some room to plan ahead.

Cancellation is flexible enough for uncertain plans: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which lets you hold the booking without paying on the day you reserve.

Who will get the most from this pass

I think the CityPASS suits first-time visitors who want several classic San Francisco attractions without building a separate admission plan for each one. It is especially useful for families, since children may enjoy mixing science, animals, boats, and hands-on exhibits.

It also works well for a short visit. One recent booking used only three of the four admissions because time in town was limited, yet the pass still offered good convenience and value. I would still calculate your own numbers, but the flexibility is real.

The pass is less suitable for someone focused mainly on free city sights, neighborhoods, parks, or outdoor walking. It also may not suit you if you dislike fixed attraction lists or know that you will visit only one museum and take the cruise.

Families should pay close attention to child admission rules. Children under the age listed for the child CityPASS can still use a child pass. If you choose the free infant ticket instead of buying a child CityPASS, some attractions may require separate child admission based on age, and those tickets may need separate reservations.

Accessibility and practical limits

The activity is wheelchair accessible. That is useful for visitors who need an accessible admission option, though you should still check the individual attraction details for current conditions and any reservation requirements.

Food and drinks are not included. Transportation is not included either, so you should budget for getting between the attractions and for meals during longer visits.

The pass provides one-time entry to the included attractions unless an attraction notes a different rule. Ticket inclusions can change, and some amenities or experiences at the Walt Disney Family Museum may be temporarily unavailable. Check the current details before you set your final plan.

Should you book the San Francisco CityPASS?

Book it if you can name the four attractions you want, especially if your plan includes the California Academy of Sciences, the bay cruise, and two of the optional museums or attractions. At $89, the pass can offer strong savings and a simple mobile entry system.

I would hesitate if you will use only two admissions, if your plans are mostly outdoors, or if transportation costs make the route awkward. For everyone else, the nine-day validity is the key advantage. It lets you explore at a steady pace, choose attractions that suit your interests, and avoid buying four separate tickets.

FAQ

How many attractions does the San Francisco CityPASS include?

The pass includes admission to four attractions. California Academy of Sciences and Blue & Gold Fleet’s San Francisco Bay Cruise are included, then you choose two more attractions from five options.

What attractions are included automatically?

California Academy of Sciences general admission and a one-hour narrated Blue & Gold Fleet San Francisco Bay Cruise are included automatically.

Which attractions can I choose as my two additional stops?

You can choose Aquarium of the Bay, Exploratorium, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, SFMOMA, or The Walt Disney Family Museum.

How long is the San Francisco CityPASS valid?

The pass is valid for nine consecutive days starting with the first day you use it. It expires within one year of purchase if you do not activate it.

How much does the CityPASS cost?

The listed price is $89 per person. The pass advertises savings of up to 46 percent compared with separate admission.

How do I enter the attractions?

Present your CityPASS mobile ticket at each attraction. Staff scan the ticket for entry.

Are reservations required?

You can use my.citypass.com to check attraction details and make reservations when required. Reservation rules may differ by attraction.

Does the pass include transportation or food?

No. Transportation, food, and drinks are not included.

Can children use the CityPASS?

Children can use a child CityPASS if they fall within the stated child age range. If you select a free infant ticket instead, some attractions may require separate child admission and separate reservations based on age.