Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass Review: Is It Worth the Money?
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If you’re planning a trip to Philadelphia, you’ll have no trouble planning an exciting few days of first-rate sightseeing. There’s more to do than you might realize.
You’ve got top-notch museums, a delightfully creepy abandoned prison, and quite possibly the most beautiful City Hall in the country. Plus, Philadelphia is steeped in the history of the American Revolution, which you can learn about during one of the many tours of the city.
Also, two words: Philly cheesesteak.
There are some amazing things to do for free in Philadelphia, but there are just as many attractions that are relatively expensive. What’s a frugal traveler to do?
Enter the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City. It can save you a bundle on sightseeing in Philly. Here’s how it works!
How the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass Works
The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City is an all-inclusive admissions pass to over 30 of Philly’s top attractions.
It’s available for one, two, three, or five consecutive calendar days and offers unlimited entry to all the included attractions. You can visit as many of the sights as you like and in any order. Unless otherwise noted, you can visit each attraction once per day.
So, why buy a pass when you can buy tickets at the gate? Good question.
Like all the best sightseeing passes, Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass can save you money relative to gate prices. If you are strategic about it, you can even save up to 50% or more with this pass. As a rule, the more you do, the more you save.
In addition to the savings, Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass saves you time and hassle in two ways:
- You get to skip the ticket line at select attractions
- Your mobile pass and free guidebook are at your fingertips on your smartphone
Attractions on the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass
The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City includes access to over 30 of Philly’s top attractions. Here are a few highlights, along with their regular adult gate prices:
- Big Bus Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour – $36
- Adventure Aquarium – $38.35
- Franklin Institute Science Museum – $25
- Eastern State Penitentiary – $23
- Philadelphia Zoo – $24.50
- Revolution and Founding Fathers Tour – $30
- National Constitution Center – $14.50
- Museum of the American Revolution – $24
- Philadelphia Museum of Art – $25
- Barnes Foundation – $30
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center – $26.99
And those are just a few of the fun activities and sites. See the full list here.
*Prices current as of April 27, 2023
(Editor’s Note: Some attractions may require reservations. Additionally, some attractions may be unavailable, have limited hours, or have limited capacity.)
Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass Pricing
Now that you know what’s included, there’s one crucial detail missing: the price.
As I mentioned, Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass is available for one, two, three, or five days. Here are the regular adult and child prices for each pass:
Pass | Adult (ages 13+) | Child (ages 3–12) |
---|---|---|
1 Day | $54 | $37 |
2 Day | $74 | $54 |
3 Day | $94 | $64 |
5 Day | $114 | $84 |
*Current as of April 27, 2023 |
Looking at these prices, it’s clear that the five-day pass offers the best value for your money. It works out to be just $22.80 a day for an adult and $16.80 for a child.
Let’s think about it this way: 24 of the included attractions have a regular admission price of $18 or more. So as long as you stick to those higher-priced attractions, you would save money by visiting just two sites a day with the five-day pass.
And get this: If you bought the five-day pass and visited the 10 most expensive attractions, you’d save $217.35 per adult. That’s incredible!
With that said, the two-day pass is the most popular option. And although I do recommend using the pass for the more expensive options, there are a couple of lower-priced attractions that are must-see, such as the Eastern State Penitentiary.
So what kind of real-life savings are you looking at? Let’s do another example.
Sample Three-Day Itinerary
Let’s say you buy the three-day pass and use it to visit nine attractions.
Day 1:
- HOHO Bus Tour ($36)
- Eastern State Penitentiary ($23)
- Philadelphia Zoo ($24.50)
Day 2:
- Barnes Foundation ($30)
- Franklin Institute Science Museum ($25)
- Ghost Tour of Philadelphia ($25)
Day 3:
- Adventure Aquarium ($38.35)
- Museum of American Revolution ($24)
- Dark Philly Adult Night Tour ($30)
This itinerary works because it groups attractions together based on location and allows for two evening activities – Ghost Tour Philadelphia and Dark Philly Adult Night Tour (skip this one if you’re traveling with kids).
The total cost of this itinerary without the pass would be $255.85. At full price, the three-day pass is $94, so you’d save $161.85 per adult. That’s about 63% off – which is absolutely fantastic!
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Reasons to Get the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass
Save Money on Admission
If it couldn’t save you money, I wouldn’t recommend it. But luckily, Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass can save you up to 50% compared to gate prices.
You save the most when you visit multiple attractions per day, choose the most expensive options, and go for the five-day pass. But honestly, as long as you visit at least two attractions per day and try to include some pricier options, you’re pretty much guaranteed to save money.
A possible exception is the one-day pass. Exercise caution with that one. It’s a good buy if you’re going to do the bus tour and a couple of attractions along the route, but it may not be worth it if you only do two attractions.
Tons of Tours
Like its sister pass, Go City’s Las Vegas All-Inclusive Pass, the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City includes an impressive lineup of tours. The 90-minute Hop-On, Hop-Off (HOHO) Bus Tour is the flagship offering, including more than 25 stops and a live tour guide.
HOHO bus tours are great because they serve two functions: you get to enjoy the city’s sites from an open-top, double-decker bus and you get to catch a ride to your next attraction. The tours are an especially awesome way to explore a new city for the first time.
The Revolution and Founding Fathers Tour guides you through some of Philadelphia’s best-known sites. Enjoy expert commentary from your guide as you visit sites like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and more.
I’m also really digging the spooky vibes on Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass. The Dark Philly Adult Night Tour gives you the R-rated version of the city’s history, and the Philadelphia Ghost Tour is a 90-minute ghost story tour of Independence Park and Society Hill – a lark any time of year, but perfect near Halloween! Because both of these tours take place at night, you can likely fit two or three other attractions in on the same day.
Kid-Friendly Options
Even though Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass includes a tour with “adult” in the name, there is no shortage of kid-friendly attractions. LEGOLAND is a big draw, but you’ll also find the Adventure Aquarium, Philadelphia Zoo, and several museums that should appeal to your little ones.
Word-Class Museums
It may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of world-class museums, but Philadelphia boasts an exciting selection.
The pass includes more than 15 museums, as well as the famous Eastern State Penitentiary – which isn’t exactly a museum, but it’s a must-see exhibit all the same. Popular choices include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute Science Museum, the National Constitution Center, and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Other Benefits of the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass
Free Guidebook: The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City includes a free guidebook that contains essential details for every attraction. You also get a map that highlights all the key tourist attractions, a copy of the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour route, and a guide to planning your trip to Philadelphia.
Mobile Pass: This is now the norm, but the Go City: Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass and the free guidebook are available digitally. That means all you need is your smartphone and you’re good to go. For people who like to carry as little as possible, this is super convenient.
See More for Less in Philly! – Get the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City and save up to 50% off regular admission to over 30 of Philly’s best sites. Save money, see more, and do it without waiting in line. Get your pass here.
Where the Pass Falls Short
The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City offers great savings potential and includes and a well-rounded selection of museums, tours, and activities. To be honest, I can’t find much to complain about.
The one-day pass isn’t great, in my opinion. If you do the HOHO Bus Tour and a couple of pricier attractions, you will save money, but the other options offer better value.
Something else to consider is that the one-day pass doesn’t usually go on sale, whereas the other options do. I’d only opt for it if you only have one day in town and plan to make the most of it.
Who Should Buy the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass?
First-Time Visitors: If you’ve never been to Philly, there are certain tourist attractions you know you’ll want to check off your bucket list – things like Eastern State Penitentiary and the “Rocky Steps” (which happen to be in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so you might as well check that out, too). Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass offers it all at a discounted price.
Families: The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City has an impressive number of family-friendly options. Adventure Aquarium, LEGOLAND, the Philadelphia Zoo, the HOHO Bus Tour, and the Franklin Institute Science Museum are excellent examples. These attractions happen to be on the expensive side, which means families who buy the pass are likely to get good value from it.
Power Sightseers: All-inclusive passes are best for people who enjoy busy days filled to the brim with sightseeing and attractions. This is for one simple reason: the more you do, the more you save. If you’re game to hit at least three attractions a day, you’ll save some serious money with Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass.
Who Should Skip the Pass?
Travelers Who Prefer a Relaxed Pace: If the pass is best for power sightseers, it’s not so great for people who prefer to take their time. If consecutive jam-packed days sound exhausting rather than fun, you won’t get good value from an all-inclusive pass. Either the Philadelphia Explorer Pass by Go City or the Philadelphia CityPASS may be a better option instead.
People Who Don’t Like Museums and Tours: Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass includes over 15 museums and 8 tours, so if those aren’t your cup of tea, you’ll be left with pretty limited options.
Those on a Restrictive Budget: You can save a nice bit of money with Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass, but you still have to buy it. If you’re on a very tight budget, dropping $94 on the three-day pass may not be an option. If that’s the case, there are still some fun things you can check out in Philly for free. The Reading Terminal Market, the waterfront, the Liberty Bell, and the Rocky Steps are all cool examples.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Pass
- Visit Two to Three Attractions Per Day: Whether you’re using the New York Pass, London Pass, or Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass, the amount of money you save with an all-inclusive sightseeing pass depends on how much you use it. You want to make sure the regular gate prices add up to more than you paid for the pass. Visiting at least two or three attractions each day ensures this, as long as you don’t choose the cheapest options. If you can fit more in, your savings will soar.
- Choose the More Expensive Attractions: To maximize the value you get from the All-Inclusive Pass, try to choose some of the pricier options. The HOHO Bus Tour, the Revolution and Founding Fathers Tour, and the Adventure Aquarium are all good examples that many people will gravitate toward anyway.
- Plan for Efficiency: To make the most of your time, plan to visit attractions that are near each other on the same day. For example, the Barnes Foundation is across the street from the Franklin Institute, so it makes sense to visit them on the same day. Not interested in both? Eastern State Penitentiary is a 10-minute walk up the street, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art is just 15 minutes away.
- Buy It on Sale: The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City is on sale a lot. Even at the regular price, it will save you some serious money…but it will save you even more if you buy it on sale!
How to Buy the Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass
If Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass sounds like a good fit for you, you can buy it online here.
Once you’ve paid, you’ll get an email with your pass attached. From there, you have two options:
- Download your pass and use it on your smartphone with the free Go City app
- Download your pass and print a copy at home
Here are a few keys details you should know about:
- You can buy the pass in advance but must activate it within a two years of purchase. After that, it expires.
- If you change your mind within 90 days of purchase (but before activating it), you can get a full refund on the Go City: Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass.
Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass Review: Is It Worth It?
If you’re visiting Philadelphia, plan to do a lot of sightseeing, and don’t mind consecutive busy days, Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass is a great buy and should save you money. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for people who fit that description!
Thanks so much for reading and enjoy Philadelphia!
Save Big in Philly – Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass saves you up to 50% at over 30 of Philly’s best sites! Get your pass here.
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Go City: Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass Review Summary
The Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass by Go City includes entry to over 30 of the city’s best sites! Even better, it can save you time and money in the process.
Like with other all-inclusive passes, the more you use it, the more you save. Admission prices are included in the cost of the pass, and you can visit as many of the included attractions as you like.
Go City’s Philadelphia All-Inclusive Pass also offers several tour options, providing you with even more value. If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing in Philadelphia, we highly recommend checking out this pass.
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