San Antonio City Pass Price & 2026 Budget Guide

Worth-It Math: CityPASS vs À-La-Carte (2026 Verified Prices)

We priced these in June 2026 from official attraction websites. Gate prices are standard adult admissions, no discounts applied.

Scenario 1 — Classic combo (best 4 for the CityPASS)

The four highest-value inclusions from the CityPASS menu:

• San Antonio Zoo: $44.99
• Witte Museum: $17.00
• Tower of the Americas: $17.00
• Go Rio River Cruise: $15.00

À-la-carte total: $93.99  |  CityPASS: $63.00  |  You save: $30.99 (~33%)

Real savings, though smaller than the advertised "up to 41%" — that figure uses a different combination. The Zoo alone ($44.99) carries most of the value. If you would not visit the Zoo, the math gets much thinner.

Scenario 2 — Maximum-value CityPASS

• San Antonio Zoo: $44.99
• Witte Museum: $17.00
• The DoSeum: $18.00
• San Antonio Botanical Garden (weekday): $20.00

À-la-carte total: $99.99  |  CityPASS: $63.00  |  You save: $36.99 (~37%)

The DoSeum is a children's science museum — this combo suits families. Adult-only visitors will likely prefer Scenario 1.

Scenario 3 — When CityPASS loses money

If you only visit 2 attractions (e.g. Zoo + Tower of Americas): $44.99 + $17.00 = $61.99 à-la-carte vs $63 for the pass. You would lose $1 and leave 2 slots unused. The pass only pays off at 3+ attractions, anchored by the Zoo. If the Zoo is not on your list, the remaining six options top out at $20 each — tight math for a $63 outlay.

Go City Explorer: when does it pay?

The 2-choice Explorer at $104 makes sense if SeaWorld San Antonio (gate ~$79.99) is on your itinerary — that one attraction nearly covers the pass price on its own. For purely downtown sightseeing, the CityPASS at $63 beats it on every combination. See our San Antonio City Pass guide for a full operator comparison.

Buy It If / Skip It If

Buy the San Antonio CityPASS ($63 adult) if:

• The San Antonio Zoo is on your itinerary — at $44.99 gate it is the anchor that makes the math work
• You want 3–4 attractions in a flexible 9-day window without daily time pressure
• You are traveling with kids and will use the Witte Museum or DoSeum alongside the Zoo
• Skip-the-line access matters to you at peak summer times

Buy the Go City Explorer (from $104) if:

• SeaWorld San Antonio is on your list — it is the only way to bundle it at a meaningful discount
• You want 30 days of flexibility across 25+ options including out-of-downtown venues like Natural Bridge Caverns
• You are visiting 3+ premium attractions over multiple non-consecutive days

Skip both passes if:

• You are spending only 1 day downtown and the Zoo is not on your list
• The Alamo (free with reservation) and the Riverwalk walk (free) are your main goals — no pass needed
• You prefer spontaneous sightseeing — both passes reward planning and pre-commitment
• You are a Bexar County resident: SAMA is free on Tuesdays 4–9pm and Sunday mornings, making individual tickets the smarter choice

What Each Pass Includes in 2026

The San Antonio CityPASS lets you choose any 4 of these 7 attractions. Choose at purchase or at first use:

• San Antonio Zoo (~$44.99 gate) — the highest-value inclusion
• Go Rio San Antonio River Cruise (~$15 gate)
• Tower of the Americas (~$17 gate)
• Witte Museum (~$17 gate)
• San Antonio Botanical Garden (~$20 weekday gate)
• The DoSeum (~$18 gate, ideal for families with young children)
• San Antonio Museum of Art (~$20 gate; free on select days for county residents)

The Alamo is not included in either pass — it is free with a timed reservation. For the complete inclusions and exclusions list, see what is included in the San Antonio pass.

The Go City Explorer covers 25+ attractions including SeaWorld, Natural Bridge Caverns, Briscoe Western Art Museum, and most of the CityPASS-eligible downtown venues. For families, see our San Antonio City Pass for families with full child pricing side-by-side.

Free Attractions: No Pass Needed

Before buying any pass, account for how much of your itinerary is already free. These cost nothing:

• The Alamo — Free with a timed reservation. Book ahead — slots fill in summer.
• San Antonio Missions National Park — Free; four UNESCO World Heritage missions with walking trails
• Japanese Tea Garden — Free; lush garden adjacent to the Zoo
• San Fernando Cathedral light show — Free evening projection on the facade
• The Riverwalk — Free to walk; the Go Rio cruise is a separate paid ticket (~$15)
• The Pearl District — Free public spaces and weekend farmers market
• SAMA free hours — Free Tuesdays 4–9pm and Sundays 10am–noon for Bexar County residents

If the Alamo, Missions, and the Riverwalk walk are your priorities, a pass may add no real value. The math only works when you layer 3–4 paid venues on top.

Where to Buy — 2026

Buy directly from the operator for instant digital delivery and the most current price:

• CityPASS: citypass.com/san-antonio — $63 adult / $53 child (ages 3–11). No promo code needed; the listed price already reflects the bundle discount.
• Go City Explorer: gocity.com/san-antonio — 2-choice from $104 adult, 3-choice from $119. Check the homepage for seasonal promotions.

Third-party resellers (Viator, GetYourGuide, Undercover Tourist) sometimes offer marginal discounts but may show stale prices. Confirm on the operator site before purchasing. To see how the pass fits a full 3-day trip, check San Antonio in 3 days with a City Pass.