Are City Passes Worth It?
A city pass is not a discount card. It is a break-even calculation. The rule that works in London, Paris and New York: if you will enter 3 or more paid attractions in one day, an all-inclusive pass usually beats gate prices. At 1–2 stops a day, buy individual skip-the-line tickets instead and keep the change. Count your stops before you pay for the pass, not after.
Go City All-Inclusive. You pay once, scan in, stop counting. Best for heavy sightseeing itineraries.
Go City Explorer (choose 2–7 attractions, 30 days to use). No day-clock ticking or rushing.
Individual timed tickets (Klook / Tiqets). Cheapest total spend, and you pick the exact time slot.
Section 1 — London
Go City Pass Prices (London)
Individual Gate Prices (Checked Oct 2026)
Worked Example (The Honest Maths)
Section 2 — Paris
Go City Pass Prices (Paris)
Individual Gate Prices (Checked Oct 2026)
Worked Example (The Honest Maths)
Section 3 — New York
Go City Official Pass Prices (New York)
New York Explorer Pass (30 Days to Use)
All-Inclusive wins for visitors doing 3+ attractions per day over 2+ days — the maths clears by roughly $50–$100 versus individual tickets at that pace. For a 2–3 day trip with three specific stops, the Explorer (or CityPASS C3) usually beats the All-Inclusive.
Section 4 — Skip the 2-hour ticket line (timed entry)
At the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum and major US theme parks, the ticket queue — not the attraction — eats 1–2 hours of a trip day in peak season. Timed-entry tickets booked ahead put you in the security line, not the sales line, and mobile entry means no printout hunting at the gate. Book the timed slot first, then build the day's route around it.
Direct mobile entry tickets for Eiffel Tower, Louvre & Versailles.
Fast-track slots for the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Vatican Museums.
Scheduled elevator access for Empire State, Summit One & Edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do city passes include transport?
London: no (bus tour yes, Tube no). Paris: the Go City pass does not include Metro — budget ~€31 for 3 days of single tickets. New York: no subway — the hop-on-hop-off bus is in the pass, the subway is not.
Can I visit the same attraction twice?
No — once per attraction per pass, on every Go City pass.
When does the day-count start?
At your first scan, not at purchase. A 3-day pass started Monday afternoon ends Wednesday evening — Monday counts as a full day, so start early.
What if I get sick / plans change?
Non-activated Go City passes are refundable within 90 days of purchase. Activated passes are not.
Is the Explorer pass better than All-Inclusive?
If your list is 2–5 specific attractions and you like slow days: yes. If you pack 3+ stops a day: All-Inclusive.
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