Go City San Antonio Pass Review: Texas-Sized Savings

In this Go City San Antonio Pass review, we explain how the pass works and help you decide if it’s a good fit for your travel plans.

If a trip to San Antonio is in the cards, you’re in a for a good time. Here you’ll find beautiful weather, delectable food, and some of the most interesting attractions in Texas.

Whether you’re taking the family to one of the mega-popular theme parks, visiting the Alamo, or spending an afternoon on the River Walk, there’s an eclectic selection of things to do.

Some of San Antonio can be enjoyed for free, or close to it, but many of the major sites command a hefty price. And, unlike in some of the cheapest travel destinations, accommodations can be expensive – taking a big bite out of your travel budget.

The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass won’t get you a cheap hotel, but it can cut your sightseeing and activity expenses in half. Interested? You’re in the right place. Let’s look at how it works.

What Is the Go City San Antonio Pass?

The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass includes entry to 25 attractions. Of those, you can choose to visit between 2 and 5 attractions — and you have 60 days to do it!

Additionally, there are 5 premium, high-value attractions. Each Go San Antonio Pass holder gets to choose 1 premium selection. For example, if you buy the 3-choice pass, 1 of your attractions would be a premium selection.

The San Antonio Explorer Pass is a good idea for two reasons. The most compelling is that, like all the best sightseeing passes, it can save you big money. In fact, if you’re smart about it, it can save you up to 48% compared to paying at the gate. That’s some Texas-sized savings!!

The other reason is convenience. You get one digital pass that functions as your ticket to two, three, four, or five attractions of your choice, in any order. That means you don’t need to worry about keeping track of separate tickets. If you have your phone, you have your pass, and that’s all you need.

Top Attractions on the Go City San Antonio Pass

The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass provides access to 25 of San Antonio’s best attractions, 5 of which are premium attractions. Whether you buy the 2, 3, 4, or 5-choice pass, you get to choose 1 premium selection.

Here are some of the most popular spots, along with the regular adult admission price of each attraction:

• Texas Hill Country and LBJ Ranch Tour (premium attraction) — $109
• SeaWorld San Antonio (premium attraction) — $85.51
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas (premium attraction) — $84.99
• San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour (premium attraction) — $65
• Natural Bridge Caverns Outdoor Discovery Package (premium attraction) — $67.11
• City Sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour — $37.89
• Extreme Escape Games – Colonnade — $38.49
• San Antonio Walking Historical Ghost Tour — $28.55
• Tejas Rodeo Company — $23.40
• SEA LIFE San Antonio — $25.97
• Natural Bridge Caverns Discovery Tour — $39
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center — $27.05
• San Antonio Zoo — $34.99
• San Antonio Museum of Art — $20
• See full list of attractions here

*Current as of December 07, 2021

Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass Pricing

Let’s take a look at how much the Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass costs.

Glancing up at the attractions list and the pass prices, it quickly becomes obvious that it’s pretty easy to save money with this pass. That’s owing in large part to the awesome premium attractions. I mean, one of them is valued at $109 on its own!

Let’s say you buy the most popular option, the four-choice pass. That means you get one premium attraction and three regular ones. What’s the most you could save?

Figuring it out is easy. All you have to do is look at the regular price of the four most expensive attractions, since choosing those would result in the maximum savings. Here they are:

• Texas Hill Country and LBJ Ranch Tour (most expensive premium attraction) — $109
• Natural Bridge Caverns Discover Tour — $39.00
• Extreme Escape Games – Colonnade — $38.49
• City Sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour — $37.89

Without the pass, these four attractions would cost you $224.38. With the pass, you pay only $119. That’s a whopping $105.38 – or 47% off in savings!

See San Antonio For (Almost) Half Off! – Want to get the full experience of the Alamo City? The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass can help you save up to 48% on the city’s best attractions! Get your Go San Antonio Pass here.

Top Reasons to Get the San Antonio Explorer Pass

Save Mad Money

The San Antonio Explorer Pass offers one of the best values you can get with a pass. With the five-choice pass, you can score up to 48% in savings. That’s really impressive for this style of pass. Savings like that are usually reserved for all-inclusive options, such as the New York Pass. With flights and accommodations often eating up most of a person’s travel budget, an attractions pass is a great way to make your money go further without sacrificing on experience.

Premium Attractions

Ranging in value from $65 to a whopping $109, the premium attractions set the Go City San Antonio Pass apart. I love that there are five diverse choices, so there’s something that appeals to everyone.

Families will gravitate toward SeaWorld or Six Flags to find fun for all ages. Thrill seekers can choose from Six Flags or the Natural Bridge Caverns Outdoor Discover Tour. History buffs will love the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site. And travelers looking to go full Texas will enjoy the Texas Hill and LBJ Ranch Tour.

Not for nothing, but the Ranch Tour is the highest-value attraction on the whole pass. Choosing that one allows you to max out your savings. Plus, it includes round trip transportation. But no matter which you choose, a premium attraction helps you get the most from the Go City San Antonio Pass.

Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

The Hop-On, Hop-Off (HOHO) bus tour is an awesome way to explore San Antonio, especially if you’re a first-time visitor. Hop on and take in the city’s key landmarks, learning all about their history from a knowledgeable tour guide. If something catches your eye, hop off and check it out. You can get back on at any stop along the route.

Your San Antonio Explorer Pass includes a 24-hour ticket to the HOHO bus tour, with tours departing every 20 minutes between 8:40 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. While you can certainly use the HOHO bus to catch a ride between attractions, it isn’t designed to be efficient transportation. I’d actually recommend staying on the bus for one full loop so you get to see all the sites.

Impressive Variety

The selection of attractions on the San Antonio Explorer Pass is nothing short of impressive. In addition to the premium attractions and the HOHO Bus Tour, you get museums, tours, a rodeo, the zoo, food, theater, and even caves! There really is something for everyone. Even if just a few things appeal to you, you can still benefit from the three-choice pass.

Other Benefits of the San Antonio Explorer Pass

• Valid for 60 Days — The Go City San Antonio Pass is valid for 60 days, giving travelers flexibility to take their time and spread out the fun however they choose.
• Convenient Digital Pass — No paper, no problem! There’s no need to keep track of individual tickets or even a physical pass. You’ll receive your pass via email and can store it on your smartphone using the free Go City app. Just open the app and scan your pass — it doesn’t get any simpler. Of course, if you prefer a paper copy, you can print one.
• Skip the Line at SeaWorld — Enjoy fast-tracked entry to SeaWorld with the Go City San Antonio Pass. Skip the ticket line and head on in. This is a great time saver, especially if you’re visiting with young kids who get impatient in lines.

Save Up to 48% in San Antonio – Get the Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass and save on some of the best museums and tours in the city. Learn more here.

Where the Pass Falls Short

I’m impressed with the diverse attraction list and the potential savings the Go City San Antonio Pass offers. It’s difficult to find fault with the pass, but there is always room for improvement.

Although the pass is great, it could be even better with more selection. Fans of cowboy culture would enjoy a day trip to Bandera, and a cooking class would be fun for foodies.

Who Should Buy the Go San Antonio Pass?

Visitors in Town for a While — The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass is valid for a full 60 days, making it an ideal choice for travelers who will be in town for a while. It would even work for people who will have two short trips over a two-month period.

Travelers Who Prefer a Relaxed Pace — Even if your trip isn’t particularly long, if you take a relaxed approach to sightseeing, this kind of pass will work well for you. Unlike with an all-inclusive pass, there’s no pressure to cram as much as you can into a set number of days. Instead, you’re free to spread out the attractions as much as you like.

Families — The cost of visiting major tourist attractions can really add up, especially when you’re traveling as a family. Luckily, the Go City San Antonio Pass has a slew of family-friendly options and offers reduced pricing for kids’ passes.

Who Should Skip the Pass?

Travelers on a Mission — As I said, this pass is great for people who like to take it slow. That means it isn’t a good fit for those who want to go hard. If you’re bursting onto the San Antonio scene with a mission to see and do as much as you possibly can, then this pass might not be for you. Not that you won’t get value from the San Antonio Explorer Pass — you totally will. It’s just that with a maximum of five attractions, it might not be enough to meet your needs.

Anyone Not Interested in the Premium Attractions — The premium attractions drive the value of the Go City San Antonio Pass. Without adding one of those high-value selections to your itinerary, you’ll struggle to get your money’s worth. For example, if you buy the 3-choice pass and choose the 3 most expensive regular attractions, the total value will be $115.38. The pass is $98, so you’re only saving $17.38. I wouldn’t pass it up, but it’s nothing to shout about, either.

Travelers on a Bare-Bones Budget — The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass can save you money on activities and sightseeing, but if you don’t have a budget for them to begin with, the pass is a moot point.

Tips for Getting the Most From Your Pass

• Buy It on Sale — Never pay full price for a sightseeing pass if you can avoid it. These passes go on sale from time to time, and you can often score a coupon code by signing up for the email newsletter.
• Choose Expensive Attractions — Here’s the deal: It’s easy to save money with this pass, but it is possible to lose money. It depends how you use it. To save as much as possible, you need to pick the most expensive attractions. That means making sure to choose one of the premium attractions, as well as watching the value of your other choices. Obviously, you have to enjoy your selections, so choose the biggest bang for your buck from the ones that appeal to you.
• Use Up All of Your Attractions — This should be a given, but to get the most from the pass, you need to use up all the attractions you purchase. For example, if you buy the four-choice pass, you better visit four attractions. Otherwise, you might lose money on your purchase.
• Be Aware of Booking Requirements — While there’s no need to choose your attractions at the time of purchase, some of the tours do require advanced booking. I recommend double checking the details before you start planning so you can make advanced reservations as needed.

How to Buy the Go City San Antonio Pass

Getting the Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass is a breeze. Buy it online here.

Once you make your purchase, your pass will be sent to your email inbox. Simply download your digital pass to your smartphone using the free Go City app, and you’re good to go. If you feel like kicking it old school, you can skip the app and print a copy — whatever works for you.

The pass comes with a 90-day risk-free guarantee, meaning you can get a full refund on a non-activated pass within 90 days of purchase. Assuming you don’t change your mind, you have two years from the date of purchase to activate your pass.

Bottom Line: Is the Go City San Antonio Pass Worth It?

The Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass is 100% worth the money for most people. A bold statement, but here’s the thing: The premium attractions make it easy to get way more than your money’s worth.

Anyone interested in one of the premium attractions and any two other selections will save money with the three-choice pass. The only exception would be choosing the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site (the least expensive premium option) and then two of the four cheapest attractions. Any other combination wins.

If you’re headed to San Antonio and want to do some sightseeing, it’s hard to pass up the savings you’ll get with the Go San Antonio Pass.

Huge Savings in San Antone – Enjoy 25 of the best sites and attractions in San Antonio AND enjoy nearly half off regular admission prices! Get your Go City San Antonio Explorer Pass here!