Save on California Sights

Even California locals like to use tourist discount passes, when they’re good ones. If you’re sightseeing in the city (San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego), combo passes can be just the thing, especially the new and improved passes. The best ones let you save on just the places you want to go, over 9 to 30 days (and you can show on your smart phone for entry). Don’t forget to browse my California museums & attractions category for specific places of interest. À la carte or combo pass, you’ll save either way.

Skip down to:
SAN FRANCISCO Discount Sightseeing Passes
LOS ANGELES Discount Sightseeing Passes
SAN DIEGO Discount Sightseeing Passes
SAVVY TIPS: Sightseeing Passes: when to use them, when to skip them

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Save with California Sightseeing Passes

SAN FRANCISCO Attraction Passes

Review of San Francisco Tourist Passes, Combo Cards, & Coupon Books

If you’re visiting the San Francisco Bay Area (or entertaining visitors from out of town), attraction passes and ticket booklets are a frugal way to hit all the local museums and attractions (and the popular tourist traps for first-timers). Here are the most popular San Francisco passes and coupon books.

1. Go San Francisco Card: {deal details} With the most SF attractions and activities available, you now can choose between the All Inclusive pass, and two custom passes. My favorite is the “Build Your Own” option where you choose any two or more and save 20% to 55% (the more you pick, the more you save). And check out their custom Explorer Pass where they suggest the most popular attractions that get you the best savings. You have 30 days to use Go San Francisco cards from the first time you activate (your first visit). Special offer (from a different source): On one-day passes only you can save $4/adult, $3/child from this savvy source, no hidden fees. (Otherwise use the link above for multi-day passes.)

Go San Francisco Cards include free admission to choice of:

2. San Francisco CityPASS: {get it HERE from a cheaper source} A favorite choice among locals, this attraction pass booklet offers free tickets to a select group of five popular attractions that you can use over a week, Saves you 45% on gate prices and you can skip most of the lines, too.

San Francisco CityPASS includes free admission to:

3-Day Muni Cable Car and Bus Passport
California Academy of Sciences
Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure
Aquarium of the Bay
Option Ticket: Exploratorium OR SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)

3. Pier 39 Attraction Pass: {deal details} Pier 39 is the most visited attraction in San Francisco — mostly by tourists. But this pass not only gets you all the first-timer stuff, you also get in free to some of the most popular attractions that locals like, too. You’ll also get the PIER 39 Fun Pack of coupons and discounts  at more than 110 stores, 14 Bay view restaurants, and a variety of attractions.

Pier 39 Pass Free Admission to:

Aquarium of the Bay
Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise
Authentic motorized cable car 1-hour narrated tour

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LOS ANGELES & ORANGE COUNTY Attraction Passes

Los Angeles & Orange County Discount Passes, Coupon Books, Combo Cards

If you’re visiting the Southern California (or entertaining visitors from out of town), attraction passes and ticket booklets are a savvy way to hit all the top attractions in the Los Angeles area. Here are the most popular SoCal passes so you can choose the one that works best for you and your family:

1. Go Los Angeles Card: {deal details} This popular combo discount card for SoCal includes 39 attractions with their “All Inclusive” pass. It saves you up to 55% off the gate prices, and in many cases skip the line at the front gate. Savvy Tip: If you visit them all you save around $135. Now you can also choose one of their custom passes. The “Build Your Own” option let’s you choose any two Southern California attractions or more and save 20% to 55% on each. You can also choose one of their theme packages. You have 30 days to use Go Los Angeles Cards from the first time you activate (your first visit). Special offer from an alternate source: On one-day passes only, you can save $3.75/adult, $3.25/child from this this savvy source, no hidden fees. (Otherwise use the link above for multi-day passes.)

Go Los Angeles Cards include free admission to choice of:

2. Southern California CityPASS (Best if you want Disneyland): {get it HERE from the cheapest source} Our savvy source saves you at least 31% (a better deal than on the CityPASS website). This popular ticket coupon booklet is valid for 14 days from first use — and includes back-and-forth admission to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park for any three days during your chosen 14-day period. You can also skip some lines. It has just the Theme Parks you want and saves you the most. The best thing about this pass is that it’s simple to use and offers the most popular SoCal attractions.

SoCal CityPASS includes free admission to:

Disneyland & Disney California Adventure Park (3-day Park Hopper plus “Magic Morning”)
LEGOLAND California
SeaWorld San Diego

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SAN DIEGO Attraction Discount Passes

Review of San Diego Discount Passes & Coupon Books

If you’re visiting the Southern California (or entertaining visitors from out of town), San Diego attraction passes and ticket booklets are a savvy way to hit all the top attractions in San Diego. SAVVY TIP: Sometimes these passes are on sale, so you can get them at a better price and enjoy even more savings. We’re on the list to receive updates on coupon codes special offers for the cards below, so we’ll add that info here as it comes our way.

1. Go San Diego Card: {deal details} This SoCal sightseeing pass gives you up to 55% off with one ticket to 50 attractions and activities in San Diego. No one does them all, but if you choose wisely, you can save a ton, more than with any other discount option — the more you see the more you save. Only want to visit a few? Their new Go San Diego “Build Your Own” option let’s you choose any two or more from 55 things to do in San Diego. Print at home or show on your smart phone. Special offer (from a different source): On two-day passes only, you can save $5.25/adult, $5.25/child from this savvy source, no hidden fees. Otherwise uses the link above for the best price (and sometimes extra discounts).

All Go San Diego Cards include free admission to choice of:

2. Southern California CityPASS: {get it HERE from the cheapest source} This pass gets you 32% off at four Theme Parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, Universal Studios Hollywood and more. What we like about this pass is they don’t overwhelm you but offer just the best of the best. And you have nine days from your first stop to use it.

SoCal CityPASS includes free admission to:

Disneyland & Disney California Adventure Park (3-day Park Hopper plus “Magic Morning”)
LEGOLAND California
SeaWorld San Diego

3. Balboa Park Explorer Pass: {deal details} This Combo package lets you experience the Balboa Park museums PLUS one-day admission to the San Diego Zoo (includes One-day admission, guided bus tour and Skyfari aerial tram). You get free admission to 17 Balboa Park museums, and is valid for seven days.

Balboa Park Explorer Pass includes free admission to: