Go City All-Inclusive vs Explorer: 7 Key Differences Compared

The Core Difference: Days vs. Attraction Credits

The All-Inclusive Pass activates the moment you scan your QR code at your first attraction. From that point, the clock runs on consecutive calendar days — not 24-hour windows. If you activate a 3-day pass at 3 PM on Tuesday, day one ends at midnight Tuesday night, not at 3 PM Wednesday. You get Tuesday evening + Wednesday + Thursday. Factor this in when planning your arrival day.

The Explorer Pass works differently. You choose a credit count (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 10 attractions) at purchase. Your 60-day window opens only when you tap in at your first attraction. You can buy the pass in advance during a sale and activate it months later. Each credit redeems for one attraction; once you’ve used all your credits, the pass is done — even if days remain in your 60-day window. Understanding how city passes work helps frame both models correctly.

One practical gotcha that catches people off guard: both passes require advance reservations at some high-demand venues. In New York, the Statue of Liberty ferry, 9/11 Museum, and Edge Observatory all require timed-entry slots even with a pass. Book these in the Go City app as soon as your pass is confirmed — popular slots sell out weeks ahead.

Worth-It Math: New York City (2026 Prices)

We priced the most popular NYC sights at gate price in 2026. Here is what a heavy 3-day sightseeing itinerary actually costs à-la-carte:

• Empire State Building (Main Deck): $44
• Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center): $40
• Edge Observatory: $42
• 9/11 Memorial Museum: $33
• Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise: $43
• One World Observatory: $46
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: $36
• Madame Tussauds New York: $39
• Big Bus New York Hop-On Hop-Off (1 day): $59

Total à-la-carte for 9 attractions: ~$382/person.

A 3-day Go City All-Inclusive NYC pass costs approximately $199–$229/adult in 2026. If you visit just 6 of the above attractions across 3 days, your à-la-carte cost would be ~$261 — meaning the pass saves you roughly $32–$62 per person at that rate. Push to 9 attractions and the savings balloon to ~$153–$183. Verdict: worth it if you average 3 attractions/day; loses money at 2/day.

A 5-choice Go City Explorer NYC pass costs approximately $159/adult. Picking 5 mid-to-high-priced attractions (say: Empire State + Top of the Rock + Edge + 9/11 Museum + One World) totals $205 à-la-carte. That’s a saving of ~$46 (22%) — solid, and you have 60 days to use all five at whatever pace you choose. Verdict: worth it as long as you choose attractions priced $30+ each.

The math flips negative fast if you fill Explorer credits with cheap venues under $20. Always load your highest-priced targets first.

Worth-It Math: Las Vegas (2026 Prices)

Las Vegas runs on entertainment, so the à-la-carte prices are high. A sample 2-day itinerary:

• High Roller (LINQ Observation Wheel): $37
• Madame Tussauds Las Vegas: $35
• Big Bus Las Vegas Hop-On Hop-Off (1 day): $59
• Mob Museum: $32
• Dig This (heavy machinery experience): $60

Total à-la-carte for 5 attractions: ~$223/person.

A 2-day Go City All-Inclusive Las Vegas pass costs approximately $149/adult. Hitting those same 5 attractions (spread across 2 days) saves you roughly $74 (33%). A 3-day pass at ~$189 makes sense if you add a show or two. Verdict: Las Vegas is one of Go City’s best value cities — the 2-day All-Inclusive pays off easily for most itineraries.

Note: Cirque du Soleil shows and some headliner experiences are not included in the Las Vegas pass despite being in some old marketing materials — verify specific inclusions on gocity.com before buying.

Don’t Overlook the Go City Essentials Pass

Go City actually offers a third product in select cities: the Essentials Pass. It’s a fixed, pre-selected bundle of 3–5 curated attractions at a lower price point than Explorer or All-Inclusive. Think of it as Go City’s answer to the CityPASS model — fewer choices, simpler decision, lower cost.

In New York, the Essentials Pass bundles attractions like the Empire State Building, a cruise, and a museum for roughly $99–$119/adult (2026). If those specific attractions are already on your list and you don’t need flexibility, Essentials often beats Explorer on price. Read our full breakdown of what is Go City Essentials if you want to compare all three tiers side-by-side.

Buy It If / Skip It If

Buy the All-Inclusive Pass if:

• You’re a first-time visitor who wants to see as many landmarks as possible
• You can realistically visit 3+ attractions per day (the math only works at this pace)
• You’re visiting a compact walkable city like New York where back-to-back sights are easy
• You have young kids and want day-of flexibility on which museums to enter

Skip the All-Inclusive Pass if:

• You typically do 1–2 sights per day — you will lose money vs gate prices
• You’re in a spread-out city like Los Angeles where transit time burns daylight hours
• Your must-do list has fewer than 3 high-value attractions per day of your trip

Buy the Explorer Pass if:

• You have a specific list of 3–7 high-ticket targets and a flexible schedule
• You’re visiting over multiple weekends (60-day window makes this possible)
• You’re a repeat visitor who just wants to tick off a few remaining landmarks
• You want the savings without the pressure of a daily countdown

Skip the Explorer Pass if:

• Your targets are mostly cheap venues under $20 each — the math won’t work
• You only want 1 or 2 sites — just buy individual tickets

For a deeper look at whether Go City is worth it versus buying individual tickets, see our Go City worth it analysis. And if you’re weighing Go City against CityPASS’s fixed bundles, our Go City vs CityPASS comparison runs the same math across both operators.

Timed Entry, Advance Bookings, and Skip-the-Line: What to Know

Both passes include skip-the-line access at most venues, which alone can save 45–90 minutes at New York’s busiest sights. However, "skip-the-line" does not mean "walk straight in everywhere." Here’s the nuance:

• Statue of Liberty ferry: Requires a timed-entry reservation through the Go City app or the ferry operator. Slots book out 2–4 weeks in advance in peak season. Reserve before you even board your flight.
• Edge Observatory (Hudson Yards): Timed entry required. Book 2–7 days ahead.
• 9/11 Memorial Museum: Timed entry required. Usually available 3–5 days out.
• Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, One World Observatory: No advance booking required with the pass — walk up and scan.
• Las Vegas High Roller: No reservation needed — scan and ride.

The Go City app shows current reservation requirements for every venue. Check it the day after purchasing, not the day before you want to visit.

Which Pass for Which Traveler?

Here’s how the two passes map to common trip profiles:

• First-timer, 4 days in NYC: All-Inclusive 3-day pass. Arrive, activate on day 2, hit 3 sights/day, use day 4 for shopping and restaurants. Saves ~$80–$120 vs gate.
• Weekend trip, 2 days in Las Vegas: All-Inclusive 2-day pass at ~$149. Easy 33% savings given Las Vegas attraction prices.
• Returning visitor, loose schedule: Explorer 4 or 5-choice. Pick the sites you missed last time, redeem them across multiple weekends within 60 days.
• Family with young kids: Explorer, because you won’t always make it to 3 paid sites per day — nap schedules and meltdowns are real. Pay per sight, not per day.
• Solo traveler, NYC, 1 week: All-Inclusive 5-day or 7-day pass. Solo travelers move faster and can comfortably hit 4–5 sights per day. Maximum savings potential.

For city-specific pass recommendations including CityPASS comparisons, see our best US city passes guide.

Where to Buy — and Whether to Wait for a Sale

Buy directly from gocity.com for the most up-to-date pricing and to ensure your pass is registered to you. Go City runs promotions — typically 10–15% off — around US holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday). If your trip is more than 3 weeks out, it’s worth checking for an active sale before buying at full price.

Third-party resellers like GetYourGuide and Viator also sell Go City passes, sometimes at a small discount. The pass itself is identical; activation is the same. For a full rundown on where to find legitimate discounts, see our city pass discount codes guide.

One important note: passes are non-refundable once activated. Buy the pass, then make your timed-entry reservations before your trip. Do not activate until you are ready to start using it.