Los Angeles is not a cheap city to sightsee in. A single ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood can run past $130, and that’s before you’ve added a studio tour, an aquarium, or a night at Madame Tussauds. The Go City pass Los Angeles bundle exists to solve exactly that problem — one purchase, dozens of attractions, one price.
The Go City Los Angeles pass is a prepaid sightseeing pass that bundles entry to 30–40+ attractions, including Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and Madame Tussauds Hollywood, into one digital ticket. Choose an All-Inclusive Pass for unlimited daily visits or an Explorer Pass to pick a set number of attractions, activated only when you use it.
That’s the short version. Here’s what actually matters before you buy one.
What Is the Go City Pass, Exactly?
Go City is a sightseeing pass company operating in dozens of cities worldwide, and Los Angeles is one of its biggest markets. Instead of buying individual tickets to Universal Studios, a Warner Bros. tour, and a whale-watching cruise separately, you buy one pass that covers all of it.
The pass lives entirely on your phone through the Go City app. You show a QR code at the gate, it scans, you walk in. There’s no paper voucher to lose and no ticket counter line to wait in — though a few attractions still require you to book a specific time slot in advance, which we’ll get into.
Go City doesn’t own these attractions. It negotiates bulk-rate access and repackages it, similar to how a hotel booking site repackages room inventory. That’s the whole business model, and it’s why the value depends entirely on how many attractions you actually visit.
All-Inclusive Pass vs. Explorer Pass — Which One Do You Need?
Go City sells two different products for Los Angeles, and picking the wrong one is the single most common way people overpay or underuse the pass.
| Feature | All-Inclusive Pass | Explorer Pass |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Unlimited attractions per day | Choose a fixed number of attractions |
| Time window | Valid roughly 9:00 am–5:30 pm daily | No daily time restriction |
| Best for | Fast-paced trips, theme park hopping | Slower trips, fewer but bigger attractions |
| Validity after activation | Set number of consecutive or split days within a 14-day window | 60 days to use your chosen attraction count |
| Price structure | Priced by number of days (1–7) | Priced by number of attractions chosen |
If you’re the type of traveler who wants to hit Universal Studios one day and stack three smaller attractions into a single afternoon the next, the All-Inclusive Pass usually wins. If your LA trip is more relaxed — a studio tour here, a museum there, spread across a week — the Explorer Pass avoids paying for days you don’t fully use.
There’s also an All-Inclusive Pass Plus, which adds three extras on top of the standard lineup: Universal Studios Hollywood, San Diego Zoo, and LEGOLAND California. Since San Diego Zoo and LEGOLAND are outside LA proper, this version really only makes sense if your trip includes a Southern California road swing beyond the city itself.
Every Attraction Included on the Go City LA Pass
The lineup shifts slightly over time as Go City renegotiates partnerships, but the core roster has stayed consistent. Highlights include:
- Universal Studios Hollywood (All-Inclusive Pass Plus tiers only, in some configurations)
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
- Madame Tussauds Hollywood
- Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Water Park
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- TCL Chinese Theatre Tour (with movie or drink option)
- Battleship IOWA Museum
- The Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour
- SoFi Stadium Tour
- Dolby Theatre Guided Tour
- Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Discover Tour and Big Bus Celebrity Homes & Lifestyle Tour
- Whale Watch & Dolphin Tour departing from Newport Beach
- Highlights of Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Tour
Quick Takeaway: The strongest value clusters around Hollywood-area attractions (Warner Bros., Madame Tussauds, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Sign Tour) since they sit close together and are easy to combine in a single day. Newport Beach and Santa Monica excursions require more driving and eat into your daily window.
One timing note worth flagging directly: the SoFi Stadium Tour is scheduled to be unavailable during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is expected to resume on July 18, 2026. If your trip falls in that window, don’t count on it being bookable, and check the app before finalizing an itinerary around it.
How Much Does the Go City Pass Cost (And What You Actually Save)
Pricing scales with pass length and pass type, and Go City publishes example math to justify the “up to 50% savings” claim you’ll see on their site. One published example: a $159 pass unlocked $321.07 worth of individual attraction tickets — savings just north of 50%, but only if you actually visit enough attractions to hit that ticket value.
That’s the catch with every bundled pass, not just this one. The math only works in your favor if your itinerary is dense. A traveler who buys a 3-day All-Inclusive Pass and only manages two attractions is very likely paying more than they would have buying those two tickets separately.
Explorer Pass example pricing for reference: an adult 3-choice ticket has run around $104, with children’s pricing slightly lower. Run your own numbers before buying: add up the gate price of every attraction you realistically plan to visit, then compare that total against the pass price for the matching day count or choice count.
How the Pass Works Day to Day
- Buy your pass online and choose All-Inclusive or Explorer, then your day count or attraction count.
- Download the Go City app — this is where your digital pass lives, along with current hours, closures, and booking links.
- Activate on first use. The pass isn’t “live” until you scan it at your first attraction. From that point, your day count or 14-day usage window starts ticking.
- Book reservations where required. Warner Bros. Studio Tour and guided hikes to the Hollywood sign, in particular, often need a specific time slot booked in advance through the app — walking up without one can mean no entry that day.
- Scan and go. At each attraction, present the QR code in the app at the entrance.
- Track remaining time or attractions directly in the app so you’re not guessing how much pass you have left.
Passes themselves stay valid for one year from purchase, so buying early and locking in a price before a trip is firmed up isn’t a bad strategy. Refunds are available on unactivated passes within 90 days of purchase — once you scan it at your first attraction, that window closes.
Is the Go City Pass Worth It? Who Should Buy It, Who Should Skip It
Buy it if:
- You’re planning to hit at least 3–4 mid-to-high-ticket attractions in a short window (Universal Studios, Warner Bros., a big tour)
- You want the Hollywood-focused cluster: Madame Tussauds, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Sign hike, Dolby Theatre — these sit close together geographically and stack easily into one or two days
- You’re traveling with a family and want to avoid buying separate tickets at every gate
Skip it if:
- Your LA itinerary is light on ticketed attractions and heavier on beaches, hiking, and free sights like Griffith Observatory (which is itself free to enter)
- You only plan to visit one or two attractions — buying those tickets directly will likely be cheaper
- Your schedule is loose and unplanned — the All-Inclusive Pass’s daily time window (9:00 am–5:30 pm) rewards people who plan ahead, not people improvising day-to-day
A recurring complaint from real travelers is worth repeating honestly here: some included attractions are genuinely far apart. Newport Beach’s whale watching tour and Hollywood’s Walk of Fame attractions are not a same-day pairing unless you’re comfortable with an hour-plus drive each way. Don’t assume proximity — check a map before building your day.
A Realistic 3-Day Itinerary Using the Pass
Day 1 — Hollywood Core: Warner Bros. Studio Tour in the morning (book this slot first — it sells out), TCL Chinese Theatre in the afternoon, Madame Tussauds Hollywood before dinner.
Day 2 — Big Attraction Day: Reserve your Universal Studios Hollywood visit (if your pass tier includes it) as a full-day, no-other-plans day. Theme parks eat entire days; don’t stack anything else.
Day 3 — Coastal Half-Day: Santa Monica and Venice Beach bike tour in the morning, then either the Hollywood Sign hike (weather permitting) or Aquarium of the Pacific if you’d rather stay indoors.
This spacing keeps drive times manageable and avoids the classic mistake of trying to combine a Newport Beach excursion with a Hollywood-heavy day.
Go City vs. Other Los Angeles Sightseeing Passes
Go City isn’t the only bundled pass operating in LA, though it’s currently the most comprehensive for attraction count. Competing products (commonly marketed under city pass or sightseeing pass branding elsewhere in the U.S.) typically cover fewer attractions and lean more heavily toward museums and landmarks rather than theme parks and tours. If your LA trip is theme-park and tour heavy, Go City’s lineup — Universal Studios tier options, Warner Bros., Knott’s Berry Farm — gives it an edge. If you’re more museum-and-landmark focused, it’s worth comparing attraction lists directly rather than assuming one pass brand covers everything the other does.
Final Take
The Go City pass Los Angeles bundle earns its price back fast if you’re hitting multiple big-ticket attractions in a short trip, especially the Hollywood cluster that sits close together geographically. It loses value fast if your plans are loose, light on ticketed attractions, or spread across a wide geographic area without accounting for drive time. Do the ticket math for your specific itinerary before buying, pick All-Inclusive or Explorer based on how packed your days actually are, and book reservation-required attractions the moment your pass is active.
For more inspiration like this, take a look at our California travel guides.
FAQ Section
Is the Go City pass worth it for Los Angeles?
It’s worth it if you’re visiting at least 3–4 paid attractions in a short window, especially Hollywood-area sights that sit close together. If your trip is light on ticketed attractions, buying individual tickets is usually cheaper.
What’s included in the Go City Los Angeles pass?
Attractions include Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Aquarium of the Pacific, TCL Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Sign walking tour, SoFi Stadium Tour, and more, depending on the pass tier chosen.
What’s the difference between the All-Inclusive and Explorer Pass?
All-Inclusive gives unlimited attraction visits within a daily window for a set number of days. Explorer lets you pick a fixed number of attractions to use within 60 days, with no daily restriction.
Do I need reservations with the Go City pass?
Yes, for some attractions. Warner Bros. Studio Tour and guided Hollywood hikes commonly require booking a specific time slot in advance through the Go City app.
How long is the Go City pass valid?
The pass itself is valid for one year from purchase. Once activated at your first attraction, you have a 14-day window to use your purchased days (All-Inclusive) or 60 days for attraction choices (Explorer).
Can I get a refund on an unused Go City pass?
Yes, unactivated passes are refundable within 90 days of purchase. Once scanned at your first attraction, the pass is considered activated and no longer refundable.
Does the Go City pass include Universal Studios Hollywood?
Universal Studios Hollywood is included on select higher tiers, such as the All-Inclusive Pass Plus. Confirm inclusion on your specific pass tier before purchase since availability has varied by configuration.
Is the SoFi Stadium Tour always available on the pass?
No. It’s scheduled to be unavailable during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and expected to resume around July 18, 2026. Check current availability in the app if your trip falls near that window.
