10 Things Included in the Boston Pass: 2026 Guide

What Boston CityPASS Includes (Full List, 2026)

Boston CityPASS is a fixed bundle of 4 attractions. You get all four — there is no choice. You get 9 straight days from first use.

• New England Aquarium — à-la-carte adult $34.95
• Museum of Science — à-la-carte adult $31.00
• View Boston (Prudential Center observation deck) — à-la-carte adult $35.00
• Old Town Trolley Tours — à-la-carte adult $49.00

What is NOT included: IMAX/Planetarium at the Museum of Science (extra fee); butterfly garden at the aquarium (extra fee); food, gift shops; MBTA transit; the Franklin Park Zoo; the Museum of Fine Arts; the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

The aquarium and Museum of Science both recommend booking a timed-entry slot in advance during peak season (July–August, school vacation weeks). Link your CityPASS QR code to each venue's website within 24 hours of purchase.

What Go City Boston Includes (Full List, 2026)

Go City runs two distinct products in Boston. Do not confuse them — the worth-it math is completely different.

Go City All-Inclusive Pass

Unlimited access to 45+ attractions for 1–7 consecutive days. Highlights include:

• New England Aquarium ($34.95 gate)
• Museum of Science ($31.00 gate)
• View Boston at the Prudential Center ($35.00 gate)
• Franklin Park Zoo ($26.95 gate)
• USS Constitution Museum (free; pass unlocks skip-the-line at adjacent Charlestown Navy Yard tour)
• Salem Witch Museum ($17.00 gate) — day trip from Boston
• Museum of Fine Arts ($27.00 gate)
• Harvard Museum of Natural History ($15.00 gate)
• Old Town Trolley Tours ($49.00 gate)
• Boston Harbor City Cruises — sightseeing ($39.00 gate)
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston ($30.00 gate)
• Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center (subsumed by View Boston; confirm current inclusion)
• Boston Duck Tours ($47.00 gate)
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum ($20.00 gate)
• Paul Revere House ($6.00 gate)
• Plimoth Patuxent (Plymouth) ($30.00 gate) — day trip

Full list: gocity.com/en/boston. The list changes; verify before buying.

Go City Explorer Pass

Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 attractions from the same pool, valid for 60 days. You select them at the time of redemption (not at purchase), so you have full flexibility. Best for visitors who only want 2–3 key sites or are spreading their trip over several weekends.

For a full comparison of both Go City formats against CityPASS, see our Go City vs CityPASS Boston guide.

Worth-It Math: What Do the Passes Actually Save? (2026)

We priced these in June 2026 from each attraction's official ticket page. Here's the arithmetic.

Boston CityPASS ($104 adult)

Verdict: If you visit all four attractions, CityPASS saves about $46 per adult — a genuine 31% discount. The break-even point is three attractions (aquarium + science museum + View Boston = $100.95 à-la-carte vs $104 pass — the trolley tips it clearly into savings territory). If you only want two sites, skip the pass and buy individually.

Go City All-Inclusive 2-Day ($119 adult)

The pass pays off if you visit enough attractions to exceed $119. A realistic 2-day itinerary:

Verdict: A 2-Day All-Inclusive can save nearly $97 per adult if you stay busy — but you need to visit at least 4 attractions across two days to break even. If you're only planning 1–2 sites per day, the math flips and individual tickets are cheaper. The 1-Day pass ($79) only makes sense if you can pack in 3+ sites in a single day.

Go City Explorer — 3 Attractions ($79 adult)

Verdict: Explorer is the most underrated Boston option for visitors who want exactly 3 sites with zero schedule pressure. A 22% saving over 60 days — no need to rush, no consecutive-day pressure.

Buy It If / Skip It If

Boston CityPASS — Buy it if:

• You want the aquarium, science museum, View Boston, and a trolley tour — all four, no customization needed
• You have a 2–3 day trip and want a simple QR code that covers the big four
• You're traveling with children: the child price ($79, ages 3–11) makes the family math work well
• You dislike choosing — CityPASS removes all decisions

Boston CityPASS — Skip it if:

• You only want one or two of the four included sites (individual tickets will be cheaper)
• You want the Museum of Fine Arts, Salem, or Harbor Cruises — none are in CityPASS
• You're a repeat visitor who's already done the aquarium and science museum

Go City All-Inclusive — Buy it if:

• You're doing 3+ attractions per day (the break-even for a 2-day pass is roughly 4 total sites)
• You want to day-trip to Salem or Plymouth, which are only on Go City
• You want the Museum of Fine Arts, Franklin Park Zoo, or Harbor Cruises
• You're traveling with an active family and want LEGOLAND + multiple sites per day

Go City All-Inclusive — Skip it if:

• You're doing fewer than 3 attractions per day — it won't pay off
• Your "must-see" list is only 2–3 specific sites — Explorer is cheaper

Go City Explorer — Buy it if:

• You only want 2–4 specific sites and don't want to rush
• You're combining a Boston trip with a day trip (Salem, Plymouth) but want flexibility on timing
• You're a local resident or extended-stay visitor — 60 days gives you real breathing room

See our Boston pass for families guide for child pricing breakdowns, and our 3-day Boston itinerary for a day-by-day routing plan that works with both passes. For the full site-wide comparison, see best US city passes.

Reservation Requirements and Booking Notes (2026)

Both passes use digital QR codes — no physical card is shipped. Activation happens at the moment you scan your first attraction.

• New England Aquarium: timed-entry reservations required during July–August and school vacation weeks. Book your slot on the aquarium's website after purchasing the pass.
• Museum of Science: walk-up is usually fine outside peak weeks; reserve in advance for holiday periods.
• View Boston: no advance reservation required; entry is managed by capacity. Busiest on weekends and rainy days when outdoor options close.
• Old Town Trolley: hop-on any stop; no reservation needed.
• Salem Witch Museum (Go City only): timed-entry tickets often sell out on October weekends — reserve as soon as you confirm your travel dates.
• Cancellation: CityPASS is non-refundable once activated; Go City passes are refundable if not yet activated.

Skip-the-line reality check: Both passes let you bypass the ticket purchase queue at most venues. You still join the standard entry/security line. Neither pass guarantees express entry for timed-entry attractions — you still need a reservation slot.