Are you a sightseeing buff who wants to experience the majority of tourist attractions in a city? Do you find that there is a lot to see in very little time, which flies by fast? Depending on how many days you have, you can save hundreds of dollars! Here’s how:
Many cities around the world offer a Sightseeing Pass, which includes tickets to several attractions. In a handful of cities, the sightseeing pass may also include unlimited local transit rides. Some cities will offer it exclusively from the individual city’s Ministry of Tourism, while others have partnered with a sightseeing pass company. There are several sightseeing pass companies, which all offer passes to well over 30 cities around the world! We tried those passes in New York and Las Vegas, and after doing the math, we saved more than $500 per person per trip by using those passes! In this article, I will highlight where to find the sightseeing passes, and what to consider when deciding whether the pass is worth it.
Benefits of Buying a Sightseeing Pass
- Enjoy significant savings compared to paying full price at each attraction
- Pass the crowds, as most attractions have a separate line for sightseeing pass holders
- Visit as many attractions as you would like with one digital pass for all attractions
Where do I begin?
You have booked your trip, and now it’s time to find the top attractions and unique experiences in the city you’re visiting. You may know which attractions you would like to visit, however, by searching the city passes, you will most likely find out about some attractions you never knew existed! It’s worth trying to see if the city you’re visiting offers a city sightseeing pass in the individual planning stage where you’re looking for what to do at your destination.
Here are the top sightseeing pass companies:
Is the Sightseeing Pass Worth It?
At this point, you may be overwhelmed with information. Here is how to find out if buying a pass will save you money:
- How many days will you be visiting?
- How many attractions can you fit in during that period?
- Make a plan of how to get around the city, based on which attractions you would like to visit on which days. Always try to limit the amount of transportation involved. The more time is saved, the more attractions you can visit.
- Once you have your plan, add the costs of each attraction and compare it to the cost of the sightseeing pass.
A Few Tips to Consider
- When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that most passes must be used consecutively for the amount of days you purchased. If you will be in the city for a longer duration than that of your pass, plan accordingly.
- Some attractions may not be included, or may require a price difference to be paid. Always check the terms and conditions under each attraction
- Some cities may require you to get an upgraded pass, or for a minimum number of days, in order to include “premium attractions” (the name may vary by pass). Even though it may cost more, this is something to consider and calculate when thinking which pass to purchase. Sometimes, the cheapest pass is not worth it.
- Some attractions will require reservations. Check the terms and conditions for each attraction in terms of entry. If a reservation is required, ensure to reserve ahead.
- Download the app of the sightseeing pass to your smartphone in order to allow for paper-free entry. You can also book the attractions through the app.
- You will most likely not be able to fit in all attractions (some passes have over 100 attractions). But don’t let that discourage you! Even with a fraction of the attractions, you will still be saving a lot more than you know!
A Hands-On Example
We went to Las Vegas and used the Go City Pass. It was impossible to fit in all the attractions on the city pass even if we woke up at 7:00am each day. However, it was still worth it. We were there for 5 days, and decided to do 3 days of busy sightseeing. The remaining 2 days would be for activities and attractions that were not included in the pass.
Teo’s Travel Tip: some cities may offer a sightseeing pass through more than one company! This is especially true in top cities like New York or Paris. In that case, you may need to do the below calculations for all passes, in order to see which pass, if any, would be worth it for the attractions you wish to visit
Here is a breakdown of costs, all per person:
- Type of Pass Purchased: All-Inclusive Pass (includes one premium attraction)
- Pass Duration: 3 days
| Attraction | Individual Cost (USD, per person) | Cost of Go City Pass (USD, per person) |
| High Roller Observation Wheel | $30.75 | $239 |
| Eiffel Tower Experience | $27.25 | |
| Discovering King Tut’s Tomb | $35.00 | |
| The Tower at the Strat + 1 Thrill Ride | $39.00 | |
| Hop on Hop Off Tour – daytime | $55.00 | |
| Hop on Hop Off Tour – night | $55.00 | |
| FlyLinq Zipline | $44.50 | |
| Grand Canyon Tour (Premium Attraction, valid only if purchasing a pass for 3 days or longer) | $129 | |
| Dinner at Senor Frogs – $15 per person credit | $15.00 | |
| Banachek’s Mind Games Show | $50.00 | |
| GoCar Tour of Las Vegas Strip (1 hour) | $62.50 | |
| Total Per Person (USD): | $543 | $239 |
| Savings Per Person (USD): | $304 | |
Wow! That was a big saving, wasn’t it? Next time you travel to a top worldwide city, it’s definitely worth checking if the city offers a sightseeing pass. It may be through one of the top 3 companies in this article, or the city might offer it individually. Definitely do your research before starting to plan which attractions to visit on which day! It will save you a lot!